I just realized we just had our two year home anniversary (a.k.a. homieversary). In honor of our two year homieversary, I thought I’d do a run through of our progress. I’ve been blogging for less than a year, so if you’ve been following along since then, much of the work in these spaces was done before blogging. Looking through these pictures makes me feel a bit better that we are moving so slowly on our kitchen renovation.
When we bought the house two years ago we started out full steam ahead working on the house in every spare moment, which certainly paid off at the time. The yard was in complete shambles, and the inside had some…interesting…things going on that we were eager to change.
After about a year or so the house started looking much more presentable which meant we didn’t feel as compelled to work on it all the time. We still do quite a bit of work during the weekends, but we also make a lot more time for non-DIY related fun as well. This is part of the reason our kitchen renovation has moved so slowly. We have been having a busy summer with weddings to go to, other events surrounding said weddings, and other odds and ends popping up taking up our time. We fit in work on the kitchen when we can but aren’t killing ourselves trying to get it done by a certain date.
The first room we really completed was our powder room. It had wallpaper that my mom helped us take down, a dated light fixture, and a sink that I affectionately called our public restroom sink because it attached to the wall and reminded me of the ones I used back at my grade school as a kid. Paint colors and where we got everything here.
The before:
I think we are most proud of the outside because it was such a mess when we bought it. It is so nice to drive up and have a nicely landscaped yard, and the patio really is a second living room for us. We eat out there almost daily in the summer and I frequently drink my morning coffee out there. The yard consumed quite a bit of our time in the first year just cleaning it up and putting in new landscaping. It was hard work, but very rewarding. All of the posts on our exterior projects can be found here.
The befores:
The dining room was a fun room for me because it is the first room you see when you walk in, and I really love it turned out. Also, I have some exciting news (like involving a real magazine exciting) about our dining room that I can’t wait to share soon!! All of the details on our dining room including paint colors and where we got everything here.
The before:
The living room our main lounging/hanging out/TV watching room, so it gets lots of use. We painted it a warm color to make it feel cozy and comfortable and purchased a new sofa, chair, and rug, and made a gallery wall over the sofa using free prints. All of our living room posts including paint colors, where we bought everything and where we downloaded the prints here.
The living room before:
The master bedroom has been sorely neglected. It is still loads better than when we moved in, but aside from paint and a ceiling fan, we haven’t done much with it. I have some plans in the works.
The before:
The part of our bedroom that has gotten some love was our shoe closet. It is a tiny little space that doesn’t hold much, but is big enough for a couple of shoe cabinets. Details on where we got everything here.
The before:
We also put in a couple of new doors. All of the details on our doors here.
We still have some big projects left to do, including finishing the kitchen and two full bathroom renovations, but it’s nice to look around and see that the amount we have done is much greater than the amount we have left to do. I find it hard sometimes to balance wanting to do big renovations with smaller decor and craft projects. Now that the big projects are dwindling, I’m really looking forward to doing those smaller decor projects to pull the rooms together.
Also, make sure to check out our home decor inspiration galleries! They include LOTS of reader submitted home decor images! Browse by paint color, room type, and painted and refinished furniture.
Linking up to: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Just a Girl, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Green Door Designs, Boogieboard Cottage, Dittle Dattle, Keeping it Simple, Between Naps on the Porch, The DIY Show Off, The Girl Creative, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Home Stories A2Z, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, A Diamond in the Stuff, DIY by Design, Savvy Southern Style, Domestically Speaking, Pink Postcard, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, At the Picket Fence, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Remodelaholic, Thrifty Decor Chick
I love your home Jena. Everything is so pretty.
You have done alot in 2 years! Everything looks great. I love your sofa – it’s what I want but the hubby is against a white sofa with a dog and child! So ours is black leather- it does look nice but may be one day I’ll have a white one! Your yard transformation is amazing! Happy Homeiversary!!
Happy homeaversay! Thank you for the tour. I love, love, LOVE the dining room. Both the color and the overall feel are so relaxing yet pretty and formal like a dining room. Great job on everything you’ve done!
You’ve done so much in two years!!! Impressive really! The outside for sure is a HUGE transformation!!! Stopping by from SAS Day at Just a Girl.
