Q: I would like to know your guys’ thought process BEFORE you start a big project (like your kitchen, living room, bathroom, a nursery, etc). Could you delve into how you ‘read’ a BEFORE and how to consider function along with style? Where/what do you research? How do you decide which projects to do when? What makes a project top priority while others take the backseat for a while? How do you determine your budget? How do you live with the mess while a project is going on? Basically, how do you mentally and physically get from BEFORE to AFTER? Lots of questions, sorry. On a lighter note, how do you unwind and NOT think about every single thing that you want to improve all the time? Sometimes I feel CRAZY making my mental home improvement list! Thanks for all the inspiration and hard work. – Dana
A: Great question. We get variations of this all the time, and although there’s not a single rigid formula, our approach has some consistent principles that guide how we move from “before” to “after.” We’ll walk through our mindset, how we research, how we prioritize and budget, and how we live with ongoing projects without losing our minds.
First, inspiration and practicality both matter. Sometimes a project begins because we’re suddenly inspired; other times we choose something simple and manageable while waiting for motivation and available energy to tackle bigger jobs. The amount of research depends on the task—electrical work prompts more careful study and safety precautions, while selecting curtains might simply involve trying a few options in person and returning the ones that don’t work.
Budgeting is straightforward for us: we know our limits and don’t buy things we can’t afford. That constraint forces creativity and smarter decisions—finding affordable alternatives or clever workarounds that achieve the look without breaking the bank. Often those solutions are better suited to our home than an expensive, one-size-fits-all purchase.
When it comes to prioritizing, we learned early on that completing one project at a time keeps the house livable and our morale high. Spreading multiple rooms across a few weeks can leave the whole house feeling like a war zone. Instead, we try to focus 100% on one space until it’s functional and mostly finished, then move on. That approach makes progress visible and prevents burnout.
Here’s a concrete example: our living room. When we moved in, we didn’t immediately know how we’d use each room. We lived with the space for a while, learned what we needed, and then started with low-risk, high-impact changes. We removed an outdated wooden divider, patched and sanded the wall, and swapped heavy dated curtains for simple blinds to freshen the look. Next came paint—our first color choice wasn’t perfect, but getting color on the walls and repainting trim brightened the room and gave us something to build on.
Furniture evolved slowly. Moving from a small city apartment meant we started with hand-me-downs and thrift-shop finds while saving for pieces we truly loved. We upgraded one item at a time—a new coffee table, floating shelves for a built-in feel, a larger sofa when we found one that matched our budget—and improvised when needed. Small, affordable swaps like rugs, lamps, and a painted hand-me-down mirror helped the space feel cohesive without major expense.
Once the basics were in place, we tackled more permanent changes: repainting with a better color palette, widening a doorway to add a dining area, installing crown molding for polish, and staining floors to match adjoining rooms. Each step happened when we were ready financially and emotionally, not all at once.
For smaller projects like a nursery for my sister-in-law, we followed a clear checklist that balanced function and style:
- Choose a focal fabric or crib sheet to define the color palette.
- Paint the room to coordinate with the chosen palette and the rest of the house.
- Ensure must-haves are covered: a safe sleep space, a nursing chair, a changing surface, and storage for toys and clothes.
- Add personality with modern, whimsical details like vertical striping or playful art.
- Brighten windowless spaces with mirrors and layered lighting to make the room feel airy.
- Finish with functional accents—hooks, baskets, simple shelving—that support everyday use.
We paced the nursery work over several weeks, typically spending a day a week on it. That schedule gave us time away to regroup and ensured decisions felt thoughtful rather than rushed. We also made sure to take breaks—short outings, treats, or a movie—to avoid doomscrolling our to-do list and to keep the process enjoyable.
Some final guiding principles: live with things for a bit before committing to major changes; let needs and preferences evolve naturally; focus on one room or task at a time; use constraints to spur creativity; and don’t be afraid to step back when a project feels overwhelming. Many of our best solutions—like alternative storage options or creative room reconfigurations—came from patience and experimentation rather than instant decisions.
Bottom line: balance inspiration with practicality, prioritize livability and function, budget within your means, and pace yourself so projects remain enjoyable. Happy renovating—take breaks, keep your goals flexible, and let your home evolve at a realistic pace.