Warning: this post is longer than a two-hour reality show reunion, so skim if you like or read it in small bursts. People asked how we manage our long to-do list, and we shared that it’s essentially one running document. After many requests to publish and update it, here is a cleaner, room-by-room version. I separated completed items from remaining tasks and added a rough percent-complete for each area. Here’s the updated house to-do list—hopefully a bit less chaotic and still useful.
-The Front Yard (25% complete)-
Done:
- Limbed up the magnolia.
- Removed the bushes that hid the house.
- Updated several garden beds and added basic landscaping.
To Do:
- Transplant, plant, and trim more areas—only three of about ten beds were tackled so far.
- Adjust the front roofline to add peaks for more dimension and cohesion with the rear of the house.
-The Front Porch/House Facade (35% complete)-
Done:
- Furnished the porch using pieces from our previous house.
- Planted shrubs and seasonal flowers.
- Painted the front door a cheerful yellow.
To Do:
- Frame the porch columns to make them chunky and square rather than ornate.
- Stain the concrete porch floor to improve its look.
- Paint the porch and siding a moody gray with crisp white trim.
- Add window boxes and shutters to side and back windows.
-The Carport/Garage (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Convert the carport into a garage after finalizing choices for windows and doors.
- Add a trellis arch around the new garage door for a lush look.
- Replace the light fixture with something substantial—perhaps a lantern-style piece.
-The Living Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls and hung curtains.
- Gray-washed the ceiling beams.
- Purchased a new sectional and a large rug to anchor the space.
- Built a console and upgraded the TV.
To Do:
- Add art to bare walls and place additional furniture in corners near the kitchen.
- DIY or upcycle a larger media cabinet to fit the new TV.
- Add a tall armoire or bookcase near the sofa window.
- Install three French doors: two interior and one hallway door to the deck.
- Convert the kitchen fireplace into a double-sided unit that opens into the living room.
- Create a coffered ceiling from the existing beams for a more polished look.
- Refinish the floors in the future.
-The Office (85% complete)-
Done:
- Installed a built-in desk and painted/stenciled the walls.
- Reupholstered secondhand chairs and updated the chandelier.
- Added a chair and a file cabinet for more function.
To Do:
- Address some bare walls with art or shelving.
- Add window treatments for privacy and light control.
- Install French doors between the dining room and office for privacy and architectural interest.
- Refinish the floors eventually.
-The Hall Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain height and added window trim to balance the space.
- Installed a new light fixture above the mirror.
To Do:
- Paint the walls and frame the mirror.
- Hang art, update the vanity paint and hardware, and add a window treatment.
- Replace or repaint door knobs and hinges and add finishing accessories.
-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-
Done:
- Installed a frame collage and a console table—this area is mostly finished and we’re happy with it.
To Do:
- Add a patterned runner to the floor and refinish the floors down the line.
-The Small Hallway (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Add wainscoting, crown molding, and new lighting.
- Decide on paint or wallpaper above the wainscoting, hang art, and replace hollow core doors with solid paneled doors.
- Refinish floors and replace or repaint door hardware.
-The Dining Room (70% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls and the backs of built-ins in dark teal, made curtains, and brought in a large round table.
- Hung art and added a painted buffet with collected pieces above it.
To Do:
- Finish defining the entryway area with art and accessories.
- Personalize the yard-sale art above the buffet and add a statement light over the table.
- Decide on better dining chairs and possibly build a large lazy Susan for the table center.
- Refinish the floors later.
-The Laundry Room (95% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, removed shutters, frosted the side door, painted cabinets and replaced hardware.
- Replaced the washer and dryer, added built-ins, installed cork flooring, hung art, and created functional storage details like a clothespin chandelier and wall-mounted ironing board.
To Do:
- Possibly add a simple window treatment.
-The Kitchen (85% complete)-
Done:
- Primed and painted paneling, painted the brick fireplace, replaced mismatched appliances with stainless steel, and created a large opening to the dining room.
- Updated lighting, rearranged cabinets, painted cabinetry with new hardware, installed white Corian counters, tiled the backsplash to the ceiling on one wall, added floating shelves, and built a microwave cabinet with ventilation.
- Installed a range hood with a wood cover, replaced the flooring with dark cork, added stools, art, and a rug by the fireplace seating area.
To Do:
- Finish details on the peninsula back, add window treatments, and consider a message or chalkboard on the pantry side.
- Beef up crown molding, trim cabinet tops, and possibly beef up the hood design.
- Decide whether to repaint walls and eventually reface the fireplace with a chunky mantel and a stone or tile surround and hearth.
