Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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One Month In

It’s hard to believe we’ve already been here a month! And let’s not sugar coat things… this house is looking pretty crazy right now. Blue trim out the wazoo, wallpaper at every turn, bright salmon living room walls, old carpeting that still covers the stairs & our closet, and a whole lot of furniture that we just plopped down on moving day (so it’s safe to assume that nothing is staying where it is for the long haul, this is just where it landed). On one hand it’s like “moving day literally feels like yesterday” but on the other hand, in a few rooms (especially the ones upstairs), we’re like “wow, it’s hard to remember what this looked like before” – which is a funny little Bermuda Triangle to be living in. But enough chitchat, here’s how our house looks one month in.

The foyer:

Foyer One Month

The kitchen:

Kitchen1

Facing Living Room

Eating Area

The table’s way too small, but thankfully it looks a little less crazy than it did on moving day…

Kitchen Other Side

The sunroom:

Sunroom One Month

The office:

Office Main

Office Back Wall

The living room:

Living Room Phase3

Living Room Other Side

The dining room (confession: nothing has changed in here since day 1, so we used the same picture):

Dining Room2

Here’s the half bathroom:

After1

… which is definitely looking a little lighter and brighter than the wallpapered version we started with.

Half Bath Before

The guest room:

Guest Room1 One Month

Guest Room3 One Month

This is one of the rooms that has come a long way. Here’s how it looked a few weeks before we moved in:

Guest Before

The hall bathroom:

Hall Bath1 One Month

Hall Bath2 One Month

The spare room / possible future nursery…

Spare Bedroom One Month

… which looks a little different than the mauve-trimmed carpeted room we started with.

Nursery Before

Clara’s room:

Claras Room Blinds1

Claras Room Blinds2

This one has come a long way too. Here’s what we were dealing with a few weeks before we moved in:

Claras Room

Our bedroom:

Bedroom1 One Month

Bedroom2 One Month

Bedroom3 One Month

Which is definitely a far cry from this pre-move photo:

Master Before

Our bathroom:

Bathroom Doors19

It’s fun to scroll through this post to see how it looked on Day One too. We definitely still have some just-moved-in moments going on. Like this kitchen cabinet full of a jumble of tools:

Tools One Month

Our closet needs some help too…

Mastercloset One Month

But overall, for a month in we’re just glad to have gone from seeing this when we walk up the stairs…

Carpet 2 Hallway Wrinkly

… to seeing this…

Hallway Onemonth

The hallway is definitely the most dramatic change so far. It’s sort of like Old Carpet With Blue Trim And Wallpaper Central when you’re climbing the stairs, but when you get to the top it feels clean and new. I let out a giant sigh every single time I go up there. And yes, that railing is SCREAMING for an upgrade. But even though we’re faaaar from completing any space at all (it usually takes us around two years just to paint every room), it’s nice to see that we’ve checked this stuff off:

We’re slowly starting to feel like this is our house. And we’re deeply and hopelessly in love with it (blue trim and all!) along with our new hood. Seriously, you might need an anti-nausea pill if I keep gushing. I know we’ve learned never to say never (thanks Beibs) but you’d have to drag me kicking and screaming from this place. I’m about to get a “Be Mine Forever” tattoo on my forearm…

Psst- If you’re wondering what our plans are for each space, chances are we haven’t fully fleshed them out yet, but this giant to-do list should help. We prefer to research/plan things as we attack them, so we promise to share every detail with you guys as we go!

Comments

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We like to wait at least a year to tackle big things like full kitchen remodels, but our heads are already swirling with ideas. In our first house we almost jumped the gun and did it sooner, but after living with it we realized we could close off a doorway and gain 65% more cabinetry and counter space – so glad we didn’t rush into it!

      xo
      s

  3. Helen says

    Whooo buddy, those appliances in the kitchen! You guys are going to have so much fun when you replace all those. I love this house though, it’s such a great “grow with you” home. A little TLC, a little elbow grease (and paint, and less wallpaper lol) and you guys will have a bombshell :)

    Reply

  4. Ambi says

    Great progress for one month in! I’ve been reading since 2008 and I seriously teared up when I saw that you were moving. I’m already so excited to see what you do with the kitchen. If its anything like last time I know I’ll be just as obsessed as you are. I sound crazy but its so easy to get invested in this blog! You all are great.

    Reply

  5. Sarah says

    It’s so neat to see how different the furniture looks in your new house! That’s such a strange thing to say, because I guess the furniture itself is really the same, right?

