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 all the time questionable). In these years, this home has been half house, half challenge. If I had been to plot that on a continuum, with the left excessive of that continuum being 100% challenge, and the correct excessive of that continuum being 100% house, 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 really felt like “house” to us.
This was very clearly another person’s house. And after it was not their house, it sat vacant for a couple of years. So whereas we held the keys and the mortgage, this was most undoubtedly not “house” for us. I’m certain that anybody who buys a home, whether or not it’s new building or an previous fixer higher, feels the identical manner. 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 can read more about that 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 every little thing. The home wanted a brand new HVAC system and a lot extra earlier than I may even get to the enjoyable adorning half.
The large tasks that I did early on — the kitchen transform and the hallway lavatory 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% house and 85% challenge. It wasn’t till round 2021, after I lastly completed the lounge and music room, and at last discovered my adorning model, 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 really feeling like house.
Clearly, the factor that pushed me the closest to the correct finish of that continuum was ending our bed room suite. As soon as we lastly had a correct master suite that I actually love, a big lavatory 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 house. This home isn’t only a large DIY challenge anymore. It truly is our house. And it feels like house.
I’m nonetheless not fairly on the excessive proper finish of that continuum. I gained’t be there till all the rooms are completed. I’m not speaking concerning the small adorning adjustments that I’d wish to make alongside the way in which (a few of which I identified in yesterday’s publish). Making small adorning adjustments alongside the way in which is only a regular a part of having a house. I’m speaking concerning the huge stuff. I’m speaking about each room having a function, and every little thing having a spot.
We’re not fairly there but, so proper now, so proper now I’m feeling like this home is about 90% house and 10% challenge. So yesterday night, after I lastly had an opportunity to sit down at my desk with my pc, I made a decision to look over my 2026 House Objectives record once more to get refocused on my targets. And as I learn via these, I noticed simply how shut I’m to being finished. So I made a decision to make one other color-coded ground plan in order that I may visually see simply how far I’ve come, and simply how far I nonetheless should go.
And let me let you know, this was extremely motivating! All the completed areas of our home are within the pink. Simply look how a lot pink there may be now! You’ll discover that there are two rooms which can be somewhat darker pink than the remainder — the kitchen and the pantry. These are two rooms which can be 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 look completed. And if I by no means get to make these adjustments I wish to make, I can dwell with what I’ve and be completely blissful.
However so far as the areas that want important 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 would like this room to be transformed again right into a eating room. However there’s no building or transforming wanted in any respect. It’s all simply furnishings and decor. It will be really easy to get that completed up!
The storage closet is a little bit of a much bigger challenge. As , it’s at present a rest room, so every little thing must be taken out. As soon as that’s finished, I don’t know if the drywall will should be changed or repaired. The flooring will should be changed or crammed in, however the tile that’s in there proper now isn’t obtainable anymore, so I believe all the flooring must get replaced. After which I want 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 primary causes I’m stalled on that challenge. However I’m consistently pondering via choices, so I must be prepared to begin on it fairly quickly.
The most important challenge left is the sunroom. Will probably be probably 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 dimension 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 a replacement, I don’t wish to spend a lot cash in any respect on making this room usable for the close to future. However the dimension 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 obtained so excited after I noticed that color-coded ground plan. Simply three extra rooms, y’all. As soon as these are finished, each space inside our house can have an outlined function and every little thing shall be as a replacement. Will probably be a house that’s absolutely 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 shall be completely content material with what I’ve. And I’ll lastly be at that “100% house” level on the continuum.
I’ll nonetheless have loads to do, although. Don’t overlook, 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 can learn more about me here.
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