Last Friday on this post we received a comment that sounded like a fun idea: “I love your videos and it’s crazy to see the difference in YHL style from the first house to this house! If you wanted to do a side-by-side of rooms past and present, I wouldn’t hate it :)” — Sarah.
I agreed. So here we go: a side-by-side comparison of our first house versus our current house. Imagine dramatic music and me wearing a gladiator outfit. It’s a little unfair since we spent four and a half years finishing our first house and we’ve only been in the new one for eight months. The current house is very much a work in progress, so cut it some slack. Many of the current-house photos are from our House Tour page, which is why some images are labeled “progress.”
The Front Yard, First House:
The Front Yard, Current House:
Winner: The first house. This was an easy call. We spent years upgrading the first house’s exterior and it shows. Our current place still needs a lot of work from some angles, so the front yard of the first house wins for now.
The Front Porch, First House:
The Front Porch, Current House:
Winner: The first house. We adored the hanging ferns and the tan-and-cream striped porch of the first house. Although we love the yellow door of the current house and have big plans to box out the porch columns and stain the concrete, the charm of the first porch still takes the prize.
The Living Room, First House:
The Living Room, Current House:
Winner: Our current house. Even unfinished, the living room in our current home is where we actually live: we sink into our big sofa, play on a cushy rug with our daughter, and sometimes eat at the pedestal table by the window while watching TV. The first house had a formal living room we rarely used, so the new space feels more like home.
The Kitchen, First House:
The Kitchen, Current House:
Winner: Tie. The first kitchen won our hearts with its granite counters, white cabinets, and stainless appliances, but it was tiny. The current kitchen is spacious and full of potential, with room for an eat-in area and a fireplace. Once we open it to the dining room, update appliances, paint cabinets, and add built-ins, the new kitchen will likely pull ahead. For now, the first kitchen’s finished charm ties with the current kitchen’s promise.
The Hallway, First House:
The Hallway, Current House:
Winner: Current house. We love the wide, light-filled hallway here and the family gallery of frames that makes the space feel warm and personal.
The Spare Bedroom, First House:
The Spare Bedroom, Current House:
Winner: The first house. The spare room in our first home was tidy and functional with a daybed and desk. The current spare room has sometimes looked cluttered, so the first house’s simpler setup gets the nod.
The Nursery (Formerly The Third Bedroom), First House:
The Nursery, Current House:
Winner: Current house. This was a close call because we have a lot of sentimental attachment to the nursery where we brought our daughter home the first time. Still, the larger closet in the current nursery, now used as a cozy reading nook, gives the new room a practical edge.
The Master Bedroom, First House:
The Master Bedroom, Current House:
Winner: Current house. The master in the new house is only about 20% finished, but features like a walk-in closet, an attached bathroom, and a chandelier that reflects in the mirror above the sink already make it a much better fit for us. We’ll always love the clever built-ins we created in the first house, but the new master wins on comfort and layout.
The Master Bathroom (located in the hall), First House:
The Master Bathroom (now attached to the bedroom), Current House:
Winner: First house. The first master bathroom was a complete gut-and-renovation success and remains one of our favorite makeovers. The new bathroom is untouched and has an outdated toilet, so for now the first house gets the point. We expect the current one to be great once it’s updated.
The Office/Guest Bedroom/Playroom, First House:
The Office & Guest Bedroom (now separate rooms), Current House:
Winner: Current house. The multifunctional office in our first house was cozy but cramped. Having a dedicated office and a cheerful guest room with its own bath in the new house makes life and work much easier, especially when guests visit and the blog work doesn’t stop.
The Den, First House:
Winner: The first house. The den in our first home was one of our favorite rooms—warm and cozy. Our current house doesn’t have a separate den, so the first house’s comfort and charm win this round.
Dining Room, Current House:
Winner: Current house. The dining room in our new house feels special thanks to curtains we love and the dark teal on the back of the built-ins. Our first house didn’t really have a proper dining room—just a nook—so the current house wins for practicality and style.
The Laundry Area, First House:
Laundry Area, Current House:
Winner: The current house. The new laundry space feels brighter and happier even if it’s narrow. We also appreciate not having a long counter near the door collecting clutter. Folding laundry in front of the TV in the living room is oddly satisfying, too.
The Hall Bathroom, First House:
Hall Bathroom, Current House:
Winner: First house (for charm) and current house (for function). The striped walls, glass chandelier, and pedestal sink in the first house were charming. The new hall bath includes a tub that our daughter uses for baths, so it wins on practical points. For now, we’ll call it a split decision: sweetness goes to the first house, usefulness to the current one.
The Sunroom, First House:
The Sunroom, Current House:
Winner: First house. We loved the sunroom in our first home. The current one has potential and a long to-do list, so maybe it’ll catch up in a few years.
The Patio, First House:
The Patio, Current House:
Winner: Current house. The new patio is more spacious, shaded, and cozy, and we’re proud we built it ourselves. The first house’s patio was done professionally when we were rushing to our backyard wedding, so the DIY satisfaction of the new patio helps it win.
The Basement, First House:
The Basement, Current House:
Winner: First house. We invested a lot of time renovating the basement in our first home, so it’s further along. The current basement has promise; it’s just not there yet.
The Backyard, First House:
The Backyard, Current House:
Winner: First house. We miss the flat grassy yard surrounded by trees from our first home. With time and lots of landscaping work, we hope to create a similar space at the new house.
So that’s the rundown. By my count it ends up roughly nine to eight in favor of the first house, but that could easily change as we finish more rooms here. It was fun to compare and to notice how our style has evolved—while still carrying echoes of our earlier choices. Have you ever compared photos of different homes to see how your style has changed? The process of evolving a home is one of the best parts of decorating.
Psst — For a full list of where we sourced nearly every item and the paint colors we used in our first house, check our room-by-room source list; we’re still compiling one for the current house.