Your home is really lovely…you have done an incredible job in your two years there. I hope to be able to think the same thing about my home next year when we meet that mark:) Have A Great Weekend!
I love that light fixture in your dining room. I love it b/c it also mine!! Ballard Designs. Great job, your house is warm and pretty.
what an amazing amount of changes! LOVE what you’ve done!
Now THAT was a fun tour! You’ve done SO much. I gotta tell ya–I love all the curvy lamps and candlesticks you use. Such a great house! Thanks for sharing!
This is a great post and an absolutely awesome blog. I would be flattered and grateful if you would feature my kitchen. Let me know if I can be of any help. Have a great weekend!
this post is seriously an answer to prayer :) my husband and i just bought our first house and after closing costs and paying our first month’s mortgage and bills, we cannot afford to tackle the many house projects we hope to one day. this post was so encouraging because it reminded me it’s good to take your time and to pick and choose which projects to take on and which ones to continue saving for. your patio and front of the house look amazing, you cannot even recognize it’s the same house! you guys did a fabulous job and i know how proud and happy it must make you to host bbq’s in the back :) thank you for this inspiration and again for this post, it was exactly what i needed to see and read tonight. it gets me looking forward to our two year homieversary and what transformations took place!
have a great weekend!!!
katie@little things bring smiles
Amazing what you have achieved in two years!
It looks as though you’ve made much progress on your home. It looks great! My favorite is the diningroom. Love the wainscoting and wall color. Great job!
You’ve made a lot of progress in two years! Your home looks wonderful!
Looks like you’ve done a lot of work, but it’s all be worth it. Your home is beautiful! Love the patio area with the chaise lounges, the dining room, and the living room. Thanks for sharing your home with us.
You have done a wonderful job over the past couple of years. Your home is absolutely beautiful.
Looks awesome! You have done so much in two years! Great job!
The transformation looks great!! Especially the bathroom and exterior landscaping… what an improvement!
Coleen, Congratulations on your second year in your beautiful home. YOu sure did complete a whole lot of home improvement projects. And each on is so wonderfully done. YOur landscaping and back patio is an amazing transformation. Just the perfect preview for your warm and welcoming interior! You have a gorgeous and inviting home. May blessings reside within!
Yvonne
Well done! It looks like you have been in your space a lot longer than 2 years. It is beautiful! HomeSavvyAtoZ.com just become your newest follower! :)
Jena, your house is GORGEOUS! Your deck out back is SO pretty – I love that outdoor space! I love your interior colors too. Your house has come so far!! Hope you are enjoying your home after all your hard work.
Loved your tour! thank you!
XO
Kristin
Your house looks beautiful! Everything looks so fresh and light. Looking at it like this (before and afters) sure does make you feel accomplished doesn’t it? Your outside looks particularly good, outside work is hard work! I know, our outside is a disaster as well. Keep it up! Also, your totally normal with the master bedroom, I think its always the last room to get remodeled. You want the rooms that people see to be beautiful first!
Happy Homeiversary! You have tackled a lot of amazing projects and it shows beautifully! I’m following you now to see what the next 2 years brings.
Your house looks amazing! Thank you so much for sharing all your beautiful projects! I shared your post on my Friday Favorites this week, so readers could come find your blog and see your fabulous designs. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love your home! You have really turned it from a house to a beautiful home! Absolutely Lovely!!!
-emily
nestnestingnested.blogspot
Happy homieversary! I love your dining room and back deck! So pretty!!
-Laura
lorrinteriors.blogspot.com
You have done such an amazing job transforming your home!! I can’t believe from the before pictures that they are the same rooms. Everything is so gorgeous and I love the warm yellow of your patio set! You guys should be so proud of all you accomplished in the last 2 years and we are thrilled to have you sharing it with us at Inspiration Friday!
Vanessa
P.S. Can’t wait to hear more about your exciting magazine news!
It is really looking great Jena. Everything has such a clean and warm feeling. You guys have done a beautiful job!! Thanks so much for linking up to Transformations and Treasures!
Lovely! I hope that my house looks as amazing as yours does when we hit the 2 year mark! Fingers crossed!