It’s hard to believe we’ve already been here a month! And let’s not sugar coat things… this house is looking pretty crazy right now. Blue trim out the wazoo, wallpaper at every turn, bright salmon living room walls, old carpeting that still covers the stairs & our closet, and a whole lot of furniture that we just plopped down on moving day (so it’s safe to assume that nothing is staying where it is for the long haul, this is just where it landed). On one hand it’s like “moving day literally feels like yesterday” but on the other hand, in a few rooms (especially the ones upstairs), we’re like “wow, it’s hard to remember what this looked like before” – which is a funny little Bermuda Triangle to be living in. But enough chitchat, here’s how our house looks one month in.
The foyer:
The kitchen:
The table’s way too small, but thankfully it looks a little less crazy than it did on moving day…
The sunroom:
The office:
The living room:
The dining room (confession: nothing has changed in here since day 1, so we used the same picture):
Here’s the half bathroom:
… which is definitely looking a little lighter and brighter than the wallpapered version we started with.
The guest room:
This is one of the rooms that has come a long way. Here’s how it looked a few weeks before we moved in:
The hall bathroom:
The spare room / possible future nursery…
… which looks a little different than the mauve-trimmed carpeted room we started with.
Clara’s room:
This one has come a long way too. Here’s what we were dealing with a few weeks before we moved in:
Our bedroom:
Which is definitely a far cry from this pre-move photo:
Our bathroom:
It’s fun to scroll through this post to see how it looked on Day One too. We definitely still have some just-moved-in moments going on. Like this kitchen cabinet full of a jumble of tools:
Our closet needs some help too…
But overall, for a month in we’re just glad to have gone from seeing this when we walk up the stairs…
… to seeing this…
The hallway is definitely the most dramatic change so far. It’s sort of like Old Carpet With Blue Trim And Wallpaper Central when you’re climbing the stairs, but when you get to the top it feels clean and new. I let out a giant sigh every single time I go up there. And yes, that railing is SCREAMING for an upgrade. But even though we’re faaaar from completing any space at all (it usually takes us around two years just to paint every room), it’s nice to see that we’ve checked this stuff off:
- ripping out a bunch of carpeting
- installing hardwood floors upstairs
- painting the doors and trim upstairs
- adding new doorknobs
- removing wallpaper from the half bathroom
- removing the doors between the foyer/kitchen/living room/dining room
- getting some tree work done
- removing the glass shower doors and re-caulking our bathroom tub
- hanging curtains in the guest room
- stripping old carpeting out of the sunroom
- installing new blinds in all of the bedrooms and bathrooms
We’re slowly starting to feel like this is our house. And we’re deeply and hopelessly in love with it (blue trim and all!) along with our new hood. Seriously, you might need an anti-nausea pill if I keep gushing. I know we’ve learned never to say never (thanks Beibs) but you’d have to drag me kicking and screaming from this place. I’m about to get a “Be Mine Forever” tattoo on my forearm…
Psst- If you’re wondering what our plans are for each space, chances are we haven’t fully fleshed them out yet, but this giant to-do list should help. We prefer to research/plan things as we attack them, so we promise to share every detail with you guys as we go!
Shannon says
I love love love reading these updates. They are such a huge motivator for me to get to work on projects at our house. I finally like our kitchen and living room after deciding to just get after it. :) And my list is now never ending of projects I want to tackle!
Jackie says
Wow, so much progress already! The upstairs hallway looks so good. Question: How did you disinfect the walls before/after you moved in? Is there a difference in what kind of cleaning supplies/approaches you used between wallpaper vs. paint? If you’re bleaching everything down, is there a certain amount of wait time to let it all air out? It must of taken you forever! Would love to hear what your process was. I totally get not racing off to paint right away (learned that mistake the hard way… one bright teal bathroom in a rental later) but am just wondering how you cleaned all of the surfaces for the interim. Love everything so far as usual! :)
Best,
Jackie
YoungHouseLove says
I just went around with mild soap (Dr Bronners) on a rag and tried to wipe things down (walls, cabinets, inside of vanities, inside the fridge, etc).
