The Home List

A couple of months ago when I was working with Holly Mathis on her new blog launch, and drooling over her portfolio photos every single day, I decided I was ready for a change in our house. There are some things in our house that drive me crazy, mostly due to the fact that I was busy running a business when I bought the house, and didn’t have time to delve into it redecorating way I would like.

Now I’m a couple of years down the road from that, and I still don’t have time, and to make matters worse, definitely no money. But ya’ll, this stuff is driving me crazy. I used to rush out the door to the office every day, and now I’m home most of the time, staring at these things that make me bonkers. So I emailed Holly with a crazy idea. I was going to make a list of things that needed to be done, and put it on the blog. And then I was going to figure out how to redecorate a house for as little as possible. Some rooms just need to be finished, while there are some other giant projects that need to be completely redone. (You’re about to see just how resourceful I can be.)

I think Holly thought I was nuts, but she agreed to be the consultant on the project. We made the list, and then I headed off to Alt Summit. Almost as if to confirm that my “Home List” idea wasn’t as crazy as it sounds, I won a headboard from Joss & Main.

So here’s the list, in it’s entirety. Some of this just requires sweat equity and elbow grease, I realize–but those are scarce commodities in this household right now. I’m going to set up a page to keep track of projects and add before and after shots along the way, of course.

If you have any interest in sponsoring the Home List project, please don’t hesitate to contact me. This is an entirely new venture for me, and I have no idea where these ideas will lead, but I’m definitely open to anything that helps me accomplish the goals on this list!

Entryway

• Doorbell cover.
• Find new mirror for over chest.
• Cut shelves for chest for better storage.
• Replace chandelier.

Living Room

• Paint living room Owl Gray.
• Reupholster wing back in neutral linen.
• Paint inside of black lampshade gold.
• Paint little chest with chalk paint. (Decide color.)
• Design and print pattern for new draperies.
• Have drapery remade.
• Find a small loveseat and have upholstered in neutral linen.
• Recut and rebind grasscloth rug.

Dining Room

• Paint Owl Gray.
• Have drapery remade.
• Have dining table refinished.
• Have slipcovers made for dining room chairs.
• Monogram new slipcovers.

Family Room

• Paint all trim white.
• Reface and remodel fireplace wall, including new cabinet doors and adding a mantel.
• Reupholster brown comfy chair.
• Find a pair of smaller chairs and upholster in neutral linen.
• Slipcover sofa.
• Find new brass end tables.
• Store bamboo tables until we have a beach house and I can paint them white. (Dreaming big here, folks.)
• Replace Oriental lamp with modern turquoise.
• Have taupe modern toile pillows made.
• Hang TV over fireplace.
• Store toys in pine cabinet.
• Have shelves made for built in cabinets.
• Have drapery panels made.

Breakfast Room

• Paint all trim white.
• Have drapery panels made.

Kitchen

• Remove sofit.
• Replace upper cabinets.
• New oven.
• Install Sub-Zero.
• Replace lower cabinet doors. Finish with trim.

Laundry Room

• Remove sofit.
• Install new cabinets.
• Paint walls.
• Paint trim.

Master Bedroom

• Install headboard.
• Reuphoster sofa.
• Reupholster french chair.

Nursery

• Paint little kitchen.
• Paint crib.
• Source pink check for curtains.
• Have new crib bedding made.

Boys Room

• Put together twin beds.
• Paint walls Stonington Gray.