Tag Archives: home goals

How We Did In ’16 + Goals for ’17

9 Jan

Each year we set out a list of the things we want to accomplish on the house. Here’s how we did with our 2016 goals…

  1. Finish the mudroom. Done! We shared the finished mudroom in September- it is still one of my favorite spaces in the house. Function + Beauty! mudroom-horizontal
  2. Finish the pool fence and re-stain the deck. Done! It turned out so awesome. See more of the backyard area here.close up of fence
  3. Update the living room built-ins. Also done! We finished these in November, they really transform our whole first floor. More pics hereimg_6018
  4. Create a “big girl” room for Kate. I have one more little project to do in here and a few tweaks and should have a reveal later this month! It’s so stinkin’ cute.
  5. Finish the shed. Done, for the most part. We need to do a little more landscaping around it. Pics to come in the Spring.
  6. Build a fire pit. This did not happen. We just have some Adirondack chairs around a fire ring right now, but would love to build a stone fire pit/patio. fire pit
  7. Paint master bedroom closet. We have beautiful built ins in our master closet but they have been bare wood for 2+ years. Since no one sees our closet it keeps getting pushed off. In 2017 it will happen.
  8. Install pavers around the pool. Didn’t happen but it is a top priority for 2017.

So for 2017, we would like to accomplish the following:

  1. Install pavers around the pool.
  2. Finish Kate’s “big girl room.”
  3. Paint master bedroom closet.
  4. Build a built-in fire pit.
  5. Build a kitchen table from native New Zealand timber.
  6. Organize/clean up garage and pour a new floor.

We also have the “flip” to complete by March/April so that is our big focus right now.

 

 

How We Did in 2015 + Goals for 2016

13 Jan

Each year we set out a list of the things we want to accomplish on the house. Here’s how we did with our 2015 goals…

  1. Finish master bathroom and closet and move in to our new master. Done (mostly). We moved into the new master bedroom early in 2015 and I shared the master bathroom reveal here. We also had custom closet shelves built out and now the only thing left to do is paint them. Hope to share soon!
  2. carrera marble showerBuild out a playroom, including adding a wall and covering up a fireplace. Done! I just shared the playroom reveal this week. It is my favorite.
  3. right corner goodBuild mudroom cabinets on the opposite side of the new playroom wall. We started the cabinets, but it’s nowhere near complete. At least the mudroom is semi-functional right now. Put this one on the top of the list for 2016.
  4. IMG_0676Renovate the final bathroom upstairs. Done! You can see the full reveal here.
  5. IMG_5533Add window boxes to the front of the house. No progress made here. This may have to wait.
  6. Landscape back yard. Some progress was made here, but it is nowhere near done. I will share some photos come spring.
  7. Finish pergola on the back deck. Done! I still need to share photos of this. We love it. Again, I will share some photos in spring.
  8. Build a fire pit. Nope. We have some adirondack chairs around a fire ring, but we really want to build one in with stone. Add it to 2016!

Overall not too shabby, considering we also spent 3 months renovating an entire income property.

For 2016 our goals are to:

  1. Finish the mudroom.
  2. Paint master bedroom closet.
  3. Finish the pool fence and re-stain the deck.
  4. Install pavers around the pool.
  5. Update the living room built-ins.
  6. Finish the shed.
  7. Build a fire pit.
  8. Create a big girl room for Kate.

By the end of 2016, we will be nearly finished with major updates to the house. So exciting!

P.S. I just launched an Instagram account for the blog. Find us at 12oaksblog for progress and reveal photos! 

Home Goals 2013

21 Dec

Since there’s no better way to light a fire under your arse than a public proclamation of what you want to accomplish, here is our big ole list of what we want to achieve in 2013…

1) Put in Upstairs Hall Bathroom. This will be one of the first things we do in the New Year, since we’ve already demo’d it due to a faulty/leaky bathtub. I also already put together a mood board so we just need to get moving.

hall bathroom mood board_edited-1

2) Re-locate laundry and renovate first floor powder room. It’s still up in the air where the washer and dryer will go at the moment, but the first floor powder room is in desperate need of a makeover. The wall color actually scares me and the sink reminds me of what would be in prison. We did hang some free cabinets Ben got from work which at least adds function and covers up some of that terrible wall color. Oh yeah, did I mention this room doesn’t even have a ceiling?

IMG_2067

3) Take down a wall to create open floor plan. Taking down the wall between the living room and kitchen is one of the things we’re most excited about since it will totally change the feel of the first floor. It is a load bearing wall though, so we are going to consult a structural engineer to ensure we do it correctly without having the house fall over on us.

living room wall removed

4) Along with taking out the wall, will be adding a kitchen island and renovating the kitchen completely. We’ll try to re-purpose the cabinets and the appliances are decent, but this will definately include new floors, countertops, sink, backsplash, lighting, etc.

5) New windows. Our windows are in terrible shape. Some are broken, many don’t open, and they all have these weird blue screens. BUT we’ve already got a quote on new ones, so this will probably happen as soon as the weather gets nice enough to install them.

6) Renovate Master Bathroom. Can we re-do 3 bathrooms in 1 year? I sure hope so. We want to extend the master bathroom by taking out the closet next to it to create a much roomier space.

7)  Get the pool up and running. We of course have to wait until the weather gets nicer in the Spring, but this will be a big job that includes filling cracks, waterproofing, acid washing, painting it, testing plumbing and adding new equipment. But once it’s done, I may never leave.

Pool filling up, slowly but surely

8) Build a deck and/or patio around said pool along with landscaping around it and the rest of the property. Thankfully Ben is friends with a landscape architect so he is going to put a plan together for us. It’s a big job but will make a huge difference.

9) Add french doors off of the dining room. We’ll replace these windows with french doors leading out to the deck and/or patio.

dining room french doors_edited-1

You may notice a new light fixture in the dining room. We got it from Ballard Designs a couple weeks back. The scale isn’t quite right with the table, but Ben is going to build a new dining room table with some native New Zealand wood he has, so it should work better with a bigger table.

10) Paint the house and install new front door. I’m thinking something in the gray family to go with our new roof. I still need to share pics of it which was finished a couple days ago, but it was raining or dark every time I would be able to take a pic, and now it’s covered in snow (yay, white Christmas!)

11) Update fireplace in the den. We actually got a free chunky mantle from Ben’s work so we need to install/paint that and paint the brick or add stones or wood molding to update it.

12) Add shadowbox molding in dining room and stairs. Plus, we still need to get new railings for the stairs.

13) Put in can lights in living room. We don’t have a single light in the living room so we will add can lights. We also need to update fixtures in most rooms in the house.

14) Add hardwood floors in the entry way.  These weird green and red tile will not make the cut.

I’m probably forgetting some things, but I’d say that’s plenty to keep us busy for a year. What do you say? Think we can get it all done?