Listy VonListerstein: a house log

I am not going to lie. These days this is fairly much all I want to do (add Burger, Clara, and John in there and I am even more mooney-eyed and kissy-faced). But to everyone who requested an updated Listy post, I at last got ‘er done. We last shared our to-do list in November, so this check-in is well overdue – and I figured it could make us feel somewhat accomplished simply to look at all the stuff we have crossed off since then. Picture me making Zoro-esque slicing sound effects with every slash (Teddy thought it was hilarious).

These posts were born when people asked how we organize all the stuff on our to-do list and I explained that we in short have one long run-on document that we update as we go. They said “share it!” and I said “done” and now we post it three or four times a year, simply to see where we are going and to take a second to soak up what we have accomplished. The bonus side effect is that looking at all of those not-crossed-off-yet bullets helps to get our brains going so we can plan the next few projects we want to tackle. Plus we get to snap some updated photos. Like a few spring-y outdoor shots like this.

– The Front Yard (20% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove the trees that are dead/decaying/diseased beyond repair (an arborist and a home inspector helped confirm which ones should go)
• Get all exterior siding and trim repainted (there is peeling paint, some rot, etc)
• Dig up all the swiftly spreading ground cover (we still have some mulch beds to tackle, but the parts we graded and seeded are groundcover free)
• Aerate, level, and seed the yard
• Make planting beds up front and mulch and plant them
• Transplant some of the crowded/overlapping boxwoods on either side of the portico (around the back or into other planting beds out front?)
• Redo old cracked concrete walkway from the driveway to the front door (add curves and fairly planting beds on both sides)
• Add some pleasant hard-scaping around the front (we are so inspired by this house’s landscaping – so we’d enjoy to add some raised stone beds)
• Plant a few green dwarf maples (it is our go-to thing that we planted one at our previous house – you can see it in this post under the window on the right)
• Add low curved brick borders on either side of the driveway wired with lights (some of the houses nearby have ‘em and we enjoy them)
• Get the driveway paved

– The Portico (30% Complete) –

To Do:

• Repaint the portico and sidelights (peeling paint = everywhere)
• Paint the front door
• Arch the portico ceiling (it is low and one house up the street has an arched ceiling with a vivid hanging lantern)
• Paint and panel the front triangle thing once we arch it (or before? the gray triangle simply feels flat lately)
• Add a few planters, a new double-wide door mat, new porch lighting, etc

– The Garage (3% Complete) –

To Do:

• Change out the compact/rusty light over the garage doors (we attempted this, hence the 3% ranking, but we are not sold, so we might replace them)
• Repaint garage doors and add some pleasant hardware to beef them up
• Add a pergola over the double garage doors with vines creeping over it
• Finish the interior of the garage with drywall to create a workshop on one side and storage around the perimeter (add pegboards, shelving for paint and tools, etc)
• Reuse kitchen cabinets in the garage (they are dinged up in a bunch of spots around the doors and frames, but would be strong for the garage)
• Redo the four steps that lead from the garage to the kitchen (remove old carpeting and paint them? rebuild them fully?)
• Build a box on casters for scrap wood storage in the garage (we need a system to keep it from being all over the place)
• Perhaps we should get old lockers and paint them lively colors and remove some of the doors for storage? (enjoy these!)
• Possibly add plumbing for a utility sink out there (we have consistently hoped one in our “workshop”)

– The Foyer (80% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove the doors that block the flow into the kitchen (and the fairly view out the back windows that will someday be french doors)
• Paint blue trim, doors, and sidelights
  
• Remove wallpaper and repaint the walls
• Replace the old foyer light
• Turn the extra toy closet in the foyer into a craft and toy closet for Clara
• Repaint the foyer ceiling
• Deal with the grout that haunted my dreams
• Replace tile? (only if it is unsalvageable – there are a few areas where it is fairly beat up)
• Turn the other foyer closet into a shoe/coat closet with some functional built-ins

– The Stairs (90% Complete) –

• Remove the old carpet from the wood stairs
• Paint blue railing spindles and trim
• Stain the top rails dark to match the runner
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Paint the stair risers
• Install new striped runner with a rug pad under it
• Hang some art
• Possibly hang a big chandelier overhead since the ceiling is so lofted above the top of the stairs