    Is that a trash compactor or ice machine in the kitchen peninsula?

    Reply

    • Helen says

      Speaking of furniture, John and Sherry (or anyone that knows this answer, google failed me) can you guys tell me the dimensions of your newly situmauated Karl? I wasn’t sure if it had different measurements than the stock Karl + lounge from Ikea. If theres a link or if anyone knows off the top of their head it’d be greatly appreciated :)

  6. Ariane says

    I love how the doors have kind of “stenciled” the walls where they have been spread but you managed to get the rooms as cute as possible despite those weird rectangles … Good job !

    Reply

  7. Sarah | The Accidental Okie says

    I’m sure that a lot of it has to do with it being a photo that doesn’t truly capture the cacophony of colors and the brightness of the paint, but I am actually digging the salmon walls in the living room. It’s got a chic man-cave vibe going on.

    We’ve been in our house for two years now. I was walking through this weekend and thinking about all the projects I want to do, but haven’t had the time or money. All I could think was, “Man, if John and Sherry lived here, this house would be so much cooler.” So props to your month in your house. Give it another month and it’ll be more pulled together than my house.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, it’s the photos not doing that salmon wall justice. In real life it feels like we’re in the belly of a whale when we’re in there. Our skin literally looks bright orangey-pink from the walls reflecting on us in there.

      xo
      s

  8. lizaanne says

    Oh how I love the tile in the foyer!! :-) —-sigh—– It’s going to look even more amazing once you spiff up that space!!

    But that linolobrick floor in the kitchen – it has got to make you cringe every time you walk on it!! LOL

    One step at a time – it will be a blast to see it all grow with you and your lovely family!

    Reply

    • Jan says

      We have the same slate in our foyer (house built 1965). It’s really lovely. Although when we moved in, I had visions of the toddler falling down the stairs headfirst onto it ;-/ so we had a rug at the base for a couple years.

      And thanks, YHL, for making me aware of Rustoleum ORB spray paint. We have ORB doorknobs (original to the house) and the paint was great for fixing up a scratched knob. Next, I’m attacking the patio light fixtures … mwah ha ha!

  9. Aubrey says

    Congrats guys! I can’t believe its been one month already. But you’ve seriously attacked alot of the upstairs in that month. It is looking GREAT! Can’t wait to see more!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s so hard to remember since this last month was kind of a blur, let alone trying to remember our second house’s first month. My guess would be that this house has a lot more that needs to be “stripped back” like wallpaper and blue trim and old carpeting, so we’re trying to get rooms to the blank slate that we inherited with our second house.

      xo
      s

  11. Alexandra says

    We bought our first home and moved the same week you guys did! I was really stressing about getting our fiver upper looking perfect immediately until you guys started moving and sharing your chaos too! One month in and we are about the same – lots of progress but still an INSANE amount to do!!

    Reply

  12. Kelly says

    Looking great so far, but I had no doubt that it would. Do you find yourself trying to recreate certain looks you had in your first two home, or are you busting out some new moves to create/decorate/DIY some completely new unchartered territories??

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think we like to think of every space that we do as its own thing, so it really comes down to what we think will be best for that space and less about trying to recreate something that worked in another space/house. I think that’s why our first house looks different from our second house, but they’re still related looking- like they’re cousins. Haha!

      xo
      s

  14. Steph says

    Soooo jealous!!! We’ve been in our new home for 2 months and all I see is boxes!!! Having a newborn doesn’t help either!!! Good luck!!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Maureen! We’re hoping to stick to a more thoughtful pace this time around (more like our first house than our second one) – just so we don’t feel like we’re rushing around without giving our brains enough time to land on the best solutions. So many things are swirling around in our heads right now, haha!

      xo
      s

  18. Tamme Thornton says

    Is it hard to live in the “undone” stage (ex: the super dark kitchen)? Especially coming from the other house which looked so light and peaceful? The “undone” stage, whenever we buy a home, drives me a little crazy.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oddly enough I think we’re used to it. The “potential” is sort of what we see, so even though that kitchen is crazy looking, it makes us all excited to stand in there and brainstorm. In our first house we felt completely annoyed by any space that wasn’t done (we thought we were supposed to have the entire house completed in a month or two, which is now laughable since that house took us 4.5 years to transform) so now we sort of know the drill. Accepting that we like to live with a kitchen/bathroom for a year before gutting it and that it usually takes us about 2 years to paint all of the rooms in our house is a nice place to be. Peaceful even in the middle of the chaos. Haha!

      xo
      s

    • Candice says

      Sherry, your reply to this comment makes me feel better. We just celebrated our first anniversary in our house. This is one we’re planning on raising our babies in, too. I hadn’t felt like much had been done but once I started the tally, it’s not too bad. You saying it usually takes 2 years to paint every room makes me have hope! (I’m currently tackling the world’s most difficult stencil accent wall in the downstairs bath.)

