Let’s be honest, this house will always have a new project. But as much as I like design blogs I’m not the gal who is going to paint a kitchen island 9 times just to “freshen things up.”
I know what I like and aim to improve the house one little step at a time so when it’s time to sell or rent out there’s much less work to be done. Here’s a list of projects by room along with the date of completion for the ones I’ve managed to finish!
Front Yard:
done July 2011replace front door screencut back grass around sprinkler headsdone Aug 2011create a rock layer in walkway flowerbed for gardening hosedone Aug 2011
replace the garden hose holder in the front yarddone Aug 2011done Aug 2011replace gate latch pull string- re-replace gate latch pull string because it broke. again.
dig up rose bush that hasn’t produced since 2008done Oct 2011limb up sugar mapledone December 2011- repair gutters and downspouts
- buy or make rain barrels
- grind down the tree stump
- paint trim around kitchen windows
- paint trim on front door
- re-secure and repair lattice porch cover
- run a string of lights from the lattice to the fence
- re-seal or replace windows (garage, 3 in the kitchen, living room)
- replace the porch light with something nicer
Side Yard:
install compost bindone July 2011- remove the layer of small rocks (started Aug 2011)
- replace gutters and downspouts
- buy or make rain barrel (purchased May 2013)
lay down sod or moss or plant trees– CHANGED THE PLAN- build planter boxes and fill with soil
- fill in pots of flowers and somehow rig the drip hose to water
- build a second patio like the one below
wire the sprinklers to the automated systemdone Aug 2011plant something pretty under the guest room windowdone Aug 2011 here

- plant more pretty things under the guest room window and protect them from dogs
- replace the backyard light
- cut down tree and grind down stump
- consider planting another tree
replace the brick border around the flower beds- done May 2013
- replace the too short sprinkler head
- fill in bald spots with sod or grass seed
- reinforce the fence, secure boards
Main Bathroom:
-
finish painting the door– done Aug 2011 here
replace door hardwaredone Aug 2011

remove broken door hookdone Aug 2011done August 2011 herereplace towel barsbuy and install new low flow toiletdone May 2012 herereplace vents– done January 2013paint the ceiling to match the walls– done January 2013paint inside bathroom cabinets- done January 2013- replace the broken shelf in bottom cabinet
- cover the shelf floors with vinyl
- touch up caulk around
bathtub, baseboards and cabinets - replace the floor with vinyl tiles
- remove funky frog decal on the wall
- replace light fixture with something light and delicate
- replace the sink faucet
- install new shower head with detachable piece
Master Bathroom:
paint door and trim whitedone Aug 2011 heredone August 2011 hereinstall new towel bar and hand towel hookupgrade the door hardwaredone Sept 2011install new low flow toilet– done May 2012 here- replace the sink and faucet – purchased new sink Dec 2011
- replace light fixture with something pretty – purchased Dec 2011
paint the ceiling rice grain– done February 2013- replace vents
- replace baseboards (possible quarter round with bead board)
- replace vinyl tiles on the floor
- install bead board on walls
- sand and paint in-wall cabinet exterior
Hallway:
paint doorsdone Aug 2011 heretouch up wall paintdone Oct 2011scrape ceilingdone Feb 2012texture and paint ceilingdone November 2012 herefinish adding baseboardsdone December 2o12touch up baseboard with caulkdone January 2013- touch up door frame paint
Kitchen:
replace the door and drawer knobs– done May 2012buy a new fridge/freezerdone (got a used fridge in Aug 2011)continue to test the new fridge/freezer to ensure it’s safe to use– done Sept 2011!purchase or repurpose containers to organize the freezer space– done Oct 2011swap units (old fridge/freezer to garage)done Sept 2011use chalkboard paint on the old fridge/freezer to track food outsidedone Oct 2011
My inspiration from this source for the painting.
replace the window blinds with roman shades– done April 2013- re-seal the corian seams (which are showing and sagging in places)
spray paint or replace the return air grate– done January 2013
Living Room:
paint front door whitedone August 2011
replace front door frame- touch up paint and baseboards
- repair or replace broken tiles around the fireplace
- test the fireplace for utility
- replace grate on A/C
- install hanging light in living area
- scrape the ceiling
- re-texture ceiling and paint
Office:
purchase one more CD size bookshelf for librarydone Aug 2011

– done Oct 2011hang new photos framespaint and rehang the door– done May 2012 herefinish scraping the ceiling– done November 2012 herepaint the ceiling– done November 2012 herefinish baseboards around the closetdone December 2012done December 2012paint and reinstall air vent- remove warped drywall piece (on ceiling) and replace
- secure bookshelves (earthquake proof)
- replace the carpet
- repair phone jack
Guest Room:
remove closet doors– done December 2012- Paint closet doors
- Paint top of closet & shelves
- install baseboards in the closet
paint ceiling– done January 2013- touch up wall paint
- replace ceiling fan
paint the doors white– done Aug 2011 here and hereupdate door hardware– done Aug/Sept 2011 herescrape the ceiling– done Feb 2012 here and here– done May 2012 herereplace last two outlets and cable plateRemove the old baseboards– done May 2012 herepaint ceiling– done July 2012 here
prime and paint paint the walls– done July 2012 herepaint the bookshelf– done July 2012 hereupdate the headboard– done July 2012 herepaint nightstands for additional storage– done July 2012 herereplace ceiling fan bulb cover– done August 2012finish black frame photo wall– done August 2012install new baseboards– done December 2012
seal baseboards with caulk– done April 2013- paint baseboards white
- paint closet header white
- paint interior of closet
- install lights in closet – purchased April 2013
- replace carpet
Garage:
reorganize holiday containersdone Aug 2011reorganize dog stuffdone Aug 2011move out boxes of rocksdone Aug 2011replace the door handle on the screen door(done Sept 2011)- finish painting the walls with primer
- hang ladder on the wall
- cut and cap off copper pipes for water softener
- replace dryer with more efficient model
- paint the door to house
- repair drywall hole by garage door
- replace the door frame going into the house
- look at flooring options around the washer/dryer
- consider adding more outlets to the garage
Whole House “When I Win the Lottery” Projects
repair or replace the heater/ACworking well as of Aug 2011, will do a thorough check up in 2012- power wash siding
- paint the house exterior
- replace window framing (2x4s which are rotten)
- replace windows and frames
- check roof for repairs, possibly replace
- replace the gutters and downspouts









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