– The Half Bathroom (35% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove wallpaper
• Repaint all blue trim (and door)
• Upgrade door hardware & hinges
• Paint walls
• New mirror (something larger and higher – John can only see up to his shoulders now)
• Paint vanity (use odor blocking primer)
• Upgrade lighting
• Replace leaky faucet
• Replace vanity & seashell sink (Phase 2) Note: We like to live with kitchens and bathrooms (and give them smaller budget-friendly updates) for at least a year before doing any major gut-jobs or renovations (this helps us get a better feel for how we use the space, and allows us to save our pennies for something thoughtful that we will not regret (more on that here)
• Replace unsalvageable tile floor? (Phase 2)
• Here is a shocker since this house is covered with old wallpaper, but we are in fact flirting with adding some cool new wallpaper since there is no tub/shower in there (grass cloth? something charming like this or this?). Could be lively! Or a tiled accent wall… (Phase 2)

– The Dining Room (10% Complete) –

To Do:

• Clean and reseal the wood floors
• Upgrade built-ins (remove scrolly tops? build up to ceiling? paint white?)
• Paint all of the blue trim
• Remove the wallpaper
• Repaint the walls
• Upgrade lighting and curtains
• Add furniture, a rug (?) and art

– The Living Room (10% Complete) –

To Do:

• Clean and re-seal the wood floors
• Prime and paint the bright pink walls
• Take down the old curtains
• Whitewash the brick fireplace wall
• Prime and paint the thick woodwork that wraps around the bottom half of the room’s walls (we ENJOY it, and think it’ll be vivid in white)
• Figure out window treatments (bamboo blinds + curtains? printed roman shades?)
• Add more recessed lights to evenly light the room (there are simply three near the fireplace)
• Turn the overhead beams into a coffered ceiling (like this)
• Build/find a pleasant big built-in-looking cabinet that holds the TV?
• Get gas logs after we save up our bucks (Phase 2)
• Add stacked stone or built-in molding around the fireplace? (Phase 2)

– The Office (20% Complete) –

To Do:

• Take down the old curtains
• Clean and re-seal the wood floors
• Paint all the blue trim, baseboard, crown, etc (66 window mullions = yikes)
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Add a double desk that J & and I can share somewhere (we are about halfway through this one, hence half the cross out)
• Bring in more storage (bookcase, file cabinet, craft/photography zone, etc)
• Get good desk chairs
• Add curtains/window treatments
• Hang art & create a brainstorm-zone on the walls (bulletin board? chalkboard?)
• Make sure there is a kid zone for Clara and Teddy (we have a table for them, but we want to update that area)
• Get a big cozy rug
• Add two large potted plants (lemon trees? fiddle leaf figs?)

– The Kitchen (35% Complete) –

To Do:

• Take down the old curtains
• Remove the wallpaper
• Remove shelves thank flank the sink window and add shelves there
• Move the cabinet over the fridge forward so it is accessible
• Get a table for the eat-in area
• Paint the walls
• Update the old kitchen lights (although we are still on the fence about the pendant near the stove, so that might end up in our bedroom)
• Paint the pantry door and the door to the garage
• Prime and paint the woodwork and trim
• Paint/stain the cabinets (they are too beat up to keep forever, but they’ll eventually end up in the garage when we do a full kitchen reno)
• Remove almond microwave over stove and add an inexpensive vent (put microwave in pantry)
• Update the old almond fridge and dishwasher with affordable fixes (appliance paint and a panel change-out)
• Organize the pantry (prime & paint it, add shelves & baskets, etc)
• Update the old counters with concrete & seal them
  
• Update the old floors with peel & stick tile like our first kitchen (this would be the end of Phase 1)
• Full kitchen reno for Phase 2 (new heated tile floors, new cabinets, new counters, new appliances, backsplash tile, etc)
• Convert giant triple window behind table into french doors leading onto the deck
• Open the wall between the kitchen & living room and add built-ins on either side (sort of like the dining room built-ins in our last house)
• Further pimp the pantry with pull out drawers (and replace the door with frosted glass?)
• Amp up the “command center” area across from the triple windows
• Paint the new kitchen french doors and door to the sunroom (black? charcoal? soft turquoise? white?)