-The Playroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Clear out boxes and secret book projects before painting and furnishing.
- Convert the daybed into a built-in with a trundle for sleepovers and update hardware and floors later.
-Clara’s Room (80% complete)-
Done:
- Painted walls, hung curtains, moved in furniture, added art and baskets, installed a sentimental capiz chandelier, built a play kitchen, and created a cozy closet reading nook.
To Do:
- Add more art, crown molding, consider painting or stenciling the ceiling, refinish floors, and update door hardware.
- The room will evolve if a second baby arrives and Clara moves to a different bedroom.
-The Sunroom (0% complete)-
Done:
- Only temporary furniture from our old house; the room currently holds project overflow.
To Do:
- Paint lofted walls, whitewash the brick, furnish with existing pieces, add window treatments, and replace the fan or add a new fixture.
- Install French doors, add shelving or built-ins, hang art, create a ceiling detail appropriate for the slope, and eventually replace the beige tile flooring.
-Our Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Removed dated bifold doors, added a mirror over the sink window, removed an off-center medicine cabinet, and eliminated a granite backsplash to make the sink area feel like furniture.
- Acquired a new bed, repainted walls, replaced a heavy fan with a playful chandelier, hung art, installed curtains, rearranged furniture, and made an upholstered headboard.
To Do:
- Convert the deck-facing window into a French door, furnish the bare wall, and consider raising the ceiling to follow the roofline for a cozier peak.
- Update the sink vanity, tile the sink nook back wall, create a long bench for the foot of the bed, add French doors for architectural interest, refinish floors, and refresh hardware.
-Our Bathroom (75% complete)-
Done:
- Raised the shower curtain to ceiling height, painted the walls, added art, refreshed trim with glossy white paint, frosted the window, replaced the toilet, updated lighting, and replaced dated border tile with white glass subway tile.
To Do:
- Phase two may include retiling the floor with gray hex tiles and reglazing beige tiles to bright white, plus updating door hardware.
-The Guest Bedroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Painted and furnished the room with existing pieces, and hung curtains and a mirror.
To Do:
- Add crown molding, art, refresh the round mirror, replace worn furniture, update hardware, and refinish the floors.
-The Guest Bathroom (5% complete)-
Done:
- Removed an awkward door mirror, hung a new shower curtain and bath mat, added art, replaced the sink mirror, and updated the light fixture.
To Do:
- Paint the room, decide on tile updates, install a glass shower door, frost the window, refresh hardware, and hang additional art.
-The Basement Workshop (0% complete)-
Done:
- Nothing yet.
To Do:
- Clear the clutter, organize, and create a functional workshop with storage, painted concrete floor, and a more finished feel.
-The Side Lot (10% complete)-
Done:
- Planted two trees as a start.
To Do:
- Plant more trees to naturalize the lot and create an orchard-like buffer instead of the current weed-and-leaf state.
-The Deck (60% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared obstructing shrubs, planned the deck with county approval, demolished the old balcony, dug post holes, framed the deck, and completed deck boards.
To Do:
- Finish railing and steps, furnish with dining furniture and planters, add a pergola or string lights, plant screening greenery, and build a paver patio for the barbecue.
-The Patio (70% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared weeds and dead growth, purchased materials, leveled the site, laid gravel and sand, and installed pavers with a custom curved edge and landscaping.
- Built a rock play box for Clara and installed a rain barrel for water conservation.
To Do:
- Furnish the patio properly, add lighting, and include outdoor play features like a chalkboard or small slide for Clara.
-The Backyard (0% complete)-
Done:
- Built a compost bin.
To Do:
- Remove ivy choking trees, clear overgrown beds to create more lawn for play, remove a nonfunctional brick path, and plant trees for privacy.
- Add raised vegetable and herb beds, transplant shrubs for better placement, reseed patchy grass, paint the basement door, build a swingset and shed, hang a tree swing, and consider an in-ground saltwater pool as a long-term dream.
We’ll tackle many of these projects over the next few years—our first house took 4.5 years to complete—so we try to enjoy the process and take things one project at a time. We don’t follow a strict order: we prioritize safety and urgency, but otherwise work on whatever we’re excited about to keep momentum. Big projects usually simmer for a while while we save and refine the plan, and smaller tasks get checked off regularly to keep motivation high. How do you manage your house to-do lists—phone app, paper, or something else? What helps you decide what to tackle next?
Psst—Check out the floor plan post and our Current House photo gallery for context on layout changes and many of the completed projects mentioned above.