Q: Since you decorate, upgrade, and renovate your house for a living, do you ever feel like you’re always working on your home and never just living in it? For example, after spending all day cooking in the kitchen, by dinnertime you’re not hungry and don’t even want to eat. If something is never quite finished and the to‑do list is longer than the purchase contract, is it hard to sit peacefully without thinking about the next project and feeling low‑level anxiety? Or am I just the anxious one for even asking? – Rach
A: That’s a great question and one we hear a lot. We started fixing up houses as a hobby — nights and weekends — and that’s how this blog began: a way to keep friends and family updated. Because it began as pure fun, the joy of working on projects stuck with us even after it turned into our full‑time work. We still do a lot of the hands‑on projects at night and on weekends, when Clara is asleep, while daytime is often spent on blog tasks like writing, answering comments, arranging giveaways, and managing sponsors.
Importantly, we never got into this purely to make money. We chose to spend our free time transforming spaces because it was enjoyable, rewarding, and creative. The business side of blogging — coding, technical work, taxes, health insurance, and other behind‑the‑scenes tasks — can be stressful. But the DIY side, the real hands‑on transformation work, remains the part we look forward to most. It’s the fun core of what we do.
Even administrative tasks like photographing and sizing images can sometimes feel like busywork, but planning, painting, and physically seeing progress are what keep us energized. It’s rewarding and personal, and it rarely gets old. Just like someone might find joy in numbers and thrive as an accountant or teacher, we thrive on design challenges, problem solving, and creative upgrades. Some people prefer DIY as a hobby with a strict time cap; we enjoy doing it day in and day out. For example, we’ve taken on ambitious projects even during holidays, and while that may sound intense, it suits us.
That said, it wasn’t always balanced. In our first house, early on we put too much pressure on ourselves to finish everything quickly. We tried to overhaul rooms before guests arrived and often felt burned out or disappointed when things didn’t get done in time. The turning point was accepting that it takes years, not months. Giving yourself permission to spread projects out makes the process more manageable and less stressful. Our den evolved over eight months and many other rooms took years to come together — and that’s okay. Slow progress often leads to better decisions and more satisfying outcomes.
A seriously neglected house won’t transform overnight unless you have a dedicated crew and unlimited funds. Taking your time allows you to think through decisions and avoid regretful choices. Some of our favorite spaces took years to evolve, and learning to relax while projects were underway made the experience enjoyable rather than frantic. “Relax, it’s only decorating” became a useful mantra. Our friends and family are used to visiting mid‑project; they still enjoy our company even when doors are off cabinets and furniture is in flux. Realizing that your loved ones accept you regardless of the state of your home is incredibly liberating.
Now we feel far less rushed, despite long lists and many watching readers. We treat renovating like a journey instead of a sprint. Stopping to appreciate progress — even imperfect progress — makes the whole experience better. Variety keeps it fresh: tackling different tasks and facing varied challenges is far more motivating than repeating the same job for years. Living within the progress is part of the reward. Completed pieces of a house surround you and serve as reminders of how much can change when you put in the work. It’s like hanging college degrees or cherished photos — the environment tells the story of your progress and makes you proud.
Even in the middle of a renovation, we make an effort to enjoy the moments. We take photos, notice small milestones (like a newly created doorway), and appreciate how far a space has come even if countertops aren’t installed or floors aren’t finished yet. That daily enjoyment fuels motivation to continue improving other areas.
Our main advice: enjoy the journey and stop rushing. While you DIY your way to a more comfortable home, regularly pause to admire what you’ve accomplished and to be present in the space. A renovated kitchen or living room is only meaningful if you actually use and appreciate it. When we finally completed that long kitchen project, every gathering in the new space filled us with gratitude and pride. Equally, quiet weeknight routines — one of us cooking while the other reads to Clara by the fireplace, then eating at the peninsula — are the small joys that make the process worthwhile.
So don’t pressure yourself to reach an imaginary finish line. Take your time, work one small step at a time, and have fun along the way. It keeps projects manageable and encourages you to thoughtfully personalize other parts of your home. What helps you stay upbeat during long‑running DIY projects? Have you ever felt pressured to finish everything quickly? From our experience, accepting that things will be done when they’re done is unexpectedly freeing. Booyah.