I was amused as I was putting together my wish-list projects for this post because I know my eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to my home project ambitions.  I always overestimate my energy and underestimate the time and money it will take to complete a project.  I don’t know if I’ll ever learn my lesson in this area because I am an optimist.  I did leave some of the more expensive projects off the list, like new windows and bathroom renovations because it’s doubtful those will be a financial priority this year, but we’ll see.

Here are my hopes for 2025…

Paint the trim and doors along the back of the house and paint and install the shutters.  I planned on doing this last year when the weather was warm and we just never got around to it.  I even have the paint and the shutters sitting in the garage!  Now that the brick is cleaned and bushes are planted, it’s time to knock this off of the list.  Since it involves ladders and drilling into brick, I need Jeff’s help on it, so I have to work around his availability.

I am hopeful that we’ll be able to swing new windows for the back of the house, but that depends a lot on other financial priorities.  It will be so nice to have these windows upgraded, though!

Build a custom A/C surround.  I drew plans and bought the materials to do this last fall, but time also got away from us on this project.  We have a screen that partially hides the A/C unit, but we’d like to hide it a bit more.  I bought wood to build a frame and then we’ll use lattice panels and paint it all in oval room green to match the shutters.  I think it will look sharp while still allowing airflow.

Marshall is studying engineering at the local college, so he can now make details plans for me that will be nicer to share than my pencil sketches!

We did a lot of work on the landscaping last spring and summer and I am going to continue that this year.  A section of the front has been covered in plastic since last spring to (hopefully) smother the bishop’s weed, but I’m not 100% sure it’s going to be effective.  Either way, I’m going to pull up the plastic, level out the soil (it dips towards the porch at the moment), and start planting.  I’ll use other methods for weed control like cardboard, mulch, and good old hand pulling and digging.  I did that in other areas of the yard and it’s been pretty successful.  I plan to find a war of attrition and, hopefully, I’ll be able to declare victory at some point.

The shape of the garden in front of the porch is a little tricky, so I’m going to start drawing out a plan.  I know I want to use boxwood hedges to define the area and I’d like to plant some alliums, lavender, and liriope.  Beyond that, I’m not sure!

Adding trim to the primary bedroom.  Our bedroom was the first one we worked on when we moved in.  We stripped the wallpaper, removed the 50-year-old blue carpet, added hardwood floors, and painted the walls white to make them feel fresh.  I knew I would likely repaint it one day, but I didn’t know what I wanted, so white seemed like the best choice.  I’m now ready to add some architectural interest with trim, install the quarter-round along the baseboards, and make some intentional choices about the room.

I’m also going to bring in more pattern and fabrics.  I’m really excited about working on this room!

Finish removing the carpet glue and paint the basement walls.  I stalled out on the carpet glue removal once we got into the holidays, but I’ve started back up again, working on a section at a time.  Now that I’ve tried multiple methods, I have it down pat and we’re able to get a 4′ x 4′ section done in about 15-20 minutes.  If I work on it a few times each week, it’ll be done soon.  I almost said it’ll be done before I know it, but I don’t think I’m that lucky!  It’s tedious work, so I feel every bit of it.

I’m going to paint the walls in Light Blue by Farrow and Ball, which looks nice under the fluorescent lights.  And I am painting everything.  The trim, the wallpaper, the paneling, the built-ins.  I’m not going to worry about removing anything.  It’s a big space, so it will still take a lot of work!

Removing the guest room wallpaper.  The guest room and our bathroom are the last two rooms in the house still wearing old wallpaper.  I’ve wanted to tackle them for a while, but both are time-consuming, big projects, so I haven’t started.  There’s also purple paint under the wallpaper in the guest room, so the old woven paper is a much better option.

The majority of the wallpaper in the house has peeled off easily and the struggle has been removing the glue.  This wallpaper doesn’t peel right off, so it will be a slow process of steaming it off one wall at a time.  I have considered hiring it out and maybe we will.

It’s a great room, though, and I’m excited to put my stamp on it.  I already have wallpaper picked out!  (Yes, I’m going to hang wallpaper even though it’s been such a battle in this house.)

When we installed the shelves in the kitchen, it was at the tail end of our kitchen renovation and our kitchen renovation budget!  I wanted the display and storage space, but I needed to do it on a budget, so we used metal brackets and stair treads.  I think it works pretty well, but I would like to custom-build something to make it a real feature.  I hope to design, build, and install something this year.

There’s more, naturally, but I know I might not even get all of these things done while I’m painting daily, writing a book, working on health and balance, and everything else in life!  As I said, though, I’m an optimist…