I’ve enjoyed the past year and a half slowly making our house a home. When we closed on the house I wanted to rip everything out and start from scratch but it wasn’t an option. Money doesn’t grow on trees and being a homeowner is challenging. I’m so glad we didn’t gut this house . Over time I’ve abandoned many of my original ideas and envisioned all new ones. I’ve been able to see how certain spaces work for us and how others don’t work at all. Contrary to what my husband thinks, I am aware that Rome wasn’t built in a day. This year, I’m going to focus on a few spaces and plan mini renovations that hopefully don’t cost a lot of money but make a big impact on our home. In addition, I will continue my crafts and building projects and try my best to post more frequently.

Kitchen

1. Have a contractor double the size of both doorways leading from the eat-in area of kitchen to the dining room and office (those pocket doors are wonderful I would love to have double pocket doors in this space but I’m not sure that will be possible with the space available.)

2. Paint the kitchen again (not sure of the color yet but I’d like something more subtle so that I can add more color with accessories)

3. Build a banquette in the corner and underneath the window in the eat-in area

4. Create art for the large blank wall opposite the window. Possibly a large framed chalkboard

5. Purchase a rug for the eat-in area of the kitchen.

6. Gut the pantry and rebuild to include recycling, lighting and some sort of pull-out function

7. Create art above the coffee station

8. Repair and re-finish the two free bar-stools found near the dumpster and place at the peninsula

9. Replace both of the kitchen light fixtures (I’d like a pendant over the eat in area and pot lights or a track system above the rest of the kitchen)

10. Find out what is in the soffit in the kitchen, if nothing then……

11. Remove soffits and rebuild upper cabinets with glass doors.

I’m liking the idea of some of the smaller banquette

Photo via Blessed Beyond Measure

Photo via “Adore Your Place”

Image via Casa de Lewis

 I love this banquette paired with these chairs and those colors have “Ayisha” written all over them.

Photo via BHG

And of course, I will build them with a ton of storage.

Photo via Pinterest

I like the idea of this two tier pantry,  I could put recycling on the bottom and food on the top and still keep them separate.

Mudroom

1. Build a countertop for washer/dryer

2. Build in the washer/dryer

3. Replace the slop sink w/stainless steel sink

4. Build a base cabinet for the slop sink

5. Purchase a new rug for the mudroom floor

6. Create art for the mudroom wall

7. Remove shelves & create two open cabinets

8. Make a roman shade for the mudroom window

9. Add crown molding to the mudroom

10. Build a hall tree to hang coats and place shoes

11. Replace the light fixture in mudroom

12. Change hardware on powder room door

I like the way the countertop is built in like a piece of furniture framing the appliances.

Photo via SouthernLiving.com

A smaller custom version of this hall tree would fit perfectly in the mudroom. I love the clean white trim on this one.

Photo via RC Wiley.com

Entryway

1. Increase the size of the doorway between the office and the stairs.

2. If we can swing it, replace the linoleum in the entry with hardwoods that extend it into the dining room and office.

3. Remove the carpet from the stairs and re-finish to match the flooring.

4. Replace the railing and newel post with something more attractive.

5. Replace the ceiling light fixture.

6. Remove the mirrored closet doors and build a bench in the closet space with hooks & baskets for accessories

7. Create shoe storage for guests when entering through the front door

8. Add more artwork to the walls

9. Purchase a rug for the entry

10. Find a small table to sit in the corner and hold decorative items

11. Add a stair rail for safety

12. Paint the interior of the front door

I just love the organization and design of this entryway. Such a lovely place for guests to put on and take off their shoes.

Photo via thehouseofsmiths.com

And for when we have several guests, a place to put all of those shoes would be really nice.

Image via Ikea.com

Something like this would put an end to tripping over my guests shoes that they leave at the door.

At this point, I’m not sure what will get done first. I would love to start with enlarging the four doorways since it’s the most destructive job on the list. Wouldn’t it be great to come back here in January of 2014 and see all of this completed? Well I don’t know what curve ball 2013 will throw me so we will have to just wait and see. I’ll be back on Monday with Part 2 of our Home Improvement Goals for 2013.