2013 was an eventful year: it began with a book tour, featured a move into a new house, and ended with the wonderful news that we’re expecting a baby boy. Between those milestones we completed many projects, celebrated personal moments, and made plenty of progress on the house. For our final post of the year we pulled together 20 favorite highlights from the past 12 months—makeovers, personal wins, and a few silly moments—presented here in no particular order.
#1 – Refacing Our Old Fireplace: One of the most memorable transformations from our old house was the fireplace makeover. We marble-tiled the surround—our first try at a herringbone pattern—then built, trimmed, and painted a new mantel surround. The update completely changed the room’s focal point and remains one of our favorite before-and-afters.
#2 – Clara’s Big Girl Room: Clara’s new room quickly became a favorite space. We added a soft pink ceiling, chunky crown molding, playful raindrop wallpaper, a rose-colored door, and a wall of interactive fun. Transitioning from crib to big-girl bed made the room feel even more special.
#3 – Our Graphic Bathroom Refresh: The small sink nook off our bedroom received a big lift with a stenciled subfloor that replaced worn carpeting, fresh paint on walls and trim, a large window-style mirror, and an updated vanity with new hardware and added shelving. The result is a simple, budget-friendly space that feels much more finished.
#4 – The Pergola on the Carport: We built a pergola over our carport—affectionately nicknamed the “cargola.” Constructing it from scratch, including custom brackets, was a satisfying challenge and gave us confidence to add a similar feature above the garage someday.
#5 – A Painted Pillow with Character: One simple creative project we loved was a painted pillow made by stenciling through a metal screen and sponging on craft paint. The imperfect bleed created a lively, one-of-a-kind look that felt delightfully organic.
#6 – Striped Stair Makeover: We removed the old stair carpet and gave the staircase a full refresh: painted trim and newel posts, white stair risers, painted walls and ceiling in a soft gray-tan, and a dark-stained railing that complements a new black-and-white runner. The staircase gained new character and cohesion with the rest of the house.
#7 – Simple Frames for John’s Art: We made inexpensive wood frames for John’s large bike posters—framing that cost about $7 each and looked great in our old sunroom. They’re versatile pieces that we’ll find a spot for in the new house.
#8 – Spreading Cheer at the Children’s Hospital: One of the most rewarding projects this year was a holiday makeover for a family waiting room at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Working on that space was deeply meaningful and easily one of our proudest accomplishments.
#9 – Celebrating Clara’s Dragon Birthday: Clara’s third birthday had a dragon theme and was a blast. After last year’s worm-themed party, we weren’t sure how it could top that, but the dragon celebration was creative, playful, and full of memorable moments. Clara is already dreaming up themes for next year.
#10 – Deck and Sunroom Overhauls: We tackled outdoor projects that will be even more enjoyable once spring returns: patching, stripping, and restaining the deck, and transforming a formerly closed-in sunroom with a lofted ceiling and tiled floors. Both spaces are shaping up to be favorite spots for relaxing and entertaining.
#11 – Dropping Our First Single (Goofy Fun): We had a little musical fun this year, producing a playful video that made us laugh and cringe in equal measure. It was purely for the joy of being silly together—and that’s part of the fun of documenting our life.
#12 – Upgrading Vacation Jars: We refreshed our travel time capsules—once kept in mason jars—by giving them a new presentation. The simple update brought new life to a sentimental project and expanded our collection of personal travel keepsakes.
#13 – Hardwood Floors Upstairs: Although the installation process was challenging, replacing upstairs carpet with hardwood and painting doors and trim made a major difference. The finished floors elevated the entire upstairs and were worth the effort.
#14 – Designing a Showhouse: Working on a house for the 2014 Richmond Homearama to benefit Habitat for Humanity was an exciting and slightly intimidating challenge. The project moved quickly from planning to framing, and seeing elements like the reclaimed wood porch detail come together has been thrilling.
#15 – $51 Guest Bath Update: We embraced the vintage charm of an older guest bathroom and refreshed it on a tiny budget. New paint, window attention, and thoughtfully chosen accessories made the space feel cuter and more cohesive without a big spend.
#16 – Clara’s Jellyfish Costume: For Halloween Clara requested a jellyfish fairy/princess/queen costume. Using an umbrella, hanging decorations, and a string of LED lights, we created a whimsical jellyfish that made her very happy.
#17 – Cheap & Easy Hallway Upgrade: Board-and-batten in a hallway was an inexpensive transformation that cost under $60. It made a strong impression on potential buyers of the old house and is a style we plan to adapt for our current home.
#18 – Talking with Jonathan Adler: A dream-come-true moment for Sherry was interviewing designer Jonathan Adler. It was a joyful, giddy conversation and a highlight for anyone who admires his work.
[Audio interview available]
#19 – Finalizing Our Curb Appeal: We completed several exterior upgrades including boxing out porch columns to match the carport, painting siding for contrast, and adding window boxes. Those changes made a big difference in the home’s overall look and welcoming feel.
#20 – Announcing Our Growing Family: The most exciting news to close the year: we’re expecting a baby boy in April. Clara already has a nickname for the new arrival, and we’re eagerly planning the nursery and imagining the year ahead.
Thanks to everyone who followed along this year. Sharing these projects and moments with you is part of what makes the process so rewarding. We’re excited for what 2014 will bring—more projects, more photos, and a new little person to love. Wishing you a happy New Year!
What were your favorite moments or projects from the past year? Anything you’re looking forward to in 2014?
Update – We often get questions about professional blogging—how we built the site, grew our audience, and turned it into a full-time job—so we shared details about how we started the blog, increased traffic, and made it sustainable.