Yesterday marked two weeks of being in our new house, so we thought it warranted an updated glimpse into each room’s progress… or lack thereof.
On one hand we feel very accomplished for having already tackled things like painting Clara’s room, buying and assembling a new bed, removing a bunch of bi-fold doors, raising our shower curtain, and unpacking everything – especially considering we were tied up with family stuff for a few days over Christmas. On the other hand, we’re still feeling pretty unsettled. Most of the important stuff has found a place in our new abode (not that it will necessarily stay there for the long haul), but the house is still riddled with piles of things waiting for a home (think picture frames, tools, rugs, etc). Here are some of the rooms that are looking the most presentable so far.
The living room (aka the future dining room) is finally cleared of boxes and we even organized some storage in the base cabinets of those built-ins (although the objects on display are just shoved there, so don’t judge the arrangement just yet):
Here’s the kitchen:
And the family room:
Next we have the sunroom:
And Clara’s room (curtains are up, but there’s no art or new light fixture yet):
Here’s the hall bathroom:
And the guest room bath:
The master bathroom:
And the main hallway:
Then there are the rooms that are semi-functional, but still feel pretty darn disheveled. Like our master bedroom (we have yet to organize the closet, work out a nightstand solution, purchase another dresser, etc):
The office (see that pile of tools in the corner, yeah- they need a home):
And the laundry / mudroom (which is in desperate need of some more built-in storage and a few organizational solutions):
Then there are the close-the-door-when-people-come-over rooms that are basically not at all useful yet… and therefore have become dumping grounds for items in limbo. Like the guest room that we revealed this morning (who wants to stay over in there?):
And the playroom / future kids bedroom (yikes- not so kid friendly yet):
So that’s how things are looking two weeks after moving in. Clearly there’s lots left to tackle and we’re actually working on a giant to-do list to share with you guys (and to help my type-A wife feel more organized). Then it’s off to Home Depot for some supplies…
Psst- You can check out Day One pics here, you know, just for fun.
Jill Stigs says
I am digging this real time blogging. I, too, was playing the where did they put this item. I don’t see the white round table that started in your master bedroom, was replaced by the nailhead ottoman and moved to the den to replace the wicker hand me down table. Also where did that little round table in the sunroom come from? Color me confused!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jill,
That little round white table that used to be in our bedroom is in the corner that you can’t see as you face the sliding doors for now. As for the smaller round table in there, we got it here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/07/steals-deals-stone-cold-fox/
xo,
s
Jessica says
You two are inspiring! When in the world do you find time to sleep? :)
Carla says
This is going to sound weird but I get almost as giddy seeing your renovations as I would if they were taking place in my own house! I am salivating over how that kitchen is going to look when you’re finished with it. Please tell me that will be the first thing you tackle!?!?!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Carla,
We definitely won’t wait to paint that paneling (we hope to tackle that within the next month or so) but when it comes to knocking down walls and really redoing things, we like to live with a house for a while before taking things like that on (just to be sure we learn how we use the space and make the smartest changes when we do renovate).
xo,
s
Annalea says
Wow . . . that’s looking pretty good for only two weeks. Congratulations. :o) I’m really curious to see how you all settle into that much larger house without rattling around too much.
One quick tip: there’s a paint called “Tough as Tile” that a friend of mine used on some uber-dated but great condition tile in one of her former homes. Going from 70’s harvest gold to clean white was a great swap for a few bucks. (They used to sell small cans of the stuff–not so sure now.)
Have fun!
Clare @ suburbianbliss says
you guys have made a lot of progress! I know the feeling – it has now been 3 weeks that weve been in our new house and it feels like the boxes and crap out of place will be never ending….but we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! I hope you do too!
Tra J. says
Looking good. After checking out all of those pics, I realized, your home is very similar to ours. It’s a ranch, built in 1964 with many similar features as your home. I look forward to seeing how you transform.