xo
s
Kim J says
What are those things on the ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms (I think saw them in your room and the guest bedroom)? Are those the light fixtures? They look like speakers or fans. Which reminds me of a weird apartment complex I used to live in. It had been a retirement community at first and the owner had installed a sounds system in everyone’s units that they would play musc through.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re air ducts. They seem to be fairly standard for two story houses in this neighborhood, but at first they bugged the heck outta me!
xo
s
Marin says
I think I’m the MOST excited to see what you do with the Kitchen. You always come up with things I never could have imagined!
Sarah says
We moved to the Richmond area about the same week you moved houses. Our only catch is that I am 8 months pregnant. We have gotten the upstairs painted and decorated, and it is amazing how much that will help you make it feel like home. I can’t wait to see what you will do with the fireplace downstairs because we have the same type of brick. Everything is looking fabulous!
DeeJay says
So amazing. The upstairs is so light and pretty now.
Tiffini S. says
Today is my move day. Wish me luck. As opposed to previous moves, this one is for my husbands company, so the moving company has to pack everything that we aren’t taking in our car. I totally threw all our underwear in the suitcases!
YoungHouseLove says
Lots of luck!!!
xo
s
Manda Wolf says
It is kind of amazing that you have accomplished in 1 month. The bedrooms look great. With the new floors and the white trim it looks like you picked the color. It may help that everything is set up nicely I know there is still a few boxes in coroner of our bedroom we haven’t un packed yet (3 years ago!). I have to say the kitchen is an interesting juxtaposition with the knotty wood cabinets and the crisp modern seating. That and I may feel sorry for your guys working in your office for some reason those chairs look way too small to be comfortable.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Those office chairs are Clara’s! So they’re tiny. See the one on the left wall that’s green with colorful fabric on the seat? That’s where one of us sits to work (the other one of us works from either the sofa, the sunroom, or the little office area in the kitchen (depending on where Clara is, etc).
xo
s
KarenH. says
Wow, just that hallway upstairs is a huge accomplishment for one month in; you’ve all cranked out a huge difference in just a month. I can’t wait to see how you make this house your very own.
~Maria~ says
Kudos to you both for having a dedicated plan of attack and making steady progress. I’ve been in my house nearly 7 years and still haven’t completed my vision.
Donna says
I have a question about the shower doors you removed from your bathroom. I took your lead and removed mine this weekend. I am having trouble getting the glue and caulk off the edge of the tub.
I don’t have the flat razor thinkie that you were using. And I really don’t want to ask for a flat razor thingie at the hardware store. So does it have a name? Any other suggestions for removing the glue? It’s some nasty black stuff.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, what’s the official name for that? A straight razor with a handle? Maybe just pull up a picture of it on our blog on your phone and ask where that is? Or check out the tool or the paint section for it?
xo
s
Theresa says
Pretty sure it’s called a safety razor or plain old flat razor.
Linda says
I am forever asking the Ace guy for the ‘x-y-z’ thingie – he (or she) always figures it out! Lately I bring a picture of whatever it is I need to fix and try to explain what tool I think I need. They invariably find me the right plan of attack. I also think you’re looking for a safety razor, but show the guy what you want to do and he’ll find the right one for you. Good luck!
Jo @ Let's Face the Music says
I’m working on my kitchen now and when you said you are loving your “new hood” I quickly scrolled back to see it. Ha, Ha. I gotta git down wid it. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Cristy says
I HAVE to know where your rattan (?) wicker (?) dining room chairs come from!! And also the yellow rug in your ADORABLE guest room! Way to go, guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Target! They’re outdoor furniture so they’re so easy to wipe/spray down.
xo
s
Cristy says
You’re the best! Thanks! :)
Cristy says
nothing like them available any more. Wah! Williams Sonoma has them, but, of course, they’re, ahem, the wrong….”color.”
