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Decorating· Home Decor

Our First Home Tour

March 13, 2019

I’m here sharing our first home tour in the Willow House! I’ve always loved looking back on past home tours. It’s fun to see the progress that’s made and all the changes that happen year after year. This tour will be one we’ll really enjoy looking back on. We have so many projects in the works, and so many unfinished projects, but even through the chaos, we are loving living in this home. We love going through the house, piece by piece, making it ours and really putting our stamp on things. 

As we’ve been living in the house, we keep coming up with new ideas and plans for the future. And I’m sure it will change 100 times over, but actually living in the house always brings a different perspective on how we can improve the house and the space we’re given. We have so many projects… and I know there’s so many projects we haven’t even dreamed up yet! 

This tour is raw. I didn’t move a single thing. I walked around the house the other day while I was resting from my oral surgery and started taking pictures. As frustrating as it can be sometimes to be living through a remodel, it’s just as big of a blessing. We have a home. We have a roof over our head. We get to create and mold this house into a home… our home. 

Since I’ve taken these pictures we’ve already made even more progress. Here’s our kitchen, with the cabinets just barely installed, and some of our appliances in place. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

I have so many projects to share, but we were finally able to get our Ikea cabinets built and installed. We’ve been working on painting the doors and we’re still waiting on countertops. The kitchen not being finished has easily been the hardest thing to live with.

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

We’ve been budgeting out our monthly projects, so it will be fun to see what we accomplish each month. For March, we’ve budgeted out several interior doors. We can’t wait to replace the one in the dining room that goes to the garage.

Once we get the new doors installed, we can finish installing our baseboard and the trim. It’s such a small thing, but I’m really looking forward to it!

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

In the midst of all these projects, I’m enjoying dreaming up those new ideas that will really make this house feel special. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

One of our top projects over the next month or two, will be finishing the stairs. We have some beautiful oak treads that we’ll be installing, along with new risers. Like several other projects on the list, I’m really looking forward to seeing this one finished! As for the railing, we’ll be completely replacing it. It’s broken, wobbly and ugly. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

As for the office, well… it’s just a room full of boxes! We actually don’t have any office furniture, so it will be interesting to see where this room falls on the list as we start tackling different spaces. We’d both love a functioning office. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

The guest bedroom is currently full of clothes. One of our “priority projects”, is building/ installing the rails for the closets. None of them currently have any rails or shelves. When we were demo’ing the house, we removed everything that was existing. It was poorly installed and gross. Honestly, just having the closets usable will be huge… we’ll finally have a place for all of our clothes!

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

The master bedroom is a little bit better… but, it’s definitely just a temporary set up. We’ve since installed some towel racks in the bathroom, but we were using chairs, boxes and anything else that would work…

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

One project we were able to start before we moved in, was installing our Ikea Pax Wardrobes. The closet in the master bedroom left a lot to be desired, so installing these wardrobes was critical. Luckily, the bedroom had the perfect place for them. We still need to finish trimming them out, but they’re usable in the meantime. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

As for the master bathroom, well, we gutted it and left it at that. We’re hopeful to start on it later this year. Until then, it’s storage. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

I can say, we’ve made a pretty great amount of progress in the hall bathroom. There are plenty of projects left to finish, but it’s definitely usable and we love how everything has come together so far! I’ll be sharing more about this room soon.

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

As for the basement…. well, it’s pretty much a disaster. Since this picture was taken, we’ve added even more boxes and we’re hopeful to get them unpacked as soon as the cabinet doors are installed in the kitchen. Until then, it’s pretty much a wreck. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

I can’t wait to update the fireplace. I think about it daily, always creating a new plan of how we’ll do it. I haven’t decided on anything yet, but whatever we do will make for a great makeover!

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

We’ll also tackle these stairs the same time we do the others…

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

The laundry room is functional. That’s about all I can say right now. It’s a mess… but there’s so much potential. One project at a time…

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

Hopefully we’ll be ordering doors for all the cabinets soon. In the mean time, the large pantry cabinets are fully functional. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

And, since we don’t have a kitchen sink, we installed a utility sink in the old basement bathroom. It’s better than doing dishes in the bathroom sink or tub. Like I’ve mentioned before, this room will be the last one we finish.

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

There’s not a single organized space in the entire house… and it only gets worse in the garage. We have our hands full. 

Our First Home Home Tour by The Wood Grain Cottage

We’re planning on having a huge garage sale this spring once the weather warms up, and I’m considering selling some of my home decor in my online shop. We have 3 more storage units that are full… there’s just no reason to have that much stuff! I’ve made a promise to myself, and every single person who helped us move, that we will be downsizing. You reach a certain point where it’s all just overwhelming and too much.

Here’s to seeing what all we can get done… I’m looking forward to sharing my next home tour, whenever that may be, and seeing the progress we make!

 

 

I’m Shayna… The small town Colorado girl who’s obsessed with home and everything that entails! I’m a creative, a decorator, a day dreamer, a huge fan of scones and I’m passionate about loving where I live and making a home.

