Our Current House

In October 2018, we bought a new-to-us home in our absolute favorite neighborhood in Durham, NC. This home had been lived in and loved by one other family in it's 32 years of life, and we were excited to make it our own. Here's a quick summary of our project list, and our current Before/Afters. 

EXTERIOR BEFORE:

EXTERIOR NOW:

Exterior Renovations: 

1. ✅Paint house & trim 
2. ✅Paint front door 
3. ✅Install new gutters
4. ✅Paint stair railing 
5. ✅Paint garage doors to match house
6. ✅Replace exterior light fixtures
7. ✅Re-landscape left front entry
8. 
   

Remaining to do: 

1. -Re-landscape right front entry 

FOYER BEFORE: 

FOYER AFTER: 

                

                

Foyer Renovations:  

✅Replace flooring on main floor
✅Remove carpet and re-finish stairs
✅Replace rotted trim on exterior
✅Paint the room a new color
✅Paint the spindles & risers white
✅Replace lock with smart lock/touch pad
✅Spray paint nickel hardware black
✅Add a coat drop area

Remaining To Do: 

-Replace entry light with something more stylish

1. -Scrape popcorn ceilings in entry and hallway 
2. 
   

DINING ROOM BEFORE:

DINING ROOM CURRENTLY: 

              

Dining Room Renovations:

1. ✅Replace carpet with hardwood floors 
2. ✅Make windows operable
3. ✅Replace light with something more stylish 
4. ✅Paint room
5. ✅Get an indoor/outdoor rug for easy cleaning
6. ✅Add window treatments
7. 
   

LIVING ROOM BEFORE:

LIVING ROOM AFTER: 

Living Room Renovations: 

1. ✅Remove carpet and replace with hardwoods 
2. ✅Paint walls & trim 
3. ✅Remove the crooked curtains & patch curtain holes -- ask me about how we found a huge leak from the seller screwing curtains into our shower pipe.... 
4. ✅Replace back door (this is something we actually negotiated for the seller to take care of)
5. ✅Make windows operable
6. ✅Re-face fireplace tiles with sticker tiles 
7. ✅Add blinds to windows
8. ✅Add screen door to back door 

Remaining To Do: 
-We'd like to add built in storage around the fireplace and do a more permanent fireplace remodel 

KITCHEN: 

While I was 36 weeks pregnant, I tackled my last pre-baby project-- painting our kitchen cabinets. We realized this was a project we likely wouldn't have the energy or ability to do AFTER the baby, so pushed through to get it done. We've since come to like the counter tops more than we thought, and think we will work with the color scheme when choosing a backsplash, vs. replacing the counters entirely. We also replaced the dishwasher and range in this reno. 

This was my inspiration: 

And this is what it looks like now: 

Kitchen Renovations: 

✅Remove & replace tile floor - this was an unexpected 2018 project, and I'm SO happy we did it!

✅Convert coat closet to pantry 

✅New refrigerator

✅ Paint cabinets white

✅ New range 

✅ New dishwasher

                    

Future Goals:

-Remove fiberglass backsplash & replace with tile 

-Replace yellow counter tops (may not happen)

BREAKFAST NOOK B: 

BREAKFAST NOOK CURRENTLY: 

Breakfast Nook Renovations:

1. ✅Add bamboo shade to picture window 
2. ✅Paint
3. ✅Drywall the spindle window 
4. 
   

To do: 

1. -Replace hanging light with something more stylish

DOWNSTAIRS POWDER ROOM BEFORE: 

DOWNSTAIRS POWDER ROOM CURRENTLY: 

Powder Room Renovations:

1. ✅Paint tile floor
2. ✅Replace toilet
3. ✅Paint cabinet 
4. ✅Install new granite counter 
5. ✅Install new faucet 
6. ✅Paint hardware 
7. ✅Install new mirror

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE: 

MASTER BEDROOM CURRENTLY: 

Master Bedroom Renovations:

1. ✅Scrape popcorn ceilings
2. ✅Install new carpet
3. ✅Paint
4. ✅Add king bed 

GUEST BEDROOM BEFORE: 

GUEST BEDROOM CURRENTLY: 

Guest Bedroom Renovations:

1. ✅Scrape popcorn ceilings
2. ✅Install new carpet
3. ✅Paint
4. ✅ New bed frame, bedding, decor

BACK DECK: 

BACK DECK CURRENTLY: 

Back deck renovations:

1. ✅Add screen door
2. ✅Add potted plants and window boxes
3. 
   
4. Remaining to do: 
5. -Re-surface/repair rotted wood
6. -Potentially screen in 
7. 
   

LANDSCAPING BEFORE: 

LANDSCAPING AFTER: 

Landscaping Renovations: 

✅Remove 8 front hedges 

✅Paint mailbox 

✅Plant mounding perennials around mailbox 

✅Stone edge around mailbox 

✅Get rain barrel 

Remaining To do: 

- Re-landscape left-front yard 

- Re-landscape left side of house 

- Add fence 

- Plant privacy trees on left and right 

BACK PATIO BEFORE: 

BACK PATIO BEFORE: 

Patio Renovations: 

✅Remove existing patio 

✅Re-level and install slate pavers

Thanks for reading along!