I am not going to say the "R" word. I don't make those lists. Heaven knows I need improving, but I prefer small goals through out the year instead of a long list that gets overwhelming. Some bloggers are picking one word as their "word of the year". That seems more manageable. If I had to pick one I would say FOCUS. I am a scatterbrain. Too many ideas and thoughts whizzing through my head at all times. I even have trouble sleeping because I can't get my mind to slow down. I forget things. And sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the thoughts and thing I need to do. I need to learn to focus on one thing at a time and be more organized in thought.
Anyway, I am looking forward to a new year full of new adventures, new ideas and new projects. I decided to let you see what still has not been done here at my house. I don't know how much of it will get done in 2012, but I hope at least some of it does (fingers crossed we have no more lay offs!!!).
The Basement bathroom. The previous owners added this bathroom and we have done ZERO work to it. It needs a wall built between it and the laundry room, tile on the floor, molding around the window, paint on the walls, and a door installed. There is also a big ole hole in the sewer line. I have a rag stuffed in there now. That section will need to be cut out and replaced.
The playroom. It is a good thing I have easy going boys who could care less what their space looks like and that the cement floors are smooth so I can mop easily. We need to hide all the electrical up in the ceiling and add sheet rock to the ceiling, build a closet, install a beam on the ceiling where we knocked down a wall, add sheet rock around the exposed duct work, add a window, install carpet. YIKES! I am overwhelmed just typing the list. But man oh man, When I get to the decorating part I have some BIG ideas!!!
(See the arrow in the top pic? That would be a towel plugging the hole from the old dryer vent. Sad.)
The laundry room. It is sunny and that is all it has going for it. It is small and has so many wires, cords, duct work and pipes!!!! We need to rip the ceiling down like we did in the playroom so we can hide most of that up in there. It also needs tile on the floor and a some help around the window. I have some fun ideas on how to maximize this small space.
Once all that is done we can replace the old carpet in the basement. It grosses me out. Not only is it old, but it is 3 different colors. Dark green for the stairs, mint green for the hallway, and brown for the bedrooms.
Our yard needs a lot of work too. We added a sprinkler system, grass, and a fence (on one side) a year and a half ago. We need to put up the other side of the fence and then we can "decorate". We have promised the kids we would build them a club house for the past 3 years. They have been patient as we have dealt with 2 lay offs. It is number one priority this year :)
I will also be doing something AMAZING with this little space.......
This is the view outside my office and I am SOOOOOOO excited for what I have planned here. I wanted to do it last year and I actually started it. A week later my hubby was laid off. I am hoping it gets done this year.
These are all the big things I would like to tackle. There are plenty of smaller projects on my list as well. Either way, I know I will be busy in 2012!!!
What are your projects you hope to cross off your list this year?????
I can't wait to see what you do! I just posted my projects for this year too. I should have included my basement and backyard (since those are the ones that are actually written down on my to-do list) but left them off since I started feeling overwhelmed writing the post, ha! Yours will be fabulous, I just know it :)
I'm glad I'm not the only blog mom who doesn't have a super fancy laundry room. Ha. Also.... You guys are such fun parents for building a club house! :)
I sooooo wish we had basements here! I want one. :(
Thanks for the post! I'm glad I'm not the only one with a major "house" headache. DH & I agreed to remodel the tiny, sole bathroom in Spring 2013. Ok, so we are still arguing on the "design" but agreed to buy a certain amount of materials each month and storing them in the garage. Good luck to you in your remodeling/decorating this year!
I so appreciate you posting this. I sometimes feel intimidated at the thought of posting pictures of my projects in my old, falling apart, not-perfect-but-working-on-it house when it feels like a lot of bloggers have perfect houses and yards top to bottom with every major project already done. I really appreciate the honesty and it makes me appreciate what you have already done that much more. I will look to you for continued inspiration as I tackle my own 2010 "R words"!
Ha! No idea why I typed 2010. Guess I'm 2 years behind!
basements are great and have lots of possibilities I have on e in the possibilities stage right now. Id love to have a liveable beautiful family room down there and a bathroom too. also we need to paint the outside house trim and shutters and front door ! actually need a whole new front door. Wish me well
- KAT -
I hope to make a craft room. Now it is hard to find all of my crafts as they are everywhere.
How fun to share the before and afters in 2013! My house has a never ending list. Last night I even queued up all the projects for my business, then did the same for my house on an Excel Spread sheet, divided by rooms. The biggest thing I want to do this year is rip up the carpet on my stairs and put new boards down, paint the stairs and bannister black. Ahhhhh, cannot wait to say au revoir to the carpet.
Thank you so much for keeping it real and showing us your basement. My basement looks just like yours! My husband is a packrat and I doubt I will ever get to finish our basement and make it usable space for something other than storage. A girl can dream though!!!! Please keep us posted!!!
Wow. You're an inspiration. You have so much energy and enthusiasm for renovations. I hope I can soak up some of your mojo to get my projects done too. About that hole in the sewer pipe....I'm no plumber, but isn't that dangerous, what with the sewer gases and all? I guess the architect would know.
We have had a plumber out for an estimate and he was the one who told us to plug it with a rag until we can afford to get it fixed. It is a top priority. Come on tax return....... :)
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you do with these spaces! Your ideas and talents are always an inspiration.
I'm glad to hear someone else has a one word goal for the year. I hadn't read about anyone else having one and I'm happy to know I'm not totally crazy :) Mine is "Simplify". First area to tackle: my creative space: http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/simplify-my-creative-space/
Whew that is some special carpet! Maybe the previous owners were color blind...? :) Can't wait to see the final results!
Wow hearing your word is Focus really hit home. That's exactly what I need. Focus! I can't wait to see all of your projects in 2012.
Amy
Oh. My. Goodness. I'm going to be the only person to say this, but I think your basement just saved my life. My husband and I bought this ridiculously small house a few years ago, against our better judgement. I was pregnant and too exhausted to fight him on it (we had been looking for AGES) and honestly, we both thought the basement was "finishable". Our first winter in the house it we realized it wasn't sealed properly, and during our first summer one of the pipes burst leading to a few inches of standing water. We gave up on it and moved, letting some friends stay in it for a while. WELL long story short, we have to move back into it. We have TWO kids now, and I KNOW there is not enough space for us in the upstairs. Seeing your basement makes me feel like I can at least do SOMETHING to make mine liveable for us for a few years till we can sell the house and move to something bigger. I'm eager to see what all you do with yours! I really just want a carpeted play area for the girls, an organized laundry area and perhaps a basic craft area! I keep looking up basement ideas and being overwhelmed at all the things they tell you to do! Why is it so bad to just roll out some carpet and linoleum and call it a day!?