– The Sunroom-Turned-Veranda (80% Complete) –

To Do:

• Rip up old carpet and padding
• Permanently remove the broken base heater
• Convert sunroom to an open covered porch with new columns and no more sliders (many of the sliders are bad and the posts are rotten)
• Loft the ceiling
• Add beadboard to the ceiling and paint it soft blue
• Redo the electrical to get two fans in there
• Paint all the trim, window trim, walls, and the french door into the living room
• Retile the floor with outdoor-safe stone to upgrade the old concrete floors so they are less slick, more level, and less stained
• Add sconces to the posts around the room
• Build a box to hide the wires that creep down the brick wall near the french door
• Furnish the room with deck-friendly outdoor furniture
• Build a brick outdoor fireplace off of the sunroom after we open it up? Kind of like this, but distinct…

– Our Bedroom (15% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Repaint all of the cream trim and doors white
  
• Add faux wood blinds to all windows for privacy/light blocking
  
• Repaint the walls
• Repaint the ceiling (or even plank it or wallpaper it like this for texture?)
• Possibly add built-ins along the whole bed wall so there is a nook for the bed to tuck into? Or some sort of window seats? More built-in storage would be strong.
• Add a ceiling light fixture (there is nothing in there)
• Bring in art, curtains, etc.
• Add a fireplace (this is a Candice Olson inspired pipe dream)

– Our Bedroom Sink Nook (50% Complete) –

• Rip up the carpet in sink area (we did not put hardwoods there because we eventually want to tile it)
• Replace the mirror over the sink for something bigger
• Paint the walls and the trim and the ceiling
• Stencil and seal the subfloor (to tide us over until Phase 2)
• Add some plain shelves to the empty side of the vanity for balance
• Stain/paint the vanity and add new hardware
• Phase 2 (a full reno where we knock down a wall and combine the bathroom with this sink nook area)

– Our Bathroom (30% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove the glass shower door
• Bring privacy to the window with some blinds
  
• Remove the wallpaper
• Paint the walls and trim and ceiling
• Replace the bathroom mirror & upgrade the lights
• Fully redo our attached bath down the line for Phase 2 (the lively blue hex floor tile is in rough shape and we want to expand the footprint into the sink nook area so it is all one space (soaker tub? tiled shower as well? double sink? should be lively!)

– Our Closet (40% Complete) –

To Do:

• Repaint all of the cream trim
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Rip up the carpet and stencil the subfloor
• Phase 2 (we will either extend the tile from the bathroom or the hardwoods from the bedroom into here, simply have to decide if we are moving the door or not)
• New light fixture
• Organize/build out/pimp the whole space (we are envisioning cabinetry with drawers, shelves, rods at distinct heights, etc)

-Upstairs Hallway (75% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Repaint all of the blue trim and doors glossy white
• Get all new hinges and door knobs (they are not only bright brass, many of them are rusted/corroded so they cannot simply be sprayed)
• Upgrade to a Nest thermostat (we hear nothing but strong things about them, and John is drooling for one)
• Stain/paint the bannister and posts
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Replace the old hallway lights
• Convert hallway linen closet into built-in open shelves or cabinets with shelves over them (sort of like this?)
• Add crown molding
• Perhaps add thick wood wainscoting (like we have in the kitchen and living room) to the upstairs hallway to break up the long space?
• Hang art

– Clara’s Room (90% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Repaint all of the blue trim and doors
• Add window blinds & curtains
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Make a canopy wall for Clara’s bed (with lights)
• Paint the door to her closet bright pink
• Add crown molding
• Hang art & bring in things like her play kitchen when the crib moves to the nursery
• Make her deep sloped ceiling-ed closet into a little playhouse within her room
• Add a ceiling light fixture (boo! there is nothing in there!)

– Nursery (90% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Repaint all of the mauve trim and doors
• Add wood blinds (for light blocking) and hang curtains
• Furnish the room (rug, bring in crib, changing area, toy zone, chair for nursing, etc)
• Make built-ins on either side of the crib (to accommodate a future twin bed lengthwise or full/queen widthwise)
• Add crown molding
• Repaint the walls and ceiling
• Make a crib skirt and a mobile, hang art, etc
• Paint the door a lively color like Clara’s (green?) and organize the closet
• Add a ceiling light fixture (boo! there is nothing in there!)
• Finishing touches (line the curtains with blackout fabric, get a changing pad cover, add something on the crib wall, etc)

– The Guest Bedroom (12% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Repaint all of the cream trim and doors
• Organize the closet that is overflowing with gift wrapping supplies, fabric & sewing stuff, crafts, etc.
• Clear out all the junk in this room since it sort of exploded when we tackled the nursery (we got this done 48 hours before Teddy was born, simply in time for Nonna’s arrival)
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Add crown molding
• Add a ceiling light fixture (nope, there is nothing in there either!)
• Bring in a bed and a dresser/desk that can accommodate my sewing machine so this room can multi-task (it has the prettiest view/light – I’d enjoy to creep in there and sew on Sunday afternoons)

– The Hall Bathroom (8% Complete) –

To Do:

• Paint the door and trim
• Paint the walls and ceiling
• Replace the faucets and mirrors and lights for a mini-update (Phase 1)
• A complete redo is in order (Phase 2) since the old tile is stained/cracked and the tub & fixtures leak. Perhaps we will do herringbone slate? Marble? Extra long rectangles of tile like this?

