Day 101 Progress Report: Our New House Tour

We updated our House Tour with progress photos and realized we hadn’t shared a full progress report since Day One and Day Fifteen. Here’s a clear look at where we stand a little over three months in (around Day 101).

Entryway and Dining

On moving day the formal living room looked onto the original dining room. We reconfigured that space into an entryway/dining room that now opens into a home office — a layout that better suits how we live.

After arranging and painting the built-ins, the dining room now flows into the converted office. We added a large 70″ table that will seat eight once we get chairs. Next on the list is cutting a 6′ opening in the wall on the right to connect the dining area to the kitchen and creating a small, defined entry behind the table so the front door doesn’t open directly into the dining space.

Kitchen

The eat-in kitchen arrived with wall paneling and cabinetry we plan to paint. We intend to install a large island to work with the fireplace and create a 6′ pass-through to the new dining area so the space feels open and connected.

The kitchen is currently serving as a staging and eating area while we save up for the island and cabinetry work. It’s messier now than on move-in day, but the plans are clear.

Hallway

The hallway initially felt empty and plain. We hung a gallery of frames on the left side and brought in a console table. The right side still has paper templates awaiting frames, but the corridor already feels more personalized and welcoming.

Living Room

The living room has seen big cosmetic changes: painted walls and trim, painted beams, removal of ceiling fans, new art, and a larger rug. We still want to build a console behind the sectional, add curtains and lamps, update ceiling fixtures, introduce a deeper media cabinet, and eventually refinish the parquet floors in a rich tone. One major long-term project is converting the fireplace to be double-sided.

Sunroom

The sunroom, added roughly 15 years ago, feels more modern than the rest of the house. We placed existing furniture there for now, but plan to paint the brick, ceiling, and walls to unify the space, add breezy window treatments, and introduce art to balance an awkward off-centered window that looks into the kitchen.

Master Suite

The master bedroom moved from empty to cozy after a new bed, duvet, no-sew curtains, a new light fixture, and a rug. We still want to refine the art above the bed, add built-ins in the adjacent nook, and introduce a bench at the foot of the bed.

Sink Nook and Master Bath

The sink nook used to have bi-fold doors, a dated backsplash and an awkward medicine cabinet. We removed the doors, demo’d the backsplash so the vanity reads more like furniture, and replaced the awkward cabinet with a mirror hung over the window — now you can stand at the sink and actually see straight ahead. The master bathroom itself is mostly the same for now, aside from raising the shower curtain for height.

Hall Bathroom

The hall bath resembles the original full bath from our first house, which we love. We removed an off-center bar under the window, added window trim for balance, and raised the shower curtain. Plans include painting, adding art, a DIY window shade, and accessorizing to give it character.

Kids’ Rooms and Playroom

Clara’s nursery transitioned quickly from move-in to a finished feel after we painted the walls a soft lavender-pink-gray and hung her art. The middle bedroom currently functions as a playroom and storage catch-all; when our family grows it will become another child’s bedroom.

Guest Room and Bath

The guest bedroom arrived without a bed but now has bold peacock blue paint, curtains, a bed and colorful accessories. The attached guest bathroom had a dated yellow-beige look; we swapped the medicine cabinet for a mirror, added towel hooks, art, and a bright shower curtain and bath mat to modernize the vibe while retaining the vintage tile we plan to work with.

Laundry Room

The small laundry room is set up as a future mini mudroom and laundry center. We installed energy-efficient front-loading machines and plan to add built-in storage to maximize functionality.

Basement

The separate-entry basement was nearly empty on move-in day but is now filled with stored items and boxes. It will take organizing and editing to become useful functional space again.

Reflection and Timeline

We’re surprised by how much we’ve accomplished in just over three months. Renovation tends to happen in waves: sometimes you make steady progress, other times you hit walls, get worn out, or wait for funds. We expect this process to take several years — our first house took four and a half — and to be full of unpredictable, exhausting, exciting, and fun moments. Progress comes in fits and starts, and that’s okay.

Psst — there’s a floor plan and an earlier video house tour available on our site if you want help orienting yourself after the photos.