Warning: this update is longer than a bite-sized TV recap, so feel free to skim or return to it in small chunks. This list began after readers asked how we manage our to-do pile. We explained that we keep one long running document, and because people wanted to see and follow our changes, we started sharing and updating it. It’s overdue for a tidy revision, so this version is organized by room, separates finished items from remaining tasks, and includes an estimated percent complete for each area.
-The Front Yard (25% complete)-
Done:
- Pruned and limbed up the magnolia.
- Removed overgrown bushes that obscured the house.
- Refreshed several garden beds and added new landscaping.
To Do:
- Transplant, plant, and trim remaining beds (we’ve improved three of roughly ten).
- Modify the roofline in front to add peaks for better dimension and visual cohesion with the back of the house.
-The Front Porch / House Facade (35% complete)-
Done:
- Furnished the porch with pieces from our previous home.
- Planted shrubs and seasonal flowers.
- Painted the front door a cheerful yellow.
To Do:
- Frame porch columns to create chunky, square posts instead of ornate, curvy ones.
- Stain the concrete porch floor for a finished look.
- Paint siding a moody gray and trim a crisp white.
- Add window boxes and shutters to side and back windows.
-The Carport / Garage (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Convert the carport into an enclosed garage, deciding on windows, door style, and finishes.
- Add a trellis arch around the new garage door for a lush, welcoming look.
- Replace the light fixture with a large, lantern-style option.
-The Living Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls and gray-washed ceiling beams.
- Installed curtains and added a large sectional and rug suitable for the room’s scale.
- Built a console and upgraded to a larger TV.
To Do:
- Add art to bare walls and introduce furniture in the corners near the kitchen.
- Build or upcycle a larger media cabinet for the TV and consider a tall armoire or bookcase on the sofa wall.
- Install French doors (including the hallway door to the deck) — three total.
- Convert the kitchen fireplace into a double-sided unit that opens to the living room.
- Create coffered ceiling details by turning the exposed beams into boxed sections for a more refined look.
- Refinish hardwood floors at a later date.
-The Office (85% complete)-
Done:
- Built-in desk, painted and stenciled walls, and updated seating with reupholstered chairs.
- Refreshed the chandelier with new color and a large shade, added a file cabinet for function.
To Do:
- Fill in some bare walls with art or shelving and install window treatments.
- Add French doors between the dining room and office for privacy and architectural interest.
- Refinish floors eventually.
-The Hall Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain, added window trim to balance the space, and installed a new light above the mirror.
To Do:
- Paint walls, frame the mirror, hang art, and update the vanity and hardware.
- Add window treatments, replace doorknobs and hinges, and finish accessories.
-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-
Done:
- Completed a frame collage and placed a console table; no major changes planned.
To Do:
- Add a patterned runner and eventually refinish the floors.
-The Small Hallway (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Add wainscoting, crown molding, and either paint or wallpaper above the wainscot.
- Hang art, update the light fixture, replace hollow-core doors with solid paneled doors, refresh hardware, and refinish floors.
-The Dining Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, refreshed built-ins with dark teal backs, made curtains, and brought in a large round table, art, and a chippy buffet.
To Do:
- Define the entryway area with art and accessories, personalize the buffet artwork, and add a statement light fixture.
- Resolve dining chair preferences and build a large lazy Susan for the table center.
- Refinish the floors when timing is right.
-The Laundry Room (95% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, removed shutters, frosted the side door, painted cabinets and swapped hardware, replaced appliances and flooring with cork, added built-ins, art, a clothespin chandelier, and a wall-mounted ironing board.
To Do:
- Consider a window treatment for privacy and style.
-The Kitchen (85% complete)-
Done:
- Painted paneling and brick, installed energy-efficient stainless appliances, opened the kitchen to the dining room, upgraded lighting, rearranged cabinets, painted cabinets with new hardware, installed white solid-surface counters, tiled a full backsplash, added floating shelves, concealed a microwave with a built cabinet, installed a range hood with a wood cover, replaced flooring with dark cork, and added stools, art, and a sitting area rug by the fireplace.
To Do:
- Add trim to the back of the peninsula, install window treatments, and consider a message board on the pantry side.
