- New Exterior Paint
- The Boys’ Bedroom
- Continue Sharing Home Maintenance Projects
- Actually share our future plans for an Addition
- Our exploration into becoming a vacation rental host
- Garden Posts
I love the color of our house, but I hate the paint job. It’s really fallen to pieces in the last few years, it’s chipping and very sun bleached on the south side. This time we’ll find a new painter and invest in quality paint like we did when we had the cabin painted. I’m excited for the refresh.
I’m making progress on the boys’ bedroom. Everything seems to be a slog these days but I think so much of that is organization. I’ve made a habit of becoming easily distracted and unfocused. I used to hang my hat on how I had everything under control and for awhile it’s felt like the opposite of that – exactly why the boys’ room is not done yet. In 2020 I am reclaiming old habits I have seem to have lost. Projects aren’t going to take as long as they have in the last year. The last time I updated you on the boys’ shared bedroom the kids and I had done a major clean out. Since then we have set up beds, and bedding, but there is still lots of special stuff to do to make the room feel good for them. They do seem to really enjoy sharing a bedroom, and we have no plans to split them up anytime soon (although the spare room is always available if that were to happen). I need to finish up wallpapering, lighting, find good bedside tables, paint the trim and repair the doors – they were some of the most damaged in the house when we moved in. Our organization system we created for them has been working for the most part though. There room is easy to clean and they enjoy hanging out in there even when they are not sleeping!
I’d like to dive into general home maintenance projects with you. We are 10 years in on home ownership the March, and I’ve been noticing that there are a lot of little things that need to be fixed up. Would you like to see tips and tricks for tiny home projects in the next year? I’m taulking caulk (see what I did there?) around the bathtub, repairing holes in the wall (how else do you get the sofa in the basement?), water damaged ceilings from having a tub too full and all those other things that pile up around the house.
Jeff and I have been chatting for over a year about an addition, it was a goal of mine to share something with you last year. I think I was frozen because nothing is set in stone when it comes to this project and I’m afraid that if I post something I will be committed to it. What I have failed to remember is that this blog isn’t about The After only, the process has always been part of the journey. Besides a sketchup rendering the ball has not been set in motion. Maybe this year we’ll talk to an architect or interview contractors to get a feel for prices compared to our budget. Would you like to hear more about that process?
We are seriously exploring the idea of investing in a short-term rental property (aka find a cabin in need of some TLC, fix it up, make some magic happen, and rent it out) in western Wisconsin. This is far off in the future but we have been doing tons of research and running numbers and I don’t see why I (or maybe even Jeff) couldn’t share some of our findings with you as we begin to explore this option for our future.
In the last two years I’ve learned that I am no longer enthused about doing monthly gardening updates. I still want to share though! I’d love it if you guys got involved and asked questions, or shared gardening blog post ideas that you would like me to cover this spring and summer.
- Basement Remodel
- Adding a small deck with new hot tub
- Gardening in the Northwoods
This was on the list for last year. We have been really analyzing our finances and it has become a priority for us to pay off our student loan debt. This put the basement remodel at the cabin on hold for 2019. I am not expecting to finish this project in 2020 but I am planning on finalizing a design and begin framing it in this summer. That would allow us to begin to use it more often as a bunk room and family/game room for the kids. It’s a long-game-strong-game sort of a deal. I do believe that my lofty goals that I set for myself last year gave me some paralysis when I began to realize I couldn’t deliver. There is no reason I can’t share my ideas and plans as they change without feeling like I ruined everything if the plans do change.
Something we dream of is adding a cedar hot tub off our deck at the cabin. We love hot tubs and we have such a great view of our lake from our deck that it seems silly not to put the two together.
Gardening in the northwoods of west wisco (zone 3) is soooo much harder than gardening here in the twin cities. The soil is terrible, sandy, loamy and rocky. I have learned from cabin neighbor, who has grown a beautiful garden in a short time that amending the soil is key. I’d like to share the process and hopefully the successes of it with you players this summer. I’ve also been creating trails and garden beds on the steep incline along the lake shore. My goal is to minimize any future erosion by adding some roots to the soil, while also creating some pretty landscaping at the cabin. I want to show you guys this year!
- 2 Blog Posts a Week! *
- Updating Sources & Links frequently
- Video Tours
This was on my goals for last year too and I failed miserably. I am so motivated to be better at sharing this year. I do really think the epicness of other friends and bloggers huge wonderful blog posts got in my head. I felt like if I didn’t have something amazing to offer you, that I just shouldn’t say anything. When I started blogging I talked the internets ear off about anything that entered my brain, there was a time where I was posting five (5!) times a week, I had no money to make incredible changes to my house, I was watching four kids and I still found time to write about stuff. I want that again, I want to just write without feeling that what I’m writing isn’t worthy of reading. I’ve already started by creating a editorial calendar! Can you believe that? I hope that planning post far into the future will help me see the bigger picture, the story, the journey, the sharing and the community.
