New Year, New Grace, New Accomplishments

I know everyone is saying the same thing but it’s kind of hard to believe another new year has started. I think most of us STILL wish we could go back to what we knew before 2020 hit with a vengeance but alas that is not to be.

As you might know if you’ve followed me for very long, each New Year Emily and I share a post outlining some projects we hoped to accomplish throughout the year and let you know how we did with them. Then we choose 5 more projects that we want to work on in the New Year. Often a couple of the projects from the year before aren’t quite ready to be checked off the list and will make it back onto the list for more than the first year.

To check out last year’s list click HERE.

Master Bedroom

My bedroom has been on the list for at least the past 2 years. For whatever reason I never put it as a priority so it never gets finished by the end of each year. I need to change that.

This was my room back in 2019….

As you can see it hasn’t changed much! I have taken out the carpet and ALMOST finished putting down wood floors and I have gotten a headboard for my bed but other than that I still don’t have my curtains the way I want them, I think I will paint the walls again because even though they are gray, they show almost green in pictures which I don’t like. I also still need an area rug, more pillows, and definitely a chandelier!

Back onto the list it goes!

Master Bathroom

I honestly made great strides on my bathroom last year – I just didn’t quite finish it.

It began like every other year. The same white walls, the same ugly vanity light and the same basic builder grade everything.

But then?

Then board and batten showed up and then some wallpaper appears above the board and batten and on the wall behind the vanity.

Two new mirrors replaced the ugly flat builder grade mirror that always hung there.

A lovely brass light fixture appeared and everything started to look much better, especially after adding some towel hooks and painting another coat of paint on the board and batten – this time a bright white rather than a cream. It made all the difference in allowing me to like the wallpaper which was NOT the color as shown when I bought it online.

I came really close to being able to check this room off the list but since I still need some decor items, I want to lighten up the vanity a little and I still want to address the stained up old floor, it’s going to have to go back on the list for 2022.

Lighting

I’m sure you remember my ugly and very basic lighting throughout my home. Over time I had replaced the lighting in each of the kids rooms and in the kids bathroom but that’s about as far as I had gotten. I had added a chandelier to the dining room as well.

My kitchen and living room still sported ugly lights as did hallways, entryways, laundry rooms, master bedroom and bathroom – you get the point.

I replaced the front entry light with a darling little number that’s just dripping with crystals and I couldn’t love it more.

As you already saw my bathroom got a beautiful gold vanity light and is feeling very good.

Earlier this year I replaced 2 of my recessed kitchen lights with these lovely gold lanterns and…..

Last but certainly not least my living room got a lovely simple French chandelier.

It wasn’t easy saving up for all the lights I put in this year but it makes SUCH a difference in the feel of each space and I’m so very proud of the progress that I made this year. As with the other projects I didn’t get every light fixture replaced that I want to replace so it’s going back on the list again.

I still need a chandelier for my bedroom, a small chandelier for the powder room, a light for my laundry room and a light for the area between my living room and kitchen where I have my vintage breakfast table.

Desk Nook

You might remember this space from last years list. You may have not even realized it existed because it’s so plain and ugly and non-functional that I pretty much never showed it in pictures. Mostly the counter in this nook because a dumping place for anything someone didn’t want to deal with.

I am so happy to say that this space is completely finished! Totally done.

I put some scrap wood on the back wall, made open shelves with metal brackets and old table leaves and turned the wall cabinet into a freestanding piece of furniture! I now have so much fun styling this area and it’s very functional as well as pretty.

Bye bye ugly old desk nook!

Backyard Patio Space

This space had been getting uglier each year and was never used except by the dogs. I had been wanting to make a lovely seating area out here for years but never got around to it.

Or did I?

After days of hauling gravel from the front of the house around to this space, I had a seating area I could use and be proud of. Some new outdoor furniture and it was ready to entertain!

I’m sure I will add some perennials and things to this general area in the coming years but I am considering this space done as well!

It’s looking a little bit different these days but I’m looking forward to having my coffee out here again soon.

So that’s how I did last year. Not as well as perhaps I could have but I’m happy with the results. Two out of 5 projects completely done and major strides on the other 3.

Now for this years list!

1. Master Bedroom

Clearly this space still needs work. Curtains, finished flooring, area rugs, chandelier and more decor items to make it dreamy and romantic.

2. Master Bathroom

I still need to address the flooring, install crown molding and change up the vanity as well as add some decor touches.

3. Lighting

The area between my living room and kitchen as well as my laundry room, master bedroom and powder room all need lighting still.

4. Covered Outdoor Seating

One thing I learned after creating my lovely outdoor space last year and putting in the new comfy furniture out there is that there are a lot of birds who like to hang out in my large maple tree. Suffice it to say my cushions do not remain clean enough to sit on for long and I spent a lot of hours cleaning them and had to sit on towels over the cushions most of the time. I would like to create something to cover over the seating closest to the tree to prevent this.

5. Storage Pieces

I would really like to work on adding some large storage pieces in my very wide upstairs hallway. Since storage is almost non-existent in this house I have to make furniture do double duty. I would like to put in a large armoire for linens and some bookcases since most of the bedrooms are too small for bookcases but we like books a lot in this family!

Emily’s Project List For 2022

Now that we have all that settled, lets go over and see what Emily finished this year from her list and what she plans to try and tackle this coming year! Just click on the photo below.