Room by room: an endless list of projects (part 1)

I saw a wonderful idea on Young House Love (I love their blog and am eagerly awaiting their book!) where they went through each room of their house and made a list of things they had done and what they had left to do. I thought this would be a great idea because when I'm out shopping or thrifting I would know what I still needed for the house. Here is the first installment of the main living spaces.

The Entryway

What we've done:

• Stripped the wallpaper and painted (Sherwin Williams Tidewater and Sherwin Williams Pure White for the trim)
• Added artwork
• Refinished the light fixture
  

What we have left to do:

• Perhaps add a rug?
• Fix the sticky door (it's so embarrassing at the chaos that ensues when anybody knocks-the dog goes crazy barking and jumping so we're trying to hold her back while simultaneously frantically tugging at the door that sticks ever since we painted it)

The Living Room

What we've done:

• Painted the trim and the walls (we used SW Pure White for the trim and SW Mindful Grey for the walls)
• Hung artwork
• Built bookshelves
• Changed out the vent covers
• Exchanged our couch (a wonderful hand-me-down from my in-laws! so nice not to have to refinish and reupholster our vintage sofa)
• Reupholstered our two side chairs (one was featured here)

What we have left to do:

• Pull up the carpet when we're ready to refinish the floors
• Paint the coffee table or find a different coffee table
• Paint the media cabinet
• Tweak the pillows-maybe change some out-they're not quite right yet 
• Add an overhead light and switch

The Dining Room

  
What we've done:

• Stripped wallpaper
• Painted (we used SW buttercream)
• Added picture frame molding
• Reupholstered the dining chairs
• Added a sliding door where the window used to be
• Added curtains and a rug
  

What we have left to do:

• Add artwork (seems to be a running theme throughout all our rooms)
• Add a leaf to the dining table
• Refinish the dining chairs (stain or paint?)
• Refinish the dining table
• Paint the chandelier
• Refinish the floors eventually
• Paint the sliding door frame

The Kitchen

What we've done:

• Practically nothing! 

What we have left to do:

• Everything...more specifically though:
• Demo everything
• Install hardwood floors
• Install cabinets from IKEA (waiting for their next 20% off sale)
• Install new appliances
• Add a backsplash
• Paint the ceiling, walls and trim
• Install quartz countertops
• Add new hardware
• Find a new light fixture

Den/Family Room

What we've done:

• Painted the paneling and trim
• Changed out the light fixtures

What we have left to do:

• Change out the floor to hardwood
• Figure out the fireplace situation- we need to change out the mantel or maybe just add molding and paint it and still debating about whether or not to paint the fireplace
• Paint the built-ins and maybe add a modern paper to the back of the cabinets
• Get rid of the furniture and add a table and chairs to extend the kitchen into an eat-in kitchen
• Add artwork to the very blank walls

From this list we don't have that much to actually buy (with the HUGE exception of the kitchen!), but we do have a fair amount that we need to refinish...sigh...it seems to take us forever to refinish things. Stay tuned for the rest of the house to include the bedrooms and bathrooms. What sort of projects do you need to get to in order to complete a room?

The Virginia Zoo

So I try to keep this blog mostly about house projects, but every once in awhile animals have a way of nosing their adorable faces in. This past Saturday my family attended Zoo Grooves at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. Zoo Grooves is a summer concert series held at the zoo. This last one featured a bluegrass band Town Mountain. I couldn't help but feature just a few of those aforementioned adorable faces we met. Here is a smattering of pictures of some of the animals...

Schnitz, the male Orangutan cuddling under his blanket. No wonder my mom needs her "Schnitz fix" weekly!

Pepper, the female Orangutan lounging and pondering the curiosities of life

Hitam, a female Siamang

New mama Hitam with her baby born only a few days before

This is the best picture we got of the Sun Bear, he wouldn't look up! He somehow reminded me of Millie, my dog though. Perhaps it was his shiny black coat and constant nose to the ground.

You're a long time in coming: thrift store chair

So a few years ago (yes, that's years) I found this little $5 beauty while thrifting...

Ok, so perhaps not a little beauty yet. But when you think of chairs like this...

...there is so much potential! This is an example from my favorite show The Dick van Dyke Show. The chair has a very similar design in the curve of the back. I think it's a barrel/tub chair?

After stripping, sanding, staining, sealing, and reupholstering, the chair was transformed. Never mind the process spanned about 2 1/2 years. After awhile it becomes easier and easier to ignore the half upholstered chair in the corner of the room. But anyway, here it is today...

  Are there projects you have procrastinated on?