Matt and I’ve been in our present home since late 2013, so roughly 12.5 years (if I did my math proper, which is at all times questionable). In these years, this home has been half residence, half venture. If I had been to plot that on a continuum, with the left excessive of that continuum being 100% venture, and the proper excessive of that continuum being 100% residence, I’d say we began out on that excessive left finish of the continuum. It was our home simply because it was ours. We saved up for the downpayment, we signed the papers, we had the mortgage, we had the keys, and we moved in. However let’s face it. Nothing about this truly felt like “residence” to us.
This was very clearly another person’s residence. And after it was not their residence, it sat vacant for just a few years. So whereas we held the keys and the mortgage, this was most undoubtedly not “residence” for us. I’m positive that anybody who buys a home, whether or not it’s new building or an outdated fixer higher, feels the identical method. It takes some time for a home to actually begin feeling like a house.
These first few years had been fairly gradual going. As I’ve defined in a earlier publish, I actually had a tough time discovering my adorning footing on this home in these early years. (You may learn extra about that right here.) However earlier than I may even get to the adorning, I needed to begin with the fundamentals, and I had to take action on a really restricted price range. Each room was torn all the way down to the studs. Each room wanted new electrical wiring, new plumbing, new all the pieces. The home wanted a brand new HVAC system and a lot extra earlier than I may even get to the enjoyable adorning half.
The massive tasks that I did early on — the kitchen transform and the hallway rest room transform — undoubtedly helped us to maneuver additional proper on that continuum. After these remodels, I began to really feel like this home was about 15% residence and 85% venture. It wasn’t till round 2021, once I lastly completed the lounge and music room, and at last discovered my adorning type, that I moved previous that fifty% level on the continuum. And each room I’ve completed after that has helped push me additional alongside to this home actually feeling like residence.
Clearly, the factor that pushed me the closest to the proper finish of that continuum was ending our bed room suite. As soon as we lastly had a correct master suite that I really love, a big rest room that’s custom-made particularly to make life simpler for Matt, and a correct place for the washer and dryer, which simply occurs to be in a walk-in closet of my goals, it actually clicked in my thoughts that that is our residence. This home isn’t only a huge DIY venture anymore. It truly is our residence. And it seems like residence.
I’m nonetheless not fairly on the excessive proper finish of that continuum. I gained’t be there till the entire rooms are completed. I’m not speaking in regards to the small adorning adjustments that I would wish to make alongside the best way (a few of which I identified in yesterday’s publish). Making small adorning adjustments alongside the best way is only a regular a part of having a house. I’m speaking in regards to the massive stuff. I’m speaking about each room having a goal, and all the pieces having a spot.
We’re not fairly there but, so proper now, so proper now I’m feeling like this home is about 90% residence and 10% venture. So yesterday night, once I lastly had an opportunity to take a seat at my desk with my laptop, I made a decision to look over my 2026 Dwelling Targets record once more to get refocused on my objectives. And as I learn by means of these, I noticed simply how shut I’m to being performed. So I made a decision to make one other color-coded flooring plan in order that I may visually see simply how far I’ve come, and simply how far I nonetheless must go.
And let me let you know, this was extremely motivating! The entire completed areas of our home are within the pink. Simply look how a lot pink there’s now! You’ll discover that there are two rooms which are a bit of darker pink than the remaining — the kitchen and the pantry. These are two rooms which are technically “completed”, however I do have plans to make adjustments in these. Now that I’ve lived with them as they’re for some time (over ten years for the kitchen, and never fairly so lengthy for the pantry), there are adjustments I wish to make to make these areas work higher for me. However I nonetheless put them in pink as a result of, for proper now, they give the impression of being completed. And if I by no means get to make these adjustments I wish to make, I can stay with what I’ve and be completely joyful.
However so far as the areas that want vital work to be completed, there are solely three. ONLY THREE, Y’ALL!!! Look how shut I’m!
Of these three areas, the eating room (sure, I’m calling it the eating room now 😀 ) would be the best. As I’ve talked about earlier than, I poached a lot from this room to make use of in different areas of the home, so it’s very naked proper now. And it’s nonetheless arrange as a sitting room with two recliners. I need this room to be transformed again right into a eating room. However there’s no building or reworking wanted in any respect. It’s all simply furnishings and decor. It might be really easy to get that completed up!
The storage closet is a little bit of a much bigger venture. As you realize, it’s presently a toilet, so all the pieces must be taken out. As soon as that’s performed, I do not know if the drywall will have to be changed or repaired. The flooring will have to be changed or crammed in, however the tile that’s in there proper now isn’t accessible anymore, so I feel the entire flooring must get replaced. After which I would like storage. I’m nonetheless undecided about whether or not I’ll construct from scratch or purchase ready-made storage choices. That’s one of many principal causes I’m stalled on that venture. However I’m continuously considering by means of choices, so I needs to be prepared to begin on it fairly quickly.
The largest venture left is the sunroom. It will likely be essentially the most difficult as a result of (1) it’s getting used as a storage room proper now, so getting it cleared out goes to be a large endeavor, and (2) the sheer measurement of it is going to make it very difficult to get it wanting usable on a really small price range. Since I haven’t given up on the dream of tearing this room down and constructing an addition as an alternative, I don’t wish to spend a lot cash in any respect on making this room usable for the close to future. However the measurement of the room will make that very difficult. I’m up for the problem, although, and I’m feeling very enthusiastic about tackling it.
However all that to say…I ONLY HAVE THREE MORE ROOMS!!! I acquired so excited once I noticed that color-coded flooring plan. Simply three extra rooms, y’all. As soon as these are performed, each space inside our residence could have an outlined goal and all the pieces will likely be as an alternative. It will likely be a house that’s totally useful for us. And at that time, even when I by no means see my dream of a kitchen transform or a brand new addition on the again of our home realized, I will likely be completely content material with what I’ve. And I’ll lastly be at that “100% residence” level on the continuum.
I’ll nonetheless have loads to do, although. Don’t neglect, I’ve a complete panorama plan that I nonetheless haven’t touched! 😀
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and beautify the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You may be taught extra about me right here.
