Goal Keeping

Despite rarely ever completing all my goals for the year, I really enjoy taking a look back & seeing what all I accomplished & what still needs improvement. I only shared four goals on the blog & was able to cross all but one off the list. Let's take a look at my goals for last year...

The first item on my list of goals was to update the morning room. As my style transitioned, this room was stuck in it's dark & dreary past. I finished it up in November as part of the fall One Room Challenge. You can see the reveal here as well as links to all the projects.

One of the first projects I started to tackle in 2015 was my son's bedroom makeover. His room slowly evolved from a small dark bedroom to a bright spacious room with the help of new paint & space saving furnishings. You can check out the reveal here.

My daughter's room was also in need of a makeover this year, as she had grown out of the sweet, princess room from her preschool years. Her room now is much more cheerful & suited to her fun-loving personality. You can see the reveal post here.

The one item that we did not finish (or really even start) was the master bedroom makeover, which leads me into my goals for 2016! 

When we had our house built over six years ago, I didn't think we would still have rooms & projects that were unfinished. This is the year I hope to start improving on some much needed areas in our home. I don't know why, but I really want it to be finished enough that if we had to suddenly move, the house would be ready to list. (Moving is not at all in the plans at this point though! I really love our home & hope to stay here for a while longer!)

1. Master Bathroom

That being said, the first room I would like to tackle in 2016 is the master bathroom. I'm sure you can't tell from the pictures, but this room is disgusting! I would love to replace the floor & tile, but that won't be in the budget for years, so I plan on focusing on simple changes to improve this room. I hope to paint the walls & cabinets, add shelving above the toilet, replace some of the trim, & add new curtains & accessories.

2. Master Bedroom

Once the master bathroom is spruced up, I plan on moving into the master bedroom. This is another room that hasn't been touched since we moved in. Well, we did purchase a new headboard & chairs last year, when I thought I might actually get around to decorating this room, but then I lost focus! This year I hope to paint the walls, replace the dresser, nightstands, bedding, & mirror, & add art & accessories. 

I hope the main focus for us this year can be the back yard. Once we realized how sloped our backyard was (after building) we planned on building a two-tiered retaining wall to span the width of the backyard. While that won't happen this summer, getting these other exterior spaces in shape will help us prepare for those future projects.

3. Fire Pit/ Picnic Area

Two years ago we bought supplies to build a retaining wall to the right of the fire pit area. The wood is still sitting in our basement waiting to be used. This is the year, I plan on getting that out of the basement. Then, we'll add a picnic table & the hammock we got my husband for Father's Day (two years ago).

Due to a drainage issue, the fire pit stairs & patio are a mess & will need to be worked on. I also want to add a small deck behind the Adirondack chairs, to add space for more chairs & stain the fire wood storage box.

4. Deck

We need to replace several boards on the deck & it is in need of a good staining. Our umbrella & table will hopefully get replaced this year too.

5. Play Space 

The final outdoor area that needs some help is the kids play area. We really need a sandbox cover, toy storage, & I am hoping to add some additional play areas for the kids.

 

So, that's what I would really like to happen on the home front this year. We'll see how far we get!

From the Back to the Future

I love to make lists.  The satisfaction that comes from crossing things off, makes me weirdly giddy!  That’s why I love this time of year so much.  There is so much promise & possibility in the future.  Like, for instance, maybe after being on the list for three years, I will finally figure out what to do with the morning room!  Wishful thinking!

The problem I always run into is that I tend to make loftier goals than I can actually fulfill.  Last year I was a little more realistic & accomplished most of my list (4 out of 7).  Here’s what we did:

After several years, I finally finished the last of the living room projects & revealed it on the blog.



I mentioned in last year’s goals that I wanted to make some tweaks to the family room.  By “tweaks” I meant change every single thing about it!



I finally painted the front door black & added some new lighting to the front of the house in this update.



We also added a wall of storage in the basement to make it a safer space for our kids to play. 



Unfortunately, time & money did not permit us to beautify the backyard, make over the morning room, or re-decorate the kids’ bedrooms.

