First House vs Current House: A Room-by-Room Comparison

After a reader suggested a side-by-side look at past and present rooms, we compared our first house to our current one. This is a friendly, honest rundown of what we loved, what still needs work, and which house wins each room. Keep in mind the first house was finished after four and a half years, while the current house has been ours for only eight months — so consider this a comparison of finished vs. in-progress.

Front Yard

Winner: First house. We spent years transforming the front yard of our first home and it still feels more polished. The current house has great potential, but from some angles it needs more work to reach the same level.

Front Porch

Winner: First house. The striped porch floor and hanging ferns of the first home are some of our favorite finishes. We love the new house’s door color but the porch itself still needs boxed columns, stained concrete, and other finishing touches.

Living Room

Winner: Current house. Even though it’s still a work in progress, our current living room is where we actually live — we relax on the large sofa, play with the kiddo on the rug, and sometimes eat at the pedestal table while watching TV. The first house’s formal living room was rarely used, so the new space feels more lived-in and comfortable.

Kitchen

Winner: Tie. The first kitchen charmed us with granite counters, white cabinets, and stainless appliances but was small. The current kitchen is roomy and full of promise: a fireplace, space for an eat-in area, and potential to open to the dining room. We expect the current kitchen to win once we complete the planned updates.

Hallway

Winner: Current house. The wider, brighter hallway and a large family gallery make the current home feel warm and welcoming.

Spare Bedroom / Playroom

Winner: First house. The clean, tuneful spare room with a daybed and desk felt less chaotic than the current playroom before it was organized.

Nursery

Winner: Current house (narrow). The first nursery held a lot of sentimental value—we brought Clara home there—but the current room offers a larger closet that doubles as a reading nook, tipping the scales in its favor.

Master Bedroom

Winner: Current house. The walk-in closet, attached master bath, and a chandelier that we love make the current master room a major upgrade, even though it’s only partially finished. The built-ins from the first house still hold a special place in our hearts for storage and charm.

Master Bathroom

Winner: First house. The full gut-and-remodel in our first home produced a bathroom we still love. The new master bath is attached and has potential, but it hasn’t been updated yet.

Office / Guest Bedroom

Winner: Current house. While the first house’s office was a great multitasking room, it was small and often crowded when guests stayed over. Having a separate, cheerful guest room with an attached bath in the current house is far more functional for hosting and working.

Den

Winner: First house. We miss the cozy den from our first home. The current house combines family activities into one big casual living room, which works well, but the den had a special, snug quality we still fondly remember.

Dining Room

Winner: Current house. The current home’s dining room — with curtains we adore and dark teal built-in accents — is a clear upgrade. The first house never really had a proper dining room accessible to family gatherings.

Laundry Area

Winner: Current house. The new laundry space feels happier and less prone to becoming a clutter hub. It’s narrow and lacks a folding surface, but overall it’s an improvement.

Hall Bathroom

Winner: First house (for charm), Current house (for function). The striped wall and glass chandelier made the first hall bathroom adorable. The new hall bath includes a tub, which is essential for baths, so functionally it’s better — but it’s still waiting for personality.

Sunroom

Winner: First house. We loved the first sunroom. The current one has possibilities, and with time it may get close, but for now the first retains the edge.

Patio

Winner: Current house. The current patio is bigger, shaded, and cozier — and we built it ourselves, which makes it even more satisfying.

Basement

Winner: First house. We invested much more time finishing the first basement, so it’s further along. The current basement has potential and may be a project for the future.

Backyard

Winner: First house. We miss the flat, grassy yard surrounded by woods from our first home. The current yard will get there with time, plantings, and a little landscaping effort.

Final tally: the first house leads by a narrow margin, but many rooms in the current house are still in progress and full of potential. Comparing photos of different homes is a fun way to track how our style evolves — even when pieces of furniture and familiar touches carry over from one house to the next.

Note: A full source list and paint colors for many items in our first house are available in our room-by-room source list; we’re still compiling sources for the current house.