Checking up on the 2012 House Goals List

Well here it is, almost the end of December and I swear we were just making our 2012 House Goals List.  Now, we are reviewing the list and seeing what we actually accomplished and didn’t accomplish this year.  My main goal was that our home be used for God’s purposes and glory and I hope we did that.

After reading our 2012 goals list, I’m thinking we set some lofty goals and maybe were still a little drunk from New Years?   In January I’ll be sure to lower the bar so we look super awesome next December.   For now, let’s see how we did this year.  I feel like this is my year end review by the boss.  Wouldn’t it be great if someone gave me a raise?  Send your donations to the address at the end of this post.  I would also accept a queen size bedskirt in white as well.

Master Bedroom and Bathroom

I am happy to report that most of the items are checked off this list.  The vent is back on the wall, I have a mirror over the desk on the big blank wall.  There are pillows on the bed, the wall is stenciled, the nightstands are painted coral and the only two things left are a bedskirt and shade for the ceiling fan.  Unfortunately the bathroom looks exactly the same.  Whomp Whomp.  You can’t win them all.

Normally I’d totally be cropping this picture to not show you my vent but for today, I will proudly display my vent!

Kitchen

 I love my kitchen, it’s really a great size, is open to the family room and has lots of natural light during the day.  I did accomplish some of my goals for the kitchen this year.  I think painting the cabinets was enough of a goal for one year, don’t you?

I think the best time to start painting your kitchen cabinets is right before you leave for a two week vacation across half of the USA.  Ok, that’s a lie.  But I did do this and survived, even after a painting failure!   Some of my kitchen goals were to paint the cabinets, new hardware, new sink, new faucet, tile backsplash, new countertops and pendant lighting.

Left to do in the kitchen:  Backsplash, new countertops, new lights, rug for under the kitchen table and roman shades on the side windows.

The Mudroom

 Big Fat Fail.  Well I did paint over the beige.  Otherwise it looks just like this only with some different color coats from last year and the grout might be a little dirtier.

Dining Room

Um, I don’t even know what to say about this.  We played musical rooms between the dining room and formal living room.  Finally we made the front living room my hubby’s office and added french doors.  The dining room went back to where it was and I recently painted it.  So the dining room has french doors and a paint job.  Still need some curtains and then maybe it’s done?  Wait, the chairs are going to get new covers and a paint job.  Thank you Ruby goldendoodle for thinking that the chair legs looked exactly like one of your chew toys.

So technically this was the dining room that was on the list last year seeing as it was moved to the living room.  This is now the hubby’s office.  So far I painted the room which you can sort of see the new color in the above picture.  We also added two sets of french doors so it’s officially an office.  More on those later in the post.

The Bub’s Room

This is done!  Finally, a room I can say that is finished.

Trim and Doors

Next up was painting the rest of the trim on the second floor and the basement white.  You can read more about painting the trim here.  I still have to do the basement and I really, really don’t want to.  The second phase was replacing all the flat oak doors with white six panels.  This is mostly done, we just have to do the doors in the basement.  My least favorite floor in the house, I sometimes pretend it doesn’t exist, except that some people have bedrooms down there.

Here is the upstairs hallway before and after just to give you an idea:

Now for the projects that weren’t on the list but we were rebels and did them anyways.

Little A’s Room

The Laundry Room

I’m not in love with the after but there are so many other rooms and projects that I’ll live with it this way for now.

The Pantry 

This is probably one of my favorite projects this year.  It is a little space but I open this door about 735 times a day.   When the food looks all pretty in there maybe I want to eat less of it.  Ok, who am I kidding?

Small Exterior Updates

This was a quick and easy change, mostly spray paint but really it made a big difference.  The new roof wasn’t done by us so I guess I can say it was quick and easy, all we had to do was pay our deductible.   Thanks insurance for the new roof!

The backyard also had a few changes.  Once again, thank you insurance for the new gazebo.

The children also helped build their playset and dig out for the pool.   I couldn’t really find pictures of the backyard before so just imagine a big empty yard with some dog poop and kids toys scattered around.

French Doors

Well I have yet to really blog about them but they are done!   Here’s a peak at the doors in the dining room.  I went with black and was so glad I did.  We have two sets of doors and let me tell you, they took a long time to paint and I may have said some bad words while painting them.

Whew!  That’s all folks.  The good, the bad and the ugly of this year.  In January after the White House decides if it’s going to raise taxes or not, we will see how much is left over for home improvement projects.  Otherwise you might see me mixing paint for the Benjamin Moore discount and my hubby might be moonlighting at Lowes or Home Depot.  Ok, hopefully it won’t be that bad!   Seriously, after I seduce the hubby, I will then post our goals for 2013.  A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.