Is it just me or as you get older, does the to-do list become more daunting? I mean…I used to think that I could take on the world. But now? I just want a nap. And maybe a box or two of girl scout cookies 🙂
So that being said – I am gonna be practical here. This is our to-do list of 2017 and we are PROMISING that we will finish these projects in 2017. That’s right. Breaking out the pinky and gonna vow that these will get done in the next 12 months….err…10 months and a couple weeks 🙂
First – Big Red. I was blown away with your response to the trailer reveal. You guys are amazing. And so cool. And basically I want to be like you when I grow up. Your passion about camping with your own families is infectious and I can not wait to break into this our first trailer makeover. We know it’s gonna be a huge undertaking and right now we are trying to get everything ready (carport for RV’s are a must if you can’t do this in a garage so that is gonna be our first purchase). We are thinking of going with a industrial/rustic vibe so that it doesn’t show as much wear. Yes, with four boys, we have learned that lesson well 🙂
Our sitting room is like 98% done. Last year we revealed this half of the room with the new stacked stone fireplace and shelving – it is still my favorite ever. And now we have to tackle the other two sides. I need to get a big console/buffet to store all my printing supplies and a bunch of blinds and a couple throw pillows. I just ordered this one and can’t wait for it to arrive!
The Bedroom. Oh the place where the magic happens. And when I say magic…I mean, that magical thing called sleep. This room is due for an overhaul. We painted it and then it got stuck in limbo. We want to makeover the bed, get a nice dresser, rework our mirror, hang the things, the whole shebang. It’s time. And with that…goes our closets. Oy they are messy and need a makeover big time….so that is definitely on our list.
The poor dining room has been stuck in decorating purgatory for a long time. Last year we hung our pendants but we never really did more after that. We need to have storage in here. It’s a must. I am gonna figure it out. And then new sconces, real curtains, and maybe a little purge of other furniture that has no place.
Guys…we love our kitchen…we really do. But do see that big ole beast in the corner there? The silver one with the fingerprints. We call that the Zombie Fridge. It died last summer. Yes. We still have it. Jeremy messed with it. We called a repair man. Basically he declared it dead. Then we couldn’t decide what to do. Then it came alive! It was a Christmas miracle! For 24 hours. And then it died. again. So basically it dies and comes alive every once in a while…just like a zombie….but it’s never really alive. Do we rework the kitchen to accommodate a bigger fridge and a bigger pantry? Do we just replace? Do we live with the zombie fridge and just accept it for being the soulless dead beast that it is and wait for the handles to decay off? Maybe I have been watching too much Santa Clarita Diet.
We still haven’t decided. We know that a bigger pantry has lots of appeal. A bigger fridge – also really nice to think about. A partial kitchen makeover? Not so much. Also…it should be noted….our dishwasher also died and we replaced it…so we aren’t anti-appliance. WE AREN’T FREAKS. (says every freak that ever lived.) And don’t worry – we have a fridge in the basement and a smaller one in our garage that we have been using…so sweet tea is still in our lives 🙂
The nursery! Our sweet little boys share a room and we haven’t really properly finished it (a little art and a hook wall is all it needs) and then we shall reveal. Seems easy enough. Let’s see if we can do it before one of them outgrows the cribs 🙂
Last but certainly not least is the first floor bathroom. We started this makeover the first year we moved in. But we never really completely did it. Well the boys have successfully damaged the top of the vanity (it was already worn but after a lot of water use, the particle board is swelling) and that bandaid of an accent wall has got to go. I’m thinking this new mirror, a new marble top for the vanity, a little paint makeover of the vanity too, new flooring and new accent wall. And lighting. Don’t forget the lighting. I’m super excited for this one.
So there you have it folks. If you were wondering what was on our master to-do list for this year….that is it. What is on yours? Anything epic? Anyone else out there with zombie fridge problems? Anyone else have a slew of rooms in decorating limbo? Please tell me I’m not alone!
I can’t wait for updates on all of these items! I am doing a similar color scheme for our master bedroom and have been waiting to see your update for some ideas 🙂
I love you house! I would have thought you’d tackle rooms that haven’t been touched – don’ t you have a master bath, master closets and isn’t there some sort of hidden play room behind a room on the 2nd floor that haven’t been redone already once or twice? Also do you have a pantry already or want to make one out of that fridge space?
