While I could reflect on all the progress we made on our home this past year, I’d rather look forward to 2010. With home ownership comes a never-ending “honey do” list, and my dad and husband better get ready – I’ve got quite a few New Year’s “resolutions” for our house that will require their help sawing, drilling, assembling, and painting. Just leave the purchasing part of it – and the “a little more to the left, no, right!” – to me!
1. Buy a bench for the entryway. I’ve had my eye on this bench for over a year, and thanks to a generous Christmas gift from my godfather I expect to make it mine very soon. Like, this weekend. Our entryway is narrow and we’d like to paint it a dark teal color. This bench is perfect because it doesn’t take up much visual space.
Crate & Barrel Porto Bench - $249
2. Paint the entryway, ideally a dark teal/peacock blue color. Any recommendations for good-quality low-VOC paint?
3. Buy a new dining room set. Initially I thought about painting my grandmother’s set, but it’s simply not in good condition. Even my mom agrees that it’s got to go, and I already know what I want to replace it with.
Three generations have used this set, but its time has passed.
Avalon Dining Table & Vintner Chairs from C&B, in black
4. Makeover the “blue room” (the 3rd bedroom).
5. Trim out the massive mirrors in our bathrooms, which will be less time consuming and less expensive than ripping them off the wall, replacing the drywall, and painting the whole thing.
Our master bath (and Whiskey, waiting for a drink)
6. Paint the master bath. I’m fine with the current color, but the Mr. is not.
7. Take the reading nook to the next level by replacing the two mismatched bookcases with built-ins. I’d love the bottom third to have sliding doors to provide concealed storage.
Building built-ins would be great hubby & dad bonding time, right?
8. Replace the living room rug with something larger and more interesting. The current rug is left over from our old apartment, and is like a puddle of mud in the middle of the floor.
Boring!
Ballard Designs Sojurn Rug is the inspiration.
9. Paint the kitchen/dining room. A few months ago my lovely readers gave me some great paint suggestions, so it’s time to choose one and get going!
10. Turn our hum-drum back yard into a lush, welcoming summertime room. This will likely include removing the tree that’s in the middle of the patio, adding privacy plants (perhaps bamboo), laying down a stone path in “the alley”, building a wooden gate at the end of the alley for privacy and safety, and buying new patio furniture.
The "alley", just waiting for a nice path, gate, and plants.
It's just begging for some nice furniture!
Well, all of this, plus another side project I’m working on (more soon), should keep us busy for the next year! How about you? What big project(s) are you planning to tackle in 2010?
I love it! I bought the hubs a balance board for christmas, knowing it would speed up the process of getting an area rug in the living room. Trying to balance on hardwoods is difficult and dangerous, but on a lovely new 8′ round rug, it’s a whole different story!
I’m also hoping to do a recycled tile backsplash behind the stove (http://www.bedrockindustries.com/blazetile_gallery1.html), paint the bathrooms and turn the second bedroom from an indoor storage area with a bed into a useable space.
love all the ideas. we used C-2 paint all over our place. It’s low-voc and goes on beautifully. Only a few retailers sell it though so if you are interested let me know. There’s a place down the street from me that has it and BM.
Great post. I think it helps to write everything down too. I can’t wait to see what you do over the next year! I have a super long list right now too.
I love the dining set you chose. You could really dress it up for formal occasions with a runner and a centerpiece or keep it really simple for every day use.
Are you planning to use the bookcases in another area of the house. I’ve seen where people place a bookshelf on either side of a window and connect them at the top with a length of wood (and some trim) and build a seat under the window. If we were a handy couple, I’d like to try that myself.
Good luck with all of your projects in 2010.
Ohhhhhhh, I would love to see a tutorial on trimming the mirrors!!
Sounds like you have quite the year worked out for your husband and dad already
Love the project lists! I can’t wait to see all of these unfold. I’ve got a huge list of to-do’s for 2010 myself…I should probably post them so I’m forced to follow through!
And as for low VOC paint…I love Benjamin Moore’s version (can’t recall the name but they can do any of their colors in it). I used it in my study and it didn’t smell at all and the quality of the paint was what you’d expect from BM.
I love all of the pieces/ideas! Can’t wait to follow as you check these off the list
What a wonderful post! I love your list. Can’t wait to see all the changes! Happy New Year!
Omg, I can’t wait to see how these projects come along. Great list!
Happy New Year!
Hey I think the rug you picked for your living room is the one in my dining room, great minds think alike!
I’m commenting in multiple places…
Benjamin Moore 762 Pacific Palisades is a very awesome teal.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/colortherapy/colortherapy-french-bleu-a-travelogue-010613