As excited as I am about that, I want to do more than just paint around here, but I’m nervous. I wish we had the same moxie that you both have to just go for it. I’m gonna surf around your blog for info on must have tools and those that could be rented. Maybe 2011 will be a fresh start to changing up our home too.
Ali says
I loved the “box room” such a great idea for unpacking quickly! You are such fast unpackers! Is the kitchen storage about the same as your old house? It looks bigger…but, I’m not sure from the pics!
Love the new office set up and the family room and sunroom! Looks great!
When you guys take down your Christmas can you do a post on how you organize it all? Do you have a system of how to store Christmas? Also, wondered if you will also post on organization for your new house as you make little decisions. I’m super disorganized so even if its a little no brainer thought on how to organize little things in your home…post it for people like me! I can’t wait till Clara gets bigger and you start posting on how to store her toys and books! I’ve got 3 kids and I struggle with how to organize their toys and books and clothes they outgrow and such!
~ Ali
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ali,
The new kitchen is bigger and had more storage than the old kitchen, we just have to use it well (so far we’re still trying to figure out the best spot for certain things). As for the Christmas stuff, we have two large green tupperware tubs for things like stockings, and feather trees and all the big non-tree decor. Then we have one low thin underbed-storage box full of the ornaments on the tree. All of them go in the basement with the artificial tree (which we store in a big red zippered bag) and we’re good to go. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Marie Elena says
It is still so surreal to me that this is your new house! I absolutely love it already and am SO excited to see what you do with it. Best of luck!!
Jodi says
Props for getting all that done during Christmas along with juggling an infant! I feel bad adding to your load but if you wouldn’t mind telling me where you found the white chairs surrounding your pedestal table in the family room, I’d appreciate it. West Elm? Ikea? I looked at both sites but yours don’t totally match the ones I saw. Are they comfy?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jodi,
They’re actually from ebay a million years ago when I lived in NYC! They used to be oak and I painted them white. Just search “bentwood chair” and hopefully you can find something similar on ebay. Good luck!
xo,
s
Renee says
YAY for so much progress in only 15 days! Like so many others I started reading your blog after your old house was practically “finished.” It’s nice to see the glimpses of your daily living in real-time as you settle into your new home. You’re such a big inspiration! If John and Sherry can do it, I can too :)
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I think you’ve accomplished a lot considering you have an infant and Christmas as competition! It looks great so far, can’t wait to see more. I really love your bokshelves. For just throwing things on them, it looks pretty good, at least from afar. ;)
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
To Jodi,
You were asking about the bentwood chairs. Just so you know, you can get a pack of two at Target: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/187-1766926-5695063?asin=B0029NBDHU&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0029NBDHU
We have 3 sets of the espresso and love them.
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/lions-and-tigers-and-chairs/
beth@Just{Heart}It says
Ok, just reading through some comments…that one from Jill that you answered a few comments back regarding where you put your white table…does it freak you out that people know exactly which items you’ve had and all the different places you’ve used them? ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
Haha, we think it’s fun! Although it definitely surprises us that people remember so may details!
xo,
s
Sara @The Fat Hydrangea says
You guys know more than anyone that the journey is 90% of the fun, so enjoy every second of organizing, painting, planning, and putting stuff away. I love following your progress :)
Melissa says
I love that you not only did everything you could to keep the move easy for Clara, but you even kept Burger’s feeding station in the same spot as you did in your old house! You guys are awesome :)
Ryane says
Hi!
The house looks great so far!! I have a couple of where’d you buy it questions for ya’ll.