This year, I want to make over four spaces in our home.  Here they are in no particular order:

1. Update the morning room to better reflect the style of the main floor.



I am hoping to update this space & give it a more modern-traditional glam (mod-trad-glam) look.  I plan on keeping the table, light fixture, & new secretary (not pictured) & replacing the chairs, buffet, & curtains.  I would love to trim out the windows, but the arched window will add a challenge to the project, so I’m not sure if that will happen.  New accessories & possibly a rug will give the room the extra personality it so desperately needs!

2. Make over my son’s room



This was one of the first rooms I revealed on the blog, & it is time for a change.  This small room has only one window & combined with the orange walls, it is a pretty dark space.  I hope to lighten up the space with a lighter, neutral color.  We will replace the twin sized bed with a full one, add more storage through shelves & double nightstands, & replace the director’s chair & desk.  New bedding, curtains, & accessories will complete the look.

3. Make over my daughter’s room



Oh boy!  This room has definitely gone downhill!  It all started when we switched out the twin-sized bed with the one from our old guest room (now the nursery).  Since then, almost 3 years, she has been using a twin sized comforter on a full sized bed!  The addition of a gerbil & a 1980’s Barbie house haven’t helped the aesthetics any!  My plan is to keep the bed (we have had a brass bed in storage for 1 1/2 years), dresser, & light fixture & replace pretty much everything else.  More storage will be added in the form of a desk, shelving, & a rast dresser.  I will paint the walls a neutral color, & add new bedding, curtains, accessories, & chair. 

4. Decorate the master bedroom



I can happily say, three pieces of furniture in the above picture have left the house!  Other than mounting a TV on the wall, no progress has been made on this room since we moved in 5+ years ago.  If I’m honest, changes probably won’t be happening in 2015 either, but I would love to see color on the walls, new bedding, & updated furniture & accessories. 

It’s not likely to happen (history tends to repeat itself) but if I could accomplish these four things this year, we could finally start saving for all the big changes we want to make: hardwood floors, solid surface countertops, converting our laundry room into a mudroom, finishing our basement, & adding tiered retaining walls in our sloped backyard.  I hope that by creating spaces that are neutral & classic (with modern touches) we can live with our makeovers for a little longer & spend more of our time & money on more expensive projects that will add value to our home.

What are your plans for the new year?

2014 Project Goals

I love the fresh start that a new year brings.  Usually, as one year is ending, I am busy dreaming up big plans for the next one!  The idea of starting over & trying to improve my home & self is so exciting to me!  It doesn't all usually come to fruition, but I’m okay with that.  I think just having a general idea of what I would like to accomplish helps my scattered brain know what I need to focus on.  Anyway, before we look at my hopes for 2014, lets take a depressing look at what I accomplished from last year’s goals.

Out of my 11 goals for last year, I accomplished three! 

First, I made over the study to better fit our personalities & style.



Next, we added a few decorative touches to spruce up the patio.



Finally,  I updated the kids’ bathroom.



Projects for 2014

This year, I just want to focus mainly on the function & style of our first floor & finishing those other 8 projects from last year!  So, here’s the plan:

1. Finish up the current living room projects by recovering a set of chairs & accessorizing with new pillows.  (This is an older picture.  I have already added some pillows & art above the couch.  Pretty soon I’ll show you the new accessories on that round table too!)



2. Make a few tweaks to the family room, to better reflect my new found style!  In 2013, I re-styled the mantel & ordered new sofas.  Unfortunately, nearly three months after ordering the sofas, we have encountered one problem after another & have still not received them.  Currently, one is missing.  I’m really hoping for some good news this week, but I won’t be holding my breath.

This year, I want to replace the sofas (see them here), add art above the gold chairs, make some tweaks to the entertainment center, add a console behind the couch, a new ottoman coffee table, & add some additional toy storage.  A new lighter, gray-blue paint color may appear too.  I’m hoping to start knocking these projects off soon, since Christmas has left toy storage at a premium!



3. Change up the morning room to better reflect the style of our home.  To do this, I want to paint the buffet white, replace the secretary for something with cleaner lines, re-accessorize, possibly tweak the chairs, & maybe replace the curtains.  I’m not sure what I’ll actually be able to get done in this room, but I feel that it is the room farthest from my style on the main floor.  (Does that make sense?)  Time to search for inspiration, & learn magic!

