As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Saturday, March 2, 2019

House Project Goals 2019


Two whole months (and a couple of days) into 2019. Is anyone besides me still talking about goals for the "new year"? Most likely, not! But a promise is a promise, and so I am back to finish this little series that I began in January . . . before Kati got engaged and before a spring wedding was planned! 



These are the House Projects that we're planning for 2019:


BATHROOM REFRESH  This is not a complete remodel, but we're tackling a few things in our main bathroom, the one that the girls share and that most of our guests use.


We have two and a half bathrooms in this house and they all have pastel tile. Hello, 1950's! The sage tile in the main bathroom, however, is pleasing to my eye and it blends with our color palette in the rest of the house, so we're going save ourselves a big remodeling project and leave it alone.

This is what we are going to do.

  • Paint the walls and all the trim. We are using the antique white that we use on all the walls in the house, only this time we'll use that color on the trim as well. With all the green tile, it would be too "busy" to introduce another accent color, so white it is. 
  • Hang a new ceiling light. You cannot see the old fixture in the above photo (bad blogger), but we have chosen a four light saddle light something like this
  • Remove the fluorescent light above the vanity. We haven't found vanity lights that we love, so we're not going to put any for now. If there is not enough light, we'll come back and add some later. (Bekah never turns on the fluorescent light that is there now, so she probably won't miss a vanity light.) 
  • Make shutters for the window.

That's it. The project is already underway, but we have not made a great deal of progress so far. (So many other irons in the fire.)





SOUTH WALL of the KITCHEN  You've heard me talk about this before! It's been in the plan ever since we've lived here. We have made a lot of progress in the kitchen, but this south wall still needs some work.

  • Move the washing machine down to the basement. 
  • Move the refrigerator over to where the washing machine sits now. This will involve some re-configuring of the upper cabinets, but it will allow space for a longer section of countertop instead of two short sections on either side of the fridge. 
  • Build a drawer and cabinet unit to fill in the empty space. 






LANDSCAPING  We are planning to tidy and replant some of the beds around the house. We'll start with the front this spring and move clockwise as time/budget allows.

We're also considering putting a fence across the back of the property. For thirty-eight years, we lived in the country where our views were farmland and woods with houses in the distance. Here at Pineapple House, the spring and summer views are fine with our large forsythia hedge and a big oak tree on the lot in back of ours. But during the winter, we look out of our big picture window in the living room and see the next street and cars coming and going and, well, we're hoping to create a little backyard oasis. Maybe some evergreens or shrubbery. I am picturing hydrangeas and boxwoods. (We're open to suggestions!)






GUEST BEDROOM  This is a surprise project for this year, but it's one that I am quite excited about!

I am calling this bedroom my "consolation prize." It is actually Kati's bedroom now, but as you know, very soon she will not be living here. (Cue the lump in my throat.) I will miss her terribly. But you all know how much I love house-y things, so I am consoling myself with plans to decorate her room a new guest room!

This is the photo from the ad.

I have already purchased an antique pineapple post bed. I am planning to use a matelasse coverlet, either one that I picked up at a booth at an antique market a few years ago or a newer Martha Stewart one that my mom offered me. I am looking for a dresser. I have an old Windsor rocking chair that I will bring down from the attic. (I may replace it with a wing chair in the future.) I am considering repainting the bamboo table that is on my  sun porch (it belonged to my paternal grandparents) to use as a night stand or I may just keep my eye out for something else. I am also thinking about a rug.

I've never had a dedicated guest room before. Because all our bedrooms were needed, having guests simply meant that someone gave up their bed or their room for a time. But it will be fun to have such a room (we anticipate Kati and Andrew using it the most!) and it is super fun to plan and decorate it.






PAINT MASTER BEDROOM  This is the project that I am the least excited about. Let me explain.

I am so excited about decorating the guest room. I was planning to start as soon as the wedding was over. But then I realized that all of Kati's things will still be here. Other than what she has packed in her honeymoon suitcases, everything will remain here until she and Andrew visit for Bekah's graduation. Then her earthly goods will be loaded up and make the move to their new home. (Actually, it will be Kati's "new" home; it is Andrew's home now.)

I decided that I would have to begin to decorate the new guest room in June.

But then . . . Ron tells me that while Kati's room is empty, it would be the perfect time for us to temporarily move into it while we paint the master bedroom. Ugh.

He's right. (I hate that.) Our bedroom walls are paneled and a couple coats of white paint will brighten it considerably! It also needs a new ceiling and we'd love to take up the carpet. But those are bigger projects for another time. Paint will make a big difference.



(It's only that I am chomping at the bit to get at that guest room. But I'm a big girl. I can wait.)

(I guess.)




Those are our house-y goals for 2019. 

Since the year began, we have had changes in our time and in our budget. #wedding

So we will just do what we can do, chipping away at our goals. Making concessions. Making adjustments. Taking it one step at a time. Moving forward.

I am reminded of these words of truth . . .


"Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" 
(James 4:15)



And I say "amen."

24 comments:

  1. Flexibility is a key to contentment I think! And you have it! It will be nice to have these projects to distract you as you will miss Katie! Can't wait to see them all!