;)
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry Cristy!
xo
s
Tracey says
A few random questions–
Do you like the tile in the foyer?
Will you do something with the round a/c vents in the ceilings?
Will you paint the fireplace white like your first place?
Has Clara found any playmates in the new neighborhood?
Do you have any concerns about the deer, as your readers have mentioned? I love the shots you share of them!!!
So excited for your progress and what’s to come. Keep up the good work.
YoungHouseLove says
We like the foyer tile but aren’t sure we can salvage it (it’s damaged in some areas) so we’ll see how it goes. As for the vents, they bug us so we’d love to replace them with something less look-at-me-ish, haha! The fireplace plans for now are whitewashing but we’ll see where we end up! As for Clara, she’s the mayor! So many friends, so much waving! She’s kissing babies. It’s adorable. As for the deer, we have always lived in wooded neighborhoods with deer (even growing up in NJ I had them) so we’re all about tick checks & deer resistant plants. Burger also has a lyme vaccine and gets checked too! We love how beautiful they are, but we’re careful, I promise :)
xo
s
Lisa says
I love love your blog! You have done so much in a month. I wish I had the skills you guys have. I always say there are people who do & people who pay, my husband & I are people who pay. We are horrible at DIY. lol.
christina @ homemade ocean says
It’s so funny to see your furniture in a whole new house! I can’t WAIT to see what you guys do with some of those rooms :)
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
Your making super progress, the upstairs looks amazing and yes, the floors in the hall are unreal stunning. Hugs, marty
Mandy Grimes says
I can’t believe it has been a month!
I just picked up a copy of this month’s HGTV Mag! It looks great!
I’ve always thought your dining room built in’s were great, but after seeing them on the nice shiny magazine pages I am contemplating some building built in’s in my dining room too! Thank you for the inspiration. I’ll share the results if I am brave enough to go through with it!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh do it! We miss them lots!
xo
s
Sharon Srpague says
I’m just loving the transformation already. The guest room looks great. Clara’s room is really cute. But I just love how some fresh paint and new floors made the upstairs look like a completely different house. Wouldn’t it be fun to invite the previous owners over after you get a lot of it done? One of the things I’m excited to see is what you do with your walkin closet. Sorry, I’m a girl. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m planning the closet too! Can’t wait!
xo
s
Staci @ My Friend Staci says
It’s still so weird to think of you in the new home! When you instagrammed the pic of you two watching Dexter last night I had to wrap my brain around the brick in the background and realize you were in your new living room!
Loving the rug switcheroo between the living room and bedroom. The green one goes so well with the headboard–what luck!
Does the Kermit rug still lurk around somewhere (thought I remembered you saving it for a future playroom) or did you end up selling it?
YoungHouseLove says
We craigslisted him before we moved! We owe you guys a post about all the things we craigslisted before (and the things we’re planning to craigslist after) the move. Still have a few more things that now that we’re here just don’t work…
xo
s
Jill says
You seem to excel at accessorizing, all of your shelves and tabletops look really cute! Do you have any tips on how your organize a shelf/top of a dresser, etc?
Also, on how you tend to buy home accessories? Whenever I find something cute at the store, I wrack my brain in trying to think of where I can put it, then end up not even buying it. If you like something, do you just worry about where to put it when you come home?
YoungHouseLove says
I like to just play around and step back and see what I like and switch what I don’t. What might help would be tearing out magazine or catalog pages with styled bookcases or tables that you like and then you can study what you like about them, see the scale of things and how they’re layered, and then use that as inspiration in your home. As for accessories, I try to resist buying whatever I like because I have a ton of accessories (so many they don’t all have a spot), so I have to really be obsessed with something, and then I get it no matter what and find a spot for it somehow.
xo
s
Tracey says
To help Donna, we call the straight edge blade a widget in the mid Atlantic area. If that is the tool she is referring to.