- Upgrade crown moulding to match other rooms, finish the sitting area, revisit cabinet-top trim, refine the hood, and decide whether to repaint the walls.
- Eventually reface the fireplace with a chunky wood mantel and a stone or tile surround and hearth.
-The Playroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet — the room currently stores project materials.
To Do:
- Clear out secret book projects and other items, then paint, furnish, and accessorize. The plan is for this to be Clara’s future big-girl room; a daybed retrofit with a built-in look and trundle is on our list. Update hardware and refinish floors down the line.
-Clara’s Room (80% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, installed curtains, moved in furniture, hung art, added storage baskets, installed a vintage capiz chandelier, built a play kitchen, and refreshed the closet into a cozy reading nook.
To Do:
- Add more art, install crown molding, consider ceiling paint or stencil, refresh hardware, refinish floors, and adapt the room if a second child changes the layout.
-The Sunroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Currently furnished with pieces moved from the previous house and holding project clutter.
To Do:
- Paint high, lofted walls, whitewash the brick, furnish thoughtfully, add window treatments, upgrade the ceiling fan or lighting, install French doors, add shelving or built-ins, hang art, create a ceiling feature for visual interest, and eventually replace the existing tile.
-Our Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Removed dated bifold doors, added a mirror above the sink, removed an off-center medicine cabinet and a granite backsplash, bought a new bed, repainted walls, installed a playful chandelier, hung art and curtains, rearranged furniture, and built an upholstered headboard.
To Do:
- Convert a window to a French door to access the deck, add furniture to a bare wall, consider raising the ceiling to follow the roofline, update the sink vanity and its tile, add a longer bench at the foot of the bed, install French doors for added architecture, refresh hardware, paint or paper the closet, add molding to built-ins, and refinish floors.
-Our Bathroom (75% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain, painted walls, added art, painted trim glossy white, frosted the window, replaced the toilet and central pendant, and updated the tile to white glass subway tile.
To Do:
- Retile the floor (considering gray hex tiles), reglaze beige tile to bright white if needed, and refresh hardware finishes.
-The Guest Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Painted and furnished the space primarily with leftover pieces, plus curtains and a mirror.
To Do:
- Add crown molding, hang art, make the round mirror pop, replace worn furniture, refresh hardware, and refinish the floors.
-The Guest Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Removed an awkward door mirror, added a shower curtain and mat, hung art, and replaced the sink mirror and light fixture.
To Do:
- Paint, consider tile updates, install a glass shower door, frost the window, refresh hardware, and hang more art.
-The Basement Workshop (0% complete)-
Done:
- Not yet started.
To Do:
- Clear the clutter, organize tools and materials, paint or seal the concrete floor, and build storage for a usable workshop space.
-The Side Lot (10% complete)-
Done:
- Planted two trees to get started.
To Do:
- Plant many more trees to naturalize the area into an orchard-style space and reduce weeds.
-The Deck (60% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared brush, finalized and permitted a deck plan, demoed the old balcony, set posts, framed, and completed deck boards.
To Do:
- Finish railings and steps, furnish with dining furniture and planters, add either a pergola or string lighting, plant screening greenery, and create a paver patio beyond the deck for the grill.
-The Patio (70% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared weeds and dead trees, purchased materials, leveled and installed gravel and sand, laid pavers with a custom curved edge, landscaped, and built a play rock box with a rain barrel for water conservation.
To Do:
- Furnish properly, add lighting, and introduce outdoor activities such as a chalkboard wall or a small play slide for Clara.
-The Backyard (0% complete)-
Done:
- Built a compost bin.
To Do:
- Remove invasive ivy, clear overgrown beds to create more lawn space for kids and dogs, replace a wandering brick path with grass, plant trees for privacy, add raised vegetable beds, relocate shrubs for better placement, reseed bare patches, repair the basement door and screen, build a swingset, add a storage shed, hang a tree swing, and dream about a modest in-ground saltwater pool.
We’ll tackle many of these projects over the next few years — our previous house took 4.5 years to finish. We try to enjoy the process, take projects one at a time, and celebrate each completed item. Our approach to project order is flexible: we mix big, long-term plans with bite-sized tasks to keep momentum and motivation. What about you — how do you manage your house to-do list? Do you use an app, a notebook, or a single running document? How do you choose what to work on next?