2013 Home Goals

Our homeownership anniversary just passed.  We've been homeowner for 7 years now!  I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but when we bought our home it was supposed to be our starter home.  And at the time is was the perfect size for a mommy and a daddy and two kiddos.  It's a three bedroom, 1 bath ranch home that's as old as my husband and I are.  We planned to stay three to four years and then upgrade.  Wouldn't you know it though?  We fell in love with this too small house and it's location.  It's got potential, people!  So we moved from the starter home mindset to the forever home mindset.  For one of us, it lit a fire under us to get it done and for the other person, it meant we could take our time.  I'll let you figure out who's who.  The big layoff in 2012 put that to a screeching halt though and being able to save our home became the priority.  It also made us realize just how much we really did want to be here.  So, with seven years of living here under our belts, we've made a list of projects we'd like to accomplish.  Some we'll finish this year, others we won't and that's okay!  We don't plan to go into debt so some big things, like the kitchen reno, will take more time.  This is just an interior list.  Exterior is a whole other post.

Living Room/Hallway

• Cover/disguise/hide window looking into carport.
• Paint ceiling in living room and hallway.
• Hang wallpaper in living room and hallway.  (I'll be posting a tutorial on paintable wallpaper in the future!)
• Beef up moldings in living room and hallway and caulk and paint them.
• Repaint board and batten wainscoting on living room walls.  (This actually turned into taking down the board and batten and redoing it.)
• Replace or restyle light fixtures--DONE!  We took the two hallway lights and the ceiling fan down and repainted them in oil rubbed bronze.  The whole project cost about $10!
• Paint cabinets next to mantel? Paint mantel?  I'm playing this one by ear until the room comes together.
• Replace hinges on front door.  Possibly replace front door eventually.  It's a standard 6 panel steel door right now and it's okay.  We'll reevaluate that once some other projects are completed.
• Window treatments.
• Reupholster ottoman.
• Area rug.
• Wall decor, throw pillows and other accessories.

Dining Area

• Repaint ceiling.
• Convert window to patio door.
• Repair wall from conversion.
• Hang wallpaper and paint.
• Beef up moldings and caulk and paint them. 
• Replace flooring.
• Sand and stain dining table.
• Build and upholster dining benches.
• Buy two new dining chairs. 

Kitchen

• Renovate.  I'm not even sure what we'll salvage.  I say scrap it and start from scratch though.  ;-)

Carport

• We have plans to close the carport in this year for a playroom for the kids.  We're calling it the "Young Man Cave."  Will post more as the time draws near!  (We offered the room to Lil B and he said he'd rather continue to share a bedroom with his brothers in exchange for a really awesome playroom, so we aren't forcing him to continue to share.)

Craft/Laundry Room

• We must figure out a better washer and dryer placement.  It's terrible right now and there is so much wasted space.  If nothing else, we will have to move the dryer vent because it blows out onto the carport now.
• Organize craft supplies.

Nursery

• Toy storage. Other than that, I'm calling this room "done" until she moves in to a big girl bed.

Boys Room

• Reconfigure sleeping space.  Not crazy about bunk beds, so this will require some real planning.
• Paint ceiling, walls, and trim.
• Bedding.
• Window Treatments.
• Steam clean carpets. 
• Replace closet and entry doors as well as door hardware.

Master Bedroom

• Paint ceiling, walls, and trim
• Replace closet and entry doors as well as door hardware.
• Bedding.
• Window Treatments.
• Flooring. (You can read about why it needs new flooring here.

Bathroom

• This room also needs a full reno.  Paneling in a bathroom--need I say more?  We also desperately need a vent fan in this room.

I will update as projects are completed and I'm sure I will think of things to add as time goes on too!  Any home goals for you in 2013? 

Jen