At the beginning of the year, we laid out the projects we wanted to get done in 2020 and proclaimed we’d rather not be living through a renovation for 10 years (aka, we were putting the gas on this!). Some we didn’t get to (the kitchen/pantry/mudroom), but everything else we checked off and then some–the exterior wasn’t even on our radar in January of this year! Looking at these before and afters from this year, I’m feeling tired (haha) but also proud of how far we’ve come in one year!
It also excites me for 2021 to see how much farther we can push our home. Below we have photos of each of the projects we tackled this year with photos from January 2020 vs Today, and the relevant projects linked below each! (There’s also a little blurb at the end of the post squashing a rumor I keep hearing about).
1. Our Bedroom:
Painted, Canopy Bed, Lamp Update, Window Shades
DIY Over-Grouted Stone Fireplace
2. Greta’s Room:
DIY Canvas Floater Frame, Curtains
3. Office
Dark Beadboard Accent Wall in the Office
4. Arizona Bedroom Makeover with Lowe’s
5. Dining Room
Floors, Update: What’s working and what’s not, Doors, Fauxdenza, Curtains
6. Entry
Updated Stair Railings, Sconces
7. Backyard Firepit
8. Closet
Building the Wardrobes, Filling Holes & Adding Trim, How to Plank a Ceiling & Install Crown, Shoe Shelves, Painting the Closet, Custom Fronts to IKEA PAX, Pocket Doors
9. The Garage
10. The Music Room
11. Our Graphite Painted Playset
12. The Playroom
13. The Guest Room
14. The Living Room
Arched Window, lots of rearranging
15. The Pugmire Living Room
16. Girls’ Office
Paint, Layering Stain on the Countertop
17. Basement Family Room Makeover
18. Polly’s Room Part 1
19. Girls’ Bathroom Phase 1
20. Exterior
Gas Lanterns, Video Tour, Stone, Roof, Studio McGee’s Design Plan
21. Hallway
22. Faye’s Room (in progress)
23. Our Bathroom (in progress)
24. The Propertee Warehouse
One of the biggest projects we did this year, almost completely behind the scenes, was bring Propertee in house, get a warehouse, hire a staff and make the warehouse/office space there very cute. We will surely share more about this in 2021, but I couldn’t let this year end without sharing this big sneak peek. It was a huge project and I’m feeling so grateful we’re more settled over there with an amazing team.
Cute smeg fridge, toaster and electric kettle.
I know there are a lot of questions about what we’re going to do when this house is finished and I promise we’ll share our thoughts on that in the new year, but I also want to assure you that we’re not going anywhere. Figuratively or literally. No plans to move and no plans to close up our corner of the internet. PROMISE. 24 projects this year with lots of micro projects within them, although felt overwhelming at times, has us feeling a lot more at home at the end of this year which is exactly what we feel our family needed. We’re so grateful for your support and your encouragement and your excitement along the way. We’re going to take a much needed rest for the next couple weeks and return to kick it off again in 2021! Be safe and have a happy holiday and we’ll see you back here January 4th!
17 COMMENTS
Cassie
2 months ago
What a *ridiculous* amount of stuff!!! Everything looks out of this world, but I hope you guys can get SO much rest soon. Just rest and rest and rest every chance you can <3 Love you guys and can't believe how much you crush it!
Anne
2 months ago
Well, this recap makes me feel very unproductive. LOL. But very impressed and thank you for documenting the journey for all of us.
Emily
2 months ago
What a year! I am looking forward to the Propertee reveal. I’ve been looking for a sweet little pendant just like those for over my kitchen sink so I’d love to know the source.
And even though I’ve had enough pandemic-related content for the rest of my life, I would be interested in a post about your experiences with doing SO MUCH work on your house during the pandemic. Was it difficult/more expensive to get supplies? Any unexpected yet happy pivots you had to make? Thoughts about having contractors in your house? Just thought it’d be interesting to hear what, if anything, changed as a result. Hope your family enjoys the holidays!
Melinda
2 months ago
Wow! So beautiful!! Good work!!!
Jennifer
2 months ago
Is it weird that the garage is one of my favorite projects? I didn’t realize garages could look pretty until you guys redid yours!
Masooma
2 months ago
So much work! And all so beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us and inspiring me to work magic into my own home!
Nerida
2 months ago
Well done! You’ve accomplished so much even against the backdrop of 2020. While I love everything you’ve done my two favourite spots are your cosy basement – Netflix heaven. And your external Reno is next level.
Oksana
2 months ago
I always enjoy your overview posts at the end of the year, as well as the ones about “what we have on deck for next year.” I know everyone’s saying it, but my goodness how insane that you were able to accomplish this much in just a year… I’m sure it makes the next couple weeks off that much more enjoyable – to know you’ve completed so much of your renovation and so successfully, too! I am looking forward to seeing what you have in store for the new year, especially that Propertee Warehouse project! We’re in the process of buying (crossing my fingers!) a river-front ranch that we’ll be converting to an AirBnb, so I’ve been on the lookout for moody “modern mountain home”-type aesthetics, and the warehouse project already looks inspiring!
Amanda
2 months ago
I remember my excitement at your new move, thinking *stonnnne! It’s so cottagey* and would have never imagined it needed a full exterior makeover, but now looking at the before pics i’m like *bleugh* because the current exterior is so out of this world dreamy! I’m excited to see what’s to come in 2021!
Jennifer Laura
2 months ago
It is so wild that this was all this year! It feels like you’ve done so much in so little time, but I’m sure while you’re living in it it hasn’t felt so quick- it’s all SO beautiful and I know you’re going to up the ante even more in 2021.
Julie Rossman
2 months ago
There is a lot to be proud of!
Arli
2 months ago
Wow, that’s an incredible amount of work. I’m not sure how you kept your sanity throughout, but the end results are stunning. Thank you for bringing us along, and for giving me something to look forward to and enjoy during this very dark, very long year. All the best to your family for a wonderful holiday.
Kim B
2 months ago
It’s all fabulous . . . but the exterior of your house is just sooooo stunning. It turned out SO great.
I will always love the jewel box of a music room too. And that’s not to discount the gorgeous living room and dining room too!! I could go on and on, of course . . .
Cici Haus
2 months ago
Wow when you list them all our it’s incredible! That’s two room makeovers per month! Congratulations and enjoy your beautiful home for the holidays.
JL
2 months ago
Congratulations Julia and Chris! What a transformative year for your home and your family. Thanks for sharing it all with us. I can’t wait to see the girls’ rooms (including your plans for Greta’s ceiling) and your bathroom completed. Once done, would love to see a new walk-through video of the second floor. Enjoy your time off and get some rest!
patricia
2 months ago
Down the road I could see you move more office activities to your new warehouse … you’ve grown so much just in the last five years I’ve been reading your blog.
But you’ve got to stay in that house. It’s so perfect as a venue to marry your girls (I’m thinking waaaaaaaaaaaaay into the future here). Or just to send them off to prom as teenagers. And that will happen way too soon.
Brenda
2 months ago
Good heavens! No wonder you feel tired! You have worked hard, and each and every space you’ve touched is stunning!