Welcome! This is a tour of our first home, which we just recently sold (September 2015). This house is super special to us – my husband lived here since he was 3 years old and this is the house we brought our son home from the hospital to, and where he lived for the first 9 months of his life. It is bittersweet to sell but we are excited for what’s to come!

With that being said…welcome to my home! It’s full to the brim with DIY projects and budget finds. If you have any questions, please drop me a comment or an email and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

A fresh coat of paint on the siding and bright white trim makes the navy blue shutters and front door really pop! On a small house like this it’s a completely do-able DIY, too!

Exterior paint color: Steely Gray by Sherwin Williams. Door and Shutters: Naval by Sherwin Williams

Entry

A black and white photo of a couple wearing formal wear in a park, framed in black, next to a plant in a black pot

I would love to figure out how to make this space have a real function, but it’s just so narrow that I don’t think I can do a whole lot with it. Mind you, covering up that wonderful orange peel texture on the walls might be a project I should consider!

A hallway, leading towards a recessed area, with an outside door with glass panes on the top half

The huge brass contraption on the door is part of the security system we had installed. Not the most attractive, but provides peace of mind for me when my husband is traveling for work or we’re away on vacation.

Kitchen

>>> Before <<<

This is the kitchen that was original the house. It wasn’t the most functional, as some of the bottom cabinet doors didn’t even open. Plus, I couldn’t reach some of the higher ones! Yes, I’m incredibly short. With little storage and no style, we definitely needed an upgrade.

>>> Initial Makeover <<<

We painted the cabinets and removed the wallpaper for an instant upgrade. Aesthetically this room was slightly more pleasing, but the functionality still wasn’t there. Click here to read about how painted our cabinets.

A natural wooden table against a grey wall, with two place mats and two wooden chairs

>>> After <<<

We took the plunge and renovated our kitchen! (read: we were persuaded to accept a free consultation. Dang-it, that salesman was good…we signed on the dotted line almost immediately. Suckers you say? Yup!)

To keep the kitchen remodel affordable, we had most of the cabinets refaced, with some new ones custom-built to increase storage and functionality. Learn more about the whole process of kitchen cabinet refacing and our complete kitchen makeover here.

Wall color: Natural Gray by Behr Trim: Off-the-shelf Semi Gloss White

A dining nook in a kitchen with a countertop and yellow wicker chairs, counter-height, near a large window — New Barstools

Barstools: Target (no longer available but these are very similar)

A kitchen with a stainless steel stove and microwave, a white fridge and hardwood floors with a grey and white tiled backsplash

New Kitchen Lights

Kichler Mini Pendant

A close-up of the new cabinet doors with vertical wood paneling and silver hardware

My favorite DIY ever – Peel and Stick mosaic tile backsplash:

peel and stick backsplash tile | Wife in Progress

Living Room

>>> Before <<<

A flat screen television sitting on top of a dark, wooden table in front of a plain wall

A brick fireplace and wooden mantel with photo frames and various Halloween decor

>>> After<<<

This room was the ONLY room in the house not to have wallpaper when we moved in. We painted the walls Dove White and stained the trim work around the windows a rich java color. The fireplace got a little update and the front door was painted.

A living room, with large windows on the front and side, a large, light grey, sectional sofa, a light blue television stand and various artwork on the wall — Living Room

Walls: White Dove by Behr, Windows: “Java” stain by General Finishes

The chaise lounge portion of the sofa, near a 2-shelf book stand and a lamp with a green, glass base

Using a bookcase as an end table adds more functionality and storage to the room.

A living room with a green front door, wooden floors, two large windows, a long sofa set and wooden coffee table on a white rug

Front door: Mermaids Net by Behr. Learn how to paint your door with this tutorial.

A light grey sofa set in front of a large window, with a brick fireplace in the background

A brick fireplace with a silver mirror hung above, and various decor items on the wooden mantel

The fireplace was completely transformed from dirty old red brick and tile to whitewashed with gray tile. See the tutorial here.

The TV stand is Ikea and was painted with MMS Milk Paint. I also created a gallery wall from frames and prints that were lying around the house.

A trio of pillows in tan, blue and white, resting on a sofa, with a lamp with a green, glass base in the background

A close-up of the various patterns of the three decorative pillows in brown, blue and white

Greek Key & Zig Zag throw pillows available on Etsy [affiliate link]

Three throw pillows rest on a light grey sofa below a window

A large ball of rope, resting on a stack of books on an end table, in front of a lamp with a green, glass base

A wavy, blue, glass container holding decorative rattan balls on a coffee table

Dining Room

>>> Before <<<

This was the first room in the house that we tackled so unfortunately I don’t have a before picture. Just picture old-school patterned wallpaper and doors that matched the hardwood floor. The entire stairs was also all the same shade of stain.

>>> Initial Progress <<<

We’ve made some headway with the dining room but it’s still not a great room. It’s the darkest room in the house so we might possibly get french doors in the future. Our next purchase for this room will be a new table and chairs. We can’t complain too much about the current set because we got them for free!