1. Those soap dispensers in your bathrooms?
2. The spread/ linens on your master bed?
Can’t wait follow this new house’s transformation.
thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ryane,
1. Target
2. West Elm
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tania says
I am SUPER impressed with all that you have done so far and really enjoying seeing the play-by-play! I wanted to get your opinion on a decor question. I am moving into a 1100 sq ft 2 bd apartment and the landlord will paint it before I move in. He is allowing me to choose the paint color but he wants the same color thoughout the unit. What would you suggest as the most versatile backdrop for further decorating? The floors are light oak and most of my furniture leans towards modern/clean lines. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Tania,
Something neutral-ish like a gray, a gray-beige, a tan, a cream, or even a khaki green or soft celery is always nice. Good luck!
xo,
s
Marie says
I moved in 6 weeks ago and my place doesn’t look any better than yours (we have several rooms painted but our floorplans still seem very non-permanent and half of our things don’t have a “place”).
Upgrading to a bigger place has really made everything look sparse, and I think we’re going to be stuck with that for a while. After the down payment, any extra furniture is gonna have to come from craigslist!
Sara @ House Bella says
It’s looking great so far! My first thought was “where the heck did all their furniture go?!” but then I remembered that you sold a couch, and that this place is much bigger!
Heather says
Is the dark brown desk near the front door from Target?
If it is, I have that very same desk right next to my front door! I have a matching 20-shoe cubby hole organizer underneath it that I store shoes, compact umbrella, and other stuff I use/need when walking out the front door.
I have a large vase that I empty my spare change into each day and an antique plate that I drop my keys into on top of the desk.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
Yes- that dark brown console is from Target. Love it! But it does look a little small in that big empty room…
xo,
s
Jessica says
I think you guys should pat yourselves on the back. You have really came a long way in a short amount of time!
I have to say that I am very excited to see what you do with your master bedroom. We moved into our home 2 years ago and our master bedroom layout is very similar to yours except the walk in closet is on the right and the bathroom on the left. Our bed is positioned to where we are looking right at the sink/mirror (there is no window above our sinks.) I have not been able to come up with a good solution so I’m super excited to get some ideas from you! I am already thinking of taking the doors off the walk in closet, but not sure about whether it would be smart to do that to the bathroom…
Anyway, happy unpacking/organizing… We have moved far too many times to admit and I feel your pain! :)
Dana says
Looks great! We just moved into our very first house over a month ago and we aren’t that unpacked! I was wondering if you have any resources or recommendations for un-handy people living in a 1920’s fixer upper house! There is tons we want to do but really don’t know how to!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Dana,
We have a bunch of simple tutorials on our Projects page (see that tutorial under the header) and also have a healthy love of google and youtube for tips and breakdowns for projects that anyone can do. Good luck!
xo,
s
Caitlin says
Oh, I have the same stick-out fridge problem! The solution we’re looking at (to make the kitchen feel just a tiny bit bigger) is a new type of fridge designed to fit in with cabinets? I’m surprised it took them this long ti figure out!
I think by the time you have two kids, you might need an extra freezer to store food. It came in handy so much for me.
Melissa Arlena says
I too cannot wait to see the kitchen paneling painted!! I think the difference in that room is going to be amazing. I have to say I really love that you guys have a whole new fresh slate to start over on, I can’t wait to see all the changes!
Jessica says
Oh, and I also have a VERY random question. Did you guys (or anyone else can chime in here…) order your diaper sprayer online? I cannot find one in stores anywhere locally and hubby and I will be making an IKEA trip to Charlotte Friday and I was hoping to pick one up. My little guy will be starting solids shortly (sorry, TMI!) and I think this little gadget will really come in handy!
Janelle says
I like the placement of the white twin swirly things above the doorway in the living room/future dining room.
Lonely Wife Project says
It’s amazing how good it looks after only two weeks. I recently found pictures of my house after we moved in 5 years ago and it was pretty ugly. You should be proud!
Jessica says
So Sorry…Just read your post where you said it was a shower gift.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jessica,
It was actually from amazon.com! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
sophie says
looks pretty good for two weeks in, especially since christmas was in the middle of all that. Besides, it takes time to learn to live with a place and if you had done it all now you’d have left nothing for the blog!