 

4. Add deep shelving in the storage section of the basement.  (Done- See it here!)



5. Beautify the backyard by adding a retaining wall next to the patio & making it a decorative vegetable garden.  (Those exist, right?)  Also, add plantings & make some adjustments near the fire pit area.



6. Paint the front door black & replace the shutters on the arched window (if we still have them).  Possibly add some seating to the front porch.



7. This summer, I hope to make over my kids' rooms.  We bought my daughter a brass bed last year & my son a large vintage map & dresser.  The bed & the map have yet to be installed.  I’d like to paint their walls the same neutral color, add new bedding (they might both be getting full sized beds), curtains, chairs, & a parsons desk for my daughter.  We’ll see if I make it to this, since I’d much rather work on the above 6 items first.



I guess I better get off here & try to convince my husband to help me get all this done… and maybe start looking for a job! 

So, do you set goals for your home every year?  I’d love to know what they are!  Feel free to share in the comments below!

Sharing here:

A Backwards & Forwards Look at Goals

Back in January of 2012, I made a list of all the goals I wanted to accomplish on our home for the year.  Sadly, of the 11 items on my list, I was only able to cross off four!  Of course, I tweaked the list a few times & added more items!  Oh well!

Below are the items I was able to cross off my original list of goals:

I finished up the entryway:




The guest bedroom was transformed into a nursery:




We added storage in the half bathroom:




And the dining room was finished up:




While I didn’t finish up the living room, progress has been made, & it does look much better:







I didn’t even touch the master bedroom, master bathroom, kids’ bathroom, study, laundry room, or back porch!  What was I thinking?

This year, I am really going to try & be more realistic!  Here’s what I’m thinking I’ll try to accomplish for our home this year:

1. Finish up the living room, which means recovering four chairs, making pillows, adding art & accessories, & fixing/painting the cabinet.




2. Makeover the kids’ bathroom by sanding, priming, & painting the walls, vanity, & mirror frame, and adding artwork, hooks, a shower curtain, & a new rug.  We will also need to replace all the baseboards, as they were ruined when the kids took showers without using the liner.  Grrr…  It sounds like a lot, but hopefully it can all be done in about a weeks time!




3. It seems silly that the third thing on my list is to re-do the study, which was finished a couple of years ago (especially since our bedroom hasn’t been touched) but it really doesn’t fit what my style is now & it’s one of the first rooms you see when you enter our home.  I’m hoping I can change the look with paint (on the bookshelves & walls), new curtains, a free-standing desk, desk chair, & accessories.




4. Change up accessories in the morning room to fit my design style.  I’m hoping to find an everyday centerpiece for the table, as well as accessories for the buffet (which I’m thinking of changing from cream to white) & a new pillow for the chair.  I may even switch out the secretary for one with cleaner lines.  I’d love to get new chairs for the table, but probably won’t be able to make any big purchases since we’re trying to get our new van paid off.




5. Make some changes in the family room by adding art above the gold chairs, hanging the mirror & accessorizing the mantel, adding a plant in the back corner, a console behind the loveseat, a small dresser to replace the toy bookshelf, & a large storage ottoman to replace the coffee table.  I would absolutely love to get all new furniture for this space, but I don’t think it’s going to be feasible this year.




6. Add shelving in the basement & try to condense the storage area to where it will be when we finish the basement.  (Right now, the basement is (kind of) organized, but full.




7. ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE!  I consider myself a fairly organized person, but I’m realizing that some of my systems just aren’t working.  I’m hoping to tackle organizing the following areas:  hand-me-down baby clothes, shoe storage, gloves/hats/scarves, coat closet, batteries, light bulbs, flashlights, magazines, photos, games, DVDs & CDs, fabric, art supplies, wrapping supplies, school supplies, books, & kitchen storage.




8. Beautify the patio under the deck.  Hopefully, we can fix & paint the door, add ferns, lanterns, hang a porch swing, add a rug, & hide the back concrete wall.  I’d also love to landscape the area to the right of the patio, near the basement stairs.




