hi all! i think it’s time for another look at our good ol’ house to-do list, which, a la the Petersiks of Young House Love, we call our Listy McListerson!

the short version: the biggest changes on the list come in the form of L + Q’s shared bedroom, which is 99% complete – see their room over on the Tiny Prints blog here – and our lower level, which has undergone a major transformation in the past two weeks: the walls have a fresh coat of paint! i’m working on a reveal, so stay tuned.

hang on tight – here we go!

overall look + layout of our home

– install crown molding in all rooms

– replace standard light fixtures/fans in all rooms in favor of lanterns and chandeliers

– eventually install hardwood floors in common areas, and install tile {slate?} in kitchen + bathrooms

– eventually add a fourth bedroom in the lower level by closing off part of the large family room; resulting family room space will become more of a den/study

– eventually repaint exterior of house in grey with white trim

garage

– add some nice hardware to the garage doors to beef them up {like this}

– eventually replace garage doors with ones with windows/molding/character

outdoors

front yard

– add a few planters in front of the garage

– paint the exterior entry door{s} to the garage {Blue Lake}

– paint the storm door {white?} when we repaint the house

side/back yard

– build a pergola over stained concrete patio

– add Adirondack chairs in a fun color {red? coral?} to the concrete patio space

– DIY a sandbox for Lionel and Quincy

– add potted tall grasses around perimeter of deck for privacy {multiple planters? one long bench-like planter?}

– plant lilacs

– plant a food garden

– when we repaint the house, refinish the back deck in a light grey color; modernize/replace deck posts {metal?}

entry way

– add a bold stencil/wallpaper treatment

– repaint the front door and garage entry door – lesson learned: i should have sanded the doors first, or used a high-adhesion primer!

– eventually add a fun lantern or chandelier

– add hooks for coats, art

kitchen

– paint

– paint a chalkboard wall in the eat-in area of the kitchen

– spray paint {Mint? Coral? White?} and hang empty frames on chalkboard wall {write notes, quotes inside}; also add upside down drawer pulls to hold chalk; also draw a family calendar on the chalkboard wall

– add curtains/blinds of some sort to sliding glass door for privacy

– find a cute vintage cake stand and use it to hold soaps/scrubbers beside sink in the kitchen

– add kitchen chairs in different, fun pops of color

– add art, decorator items above cabinets

– eventually replace the sliding glass door with double French doors {unpaned} or a Dutch door

– eventually add a farmhouse sink

– eventually install tile flooring {slate?} in a neutral tone {dark grey?}

– eventually install subway tile in a neutral tone above counters {white with dark grout?}

– eventually paint/upgrade to white cabinets {or a tuxedo kitchen, with white upper cabinets and darker {navy, gray, etc.} lower cabinets?}

– eventually take down some upper cabinetry to try out open shelving?

– eventually upgrade appliances

hallways + stairways

– add more frames + art to gallery wall at the end of the hallway

– add decorator items in lighted nook above the upstairs hallway

– organize upstairs hallway closet: main use for upstairs hallway closet = linens and board games

living room {upstairs}

– paint

– add safety gate to stairway before Q is crawling {find a style that doesn’t damage the banister and/or is visually pleasing}

– add an area rug

– add curtains

– mount the television on the wall

– conceal television cords behind the wall

– add a faux fireplace mantle?

bathrooms

upstairs

– touch up paint in both bathrooms {upstairs is painted a terracotta color, while the downstairs bathroom is charcoal grey}

– paint {Hale Navy}

– add white beadboard to walls {make sure to use bathroom-safe beadboard + adhesive made for damp spaces}

– replace white waffle weave shower curtain in upstairs bathroom with a ceiling height curtain

– update linens

– add art

– remove builder-grade mirror in upstairs bathroom and hang heavy black mirror horizontally in its place {dry-brush white after painting the walls?}

– eventually replace shower and tub in upstairs bathroom with a stand-alone tub

– eventually tile the entire back wall {behind the new tub upstairs}

– replace vanity in bathroom {repurpose vintage dressers? purchase a modern vanity from IKEA? DIY a rustic vanity, like this?}

– install double sinks

– install tile flooring {slate?} in a neutral tone {grey?}

– install new lighting {pot lights above the tub + lantern/chandelier?}

downstairs

– touch up paint in both bathrooms {upstairs is painted a terracotta color, while the downstairs bathroom is charcoal grey}

– purchase hand towels

– add art

– replace vanity and sink in bathroom {repurpose vintage dressers? purchase a modern vanity from IKEA? DIY a rustic vanity, like this?}

– install a tiled {grey penny tile?}, walk-in shower

master bedroom {upstairs}

– paint {indigo}

– Craigslist/sell IKEA Hemnes bed + replace with a DIY headboard

– add accent pillows {i moved our existing pillows to our living areas!}

– add end table on Jord’s side of the bed {i moved our gold Target purchase to our upstairs living room!}

– remove and Craigslist/sell the ceiling fan; add a chandelier

– purchase a vintage dresser in a fun pop of color

– add a closet organizational system or additional dresser storage {my grandmother gifted my mom an antique bedroom set that includes a small three-drawer dresser…perhaps have it refinished?}

– create a baby nook for Quincy

– eventually purchase king-sized linens for better draping/coverage of our queen-sized bed {much like Young House Love did here}

L and Q’s bedroom {upstairs}

– remove and Craigslist/sell the ceiling fan; add a warehouse-inspired light fixture

– add vinyl decals (triangles?) to one wall to create a focal wall in the room

– purchase/make + hang new artwork

– paint little wooden rocker as well as a twin bed for L {one of two identical bed frames!} that we inherited from my Mom’s younger days {!!!}

– personalize L’s bed with a monogram {wood? vinyl decal?}

– purchase fabric to DIY a crib sheet in a fun punch of color {ikat, like this?}

– DIY a bed rail for L’s bed {we’ve been using pool noodles like this, and they’ve been working wonderfully!}

– purchase twin mattresses, bedding, sheets + accent pillows/blanket for L’s big boy bed

– build + hang wood shelving on either side of the window {2-3 shelves per side} for additional storage

– purchase + hang curtains

– add storage to the closet {2×4 Expedit? additional clothing rod?}

– eventually paint + bring in other twin bed frame {identical to L’s current bed frame} for Q, when he’s older

family room {downstairs}

– paint

– bring in TV {at least 55″}

– add a wood accent wall behind TV {like this}

– add a vintage sideboard/buffet/credenza {with doors for DVD/toy storage} under TV {repurpose 2×4 black/brown Expedit in boys’ closet for storage?}

– add large area rugs in living space and in playroom nook

– add graphic curtains, art {there’s still a few bare walls that we’re working on!}

– add playroom area for L and Q, complete with a reading nook

laundry room {downstairs}

– move the water heater to the furnace wall

– add drywall

– enclose the water heater, furnace and electrical panel in a closet with ventilated doors

– tile the wall above the washer and dryer {white subway tile?}

– DIY, stain + hang open shelving above washer and dryer to hold laundry soaps, baskets, etc.; use large brackets spray-painted gold!

– add a folding shelf made of MDF {DIY a faux bois counter, like this}

– paint the floor {use Valspar Oil Porch & Floor Paint}

– add shelving for paint storage {like this}

– eventually replace washer and dryer for a top-loader washer + steam dryer; place washer in a water-safe metal tray

third bedroom {downstairs} – remember, this space will likely serve as a guest bedroom/be in flux until it becomes L’s big boy room!

– paint

– bring in full bed, which is currently housed at my parents’ house

– DIY a wall ‘o shelves