    • Jennie says

      Just to chime in on this …. We have had our house five years now, and we have constantly been improving it ever since then! Some of the stuff was major, like adding a back deck, while other stuff was minor. We are only just now starting our most major upgrade, which in this case, is an addition with a new kitchen, master, and playroom. There were times when it was maddening, but I am glad we took our time, because the plan really evolved over that time and we were able to work in details that we would have missed if we rushed! Just planning the addition took at least a year and a half, but I am glad we were reflective about it. Also, we do most of the work ourselves, so we have to pace ourselves or we’ll go mad!

  19. Jamie Janson says

    You guys are doing a great job! I really like what you have done so far. Those darn cabinets are so freaking dark and dated. I’m a kitchen & bath girl so of course that is what I pay attention to. I think if you re-til or even vinyl the kitchen floor to something light, it will help the cabinets. Maybe go with it and paint them black or gray, then change the counter to a white quartz. That would really look good and save on replacing the cabinets.

    PS-Love all of your area rugs. they can be so expensive. Where did you get the master bedroom’s and living-room rugs?
    Keep up the good work!!
    XXOO-Jamie

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      The master rug is from Joss & Main about a year and a half ago and the living room rug is from a local outlet here in Richmond called The Decorating Outlet.

      xo
      s

  20. Emily says

    Man it pays to have nice quality furniture! Even though some of the surrounings look uunfinished the furniture brings it together

    Reply

  21. Katie says

    I really love your new house, and I can’t wait to see it take on more of your style! It looks so much like the house I grew up in that I’m completely nostalgic… in a good way. So fun!

    Reply

  22. Maureen @ Altes Haus says

    Ok, so this is a tiny bit off topic, but I see hat you also keep a cabinet in the kitchen full of tools. Have you ever done a post about what you keep in the kitchen and what gets stored in the workbench area or garage? I am going to be re-organizing ours soon, so I was just looking for some tips. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Lisa R. says

      I have a little basket that I keep under the kitchen counter – small level, screwdriver (kit with different heads), hammer, pliers, wrench, allen wrench with different sizes, electrical tape, pencil and a ruler. That pretty much covers what I need on a day to day basis…anything else is a bigger project that requires me to break out the bigger toolbox/drill, etc.

  23. Nor says

    The hallway looks awesome! I keep scrolling up and down to see the before and after pics and i also let out happy sighs. Haha!

    Reply

  24. Sarah says

    How can it be a month already?! Totally crazy.
    I’m interested to know, how come you left the carpet in the master closet? Also, loving the yellow tile rug with the ikat curtains in the guest room!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re planning to tile the bathroom and the closet in there since they’re all sort of a “wing” off of the master and we love having cohesive flooring in all of those connected spaces. Running hardwoods into the closet would have meant running them through the sink part of the bathroom, which just wasn’t the best solution for us.

      xo
      s

  27. Kristin says

    I noticed this before, but I have to say – I love the rug switch between the living room and the master bedroom! Both rugs look great in their new homes!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yup, just like our first house but this time it’s connected! It’s nice to have a spot for the car and we want to make a workshop on the other side – sort of like the previous house’s basement worked for us.

      xo
      s

  30. Kate says

    Wow — looking good for just a month in! That’s a lot of progress. You guys should be proud of yourselves!

    Reply

  32. Cassie @ LittleRedWindow says

    I love it when you share super realistic pics (master closet etc)! You guys have made a lot of progress for a month. Do you feel like working from home just makes it so much harder to ignore problem areas and unpacked boxes?

