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With Love, Grits

Grit, Gratitude, Growth, Grace, Gretchen

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Make a House a Home

Make a House a HomeEarlier this month, I took a big step forward in my journey; I closed on my very own house.  Now I’m ready to make this house a home!

I love it’s charming colonial style and am excited to have a place to call my own again.  For the last six months, I’ve been in a rental, and each time I identify a small-but-mighty improvement, I’ve had to resist the urge to break out the paint or screwdriver to fix them.  One of my true loves is decorating and design.  I am not trained in interior design, which perhaps makes it more fun!  Everything is a learning process that involves a lot of Google, Pinterest, and walks through Home Goods and Target’s aisles in normal circumstances.

The challenge…

I don’t physically move in until the end of June, and as soon as I signed the paperwork, the wheels started turning in my mind.  What do I NEED, WANT, and DREAM?  Don’t get me wrong – I did not buy a fixer-upper.  This home, my home, is beautiful and move-in ready.  I even love the way the previous owners have it decorated, but I love to dream, and like to stay busy!

I’d much rather be unpacking, decorating, & shopping than eagerly making to-do lists, shopping lists, wish lists, but I think the pause may be useful for me.  There’s a few home maintenance or improvements that are MUST do when I get into the house.  To ensure my offer was competitive, we offered an information-only home inspection. The garage door needs to be replaced, smoke detectors installed, a cosmetic crack at the fireplace base fixed before it becomes a bigger problem. I need to fence in the backyard, so I’m not trying to wrangle two little boys and a 65 lb sheepadoodle at every bathroom break.

Beyond the must-do list, I will use this list as my guide to budgeting, planning, and tackling future projects.  The list’s concept is to put every project – big or small, simple or complex, with-in reach or a dream – on the list.  I can then take steps to prioritize and move forward towards even the largest of projects.  It will be a living document that is continually having items crossed-off or added to it.  Here is the first version, so without further ado, I haven’t even lived in the house for a day, list!

Make a House a Home List v.1

Exterior:

  • Wrap Fireplace
  • Replace/Paint Siding 

Family Room:

  • Mount TV
  • Furniture?
  • Office?

Breakfast Nook:

  • 3 bar stools
  • Matching chairs
  • Rug

Kitchen:

  • Replace Refridgerator
  • Replace Electric Stove
  • Convert Stove to Gas
  • Replace countertops
  • Replace Flooring – maybe throughout the house
  • Add Cabinet Hardware
  • New Sink
  • New Faucet

Master:

  • Replace Blinds
  • Curtain Rod / Curtains
  • Add Armchair
  • Add Bench

Master Bath: (complete redo)

  • Replace Vanity – double sinks
  • Stand-alone tub
  • Water Closet (?)
  • Retile floor/shower

Bedroom 1:

  • Replace Blinds
  • Curtain Rod / Curtains

Office/Bedroom 2:

  • Replace Blinds
  • Curtain Rod / Curtains

Guest Bath:

  • Replace Countertops
  • Replace Fixtures

Basement:

  • Add Gym
    • Gym Floor
    • Full-Length Mirror
  • Finish / Drywall
    • Add Basement Bathroom
    • Add Laundry Room
      • Update Appliances
    • Add Playroom

Outdoor Living Space:

  • Patio Seating & Dining
  • Update Fire Pit/Conversation Set
  • Landscaping around Patio
  • Restain Patio

Yard:

  • Fenced in Yard
  • Peonies in Yard
  • Hydrangeas in Yard

Living Room:

  • Furniture?
  • Office?

Dining Room:

  • Rug

Powder Room:

  • Wallpaper?