Packing up our house is underway while floors are being laid in the new place. Before we leave this home we love, here’s an updated Listy McListerson of projects we finished—and a few ideas we would have loved to tackle if we’d stayed longer. It’s long, but it’s a good look back at what we accomplished.
– The Front Yard: Complete! –
Completed:
- Limbed up the magnolia so it no longer blocks the house.
- Removed overgrown bushes that hid the front of the house.
- Planted grass in bare areas after relocating shrubs.
– The Front Porch: Complete! –
Completed:
- Furnished the porch with pieces repurposed from our previous home.
- Planted shrubs and flowers to soften the space.
- Painted the front door a cheerful yellow.
- Framed the porch columns to create square, chunky supports that match the carport.
- Added window boxes around the house and filled them with seasonal plants.
- Painted the porch siding a contrasting color to make the yellow door pop.
– The Carport: Complete! –
Completed:
- Replaced the tiny light fixture with a large black lantern.
- Added a left-side column for balance and built a pergola to add architectural interest.
– The Living Room: Complete! –
Completed:
- Painted walls and updated trim that was previously dark wood.
- Gray-washed the ceiling beams for a lighter feel.
- Added a new sectional that we love.
- Built a console to sit behind the sectional and installed a larger media cabinet found secondhand.
- Hung subtle patterned curtains and added a new rug, ottoman, and desk chair.
- Constructed a leaning chalkboard to balance the sliding door and built a shelf above the TV for the awkward space.
- Installed overhead lighting where there was none—a pendant over the table area and recessed cans.
– The Office: Complete! –
Completed:
- Built a custom double desk that spans the room.
- Painted and upholstered secondhand chairs for a refreshed look.
- Stenciled the walls and added sentimental art.
- Modernized the brass chandelier with paint, new bulbs, and a giant shade.
- Added storage with a file cabinet and introduced bamboo blinds for texture.
– Hall Bathrooms & Hallways: Complete! –
Completed:
- Raised shower curtains and added window trim to balance the hall bathroom, installed a new light above the mirror, painted walls, framed the mirror, and added shelving and updated knobs.
- In hallways we added a frame collage, board and batten, crown molding, swapped out old knobs and lighting, and hung playful calendar art.
– The Dining Room: Complete! –
Completed:
- Painted the walls and dark teal back wall of the built-ins.
- Hung homemade curtains and installed a large round dining table with matching chairs.
- Brought in a chippy painted buffet, personalized yard-sale art, and a substantial light fixture over the table.
– The Laundry Room: Complete! –
Completed:
- Painted walls, removed old shutters, frosted the large side door, and updated cabinetry and hardware.
- Replaced the washer and dryer with energy-efficient models and built custom shelving beside them.
- Replaced laminate with cork flooring, added art, a clothespin chandelier, and mounted the ironing board to save space.
– The Kitchen: Complete! –
Completed:
- Painted the brick fireplace, primed and painted paneling, and replaced mismatched appliances with stainless, energy-efficient models.
- Opened a large pass-through to the dining room, updated lighting with recessed cans and glass pendants, and rearranged cabinets to add a peninsula.
- Painted cabinets and added new hardware, replaced granite with white Corian counters, tiled a ceiling-high backsplash, and added open shelves.
- Built a microwave cabinet with ventilation, installed a range hood cover, replaced laminate with dark cork flooring, and added stools for the peninsula.
- Defined a sitting area by the fireplace with a rug and made a fabric window shade for the sink. Added crown molding to the cabinet tops and refaced the fireplace with a new mantel and herringbone marble surround.
– Playroom, Nursery & Kids’ Spaces: Complete! –
Completed:
- Cleared clutter via yard sale and donations, painted the playroom, added curtains, a rug, child-sized table and chairs, and storage with a nine-drawer dresser.
- Replaced the ceiling fan with a pendant and created a meaningful frame collage. Cleared the closet so it could function as toy storage and refreshed bedding for the daybed.
- In the nursery we painted, added existing furniture, replaced the light fixture with a capiz chandelier, built a play kitchen and fridge, and added crown molding.
- Converted Clara’s closet by removing bifold doors, painting, stamping the walls, and sewing a beanbag for a cozy reading nook.
– Sunroom, Bedroom & Sink Nook: Complete! –
Completed:
- In the sunroom we painted walls and the odd brick box, spray-painted hardware to oil-rubbed bronze, added furnishings from what we had, hung art and window treatments, and added a bookcase for storage.
- In our bedroom we bought a new bed, painted and repainted the walls, swapped the fan for an Ikea chandelier, added curtains and art, made an upholstered headboard, and rearranged furniture so the room finally worked.
- The sink nook had dated bifold doors removed, a mirror installed over the sink, the granite backsplash removed to feel more furniture-like, and upgraded cabinet knobs.
– Bathrooms, Guest Rooms & Basement Workshop: Complete! –
Completed:
- Main bathroom: raised shower curtain height, painted, centered new lighting, frosted the window, replaced the toilet, and updated tile and fixtures.
- Guest bedroom: primed and painted, furnished with leftover items, hung curtains and a mirror, added crown molding and a larger mirror over the bed.
- Guest bathroom: removed an awkward mirror, added a new shower curtain and bath mat, replaced mirror and light fixture, painted walls and trim, frosted the window, and finished with art and accessories.
- Basement workshop: cleared junk with donations and a Bagster, organized tools and paint on pegboards, labeled screws and nails in jars, framed and painted pegboards, and added functional shelving and sawdust-proof art over the workspace.
– Yard, Deck & Patio: Complete! –
Completed:
- Planted two trees on the side lot and naturalized the area for a low-maintenance, woodsy look that increased privacy.
- Cleared and transplanted shrubs to prepare for a deck, mapped and permitted a deck plan, demolished an unsafe balcony, dug post holes, framed and installed deck boards, rails, and steps, and added a new French door to access it. We finished by staining/sealing, power-washing, and furnishing the deck.
- For the patio we cleared weeds and dead trees, planned and purchased materials, leveled the ground, laid gravel and sand, installed pavers with a custom curved edge, landscaped the perimeter, built a rock sandbox for Clara, and added a rain barrel to conserve water.
- In the backyard we built a compost bin, cleared overgrown beds to create more lawn space, removed invasive monkey grass, transplanted oddly placed shrubs, reseeded the grass, and removed a large vine from a tree.
It’s been a joy to look back through everything we completed. We’ll miss this house, and since a home is never truly finished, here are a few projects we would have loved to pursue if we’d stayed:
- Create a double-sided fireplace connecting the kitchen and living room (would have required a mason and structural review).
- Refinish floors throughout in a richer mocha tone to match cork floor areas for cohesive flow.
- Paint the playroom ceiling a soft teal for a playful touch.
- Replace the sunroom flooring with a material we preferred over the existing beige tile.
- Convert the bedroom window that faces the deck into a French door for better access.
- Tile the bedroom sink nook wall with a glossy material, if it didn’t feel too bathroom-like.
- Retile the bathroom floor—possibly gray hex tiles—and consider reglazing or covering existing beige wall tile for a brighter look.
- Add raised bed gardens for vegetables, fruits, and herbs and build a swingset for Clara—projects we plan to carry forward to our next home.
We’re hopeful the next owners will enjoy these updates and perhaps continue where we left off. Maybe one day we’ll “house crash” them and see what they did next!