I don’t really think that many of us are exactly sad to say goodbye to 2020 in the optimistic view that surely 2021 has got to be better!

It’s that thought that keeps us going through the bad times, after all.

For me 2020 was one of the hardest years that I’ve ever been through and I’d like to think that I’ve grown and learned things as a result that I can use carrying forward.

Although January 2020 seems like an eternity ago, it really was just 12 months ago like every other year. If you’ve been around since the start with me you’ll know that about 2 years ago Emily and I wrote a blog post where each of us came up with 5 unfinished projects that we really wanted to complete. Each time we finished one of them we wrote a post about it and y’all helped hold us accountable.

It worked so well that last January we decided to make a new list for the New Year. Of course 2020 being what it was, I did not get around to completing everything and I don’t believe Emily did either but in this post I’d like to show you what I did complete and to make a new list for this New Year.

There’s a good chance it will contain some of the same things as last year’s list that did not get completed but also a few new things.

#1 Master Bedroom

Last year I shared that I really wanted to finish some major things in my Master Bedroom. My goals were:

• new flooring
• purchase a headboard or bedframe
• new curtains
• new lighting

While I did NOT finish everything on the list I did get around to a few of the things. Normally I would share photos of what I did accomplish but since it’s actually still on the list, I think I will keep the surprise and share photos when I finish the rest.

Sound like a plan? We will have a big reveal party when I finish it!

I did manage to:

• replace carpet with wood flooring
• purchase a headboard
• add some details to some of my furniture
• partially replace the curtains (I still plan to add more to them)

Clearly you can tell this item is going back on this year’s list.

#2 Kid’s Bathroom

Perhaps you might recall how the kid’s bathroom looked when the list was made last January. All I had ever done was a quick coat of paint and some cute owl themed decor items since I have boys and girls and they were all pretty young at the time.

First, I came up with a plan for the bathroom and shared all my lovely ideas.

Next I started on the walls which was a large undertaking but made such an incredible difference! I still love to look back at the before and after pics.

Putting a coat of paint on the walls made even a bigger difference!

Painting and stenciling the floors was quite a job but made an amazing difference and majorly helped to set the color scheme for the black and white vintage inspired bathroom.

Adding in the finishing touches and decor is always the most fun! I added everything vintage and a couple wood tones to warm up the black and white color scheme.

A new vintage inspired light fixture, a DIY wood frame for the existing mirror and this lovely vintage print made all the difference and this room quickly became one of my favorite transformations in the whole house.

I am happy to tell you that this project was completed! I might eventually replace the chrome faucet but it’s not a pressing need.

#3 The Kitchen

The kitchen has changed a lot since I first did the cabinets quite a few years ago and opened up one of them by removing the doors.

Painting all the cabinets to showcase the granite countertops and adding vintage brass hardware made a huge difference but there are still a few things I’d like to do.

• resurface the living room side of the cabinets (removing the cabinet doors since they don’t need to be accessed from both sides and making it a feature)
• add some trim details to at least some of the cabinet doors
• add corbels to the underside of the granite counter overhang
• put in a backsplash
• install a range fan and build a range hood
• replace the stove with a stainless steel to match the other appliances
• replace flooring

Unfortunately you can see that I didn’t get around to any of those things in spite of my best intentions but I still like my kitchen better now than ever before.

#4 Lighting

Last year I mentioned that I wanted to replace essentially all the light fixtures in my home. I’ve only replaced the kid’s bathroom light, two bedroom lights (not the Master Bedroom yet), dining room light, front entry light.

I have been searching far and wide for some lovely chandeliers for all sorts of spaces in my home from bathrooms to bedrooms to kitchen and so on but alas I haven’t gotten far and 2020 has not been kind to my decor budget so this is something I really still want to work on.

A new light fixture can make such a difference to the feel of a room. I’m excited to continue working on this.

This light in front of my door is one of the few I managed to update this year and I just love it. I may well purchase a couple more of this darling little crystal bit of charm for a couple other places.

#5 Outdoor Space

Last year I shared that I wanted to work on an outdoor space and listed two possibilities. I didn’t manage to finish either of them but I did make some lovely progress on my front porch.

I spent a lot of time outside in my yard this year since that was one of the only things a person could safely do! I worked extensively on my flower gardens and built raised garden beds and planted them all. I plan to build a few more raised beds each year until I get as many as I like.

I took an old crib and turned it into a lovely patio bench as well as purchasing 2 wooden rocking chairs which made a lovely spot to sit out and enjoy the weather.

I also installed a drip irrigation system in my front flowerbed to keep the sprinklers from always getting water all over my front patio.

I still want to apply a special concrete surfacing paint to the porch floor to cover the stains in the concrete and possibly add a couple outdoor rugs.

I also have plans to do some extensive work in the back of the house which has largely remained untouched so far and is in desperate need of some landscaping and cheering up.

I don’t really feel like I completely finished this project but I definitely did get it perhaps halfway.

Projects List For 2021

Here is what I plan to work on this year. Fingers crossed I actually get more of them finished this year than last year!

#1 Master Bedroom

I’d like to finish the things I didn’t get to last year.

• finish curtains
• finish furniture details
• chandelier
• decor items like throw pillows and a rug

#2 Master Bathroom

Last year I came up with some plans on what I’d like to do in my Master Bathroom since I was so envious of how the kid’s bathroom turned out.

I haven’t started working on it yet but I’m really excited to do so.

#3 Lighting

I definitely plan to continue replacing lighting around the house. There is literally not a single original light fixture in this house that I like as is. While I don’t plan to ever replace fixtures in places like under the stairs or in my closet, I do plan to replace every other one in the house over time.

That said, I may leave some of the original recessed lights even though I’d much prefer the newer, smaller style ones. However I don’t prefer patching ceilings and trying to make the texture blend in so I may leave the large recessed lights in the places that I want recessed lighting anyways.

#4 Kitchen Desk Nook

Can you see it?

I didn’t think so.

Tucked in just to the left of the pantry door, on the left of this photo, is a tiny little nook with a work surface and cabinet. It’s meant to be a miniscule office but to be honest it basically ends up being a catch-all for things that get cleared off the kitchen counters and tables.

There’s a reason I don’t usually take photos that show this space directly.

That said, with the lack of storage in this house, I do need some storage in this area to house office supplies, stationary, telephone books, address book, and the like.

I also have to have my router here so that needs to be planned for. Otherwise, I’d far rather have a piece of furniture and some open shelving. I’ve thought of possibly doing some sort of feature color or wallpaper or something in this nook to make it more of a statement.

I have been searching for a piece of furniture that will fit in this nook for some time now but can never find anything that will properly fit the space so I may have to build something myself and I do have some thoughts on that subject.

#5 Outdoor Space

The 5th and final project on this list is an outdoor space in my back yard. Really I’ve only maintained what was there when I moved in other than putting in a fire pit.

This is what it looked like originally when I first put in the fire pit. Not much has changed other than it looking even more bland if that’s possible.

I’d like to put gravel in place of the grass for much easier upkeep in the area just here along the back wall of the house and around the fire pit.

I need some outdoor furniture and I want to put in some bushes and perennials around the back yard since it’s basically just a blank canvas at the moment.

Some day I’d like to put a pergola or some sort of cover over the cement slab outside the patio doors.

So that’s my list for 2021. Just like before, whenever I complete one of these items I plan to publish a blog post to show you what I did.

Emily has also made a new list for 2021 so let’s pop over and see what she plans to work on this year. Just click on the photo below…

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