A Whole-House To-Do List


Buying a new house has really put my creative mojo into over-drive. I eat, sleep, and breathe this house! I sorta have tunnel vision โ€“ and I sorta love it. #sorrynotsorry

The problem? I have post-it notes floating around the bottom of my purse with crude drawings and random measurements โ€“ and when I find the post-it a week later, I canโ€™t even recall what it is or what my thought was at that moment! Iโ€™m so overwhelmed with what needs to get done vs what Iโ€™d like to get done that Iโ€™m constantly ping-ponging back and forth between spaces. I just might get whiplash. Itโ€™s so bad you guys.

I figured it was a good time to put together a whole-house to-do list to corral all my ideas and blue sky dreams for each space in one place. I love the idea of being able to update as we go along โ€“ because we all know that Iโ€™ll change my mind 50 times or more before weโ€™re done here. Plus! Who doesnโ€™t love checking things off an old fashioned to-do list? No better way to make a girl (or guy) feel like we actually accomplished something other than binge watching Netflix all day weekend! #iswearitwasntme #okmaybeitwas

Iโ€™ll be sharing the to-do list here on the blog…it’s just a massive brain-dump at the moment but I plan to update this post as things change or get completed (yippee!) as well as link to the corresponding post so be sure to check back often.

If youโ€™re a nerd and love lists like me โ€“ then youโ€™ll love todayโ€™s blog! Ready?

Whole House

ยท Remove tile / carpet and replace flooring ev.er.y.where!
ยท Remove existing baseboards and install new โ€œbeefyโ€ baseboards
ยท Install new crown molding? (we have vents that were installed close to the ceiling line so weโ€™re           unsure how crown will look)
ยท Trim out all doors and windows
ยท New hardware throughout!
ยท Paint! And paint some more!

Entryway

To-Do:

ยท Create storage for coats, jackets, bags โ€“ hooks? slim wall mounted shoe storage โ€“ like this?
ยท Add board & batten? Picture frame trim/molding?
ยท Paint interior of front door & add decorative trim
ยท Add art
ยท Find flush mount light fixture
ยท Find a vintage runner

Living Room

To-Do:

ยท DIY / have cabinet built to house TV โ€“ add electrical for TV & media components
ยท Style built-in
ยท Get black/white rug professionally cleaned
ยท Find 9×12 rug to layer under current rug
ยท Replace ceiling fan โ€“ new/updated ceiling fan? Purchase/DIY light fixture instead?
ยท Install in-ceiling audio speakers
ยท Sell old coffee table / buy new coffee table
ยท Bring in additional seating
ยท Art above couch

Dining Room

To-Do:

ยท Replace chandelier โ€“ buy or DIY?
ยท Remove vertical blinds
ยท Bring in curtains โ€“ curtains + bamboo shades or just panels?
ยท To rug or not to rug?
ยท Find head chairs โ€“ ghost chairs? molded plastic chairs?
ยท Paint window casing? (can this be done?)

Kitchen

To-Do:

ยท Remove uppers on stove wall โ€“ weโ€™ll live w/ these empty for a while to see if we can survive!
ยท Paint cabinetry
ยท Add hardware
ยท Resurface sink?
ยท Re-plate faucet?
ยท Find a vintage rug
ยท Add a bamboo shade
ยท Paint window casing? (can this be done?)
ยท Pimp out pantry
ยท Replace counter tops (2nd phase)
ยท Convert some cupboards to pull out drawers (2nd phase)
ยท Remove 2nd sink (2nd phase)
ยท Relocate dishwasher (2nd phase)
ยท Tile stove wall (2nd phase)
ยท Install open shelving (2nd phase)
ยท Buy all new appliances (2nd phase โ€“ except maybe a refrigerator)

Master Bedroom

To-Do:

