Warning: this is longer than the Oscars, so feel free to fast forward to the good parts. These posts started because people asked how we organize everything on our long to-do list. We explained that we keep one long running document, and when readers asked us to share and update it, we figured why not. It’s been ten months since the last update, so here we go again.
To make the list easier to read, we separated completed items from tasks that are still pending, and added an estimated completion percentage by each area heading. That way you can scan what’s done and what’s next without crossing your eyes.
Ok, let’s do this.
-The Front Yard (40% complete)-
Done:
- Limbed up the magnolia so it no longer hides the house.
- Removed bushes that obscured the facade.
- Planted grass in bare patches where shrubs were removed.
- Updated several garden beds and added new landscaping.
To Do:
- Transplant, plant, and trim remaining beds — we’ve tackled about three of ten garden beds so far.
-The Front Porch/House Facade (35% complete)-
Done:
- Furnished the porch using pieces from our previous house.
- Planted shrubs and flowers.
- Painted the front door yellow.
To Do:
- Frame the porch columns so they’re chunky and square instead of ornate.
- Stain the concrete porch floor to freshen it up.
- Add window boxes around the house.
- Install shutters on side and back windows where they’re currently missing.
-The Carport/Garage (5% complete)-
Done:
- Replaced a tiny light fixture with a larger black lantern.
To Do:
- We debated converting this to a closed garage but now favor beefier columns, a covered top, and a trellis or pergola to keep the space light and open while adding charm.
-The Living Room (85% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls and brightened the trim, which had been dark wood.
- Gray-washed the ceiling beams.
- Got a new sectional we love and built a console behind it.
- Added subtle patterned curtains, a new rug, ottoman, desk chair, and a larger secondhand media cabinet.
- Built a leaning chalkboard to balance the tall slider at the back of the room.
To Do:
- Add overhead lighting (a pendant over the table and maybe some recessed cans).
- Turn the kitchen fireplace into a double-sided unit that opens to the living room.
- Refinish the floors eventually.
-The Office (85% complete)-
Done:
- Built a custom double desk and organized the workspace.
- Painted and reupholstered secondhand chairs, painted and stenciled walls, and added sentimental art.
- Updated the chandelier with paint, new bulbs, and a shade, and added a functional file cabinet and extra seating.
To Do:
- Add window treatments—bamboo blinds for texture are under consideration.
- Install French doors between the dining room and office for privacy and architectural interest.
- Refinish the floors someday.
-The Hall Bathroom (100% complete)-
Done:
- Hung the shower curtain higher, added new window trim, and installed a new light above the mirror.
- Painted the walls, framed the mirror, added art, and made a chunky shelf.
- Updated vanity knobs and installed a homemade window shade.
To Do:
- Nothing at the moment—this one is wrapped up for now.
-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-
Done:
- Completed a frame collage and added a console table; we’re happy with the result and don’t plan major changes.
To Do:
- Add a patterned runner and eventually refinish the floors.
-The Small Hallway (5% complete… at least until tomorrow’s big reveal!)-
Done:
- Spray painted old doorknobs oil-rubbed bronze for the rooms off this hallway; they’re holding up well.
To Do:
- Add board and batten, paint the walls, install crown molding, hang art, replace the old light and doorbell chime, and eventually refinish the floors.
-The Dining Room (95% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls, painted the back wall of built-ins dark teal, and hung homemade curtains.
- Added a large round dining table, chairs, a chippy buffet, personalized yard-sale art, and a dramatic light fixture over the table.
To Do:
- Build a giant lazy susan for the table’s center and eventually refinish the floors.
-The Laundry Room (98% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls, removed shutters, frosted the glass side door, painted cabinets, and replaced hardware.
- Upgraded to energy-efficient washer and dryer, built custom shelves, replaced laminate with cork flooring, added art, a clothespin chandelier, and a mounted ironing board to save space.
To Do:
- Possibly add a window treatment—this room is nearly finished.
-The Kitchen (85% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the brick fireplace and primed and painted wall paneling.
- Installed new energy-efficient stainless appliances, reconfigured cabinets, added a peninsula, painted cabinets, and replaced hardware.
- Replaced granite with white Corian counters, tiled a full-height penny tile backsplash, added open shelves, built a microwave cabinet with ventilation, and hung a range hood with a custom cover.
- Replaced flooring with dark cork, added stools for the peninsula, defined the sitting area with a rug, and made a fabric window shade.
To Do:
- Finish the back of the peninsula with trim, consider adding a message board on the pantry side, decide whether to add trim to the cabinet tops, and possibly repaint the walls.
- Long-term: reface the fireplace with a chunky wood mantel and a stone or tile surround.
-The Playroom/Big Girl Room (75% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared clutter via a yard sale and donations, painted the walls, made and hung curtains, added a rug, child-sized table and chairs, and a nine-drawer secondhand dresser for storage.