Yep. We are days away from listing our house with the intention of buying my childhood home. The house needs nearly every square inch, inside AND out, redone. We are going to be super busy for a long time! Good luck with all your projects.
Oh yes I have a list too but yours seems doable well without the major camper project – that is exciting. My list is: House Numbers on our Fence, Accessorize the porches, Refinish Front doors, Buy a Breakfast Room Hutch and find a new light for Breakfast Room oh and I would love to organize our attics they are a disaster.
I have a similar to do list going on my phone! This will be the year (right? ;)) Also just wanted to say I LOVE the pendants in your dining room, somehow never saw those, and I’ve been watching Santa Clarita diet too. Never thought I’d like it but so funny!!
What a coincidence, Design Sponge did a round up of camper make-overs! I’m excited to see what you guys do with yours. I grew up camping in RVs with my family, sleeping on foldout tables and bunk beds, and my parents still have a 5th-wheel that they pull all over the place.
http://www.designsponge.com/2017/02/before-after-10-unbelievable-trailer-transformations.html
Goodness, y’all are some energetic folks and I so admire everything you are doing and know it will all be lovely when you finish. Keep us updated as you go along.
Everyone is in decorating limbo. Everyone. Let’s just hold hands, and be OK with that.
Katie, I am SO EXCITED to see your trailer/RV remodel. Can you give us price breakdowns for everything? Redoing one is on my bucket list. I drool over Mandi’s Mini Nugget at Vintage Revival, but hers is a tad small for a family, so I’m eager to see what you guys do.
Soooo excited for this year! I’ve been waiting for your master makeover and there’s just something about organised closets that makes me happy!!! Also, The first floor bathroom vanity has always bugged me, so excited to see that makeover too!!!
Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life…enjoy your beautiful boys xx
why dont you take out the desk in the kitchen (I mean, you HAVE an office if I recall), and put a pantry/cupboard/wardrobe to Narnia in that spot?
That’s kinda the idea. We could rip out desk and all that countertop and put in a bigger pantry and then put a full fridge/full freezer next to it. It would be a big deal.
xo kb
Yeah I love Mandis but it would be a tad small for just me 🙂 and yes I plan on sharing as much as possible!
xo kb
Well I feel like those would be nice to tackle but it’s so defeating to have all these rooms that aren’t done yet. It feels like failure :/ so that is the goal…maybe 2018 we can move on to the other 3.8 million rooms! Ha!
xo kb
I’ve never thought of that- makes me super excited for the kitchen too now! I have to say, and I feel terrible for thinking this, but when I looked at the kitchen photo I noticed the desk area was cluttered again, even after your clean up attempt (gotta love a dumping ground hey, my dining table is ours :-|) , so maybe that would be the best thing to do! Amazing idea 🙂
Those finishing details really add up!
We just did our roof. Yick! Our kitchen NEEDS a makeover but that’s not making the cut this year (due to roof). We have to finish the kids’ treehouse, I have an art project to hang and there are some finishing touches on our main bath (painting the drywall corner, caulking the beadboard seams, etc.). I’m also in limbo right now because some lake lots are coming up for sale in our neighbourhood so I’m trying to see if we can make that work! I’ve already nailed the layout for the hypothetical new house.
That seems like a doable list. Good luck! I’m like you, lots of rooms that have been started but nothing finished. It’s like I can’t finish anything so I just move onto the next room. By the time I do go back to the room, it’s been so long that I want to redo the color scheme.
What safety precautions should you take when the cribs are close like that? I feel like I’ve seen warnings about kids hanging themselves between the cribs.
Your zombie fridge reminds me that we still need to replace the vent between our freezer and fridge that allows the cold air to get through. It currently has a plastic Wendy’s fork stuck in it to keep the vent flaps open that has been in there since… September? So yeah, hopefully that will get taken care of before 2018!
I never leave comments on blogs (I know I should to show my support – I’m kinda shy that way) but your post on Big Red has me so excited for you guys! We bought our hybrid trailer about 9 yrs ago and have loved every minute we have spent in it!