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    1. All those years of huge remodeling projects at The Farmhouse taught me flexibility . . . the hard way! Yes, I will need some distractions, and I'll be sure to share along the way!

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  2. Quite the projects you have lined up. I look forward to seeing them finished as you go along with each one. They will help you with missing Kati, but, she will be back to visit with her dear Andrew.

    Have fun remodeling ~ FlowerLady

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  3. For your garden I think an addition of bridal veil spirea would give you lovely blooms in the spring, and a gold mound spirea would add wonderful color in summer. You know I love hydrangea and boxwood!

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    1. I admire your gardening skills . . . I will investigate these varieties of spirea that you recommend!

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  4. You have some wonderful plans. I think I understand your eagerness to do the guest room...you will want it ready for Kati and Andrew when they visit and, of course, you are hoping they’ll visit often. I think fencing is a great option for blocking unpleasing views. There is so much that can be done with a fence!

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    1. I am definitely hoping for frequent visits!

      I am more and more convinced that we would enjoy a fence. It also defines a space and I am imagining it lined with some lovely green things and blooming things . . .

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  5. How fun to have all these decorating plans. I plan, but it rarely happens around here. I am so looking forward to see your progress through this year.

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    1. Kathy, decorating/remodeling has become a way of life for us! (I'm not sure if that is good or bad!) When we moved into The Farmhouse, it needed SO much work and the only way we could afford to do anything at all was to do it ourselves. So we just learned to "see" things the way we wanted them to be and then try to make it happen. :)

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  6. Making plans for the house is fun, but oh, how hard it is to be patient sometimes. I'll look forward to seeing the progress made in your rooms. I want to paint the living/dining room, but it's going to be a big job and I will tackle it when I have an extended length of time to work on it (ie, summer vacation or spring break, but likely not this year).
    Having a dedicated guest room is very enjoyable. I'm always happiest when one of our children is sleeping in ours and I enjoy preparing it for them when they visit.
    We have a cedar hedge planted about 15 years ago that has grown tall enough to block the view from other yards, and give an air of privacy. A fence will be a great option for closing in your garden.

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    1. Yes, sometimes those projects loom large in front of us! When I get discouraged about how much remains to be done, I have to look around and see how far we've come!

      I love to hear that you enjoy your guest room . . . and having your children as your guests. A mother is always a mother, isn't she?

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  7. I do like your plans and your ideas to freshen up those spaces and make them more functional...especially in the kitchen. Good plan to get a long counter next to the fridge. How fun to anticipate a guestroom that Kati and Andrew will use to soften the idea that she's moving out. We still have all the bedrooms to paint and the bathrooms. We will also be putting in a new countertop in the guest bath with a floating sink, etc. The counter top will be a hunk of maple we had cut to fit. It will have a natural edge on front. Rustic. I should make sure and take before photos. We need new light vanity lights for the master bath. The back acres are a bit more daunting. We plan to drain the pond and fill it in and then hopefully and Lord willing we will put in a pickle ball court, instead. A pond requires way much more care then I want to give it plus I'm not keen on the possibility of inviting more mosquitoes to hang out. I'm not even going to mention the pole barn shop that Dear is planning for the other side of our garage. :) Hope you are having a good weekend!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your project list too, Ellen! I thoroughly enjoy watching others' home projects as well!

      I think house projects come with the territory when you move into a new-to-you home. It's part of the challenge, but also part of the thrill!

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  8. Cheryl, I so enjoy reading about all of your projected projects. Each and every one sounds like a lovely way to make the Pineapple House more and more to your liking. I can imagine the kitchen will be the biggest project. You always have beautiful ideas and along with the skill your husband has, I'm sure your plans will come to fruition in due time. How fun to have a guest room for the newlyweds.

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    1. Thank you, Martha Ellen! I think you're right about the kitchen. It is a little daunting (which is probably why the washing machine is still sitting there in the kitchen!), but I think it will be worth the trouble when it's all said and done. I do look forward to having a place for the newlyweds! It will be so exciting for us to have them visit!

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  9. Enjoyed seeing your projects in the works. What fun! I do love those sage green tiles in your bathroom (which makes me glad they are staying put). And to think you have an antique pineapple post bed for your guestroom. How lovely.

    Your home is beautiful and so inviting and comfortable looking. Thanks for letting us visit.

    Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
    Brenda xox

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Brenda . . . and for sharing our excitement! Our weekend was a mix of projects (for the healthy) and recovering from sickness. (Looking forward to spring!) Hope that yours was lovely!

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  10. All of these project goals will only make what's already beautiful more beautiful-er. :)

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  11. Passing by again and just want to say I also like the sage green tile and it looks like it is in great condition (and the grout)!

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    1. Thanks, Dotsie! I think the sage green is a calming color and, yes, it is in good condition.

      We just finished the "refresh" last week, but I haven't had time to take photos yet. When I get to it, I'll put up a post.

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  12. Cheryl, I love all your ideas for your "house-y goals!" Can't wait to see the results.

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    1. Thank you, Jean! We have completed the bathroom refresh, but I have been too busy to take photos. Soon . . . (I hope.)

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