– Laundry Nook (20% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove old carpeting and install hardwoods
• Replace the washer & dryer with something more energy efficient down the line (the washer died on this, so we tackled this faster than we thought)
• Lay something under the washer and dryer (we used wood planks that we stained and sealed like we did at our last house to add stability and blend in with the hardwoods)
• Fully redo the nook (new doors for noise control, new cabinets/shelving – or more cabs/shelves if we re-use the existing ones)
• Add a swanky tile backsplash and some strong art/lighting (I want to make it a lively little surprise jewel box at the end of the hallway)

– Unfinished Storage Room (0% Complete) –

To Do:

• This will serve as an awesomely large storage room for a while (we have no current need for additional wrapped up rooms), but down the line we’d enjoy to finish it – perhaps as a movie room / bunk room for older children? This’ll be waaay down the line, but we dream of:
  • Adding drywall
  • Getting flooring
  • Adding lighting
  • Possibly enlarging the windows to let in more light
  • Building out the closets (so there is still some storage under the eaves)
  • Furnishing the space with built in beds, a TV, a big sectional for lounging, etc – wahoo!

– General Whole House Ideas (7% Complete) –

To Do:

• Slowly upgrade all lights in the house to LEDs to save energy
• Replace all of the gold/wallpapered/off-white switchplates and outlets in the house (we have replaced around 50% of them so far)
• Upgrade to nicer frames, drapes, sheets, and curtain rods over time (they are not low-cost, but we’d enjoy to be “grown ups” someday – even if it takes us 10 years or so to get there!)

– The Back Deck (50% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove the giant oak tree that is practically growing into the house
• Patch the deck hole after the tree is took out
• Strip and stain/seal the whole deck
• Replace any rotten/ warped boards as we go
  
• Add double wide stairs off the back of the deck that line up with the new french doors that we will add off of the kitchen
• Possibly build a pergola for more architecture and shade off of the back of house where the future kitchen french doors will be (square to the sunroom)?
• Build outdoor furniture like a table or lounge chairs for the deck

– The Backyard (15% Complete) –

To Do:

• Remove random slate pieces from the backyard
• Aerate or level the yard
  
• Seed the yard in the fall
• Plant large holly bushes for privacy from the other houses that our wooded lot backs up to
• Transplant a few things for a better layout, like the fairly peony bushes in the middle of nowhere (not pictured)
• Reseed again in the spring/fall
• Build a swing set
• Plant an edible garden (not sure what the deer will not eat, so I will have to do some research)
• Redo the old cracked concrete walkway between the garage and the deck
• Add more privacy plantings around the rest of the yard – tiered trees, bushes, and flowers (we plan to save up for these and add more each year)
• Build some raised planters and hardscaping
• Possibly add a patio area somewhere around the deck?
• Make a wooden lean-to in the corner of the backyard with Clara and then plant some vines to grow around it to make a cool little hideaway
• Build an air conditioner cover with wood boards like this

Whenever we share this list people wonder how we choose what to do next or know what order to tackle stuff in. We simply do whatever sounds lively and whatever works with our current budget (barring anything that needs to be moved to the top of the list for safety or other extreme-urgency reasons). We jump around a lot, which seems to keep our momentum up, so instead of being so sick of doing small updates to the kitchen for ten weeks in a row we painted/stained the cabinets over the holidays and lately dove back in to update the counters with Ardex. As for what is next on the list, we are hoping to:

• • continue adding storage/function in the freshly painted office
  • finish up the nursery
  • organize and paint the guest room
  • nix the blue trim in the dining room
  • get back outside and do some privacy planting as soon as it is a compact bit warmer

What does your to-do list look like these days? Is it especially long and detailed? All in your head? Simply a few “on deck tasks” to keep you from getting overwhelmed? For some weird reason I feel more in control when I write it all down (simply to get it out of my head I think) and then John and I can zero in on a few “next projects” and push the rest into the backs of our minds.