Amber says
COME TO MY HOUSE!!!
We’ve been in our house for a year and 1/2.. I haven’t tackled about 75% of it yet. And once I think I’ve completed a room, I want to change it again.. I get so overwhelmed with wanting to change everything that I end up doing nothing but drooling over design blogs. I need to find the time and determination (and $) to make all of the changes.
How do you choose where to start? What room? What part? Wall color, furniture etc?
I could use some help over here.. LOL
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amber,
We’ll be sharing a bit more of our process as we go (and in our to-do list post coming up) so stay tuned! We basically just write everything down and tackle things that are bite sized and approachable while we save up for the bigger projects. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lauren says
You guys have gotten a lot done in 15 days! I also love how the ceramic (possibly concrete?) greyhound is right by the front door to greet your guests :-)
Cheryl says
Progress not perfection!
That is the mantra I had to keep repeating to myself when I moved into my current home. I feel like I’m finally finishing my To Do’s about 2.5 years later. Progrees not perfection kept me from feeling overwhelmed because I knew it would all get done in time; I just had to stick with it and enjoy the steps!
We’re all cheering for you!
Liz says
Good stuff, guys. Remember to be patient with yourselves. Rome wasn’t built in a day. :-)
WM says
Can I toss out a funny idea that get’s me inordinately excited?
If I were in your shoes I would take one of the spare rooms and set up your own “decor store.” Put all the non-essential and decorative items in there (ideally on shelves of some sort) and go “shopping” in there whenever you are working on putting a space together. Wouldn’t that be so fun?!? You could shop in your own house for FREE and it would probably give you all sorts of ideas of how to use and combine things you already have in ways you hadn’t thought of before. Obviously this would be temporary for a month or two, not a permanent use for the room.
Plus it’s a great way to keep all the small pieces out of the way while you are moving the big items around. It’s kind of like how you used to have a cupboard in the kitchen that you called your decor store.
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds super fun! We might be able to do that with a big-ish closet of ours in one of the bedrooms. A decor store might not be baby safe enough to create in the entire playroom (which we’d like to use for Clara and all of her Claraphernalia- and eventually for baby #2)- and we need to get the guest room up and running soon! Love it though- sounds like such a good time.
xo,
s
PJ @ Home Decor Accents says
Congrats! You guys really have worked hard and got a lot accomplished within the past 2 weeks and this even while Christmas. I’m in love with your kitchen and the dining room and wished I had room in my home for a nice bright and roomy office like yours.
Have a Happy New Year
Paula Jo
amyks says
I think you guys have done a great job, unpacking and moving in and having the holidays to celebrate at the same time. Bravo to you, we moved into our “dream home” in April and we are still settling in and unpacking boxes. Slow and steady, I say and the job will be done before you know it. And yes, I, too have a box graveyard still, but will be getting rid of my boxes after the holidays are over!
Dasha says
Looking good!
Just curious, how do you keep such a crazy to do list organized? Do you use a program like “Things,” a text file, or an old fashioned notebook? So many projects!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Dasha,
I just have a few pages in a notebook where I jot down things we want to do and we circle the ones we want to do first and cross things off as we go. Sounds kind of simple but it seems to work!
xo,
s
brooke schaefer says
I loved watching your other house come along and I am so excited for this one. Keep up the great work. I have been following your blog for years and I have loved watching your little family grow. You gave me hope in my little ranch house when I was ready to sell it. Thanks!
melarse says
Love the progress! You guys never cease to amaze!