Tagged with: willow house17 Comments

Comments

  1. Ardith says

    March 13, 2019 at 5:26 PM

    Congratulations on your progress so far, Shayna. You both clearly have been working very hard and with a good plan in place. Thank you for sharing this honest look at settling into a work-in-progress home. You two deserve to be proud of what you’ve accomplished already. Cheers, Ardith

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    March 13, 2019 at 5:26 PM

    I’ve been wanting to post for awhile now, I’m so happy for you, new season, journey and love. I don’t know if you remember years back I’m the one who commented my family had a grain company, my Dad harvested grain here in Central California. I’ve followed you, I had went through a divorce, but it’s all ok I have two boys. Excited for your home, and remodeling! I’m doing it too! Decisions! Take care

    Reply
  3. Laura Nelson says

    March 13, 2019 at 5:55 PM

    I am new to the blog, and I love it! It is nice to know other people have homes that are in transition. I have been going through my belongings and have donated so much stuff. I am going through my late Mom’s house and there is so much to sort. I like the fact that your house is like mine. I don’t have great mouldings, hardwood floors or expansive rooms. You have a real house with real rooms that I can relate to. I live in a drywall, stucco box in the beautiful city of Palm Springs, and try to add character when I can. Can’t wait to see more of your new home!

    Reply
  4. Mary says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:01 PM

    Your “work” is starting to show! I know it feels so long away to have it all ‘organized and downsized’ but it to will happen! Pat yourselves on your backs for all the hard work you have done so far. Take care of yourselves
    in order to accomplish all that you want to do. Enjoy watching the progress, wish I lived closer to help carry
    some of the boxes for you. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jeanne says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:08 PM

    Thank you for showing us the “before” pics! Looking forward to watching you transform the space with your creative genius!

    Reply
  6. Cindy N. says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:16 PM

    You all are brave warriors! And you’re doing swell ~ thanks for sharing each project. Looking forward to all the Good Things to Come!

    Reply
  7. Barb says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:20 PM

    I think it’s beautiful! Yes, there’s stuff everywhere and yes everywhere you go you’re tripping over something that needs done. But you’re making it yours and that’s the difference between a house and a home. Plus it is so refreshing to see the reality of the process. It’s nice to see that we’re all in the same boat and not living in a picture perfect environment. Gives me the motivation to get my own projects done. Looking forward to the next few weeks and seeing how things progress.

    Reply
  8. Gwen says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:41 PM

    It’s being transformed!!! Wonderful!!! I think toss most of the decor. Create new spaces for this The Willow House! Even its name evokes new. This will be such a big home when you are done!! It will be a fun place for having friends over. I can see the basement as an added entertainment feature. Until the new, we love seeing all the progress! The progress thus far is the kind that takes so much time. It was as you said, gutted!!! So it’s great how much is done and now your visions will be unfolding!! Lots of future fun posts to come!!! Enjoy the process. Thank you for inviting us along.

    Reply
  9. EG says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:43 PM

    These are going to make the “after” pics even better!

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    March 13, 2019 at 6:55 PM

    I have a split level too and just can’t seem to get it together so looking forward to watching you do your home ❤️

    Reply
  11. Sue says

    March 13, 2019 at 7:26 PM

    You have to be happy with so much progress even knowing there is still so much more to get done. Looks like you have great ideas and plans to make your house a very cozy and inviting home.

    See you must also like Melaleuca.

    Reply
  12. Dianne says

    March 13, 2019 at 7:33 PM

    How fun!!! I know it is a lot of work now but once you get to a ‘functioning’ point (all plumbing working) it will become easier and more fun. Then you can focus on a room at a time. I know you have great. Ision amd it’s going to be awesome for you!!!!

    Reply
  13. Joey says

    March 14, 2019 at 10:58 AM

    It’s looking good! I’m looking forward to seeing it complete with all your creativity and beautiful touches! Could you tell me where you got the gray headboard in the master bedroom. I’m looking for one just like that! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Shayna says

      March 18, 2019 at 6:49 PM

      Thank you! We’re making progress! I actually made the gray headboard… and didn’t take any pictures of how I did it. I’m sorry!

      Reply
  14. Angie says

    March 14, 2019 at 2:11 PM

    Your first home inspired me so much! It is definitely in my top five all time favorites! I can’t wait to see what you do with this home! And it will all come with time. And I agree that it’s refreshing to see a real life home in the stage it’s currently in! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  15. elizabeth says

    March 16, 2019 at 1:49 PM

    Ahh yes! That’s what a house looks like when renovating! LOL! Well worth it when it’s done! Looking forward to seeing you more! 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Changes To Our Entry - The Wood Grain Cottage says:
    October 9, 2019 at 12:10 PM

    […] purchase a new piece of furniture specifically with the space in mind. If you remember from our very first home tour I shared, this is what the entry looked like up until a month […]

    Reply

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I’m Shayna… The small town Colorado girl who’s obsessed with home and everything that entails! I’m a creative, a decorator, a day dreamer, a huge fan of scones and I’m passionate about loving where I live and making a home.

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This past weekend we hit our 2021 house project go This past weekend we hit our 2021 house project goals HARD! With all the bedroom trim done (hallelujah!), we’ll be painting and installing closet doors next! 👏🏻  I always look forward to crossing projects off the list... and finishing our trim has been on there waaaay too long! 😵  #thewoodgraincottage #thewgc #houseremodel #kitchenshelves
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