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
At least it looks like you live there now! I’ve found that the longer a room looks crazy in our house the faster we get around to changing it. Once everything is put away and things look “put together” it’s hard to change things!
Marie says
I love the realism, thanks for that. And I love the white outlines in every room where you sprayed the trim and doors. I feel so much better that these things take time, and I can’t always have a home straight out of the pages of a magazine. Currently I am suffering from “color remorse” in my living/dining room. I chose a Tiffany’s Box Blue that’s as jarring as you Salmon color:):):)
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
You have done so much in 1 month…why am I even surprised?! That upstairs hall alone is one big huge check off the list! Very nice! It’s fun to see your furniture in a new space too! Great job!
-Shelley
Janice says
oh my word – how time flies! ! You are making great progress – that upstairs hall is amazing! I’m getting a little bit of deja vu on the sun room – have all your homes had one?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, all three! Seems to be a thing here in VA!
xo
s
Maggie S says
I just went back and looked at the LONG master list (I might have to lie down and put a cold cloth on my forehead!!) so I’m sure that the landscaping is not going to be on the top of the list …but if you plant any trees/shrubs that you want to use for privacy this fall (the perfect time for planting)the trees/shrubs will be quietly growing the 3-4 years until you are ready to work on the rest of the landscaping.
I didn’t do this at my last house and was sorry when I went to do my landscaping 5 years after I moved in.
I enjoy seeing everything you do and I have so many ideas for our next house (maybe in the next 6 months!!)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I can’t wait to do that! Fall can’t come soon enough!
xo
s
Tabbitha@ Turnip Tootsie says
Ya’ll have been busy little beavers! The upstairs is really getting there. I love watching the transformation! Go Sherry and John!!! Kisses to Miss Clara and pats for Burger.
<3
Tabbitha
HeatherB says
I’m sure you’ll eventually be doing away with it, but I just have to say I sorta love the kitchen linoleum. It is the same (or very similar to) what was in my parents kitchen when I was growing up, and I always loved it. There is still a part of me that has a warm fuzzy spot for that fake-o brick basket weave :)
Sammy says
It’s looking great! Keep up the good work!! I really love your floors =)
Sam xx
Gwendolyn says
you all have made some amazing progress in a month! your new home has the most beautiful potential and great bones, and i can’t wait to see where you take it! we are considering putting our house up for sale this fall and finding a fixer upper, so your blog has really been speaking to me lately! thanks for sharing your journey!
Jess says
I love your master bedroom rug! Where do you find such interesting patterns in rugs of that size?!?
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Jess! That ones from Joss & Main a while back.
xo
s
Anna says
Looking good!! The floors look amazing and I’m loving how cozy the living/family room is with the fireplace/TV/sectional area.
My never-ending question is how you prioritize all of the projects on your list? Do you have a master project plan or timeline – however rough it may be?
YoungHouseLove says
John has a post about that in the pipeline for ya!
xo,
s
tia says
Looking good guys!
Aubrey says
What is the size of your new living room?
YoungHouseLove says
If you search new house floor plan a post with that info should come up :)
xo,
s
Ingrid says
Boy, you really have done a lot in one month! Just wondering…how do you ever decide what project to tackle next when there’s so many things you want to change? Will you do all the upstairs first before tackling the salmon living room?
YoungHouseLove says
John is actually working on a “where do you start and how do you prioritize?” post for you guys since that keeps coming up. Hope to share that soon!
xo,
s
M says
You have some great shots of your curtains, the whole high and wide theory. I definitely need blinds in my room as my window faces the east, boo. I want to add curtains to my two windows. I have 9ft walls with odd shape windows. They are 34 tall by 57 wide. Also means 32″ above and 42″ below the window. There is also a built in tv cabinet between the two windows with 9″ space from the window to the cabinet. So my question to you or anybody else how high can i go without making the odd shape floating windows look even more odd shape. I totally wish I had tall windows like you.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm maybe just go 6-8″ above the window so it’s airy but not too oddly hight?
xo,
s
Paula says
It’s amazing how much you’ve done already! I guess it must get easier with each house.
