My BIG DIY project list for 2020!

January 07, 2020

Hey hey! Let's talk about house projects for 2020, shall we? I'm always ready to getting back to cutting, nailing and (yes, even) painting about this time. I'm missing the creativity involved in do-it-yourself projects!

I like to share this list every year because it keeps me on task. Kind of. ;) You can see my list from last year here -- I accomplished most of what I had planned! This year I have a bigger list and I doubt I'll get to all of it, but it's fun to dream about the plans.

First up, I'd like to make some changes to our son's bathroom:
Boy bathroom dark vanity

This is only half of the room -- it's set up similarly to his old bathroom that I completely remodeled a few years ago. The original plan for this bathroom was two rooms (vanity in one, toilet and shower in the other, like the old house) and I modified it a bit and had them remove the door and just do a cased opening. 

I'm KICKING myself for not just having them make it one big room. That would have saved me a ton of work. But I quite enjoyed knocking down that wall years ago so...
How to knock down a wall

I'll just have to do it again. :) We have no need for a separated bathroom space since we only have one child at home. His bathroom here is smaller than the last one and this will go a LONG way to making it feel more spacious. 

I'll be back with the to do list on that project, but I'll be incorporating a few things from his old bathroom makeover


Modern farmhouse bathroom with tile and open vanity

Stay tuned for that update!

Next up -- finishing the master bedroom makeover! I hung the wallpaper and added trim last fall and then stopped because of the holiday mayhem: 
Affordable grasscloth wallpaper

How to hang peel and stick grasscloth wallpaper

I need to paint everything under the trim and may to a couple more projects as well. It seems like no big deal, but painting the walls and trim is going to take a good bit of time. 

I think it's going to be SO great when it's done!!

As long as I'm finishing that room, I may as well continue with our mud/laundry room combo. If you've read for awhile you know sometimes I'm a butterfly with projects, flitting from one to the next. Whichever is shinier. 

This side of the room looks great with the built in mud room bench and cubbies!: 
Shiplap wall mud room built ins

This side doesn't look too bad either -- but as I type this, that wall is painted half in the original color and half in the new color. It's looked like that for months. :) 
Black interior doors marble tile

I really need to at least finish painting the room. Maybe. 

My bigger plan for this space is doing something with the other side of the room! I'm SO excited about this because it will give us additional storage space for stuff we keep in the garage like extension cords, batteries, random stuff like that. 

We went with the basic "folding" table in here, without cabinets: 
How to hide cat litter in mud room

I later added the DIY skirt around the bottom to hide the kitty litter. But I've always wanted cabinets here -- more specifically DRAWERS -- for more storage. 

I have other plans for that wall as well, but the cabinets have to happen first. Before that, we have to figure out where we're moving the cat litter. ;) 

Next up, a project I've been talking about doing since soon after we moved in! I plan to replace those open shelves with skinny cabinets on either side with shelves in the middle: 
White kitchen light gray island

Maybe if I keep talking about it, it will happen. ;) Ha!! You can see the beautiful inspiration photo for that wall and more of my plans here. It's not a cheap project so I've been putting it off, but I know it will really finish off our kitchen beautifully! 

Another project I hope to complete this year that I've been thinking about forever is adding some kind of wall treatment to the walls on our open staircase:
Stairs with stained treads and hand rails, white risers and balusters

That wall to the right is a real focal point, but every time I think I know what I want to do, I change my mind. 

And when I do that wall I'm guessing I'll want to do it with the other two open walls as well: 
DIY long picture ledges

I don't want it to be too busy, especially if I decide to do all three walls. I'll probably have invest in a special ladder to get to the spots above the stairs. 

Finally, the biggest project! This one will be pricey so I don't expect to finish the whole thing (we do all projects with cash so they all depend on the budget). We had an awesome little basement kitchenette in our old house that we really loved:
Basement kitchenette in corner with wood wall

We are super fortunate to have a dedicated space (that is much bigger) in this house, but it will take a lot more work and money! 

Right now it's basically just a Lego station: 
Basement kitchenette before

(I didn't have this spot carpeted when we built because we knew we'd put down new flooring eventually.)

We have electrical done (some will have to be moved up to counter height) and the plumbing roughed in, so the hardest part is done! I would be thrilled if we could just get cabinets and flooring done this year to make it somewhat functional. I have fun plans for this space and can't wait to start working on it!!

Whew. That's it, no big deal right? Sure. I can't wait to get my hands dirty again! Any guesses on what I'll start working on first? Honestly I don't even know. 😂 Have you tackled any similar projects? 


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Comments

  1. Where on earth do you get your energy, lady??? I'm getting tired just reading this post! I have no doubt whatever you do it will look amazing...it always does!

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  2. So exciting! I can't wait to see what you bring to your house this year – it's gonna be huge! ❤️✨

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

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  3. Sometimes I read your plans and think "hmmm, I don't know about that one..." But you ALWAYS prove me wrong! Your instincts are spot-on and everything you tackle turns out fabulous! I would LOVE to see you your laundry room update first. We are doing a remodel and that "where to put the kitty litter" question is our problem, too. We're currently thinking about an a little opening into the garage, with the enclosed litter box actually out there. That way we could clean/change the box out there and have less mess inside? We're new-ish cat owners and I really hate the litter box! Seems like there's just no good place for it.

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    Replies
    1. That's funny you mention that! I've thought of doing the same, but we have a utility sink hook up in the garage where I'd like to put it. I need to think about it more. :)

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  4. This is a really great idea–making a list and prioritizing it. Unfortunately, I get exhausted just reading yours. Mine would consist of "what to do quickly and cheaply so we can sell the house at a good price." Followed by "how to make the older house with good bones we're hopefully acquiring really cool, really fast, so I don't have to live withall that 70's decor very long." That's really exhausting. Maybe I'll just keep reading your blog and forget about doing anything.

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