So now that I’ve been at Berrybrier almost a month (oh my god, how?!), I’ve got a pretty good plan of what I’m going to do for the next several years! Boy, is there plenty of work to do, but I am only excited. Before I can do the fun stuff, there’s some big stuff that needs to be done by the professionals. Whoop! There goes my savings! Luckily, once these things are complete, I’ll be able to rent out the two upper bedrooms and start saving up for more fun projects.

Right now I kind of have a hand in every pot of honey around this house, trying to do a million things at once. There are tons of little things that needed to be updated around here before it’s truly livable. Once these more behind-the-scenes items are complete, I’ll get to dive into more of the showy stuff. But I thought I’d break things down for you – and for myself! – to see what’s going on right now and where things are headed.

Front Exterior:

Currently:

• Trim back plants from street and sidewalk to allow passage of pedestrians and cars parking
• Cut down bamboo
• Trim walnut tree
• Cut down palm tree
• Turn soil
• Plant clover as a cover crop
• Cut back and remove berry bushes 
• Move raised bed to side yard
• Weeding!
• Beef up front porch column
• Replace lattice at porch with proper railing
• Remove railing from side of house

Upcoming:

• Paint house!
• New roof and gutters
• New house numbers
• Line driveway with bricks
• Remove chain link fence
• Re-stain front door
• Add new door knocker
• Re-landscape front yard
• Add white picket fence

Maybe Projects:

• Add front porch along entire front of house
• Turn existing porch into mud room
• Turn existing front window into new french doors

 

Entry:

Currently:

• Add entry table I built for the Duplex

Upcoming:

• Add coat rack
• Add hooks
• Add entry rug
• Switch existing light fixture for new flush mount

Maybe Projects:

• Center light fixture on entry
• Add sconce?

 

Living Room:

Currently:

• Add furniture I have already
• Cross fingers for roommates with furniture

Upcoming:

• Paint!
• Buy furnishings (loveseat, chairs, cocktail table, ottomans, rug etc…)
• Remove stone from fireplace and build more traditional look
• Trim out opening to kitchen
• Build attractive wood storage
• Switch light fixture for new
• Center light fixture on fireplace

Maybe Projects:

• Turn big window into french doors to new porch

 

Dining Room:

Currently:

• Add existing furniture
• Remove terrifying glass and concrete block shelving system from closet

Upcoming:

• Paint!
• Add functional storage to closet
• Add panels to existing closet door in interim
• Switch existing light fixture for new pendant over table
• Line walls with bookcases to create library dining space!

Maybe Projects:

• Re-work closets and lower floor bedroom entry?
• Center light fixture

 

Kitchen:

Currently:

• Clean, clean, clean
• Buy stove
• Sand existing cabinets
• Paint existing cabinets
• Scrape existing flaking sheet vinyl up to expose original hardwood floors and stair treads
• Purchase small butcher block table for next to stove
• Remove small full height cabinet
• Add my pantry china cabinet from the Duplex
• Remove wallpaper

Upcoming:

• Paint
• Paint pantry china cabinet
• Re-finish hardwood floors
• New lighting (cans? pendants? semi-flush mounts?)
• Remove cabinets on west side and replace with new
• Wire for stove and vent hood at south side window
• Plumb for sink beneath windows looking into backyard
• Add new cabinets at new sink location
• Remove door at stairs

Maybe Projects:

• Add dormer on west side of house
• Rework stairs with new railing using height from dormer to eliminate dual landing

 

Main Bathroom:

Currently:

• Replace toilet seat with new so it feels less disgusting in here
• Clean and pray the germs away

Upcoming:

• Complete demo!
• New flooring!
• New fixtures!
• New layout!
• New vanity cabinet!
• New storage!
• Paint

Maybe Projects:

• Switch walls to make this bathroom the half bath and a full bath off the bedroom

 

Lower Floor Bedroom:

Currently:

• Add existing bedroom furniture
• Add curtain rod and curtains

Upcoming:

• Paint!
• Clean and organize closet to make functional
• New light fixture
• Remove paper residue from wood floors

Maybe Projects:

• Re-work entrance to room to be centered off dining room with his and hers closets

 

Powder Room (Off Lower Floor Bedroom):

Currently:

• Clean!

Upcoming:

• New toilet
• Secure sink to wall
• Remove VCT flooring
• Tile floors
• Add wall paneling
• Paint walls and ceiling

Maybe Projects:

• Switch walls in bathrooms to make this a full bathroom and the one off the kitchen a powder room

 

Stairwell:

Currently:

• Clean

Upcoming:

• Paint walls
• Paint risers 
• New hand rail 
• New motion sensor or 3 way light switch
• New light fixture

Maybe Projects:

• Add sconces?
• Add door where current eave access door is leading to north side dormer at top of stairs
• Raise ceiling height at bottom of stairs / kitchen with south side dormer
• Turn dual stair landing into single with extended ceiling height

 

Upstairs Bedrooms:

Currently:

• Clean

Upcoming:

• New light fixture
• Paint
• Make closets more functional / attractive

Maybe Projects:

• Add more outlets

 

Basement:

Currently:

• Clean!
• Strap hot water heater to concrete walls

Upcoming:

• Vent dryer to exterior
• Clean washer and dryer
• Paint floors and walls
• New 200 amp electrical box
• Add storage
• New front loading washer and dryer (stacking?)
• Add laundry basket storage
• New stainless steel utility sink
• New lighting on single switch
• Add rug and shelving at laundry

Maybe Projects:

• Upgrade furnace and oil tank to new gas
• Add outlets?

 

Back Exterior:

Currently:

• Turn soil
• Plant clover as a cover crop
• Move bricks from behind garage, evaluate if enough for patio
• Cut back and remove some berry bushes 
• Cut back asparagus
• Trim magnolia tree
• Build a brick patio beneath magnolia tree
• Weeding!
• Demo existing falling down fence
• Build new fence
• Buy outdoor table and chairs
• Demolish deck roof

Upcoming:

• Paint outdoor table and chairs
• Demolish deck
• Demolish chicken coop
• Build new chicken coop and run
• Plant raised bed vegetable garden
• Add shade garden beneath Magnolia
• Cultivate existing herb garden
• Add fire pit with adirondack chair seating
• Landscape yard

Maybe Projects:

• Demolish existing garage
• Add large shed
• Add outdoor shower / tub?

 

Garage:

Currently:

• Clean!
• Remove chemicals and toxic waste
• Remove junk and toss
• Organize existing nuts, bolts, screws, etc

Upcoming:

• Organize with proper tool and wood storage

Maybe Projects:

• Demolish garage, replace with large shed

 

Whew! That’s a lot I’m working on and a lot to do coming up! Somehow it feels like I haven’t done anything, yet I’ve been working my butt off. I think all the little things happen over time and most are still in progress so although I haven’t checked a lot off my list yet, there’s still a lot going on! Luckily, I have an amazing amount of help. My dad came up for two weeks, my mom has been here helping for a month, my cousins Mary and Ted have been incredibly kind, dedicating hours upon hours to slowly tame this garden! I am so thankful for all this help. I am just overwhelmed by the generosity of my family members. I am looking forward to whipping the main bathroom and kitchen into shape so I can finally feel moved-in. Right now I feel very guilty showing people into my bathroom. Somehow, I’ve grown accustomed to it, but boy, it is not hygienic! Luckily the big items will get ticked off the list in the next couple of months allowing me to go into the new year in a fresh, clean space! Can’t wait for y’all to come visit in 2018!