I made the big list of everything that I needed to do to the house ages ago, back in 2012, and have barely referred to it since. Because it makes me hyperventilate. And then drink. It isn't good for my health.
But lately, while I'm hanging out waiting for the work week to become the weekend, waiting for the free time to get going on more progress, I was wondering how things have gone since I introduced it.
I'm not going to go in the original order, and I'm not going to comment on the whole thing, but I thought I'd hit some highlights.
Some things have hardly any progress at all, but that's because they're mostly done, like my oldest son's bedroom:
You can read the original posts for this room here and here. But there are still items on the list. They just aren't super-big priorities.
Second Bedroom, first floor
Paint trim
Organize first closet
Organize second closet
Repair and update electrical
Other rooms got just one big thing, like my 14-year-old's music studio closet:
You can read about that adventure here. Again, there are still items on the list, especially painting trim, to do in this room. But again, not pressing when there are so many things with bigger impact needing attention elsewhere.
First Bedroom, first floor
Hang blinds
Paint trim
Organize storage in second closet
Update/repair electrical outlets
Living Room
Paint ceiling and walls
Paint trim
Install and paint new quarter-round molding
Finish lampshade on small lamp
Finish (or remove?) small alcoves on fireplace wall
Make/hang curtains
Find/edit/hang artowork for walls
But the place where the progress was most satisfying happened in my bedroom, where I'm still working on having a grown-up lady space.
First Bedroom, second floor (master)
Replace drywall on South wall
Install baseboard molding/trim in alcove
Plaster/sand in room
Paint ceiling/walls in room
Paint floor in room
Stencil floor in room
Install baseboard molding/trim in room
Paint trim
Rug
Furnishing
Select/hang art
Make/hang curtains
Organize/paint closet
Replace ceiling light
The place where I've made far and away the most improvements has been outdoor property improvements. I guess it figures, since I'd rather garden than anything else:
Outdoor property
Edge front foundation bed with permanent stone edging
Landscape front foundation with shrubs, tree, and perennials
Develop replacement landscape bed for tree
Paint outdoor rug
other decorative elements
Build fence on back property line
Plan/build perennial beds along garage foundation, back property line
Short term:
Replace deck railing with something better
stain deck
Long term:
Demolish deck
Install brick patio/stoop with wrought iron railing
In total, I've crossed 31 items off my Big List since August 2012. Not bad. It's been slower than I thought, but better than I remember. The rest of the list follows after this parting photo, of the lilies from about a week ago, though the air was so humid the image isn't sharp. They weren't here three years ago either, which is a good reminder that wonderful things take time. Onward!
Wallpaper
Tile floor
Paint trim
Paint interior front door
Find area rug
Hang art
Organize coat closet
Dining Room
Remove carpet staples
Remove vinyl wallpaper
Paint
Paint built-ins and trim
Find additional dining chairs
Sell hutch/find more period appropriate one
Find/hang suitable blinds
Make/hang curtains
Rearrange dishes/art in built-ins
Find/edit/hang artwork on walls
Find/repair/doorbell operations
Kitchen
Replace flooring with new
Replace doorwall
Replace window in eat-in
Replace dishwasher
Reorganize pantry
First Floor Bathroom
Short Term:
Install new molding
Replace wall mirror
Replace countertop
Replace sink/faucet
Make/hang curtain
Replace cabinet hardware
Find/hang/arrange art
Long term:
Reglaze porcelain on tub
Tile shower and floor area
Install shower door
Install tile floor
Front Room
Repair/replace TV nook wall
Repair/revive wood paneling
Replace light fixture with vintage
Find bench/coat-hook arrangmenet
First Floor Hallway
Paint
Paint floor/replace floor/tile floor?
Paint trim
Carpet runner
Organize hall linen closet
Second bedroom, second floor
Find lamps for nightstands
Paint trim
Upstairs bathroom
Short term:
Prime/paint old floor
Prime/paint old vanity
Find open shelf system for toiletries
Find vintage laundry hamper
Repair/sand/prime walls
Paint
Towel bars
Arrange/hang decorative items
Replace old medicine cabinet
Long term:
Replace vanity with pedestal sink
Install mosaic tile flooring
Basement lounge/study
Demolish old ceiling tiles
Revive old VCT flooring
Update/repair electrical
Paint
Make curtains
Find credenza for TV console
Television
Rug
Find/arrange/hang decorative items
End tables
Coffe table
Pillows
Sofa
Books/display/storage
Find computer table
Basement laundry room
Countertop over new w/d for folding
repair missing vinyl floor tiles
Paint
Clean and paint cupboards
Basement Darkroom
Short term:
Clean out junk
Bleach walls
Moisture barrier paint
Long term:
Full shower bath?
Craft/work room
Bleach walls
Moisture barrier paint
Paint floor
Organize tools and craft area
Make/hang curtains
Rug
Task lighting
Hang storage shelves
Repair/update electrical/lighting
Toilet?
Structural/systems/maintenance
Paint exterior
Inspect fireplace and chimney
Replace attic fan
New roofing/insulation/attic ventilations
New basement casement windows
New storm windows, whole house
Selected windows, replacement
Garage
Clean garage attic
Paint garage
Roof garage/properly ventilate
Plan/organize/ potting shed
Organize garage storage.
Replace side entry door and lock
Love that stenciled floor. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan!
DeleteI think you've made tons of progress for 3 years. Sometimes I get discouraged when I see how much other bloggers are able to accomplish, but I keep reminding myself, gotta run my own race. And I'm glad to see that someone else prioritizes painting trim the same way I do. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you have done much as well. It's such a slow process (interspersed with bouts of no progress) that we never feel quite as accomplished as we'd like. Besides, I think blog time is sort of condensed and skewed, like those home improvement shows that make you feel like a room make-over happened in half an hour. I wish!
DeleteThere's no such thing as 'no progress' in an old house. Sometimes we turn our backs on projects to live our lives, but we still get things done.
ReplyDeletePart of me admires your ability to make a big list of things to do in your house. The other (larger) part of me reads your list and is trying to keep my head from exploding. We are to the final finishing stages in some of our rooms and a list of niggly little remaining items would probably be helpful. My husband is a list maker, and I am vehemently NOT a list maker ... perhaps we could come up with a compromise list.
This is something I've struggled with philosophically since I moved into this house. And I'm NOT a list maker, at all. Especially when lists this long overwhelm; it's why I haven't reviewed it in over two years. Just exactly for the reason you mention, that head-explody thing. :)
DeleteThose are lovely lilies. Are they some dwarf variety?
ReplyDeleteKaren Anne, these are the pastels shade Asiatic lily mix from White Flower Farm. They are ranging in height from about two feet to four. They have been really fantastic!
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