We are currently renovating it because the floor had a few soft spots so my hubby added some extra support to the frame, insulted the floor and added new plywood. Definitely not an easy job but so worth the savings! My boys are 12 & 17 and both can’t wait for it to be completed so we can do some traveling this summer. Unfortunately Canadian winters have put a halt to the work for now but that I just gives me time to dream of all the awesome ways I get to redesign and decorate the RV when it’s done
Yay, so many fun makeovers to look forward to! About those fingerprints… girl, you need Norwex in your life. I’m so obsessed with them that I became a consultant (full disclosure!). But with two little people touching my appliances, I use the envirocloth and windowcloth all.the.time!
http://haleygoodwin.norwex.biz/
I actually work for Whirlpool (which also owns Maytag, Kitchen Aid, JennAir, and Amanda brands). If you are interested in a Friends and Family discount link for your zombie fridge, all I need is an e-mail address. No pressure to buy anything!
Plenty of limbo here. Need to finish two kids’ bedrooms. Just minor paint touch up and curtains. and waiting til 2018 to turn office/play area to dining room.
No zombie fridge but the sellers left a rusted avocado green fridge in the garage. If we put something on the top it would collect moisture. Replaced within weeks of move in.
have fun working on your list!
Looking forward to all the make-overs. My main goal for 2017/2018 is just a new roof. Trying to save up enough to pay at least half of it in cash so that I don’t have to take out that much of a loan for it. Probably will take all of this year and part of next year to do it, though. Sucks being single and poor. lol
I can’t wait to see how these projects turn out, especially your bedroom! We are about to take on a whole house renovation (mostly before we move in) and we are also going to welcome baby boy #2 into our family in a few months. I’m overwhelmed with trying to pick all new flooring, cabinets, paint, etc, but I’m more nervous about preparing my 2.5 year old little boy to be a big brother. Do you have any tips on how to prepare a little one for a sibling?
Thank you! We did get a KitchenAid dishwasher (that isn’t sponsored and we didn’t get a discount) and we love it! I definitely will let you know!
xo – kb
So it’s a common sense thing. A kid shouldn’t climb out of bed in general (it happens but we as parents do try our best to deter it from happening to begin with…once they start, it’s pretty much guaranteed they will do it again) and if you think they may get to the age where they try, make sure there isn’t a spot they could get stuck….like between beds or between the bed and the wall or any other piece of furniture. The climbing thing was the number one reason we switched to a video monitor when Will was little…that way we could watch him like the obsessive over-protective parents that we are 🙂
xo – kb
Yeah that photo was from our Real Life House tour….it’s not my proudest moment 🙂
xo – kb
That is such an awesome to-do list 🙂 The only tip that I would have is to just talk about it a whole lot and to have him pick out a present for the baby and also have the baby “give” him a present. I know it sounds simple but even talking about all the ways your big boy will help the baby…like he gets to be in charge of holding the toys during diaper changes and he will be the one to pick out the swaddle blankets at night….those little things can really help.
xo – kb
We just built a new home. After years of stainless appliances I went with the new black stainless kitchen aid. I’m obsessed. No fingerprints!!! don’t get dirty and they are a matte black/charcoal gray. I went with the 5 door refrigerator which is to say the least – amazing. Good luck girl.
Thanks so much for your tips! I like the idea of giving him a choice of swaddle blankets or something simple like that. I’ve been trying to come up with a good present for the baby to give him, but hadn’t even thought about him picking out something for the baby. Such good ideas! 🙂
It’s real life- it’s beautiful and it’s a nice break from styled photos once in a while x
Hey, Katie!! You’re not alone. I’m with you on this list. How I like your bedroom and dining room! Oh, that’s fantastic! I like the colors and the lighting, that’s pretty awesome! We also decoration the bedroom and the nursery, for the nursery it was easy and simple, we almost finished it 2 months ago. But the bedroom, that’s a problem there. I’m looking for VOC Paints. I’ve read that these brands are virtually free of volatile organic compounds (VOC)—chemicals given off by paints that have been linked to respiratory illnesses. I’ve ordered a full house painting in a local company here in New Zealand: http://www.supercityproperty.co.nz/ They can start right now and they work very fast, but the problem with the paints. I can’t find the appropriate. I am going to give a birth this April and I need paints that won’t smell. Anybody has tried it? Girls, I hate all paints now! They all stinks 🙁
Thanks for sharing these amazing ideas(to-do-list) with us…like the the design and the colors of the rooms.