Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Creating my Home Office

One of the first big tasks on my list for the new home was getting my home office up and running. If you remember, it looked like this when we first moved in:


The walls were covered in a beige stripe wallpaper. It wasn't a bad paper, but it was peeling in a few places and since I knew I would need to be putting in a lot of screws and screw anchors (my pegboard alone needs 6) I decided that to do things right we should take down the paper.

So, on the Monday before my parents arrived, I started peeling the wallpaper.


I used a spray product called Dif, which was recommended by the employees at our good local paint store. Most of the wallpaper came off pretty easily, since it turned out the wall was completely textured underneath. I did have to work hard at the seams, where the paste seemed to be strongest, but overall it wasn't a bad project.

When the wallpaper was stripped, it was clear that the ceiling was actually a beige, not white. Since I planned to paint the walls a blue-gray, I had to paint the ceiling. So, I spent the next two days painting the ceiling, patching and painting trim, and finally painting the walls.

After three long days of working in this room, I got a smidge jealous of certain home bloggers whose husbands help with the painting -- I did all of this while Sean was at work! And my back and shoulders sure felt it.

Finally, with some help from my dad to hang the shelves and pegboard, here is what I'm working in:



There is still plenty of work to do in here, but at least now I can comfortably work at both the computer and the drafting table, and I can start unloading all those boxes of office books!


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Linked up to:
A Bowl Full of Lemons

Monday, November 17, 2014

Our New Home and a Giant To Do List

Well, I promised this post back at the end of October, and now it's mid-November. It's been quite a whirlwind month, and blogging fell to the back of my priorities. Sorry for the delay, though those of you who know me in real life have likely seen many of the pictures on Facebook. When life gets crazy, I just try to remember that I do this for myself, and if I miss posting to the internet because I'm living real life I think that's perfectly OK!


I'm so excited to share some pictures of our new home today! Here you'll see it vacant, but as we get unpacked and settled I will share how we turn this blank slate into our home.

My incredibly long to-do list is inspired by the lists shared by Young House Love -- I can be very detail oriented yet also disorganized so their method of sharing long, detailed to-do lists is exactly what I need to stay on top of this homeowner project! Keep in mind that some of the items on this list, like finishing out the basement, are on the long-term list. Long-term could mean 10 years, but we know it's something we eventually want to do.

Because of my delay in posting this list, some things are already checked off. Yay progress!

Exterior
Living Design New Home
  • reseal driveway
  • repaint exterior next spring -- the colors are fine, but there are some places that are chipping and our inspector recommended taking care of it within the year

Yard & Back Deck
Living Design New Home

  • remove old satellite dish to give access to electrical panel
  • door mat by sliding door
  • repair/replace back deck steps
  • weed front yard
  • planters on back deck
  • get bird feeders
  • plan & plant veggie garden
  • plant fruit trees
  • install compost bin
  • build chicken coop & run

Front Porch
  • new welcome mat
  • potted plants on either side of entry/near bay window

Entryway

Living Design New Home
  • paint
  • update light fixture
  • turn coat closet back into coat closet (it currently has wire shelves, but we would like to hang coats in there)
  • figure out some shoe storage near door
  • get runner
  • get coat rack/hat stand for corner in stairs -- something that is functional, but also provides visual interest

Living Room
Living Design New Home

  • fix drywall patches
  • paint
  • repair windows with broken sashes: living room left
  • hang art
  • get rug

Dining Room
Living Design New Home

  • fix drywall patches
  • patch trim
  • install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
  • paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
  • paint upper part of walls
  • update light fixture
  • get rug
  • new dining room chairs

Office
  • Living Design New Home
    remove wallpaper
  • patch & paint trim
  • paint walls
  • new window treatments
  • hang shelves
  • remove closet doors, turn closet into filing/bookshelf area

Kitchen
Living Design New Home

  • new fridge
  • caulk around kitchen sink
  • paint
  • update knobs
  • update light fixtures
  • update appliances to stainless steel when needed
  • eventually replace countertops & sink; change out range for gas

Family Room
Living Design New Home

  • get fireplace gas adjusted correctly (currently burns too orange)
  • change out surround sound for something less visually obtrusive -- speakers mounted flush into the wall? white?
  • paint
  • get rug
  • new larger couch, larger coffee table

Downstairs Bath
  • paint
  • update vanity & fixtures

Downstairs Hallway
  • paint
  • hang art
  • get runner
  • update thermostat?

Laundry Room
  • paint
  • buy washer & dryer
  • install folding shelf over washer & dryer
  • get wall hanger for iron & ironing board
  • figure out closet organization

Garage
  • fix garage door opener
  • build work bench
  • add storage for bikes, shovels, tools etc.

Stairs & Upstairs Hallway
  • paint
  • remove carpet on stairs, put in hardwood with runner
  • refinish banister

Master Bedroom
Living Design New Home

  • patch holes in drywall
  • paint

Master Bath & Closet
Living Design New Home

  • replace lightbulb in closet
  • get plumber in to install new wax ring on master toilet
  • fix grout in master shower
  • paint
  • new towel bars
  • fix linen closet doors -- they currently rub each other
  • update mirror & light fixtures
  • new closet organization system?
  • Update shower

Guest Room & Bath
Living Design New Home

  • touch up enamel in upstairs guest bathroom sink
  • repair windows with broken sashes: guest bathroom
  • patch trim, remove half finished framing below chair rail
  • install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail? Or finish out wainscoting framing like they did near the window?
  • paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
  • paint wall above chair rail
  • paint bathroom
  • get furniture for our holiday guests!
  • replace ceiling fan blades
  • new window treatments
  • update mirror & window treatments
  • update vanity
  • replace bathroom window with safety glass

Future Kid Room 1 (Currently Sean's Office)
Living Design New Home

  • patch trim
  • install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
  • paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
  • paint wall above chair rail
  • replace ceiling fan blades

Future Kid Room 2 (Currently Cat/Sewing Room)
Living Design New Home

  • patch trim
  • install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
  • paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
  • paint wall above chair rail
  • replace ceiling fan blades

Jack and Jill Bath
  • replace knobs
  • paint
  • update mirror & light fixtures

Basement
  • determine & label ethernet cables in basement junction
  • replace water diffuser in humidifier prior to turning on heat
  • new window well for basement window
  • finish out basement