ยท Sell old headboard / buy new
ยท Find / refinish nightstands โ€“ we have none!
ยท Close off 2nd doorway โ€“ prep for new master bath
ยท Demo both linen closets โ€“ prep for new master bath
ยท Reconfigure closet โ€“ Ikea Pax closet with a โ€œbuilt-inโ€ look
ยท Bring in drapery
ยท Paint window casing? Or covert window to walk-out French doors (needs HOA approval)
ยท Find a vintage or vintage looking rug โ€“ sorta loving this one
ยท Figure out the dresser situation โ€“ do we need it?
ยท TV or no TV? โ€“ I say no!
ยท Add additional can lights or add a fixture to middle of the room
ยท Change out current double door entry to master bedroom to bigger set of doors
ยท Add new doorway for new bathroom entry

Master Bath

To-Do:

ยท Complete master bath โ€œresurfacingโ€ โ€“ new floors, paint, vanity backsplash, re-tile shower
ยท New toilet
ยท Close off hallway to bath to become a part of new master bathroom โ€“ hallway will create a vestibule   for new bathroom door and additional space for a double vanity
ยท Remove hallway ceiling soffit
ยท Add double vanity โ€“ reuse existing vanity in guest bath?
ยท Remove soffit above shower (if possible)
ยท Add shower door
ยท Add open shelving

Bedroom #2 

To-Do:

ยท DIY raised molding on door
ยท Remove soffit (if possible)
ยท New closet doors โ€“ new closet system
ยท Paint window casing?
ยท Bring in drapery
ยท DIY floating shelves opposite bed
ยท Add overhead lighting
ยท Daybed? Refinish bed frame in storage?
ยท New bedding & rug โ€“ inspiration here
ยท Paint ceiling a fun/bold color? Giant chalkboard wall?

Bedroom #3 โ€“ Office

To-Do:

ยท DIY raised molding on door
ยท Close off opening to sunroom or put doors back on
ยท New closet doors
ยท Add overhead lighting

Guest Bath

To-Do:

ยท DIY raised molding on door
ยท Complete guest bath โ€œresurfacingโ€ โ€“ new floors, paint, re-tile tub wall โ€“ think fun colors!
ยท New toilet
ยท Remove old tub insert / add new
ยท Reuse master bath vanity? (paint & new sink/counter top/hardware)
ยท Trough sink! Every childโ€™s dream?
ยท Wall mount double faucets?
ยท New mirror
ยท Remove towel bars for kid friendly towel hooks

Hallway between Bedrooms 2 & 3

To-Do:

ยท Replace old electrical panel
ยท Find flush mount light fixture
ยท Gallery hallway?

Sunroom

To-Do:

ยท Accentuate beams โ€“ paint? wood wrap?
ยท Create kids / craft area in the left corner after opening from 3rd bedroom is closed off
ยท Create workstation just outside master bedroom
ยท Bring me all the plants! I got my eye on you Fiddle leaf fig!

Laundry Closet

To-Do:

ยท Replace water heater with tank less
ยท Stack or not to stack washer/dryer?
ยท DIY counter top for folding/sorting
ยท New cabinets or re-use kitchen uppers
ยท Find a place for the kitty litter

Deck

To-Do:

ยท DIY wrap around couch
ยท BBQ station
ยท Green space? Putting green? (itโ€™s seriously that big!)

As you can see we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and not many things crossed off the list…eeek! It’s sorta gives me anxiety seeing it all in one place but I’m also really, really excited about all the work ahead too. Is that weird? For the very first time in my life I don’t have to rush through any design decisions and can take my time getting it right (or wrong) because guess what?! This place is all ours and you’ll have to drag me out by the hair because I’m not moving any time soon. Hear that S?!

One response to “A Whole-House To-Do List”

  1. Living in a home quickly leads to more things to do than someone might think. I like the way that this post helps to organize all of the areas of the home into individual areas/rooms with their own checklist, but begins with a whole house focus. The way you have it broken down can pretty much act like a template that's easy to follow when those to-do lists seem to be insurmountable.

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