Question for you, will your guests typically use your front door to enter your house (please say yes)? The reason I ask is I’m anxious to see if you’ll be tackling the whole coats/shoes thing with a dining room entry. Our main entry for all goes right into our open kitchen and dining area; and I’ve yet to tackle this to my satisfaction.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Melarse,
So sorry! We park in the carport (which will be our future garage) so we use that side door to enter (and plan to tackle some sort of coats and hat solution in there). We did used to have a “mini mudroom” in the middle of our den in the last house though- so maybe going back through the old house tour will help!
xo,
s
Sadie says
Random question for you two- did the previous owners repaint all the walls beige when they put the house on the market or did they live with it like that?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sadie,
We believe the house was painted when it was staged (and know the walls used to be bright colors since when we removed the bifold doors we found bright bold colors underneath like perrywinkle blue and bright forest green). So glad to have a blank slate to work with though! Hooray for not needing primer to cover dark walls! Although they would have made for some great before pics…
xo,
s
Funnelcloud Rachel says
I think you guys have gotten a ton done already. We’ve been in our house 2 1/2 years. Still not completely unpacked (at this point, those unused items in boxes in the attic should probably just go straight to charity) and still no pictures on the walls. Only 15 days in your new place and you’ve gotten all that done during the holidays and with a baby – wow, you guys are productive! Can’t wait to see your continued transformation of House #2!
Carol N. says
I agree with the other commenter about the yellow bathroom…so cute! I remember a bathroom that Sarah Richardson did on one of her ‘Sarahs House’ shows where she used charcoal, yellow and white. Her tile was white I think but you could use the same color scheme. Yummy! I know you guys will have a lot of fun over the next few years.
harmony says
I think you guys should feel proud! All of that packing and organizing is a TON to get done in just two weeks, not to mention those two weeks happened to fall over the busiest holiday period of the year!!! I’m impressed :-)
Laura says
You guys are making some very nice progress! I love “Ed.. the Bed!” He adds a nice lofty feel to your bedroom. But, I am definitely the most excited to see what you guys do in the family room. Those exposed beams are like pearls on a cashmere sweater! LOVE THEM!!!
Minnesotamom says
Still, not bad for two weeks in! I hope my home will look that organized at that point. Love the updates–makes the rest of us feel “normal.” :)
Beth H. says
Your kitchen is so quirky right now, its cute, but I can’t wait to see the finished results once you get started on it. And I really love the family room, what a great space. We’ve been in our house for four months and have done nothing! You guys are my motivation for the new year!
Nathalie says
Great Progress!Still totally excited to see what you guys do with this place. I noticed in these pictures, that while you have a bunch of stuff that hasn’t been put away, or you’ve placed things differently around the new house, that it all still looks cohesive. For example, the baskets and storage bozes in the playroom, the rugs, decor etc. I know what I like but I’m always afraid to purchase things one at a time for fear of havign a house full of stuff that doesn’t “go together”. Could you possible do a post on “collecting” home decor in such a way that you can be so flexible with placement and arranging as you guys have done here (does that make sense)? I would love to learn how to do that!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nathalie,
This post should help you. Basically we try to learn what we like and keep from straying and purchasing something that won’t go with anything we have (which would cost a lot more than just the price of that piece since we’d have to buy a ton of other items to go with it). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kate Burdick says
You guys are doing great! It is so fun to watch everything unfold. Keep up the awesome work, knowing it is being appreciated :) You guys are great examples of patience and savings. Thanks!
Larissa says
I can’t believe how much bigger the new house looks compared to your first house now that you have your furniture in there! I’m so excited to see what the new year holds for you. Happy New Year!
Sadie says
Any idea where you’ll put the tan and white striped Company Store rug (I think there was one in the kitchen and another in the extra bedroom pre-Clara)? I LOVE that rug! I’ve tried to find a similar one for my house because I have a beachy aesthetic, but no luck so far. The search continues…
Looking great so far! Love how the pink walls in Clara’s room look with the curtains. Great choice!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sadie,
We have no idea yet! We thought we might throw them down in that long hallway but the stripes with the parquet doesn’t work very well- at least without any other furniture or art going on. Hopefully we’ll figure something out. Or we’ll offer them up on craigslist (with a bloggy announcement in case you guys are interested).
xo,
s