I’m wondering what your plans are in terms of layout for the kitchen. I think it would be cool to get rid of the eating area altogether and just have a massive long island in the middle. It could be such an incredible kitchen!!
lol sorry, im just so in love with your house too:)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! We are considering a bunch if options but don’t have anything nailed down just yet. Can’t wait to get some graph paper and plan things out!
xo,
s
RJ says
Just have to ask – why do your walls upstairs look like they need another coat of paint? Almost looks like you leaned doors against the walls and sprayed painted them, thus leaving paint residue on the walls. Is it the photos playing tricks? I noticed it in all your bedrooms and wondered if you just primed the walls?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes we only painted trim and doors upstairs, so all the walls need to be painted. Those lines are where we leaned the doors when we sprayed them :)
xo,
s
jill says
I am SO! EXCITED! to watch these changes develop! The hallway shot is just amazing! I am really looking forward to the changes, and learning a few things along the way.
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
I really love that the green rug landed in the master bedroom! I hope you decide to keep it there. Awesome job for only being there a month! Up top!
Maddie says
Awesome post! Looking so different already, and it’s fun to see your old furniture rearranged and regrouped.
I didn’t realize before than that stair railing posts were blue too! YIKES!! It’s like you guys are giving this house CPR and saving it from a sad, blue, wallpapery death.
Janet says
I would love to hear more about why you are “hopelessly and deeply in love” with this house! It certainly looks wonderful and I can see exciting projects lining up, but what intangible things have put it in such a special category?
Love you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
I think our Instagram photos demonstrate it best. We have just been having so much great family time here. Out on the deck, taking bike rides and walks around the new hood, seeing deer right out the window, meeting awesome neighbors, etc.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Love this post! I feel like I can really see where you’re heading with this home & I love it. Although I was sort of sad when I heard you were moving, I think this house is more you than the last house.
Venia | Organized Bites says
Ch, ch, ch, changes…you’ve got me singing Bowie this morning. I love seeing the rooms transform, it’s like they’ve been reborn from Country Duck Hell. Can’t wait to see you redeem the rest of the house. And, isn’t it funny how little things jump out at you in a photo. When I saw the kitchen photo, I said, “Yay! They use Klean Kanteens,too!” :D
Brandy says
Can I be super nosy and ask how you are dealing with laundry…since your house didn’t come with a set and you didn’t take yours?
The only reason I ask is because I was hoping you guys would post about a stellar sale and I would get to jump on that same sale since I’m in mucho need of a new set :)
YoungHouseLove says
We are just using the loud old machines that came with the house for now since we feel like we’re bleeding money, but we plan to upgrade them down the line, hopefully when a nice sale rolls into town.
xo,
s
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
Looks great so far! And that upstairs hallway is like a teeny tiny light at the end of the tunnel.
I look forward to reading all your new house posts!
Katy
Theresa says
Love that the upstairs is already so different without a change in wall color. You guys have inspired us. (me in particular)Next on our list de-scalloping our porch front. The builder hid the column tops with the scallops. We didn’t even know you could take it off without too much hassle! Thanks for that idea!!
As for this post, you’ve so much, can’t wait to see the coming projects. (Yipee!!) In the kitchen, is that a trash compactor in the peninsula or a really small dishwasher?
Thanks again!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, our first trash compactor! :/
-John
Melissa says
Do you guys watch MadMen? With all that blue trim you totally have a Betty Draper house goin’ on. Congrats on getting so far so fast…you two are amazing.
My husband and I are moving into our third house at the end of the month. It’s the first one that we’ve built from the ground up so everything will be brand new – but I’m already missing the process of having a home that needs love. Is it weird that I’m sort of jealous of all that blue trim and all the possibilities your house holds? ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re sweet Melissa! It’s a pain to paint so don’t be too jealous ;)
xo,
s
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
The upstairs is looking great! I am amazed at how much space your bedroom has.