    I would also love to know if there were things that didn’t make the cut when you were moving? Did you donate or sell anything or did it all come alone? :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We want to write a post about what we craigslisted before the move and what we’re thinking about selling now that we’re here (it’s so hard to see what will work without things being in the space sometimes). As for working from home, it’s definitely hard not to be able to escape the chaos by going to a nice organized office, so we tried to chip away at things whenever we could. Definitely helps us feel settled not to have a pile of pillows in the kitchen anymore, but those closets and cabinets that are crazy still make me all twitchy about organizing them. Someday… haha!

      xo
      s

  33. Ellen says

    Wow! It looks fabulous already and the parts that aren’t done have so much potential. I can’t wait to see what you do!
    I’ve gotta ask where the area rug in the living room is from. I have been looking for a new rug FOREVER and cannot find one that is just right. Yours would be perfect! We have the karlstad sofa too. Just in beige :)

    Reply

  36. Stacey H says

    You guys rock! We have been in our new home for a month now too and our homes are very similar. In fact, we have the exact same slate floors in our foyer. I picked up a sample of BM Hawthorn Yellow to try in the foyer…thought that a bright and clean yellow would be a nice contract with the dark slate. Before moving in we had all of the “old lady” off-white carpet removed and underneath were the original oak floors! Jackpot!!! They are amazing! This week my hubby and I are going to tackle the family room/playroom and paint the dark fireplace brick, built in book shelves, walls, and beams. Your book and blog have been a HUGE help and inspiration to me! Thank you soooo much!

    Reply

  38. Kasey M. says

    I noticed the door of Burger’s crate in the master bedroom and started to wonder, where is Burger’s food dish and water? Do you still keep it in the closet even though you’re no longer on the same floor as the kitchen?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yup, it’s up in our closet still (we keep his food in there in a big tin and have the water of the bathroom there, so it seems to work). Old habits die hard!

      xo
      s

  40. Stephanie says

    Hi Sherry and John, It’s so fun to check in with you every weekday at 10 to see what you are up to. Can you share a priority list of rooms/projects you plan to tackle? I would feel like a kid in a candy shop in your new house – finding it difficult to figure out which fun project to work on first. I’m curious what your approach is. Thanks!

    Reply

  42. Ali B. says

    Oh my gosh you guys! It already looks so much better! I mean, this is obviously nothing compared to what it will look like three years from now ;) But it already looks so much more lived in.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Size was the factor! The old living room was larger than the bedroom and in this case the bedroom is larger than the living room, so they worked better with a switch :)

      xo
      s

  44. Katie says

    I love your blog! Always getting ideas and tips for our fixer-upper.

    I am sure this was posted when you first re-did Clara’s room at your old house, but where is her bed from? I absolutely love it and it would look great in our office/guest room.

    Thanks and have a great day!!

    Reply

  45. Lea says

    Why not just quickly prime/paint the living room white so you’re not living in the belly of the beast? I’d think you could better judge the room too with a clean slate than a salmon one.

    btw the upstairs is looking beautiful!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, that’s definitely on the agenda! We just have about a million “this would be a quick thing that would make it nicer” things on the list, so we’re going to slowly make our way through them as we go!

      xo
      s

  46. stephanie says

    Hi Sherry, I’ve never commented before, but have been following you and your husband’s blog for the last few months. I love seeing the changes over the years and the how-to. When I own a place some day, I’ll definitely be visiting your site for how to advice.

    I noticed the x-stools at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom, and I’ve been looking for reasonable ones for the last few months. Can you share where you got those and how much they cost?

    Congrats on the new place – it’s looking better and better each post, and I can’t wait to see how it looks in six months, a year and even longer. *stephanie

    Reply

  47. Amanda says

    How do you like the chairs you are using at your breakfast table? I have seen those at Target.com and really like them however some online reviews said not to get if you have kids. Thoughts??

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They were from ebay back when I lived by myself in NYC eight or nine years ago! They were super cheap (and were orange, so I later painted them white).

      xo
      s

    • Lea says

      Amanda, I do have two sets of the Target version of those chairs. If you need a QUICK & CHEAP fix, they’ll do. But one chair of the set had the holes misaligned so we couldn’t screw the legs in. So really we could only use 3 out of the four chairs we bought. The other chairs get wobbly and have to be retightened too often for my liking. Despite them driving me crazy these past couple years, I’m too lazy to replace them just yet. I think they’d be great for a dorm room, kids play room, or teen room.

  48. Steph says

    You guys make me feel so lazy. I’ve been in my place over a year now and I still have 2 un-packed boxes and haven’t painted a single wall.

    To be fair though, I had basically zero furniture so that came first and the house was “blank slate” painted so I can kinda get away with not painting. I’ve also replaced nearly all the appliances. But don’t get me started on that.

    Still, you guys are awesome. I can’t wait to see what you do to this house :)

    Reply

  50. Mia says

    This is a great post. I don’t know why, but it let me totally let go of the old house. And I didn’t live there; and I don’t even know you! Just feels like it, I suppose!

    Reply

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