9. Add some decorative grass behind the fire pit bench & get 1-2 more red Adirondack chairs.




10. Add some curb appeal by painting the front door black & re-hanging the shutters on the arched window.  The window looks too bare without them.  (My husband is going to LOVE me for this one!)




11. Grow some fruits & veggies.  I’d love to save some money on produce this summer by planting a small garden.  I’m thinking of somehow doing this on the deck, since I wouldn’t have to worry about the deer & it would be right off the kitchen for picking & watering. 




Aw, crud!  It looks like I’ve gone overboard again this year!  I’m okay that this list most-likely won’t get finished & will probably get tweaked (although I’m really going to try & not change projects around).  I don’t plan on stressing out about getting things crossed off.  Instead, I plan on using it as a guide to keep me focused on what projects I can be focused on.  (At least, that’s what I keep telling myself…)

On top of these goals, we also came up with some personal & family goals.  I posted our family goals on our chalkboard wall & they will remain there all month.  Here’s how it looks:

 


Time to start working!  First things first:  Taking down the Christmas decorations!

Listing Lists

I really enjoy making lists.  Sometimes I think I make lists just to keep from doing the things that are actually on the list!  If a list starts to look messy, I will re-write it on the back of a fresh scrap of paper.  (We are all about reusing here...I would use the marker board if it wasn't filled with a different list!)  For digital proof, just click on the label "Project Lists" & you'll see what I mean.  So, a few days ago I got excited when I could cross something off my Summer Plans.  Then, just today, I realized that I could also cross something off our 2012 Home Goals!  Feel free to click the links to see the progress we've made so far this year.

Anyway, all this crossing off made me realize something.  I have only crossed off three of the eleven items on my goals for the year & we are already half way through the year!  How'd that happen?  (I guess I have been kinda busy with this cute thing!)

The good news is that we have nearly completed the fire pit.  The bad news is that it wasn't on our original list!  Since a post without pictures is no fun, here's a little sneak of our first fire...

{My pictures do not do this space justice!}

So, how are your goals coming along?

2012 Summer Plans

I'm not even sure why I'm posting this, because technically I'm still working on my list from last summer!  Anyway, the hubs & I are going to attempt to get some of the following accomplished this summer...

1. Spruce up the front landscaping with annuals & new mulch.  See it here.

(This is a picture from last year!)

2. Create a new flower bed by the driveway extension.  See it here.

3. Finish the nursery by hanging art & making a beanbag/poof.  See the reveal here.

4. Clean & accessorize the back patio.

{This is how it was last looking...it's gotten worse!}

5. Build a fire pit area in the backyard.  See it here.

{The grass-less area will have a creek stone patio for the fire pit.}

6. Finish the dining room by fixing the china cabinet and accessorizing with art & curtains.

{I plan on moving the buffet out & replacing it with the china cabinet, since it isn't as deep.}

7. Decorate the living room- I need to add curtains, art, accessories, oh, and furniture!  I vote this one most likely NOT to happen!  (But a girl can dream, right?)

8. Make over half bathroom with paint, shelves, & accessories.  Click here to see the results!

9. I would love to add cabinetry to the laundry room, but since I doubt that will happen this summer (since it requires moving water & duct work so we can stack the washer & dryer) I will make do with just painting the doors & adding a shelf to house out of season shoes & accessories.

10. Tweak some things in the family room.  (Rearrange furniture, accessorize mantel, build a storage ottoman & table for behind the love seat.)

Although this list seems daunting, I'm excited, because two of these items can already be crossed off.  (Yep, I put things I've already done on lists, just so I can cross them off!)  One of these (the nursery) is VERY close to completion, which is good, since it should have been finished in February!  The fire pit area is in progress, but I fear it will take a while, since it means leveling the ground & building a retaining wall.  And...I'm planning on starting on the patio this weekend, which means the first five things on this list should be finished in just a couple of weeks!  (But don't get too excited, because it's not the first time I've thought things would get done in a short amount of time!)

So, how about you?  Are you planning any home projects for the summer?