- Replaced the ceiling fan with a pendant, created a frame collage of meaningful items, hung birdcages to balance the window, and cleared the closet for Clara’s use.
To Do:
- Paint the ceiling, add crown molding, paint or refinish the dresser, and refinish the floors in time.
-Nursery (90% complete)-
Done:
- Painted the walls, hung curtains, moved in furniture, added art and storage, and installed Clara’s capiz chandelier.
- Built a play kitchen and fridge, restyled the closet with stamped walls, and sewed a beanbag for a reading nook.
To Do:
- Hang more art, add crown molding, refinish the floors eventually, and adapt the room if family needs change.
-The Sunroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- Spray painted slider handles and knobs oil-rubbed bronze, painted walls and an odd brick box, furnished the room from existing pieces, and added art and a bookcase for storage.
To Do:
- Furnish a few bare corners, consider window treatments, and eventually replace the beige tile flooring.
-Our Bedroom (80% complete)-
Done:
- Removed dated bifold doors, added a mirror over the sink window, removed a granite backsplash to make the sink nook look furniture-like, and brought in a new bed.
- Painted the room (then tweaked the paint), added a playful Ikea chandelier, hung art and curtains, rearranged furniture, made an upholstered headboard, and added furniture opposite the bed.
To Do:
- Possibly convert a window into French doors to the deck, tile the sink nook’s back wall, and refinish the floors eventually.
-Our Bathroom (75% complete)-
Done:
- Hung the shower curtain at ceiling height, painted the walls, added art, painted trim and door glossy white, frosted the window for privacy, replaced the toilet, swapped a boob light for a centered glass pendant, and replaced dated border tile with white frosted glass subway tile.
To Do:
- Phase Two: retile the floor (perhaps gray hex tiles) and possibly reglaze or cover the beige wall tile so the space reads bright and fresh.
-The Guest Bedroom (70% complete)-
Done:
- Primed and painted walls, furnished the room mostly with leftover pieces, and hung curtains and a mirror.
To Do:
- Hang art, add crown molding, repaint or replace the round mirror to make it pop, refresh worn furnishings, and refinish the floors eventually.
-The Guest Bathroom (10% complete)-
Done:
- Removed an awkward door mirror, added a new shower curtain and bath mat, replaced the mirror over the sink, hung art, and replaced the light fixture.
To Do:
- Paint the walls, decide which tile to replace or update, install a glass shower door instead of a curtain cubby, frost the window for privacy, and hang more art.
-The Basement Workshop (85% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared a giant mess with donations and a Bagster, organized tools on pegboards, painted the pegboards, stored paint in a built-in cabinet, and sorted hardware in jars on shelving.
- Built sawdust-proof art and added a functional shelf over the main workspace counter.
To Do:
- Paint the basement back door and consider staining the floors and wood counters.
-The Side Lot (10% complete)-
Done:
- Planted two trees to start shaping this space.
To Do:
- Plant many more trees to naturalize the lot and turn it into a small orchard rather than a weed-and-leaf patch.
-The Deck (80% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared bushes and shrubs, drew up a deck plan approved by the county, demolished an old balcony, dug post holes, framed and installed deck boards, railings, and steps, and furnished the deck with a dining table and chairs. We also installed a new French door to replace a rotten one.
To Do:
- Stain and seal the deck to complete the build, add large-bulb string lights, hide the utility box with paint or a small cabinet, and plant greenery to screen the AC and steps.
-The Patio (85% complete)-
Done:
- Cleared weeds, bushes, and dead trees to make room for a patio, planned and purchased materials, leveled the ground, laid gravel and sand, and installed pavers with a custom curved edge. We landscaped around the patio, built a rock box for Clara, and added a rain barrel.
To Do:
- Continue furnishing the patio and consider adding string or other lighting for evening use.
-The Backyard (90% complete)-
Done:
- Built a compost bin, cleared overgrown beds for more lawn space, removed invasive monkey grass from brick paths, transplanted misplaced shrubs, and reseeded the lawn.
To Do:
- Remove ivy choking some trees, plant privacy trees at the back to naturalize the edge, add raised beds for vegetables and herbs, and consider a swingset for Clara (though a playground is nearby).
In summary, it’s satisfying to look back at the completed items, but the to-do list remains long. We’ve learned to enjoy the process and tackle projects one at a time. There’s no strict order to our projects — we usually pick what we’re excited about unless something urgent requires priority. We keep bigger projects in mind until we feel confident about the approach and the budget, and crossing off smaller tasks keeps momentum going. Sometimes we rest after a big project and focus on little wins; other times we immediately start planning the next major project.
Next up, we’d like to:
- Add crown molding to the three bedrooms that don’t have it yet.
- Box in the porch columns.
- Redo the carport to make it more inviting and functional.
- Renovate the untouched guest bathroom.
Those are on deck for the near future. But enough about us — how do you manage your house to-do lists? Do you keep them on your phone, on post-its, in a big online document, or handwritten in a notebook? How do you decide which project to tackle next?