A pale, wooden table with matching chairs in a dining room with a large, drum-shaped light fixture overhead, and a staircase in the background

A dining room table with wooden chairs, in front of a french door leading outside

>> After <<<

A table and tall, wicker chairs in a room with a large, green painting of birds on the wall and a gold cart of beverages nearby

Walls: Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore; Chairs: Amazon; Pendant Light: Amazon

The backs of the wicker chairs, with a white table underneath a drum-shaped lighting fixture

The DIY Board and Batten that we installed added a ton of value when he had our house appraised! See the full tutorial here.

A blue and white table with a brown table runner, two glass candle holders and a trio of little pumpkins

A dining room with a table, wicker chairs, wood floors and a large, square painting on the wall — Dining Room

A close-up of the brown runner, with the base of the glass candle holders and a few pumpkins

Bathroom

This is the first major renovation we did. We had contractors come in and fit a new bath (the old one starting leaking). We also had the tile professionally laid and the new sink mounted to the wall. The entire room was actually gutted and all new dry wall was hung. The bathroom is still tiny, but it’s my little sanctuary in the house and feels very spa-like and calming.

>>> Before <<<

A bathroom with faux marble glued halfway up the wall on the left, a recessed area on the right below a mirror and a window and bath tub in the background

We installed a new bathroom and tile surround as well as a curved shower curtain (there was just a tension rod there before)

In order to remove the plastic marble glued to the wall, all the dry wall needed to be replaced. The linoleum floor was removed and the wall with the recessed sink area and medicine cabinet was made flush.

A bathroom with the recessed area now covered and a vanity and sink installed

<<< After >>>

Boston Art Print: Etsy

A new bathroom sink with a dark cabinet and silver faucet

(picture taken before backsplash was installed)

Sink base and top: Ikea; Faucet: Home Depot; Candle: West Elm Glass tile backsplash: Lowes or online here

Strips of horizontal grey, white and beige tiles above a bathroom sink

A vase of large, white flowers resting on a rectangular, silver tray on the tank of the toilet

: Faux hydrangas: Pottery Barn; silver tray: Target

: Porcelain Tile Floor (Bambu Grigio Tile)

Master Bedroom

A bedroom with white and grey bedding, next to a beige nightstand — Master Bedroom

A bed with an upholstered headboard, white and grey bedding and numerous pillows, with a window in the background

A bedroom with sloping ceilings, a beige dresser and a small closet

A closet with white, paneled doors that open outward like french doors, instead of bifold, sliding doors

Click here to see how I transformed my builder grade bi-fold closet doors

and here to learn how to convert bi-fold doors to french doors!

A bedroom with a grey and white bed, artwork on the wall, a beige nightstand and a lamp with a grey shade

A large, floor-length silver mirror leaning against a light blue wall — DIY Floor Mirror

I made this floor mirror from a cheap $5 door mirror! Learn how to create your own floor mirror here.

Master Half-Bathroom

BEFORE

This was actually the first room we painted when we initially bought the house. I had never painted anything before, so I figured this was an inconspicuous spot to test my skills! I loved the paint color at the time (~~and still do~~) because it ties in with the beige veining on the floor tile, but it did’t match the grays and of the master bedroom.

A round, white sink on dark countertop, with old-fashioned, square, white tiles above and a recessed medicine cabinet

A bathroom with orange painted walls, silver hooks for towels, a recessed shelf for supplies and a sink and toilet nearby

<<< AFTER >>>

A sleek, new countertop with a new white sink, grey and white tile backsplash and light grey walls

A bathroom with sloping walls, painted in light colors, with grey and white tiles above the sink area

A dark countertop holding a decorative mirror, a jar of soap, and a tall, glass candle holder

For bathroom sources, please see the Master Bathroom Reveal

Nursery

A bedroom with a dark brown dresser/changing table combo, a grey pegboard with a large initial \'C\' in blue and a brown rocking chair nearby

A grey, upholstered rocking chair next to dark, wooden side table holding a lamp with a blue base and beige shade, and a stuffed owl toy

How to Refinish a Mid Century Modern (MCM) Dresser — Refinished Mid Century Dresser

rustic ikea hack shelves — IKEA Hack rustic shelves

A closet with one door open to reveal baby clothes hanging from a rack, a shelf above holding caps and a shelving system below holding grey baskets

For more pictures and a full list of sources, see Baby Boy’s Nursery Reveal

Guest Room

This is the old guest room that is now the nursery.

A bed with grey and white bedding, on wood floors with a striped rug, and various artwork on the walls — Placemat Pillows

Check out my placemat pillow tutorial click here

More about DIY Digital Abstract Artwork here

<<<New Guest Room >>>

A bed with a beige headboard and white bedding, holding a wooden tray and vase of flowers, with a bright, pink night stand nearby

A bed with a pillow with the words \'All You Need Is Love\" on white and grey bedding, and a wooden tray on top, holding a vase of flowers and a mug

A rectangular, wooden tray holding a tea cup, saucer, glass vase with flowers and a coffee press on a bed

A tan-colored accent pillow with the words \"All You Need is Love\"

A bed with white comforter, accent pillow, tray of coffee and two ottomans at the end with a red and cream pattern

See the full room reveal + painted nightstand tutorial here

Office

This office is now the new guest room!

Download my free map printable

Basement

>>>In Progress <<<

I don’t have a before pic, but the wood paneling on the wall was stained the same color as the old kitchen cabinets and there was no furniture down here.