*At least 1 post a week during the summer
I did create more comprehensive archives and sources in last year (House | Cabin). I often try and link to archived posts in the footer of my posts so you can go back and see the process if you are new here or would like to revisit. I have also updated the house tour and all the sources. I gotta stay on top of that in 2020!
I want to share a video tour of our home, garden and cabin this year. I enjoy the process of editing and I’d like to share the entire space with you guys.
- Finding Balance
- Have Gus enjoy a School Free Summer
Once upon a time I walked every day for an entire year. I looked and felt great. Around the same time I also spent some time struggling with anxiety and depression. I started medication in 2015, and for me it made me less anxious and depressed but it caused me to feel really blah. Not excited, or motivated and not down or depressed either, just meh. I knew that taking meds was the best for me, because I had seen the other side. After starting meds, I felt for a long time like I lost a little of something – which I think was probably obsessiveness reinforced by an anxious personality. I think why I was successful at a lot of things, because I was obsessed. I’d like to find a balance between the two. I want to do the things that I was doing before, like exercising and feeling passionate about blogging, design and DIY, but I want to allow myself the room to take a break, or reset my mind. I feel like I’m finally starting to feel like that balance is possible and is a thing in my life!
As a kid on the Autism spectrum, our youngest has spent more time in school and therapy than most kids his age. He was diagnosed when he was 3 and since then has always had full-year school years, whether it be therapy five times a week, preschool, school, summer school or tutoring. I want for him to have the summer of his 9th birthday to be carefree. I want him to read books in the hammock, sleep in late, hang out with friends, spend long weekends at the cabin and be a kid without academic restrictions. He has begun reading in the last few months which was huge for us, he is now in his homeroom classroom nearly full time. This journey is not over, it’s been hard and happy and joyful and sad. I think a summer off for the kid is well deserved.
Now let’s take a second and review what happened in 2019. We had a great year!! As a family we went on a big trip to Europe in October, we spent most of August at the cabin, and we had tons of good and funny times with friends in family. There was tons of stuff that happened around our Wisconsin Cabin and Minneapolis home too. Here are a few of my favorite highlights from 2019!
P.S. We set aside the old sofa and chairs and plan on giving them a new life in the kid zone in the basement of the cabin.
Thanks again to all of you who have followed a long over the years, and welcome to all the new faces around here and IG. I’m so glad you found me. I hope together we all have an amazing 2020 and a great start to the new decade.
Kudos on the goals and all the amazing projects you completed last year!!! I enjoy following along with your house adventures – you’re one of the few blogs I still check in on a regular basis :) happy 2020!
Thanks, Amy! I am so glad that there is something here that makes you want to come back. Have a great 2020!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love your esthetic!!!!!! I’ve pretty much pinned all your pictures to my dream home board (yes, I will shamelessly steal your house’s look!). As for discussing just far off future plans, I vote yes. I love seeing the process of thinking up future house plans, and you can get feedback from your readers if they’ve experienced a challenge you’re facing. I mean, I didn’t even know your cabin had a basement! How much potential! Happy new year and looking forward to this year’s posts
Steal away! That’s the whole point. I’m glad that what I’ve got going on here can inspire you :)
Yes! I love the idea of the “future plans” being a place for discussion. I’ve learned so much from the comments of other’s blog posts. I would hope that it would have the added benefit of conversation and community.
Yes, the cabin has a basement and it’s a total mess – but it is clean and dry. Can’t wait to share more!
Exciting plans for 2020! I look forward to read about the addition plan you have.And yes, I’ll be interested about a recap from your trip :)
Happy 2020! And congratulation for your bloganniversary!
I often forget that I should post about my family life too. I’d be really thrilled to share some photos and info from our trip – it was so great! Happy New Year!
I do not often comment on blogs but I wanted to let you know that yours is one of my favorite. I love your style and I enjoy hearing about the mundane projects like regular home maintenance. While I read some blogs that always seem to have “big projects” in the works, I find myself less engaged in their content once they get to that level. As someone who only owns one house that is small and old, I enjoy having content that I can relate to. I also love seeing pictures of your garden and the inspiration since my husband and I have yet to focus on our backyard/outdoors yet.
Hi Lauren! I am with you. My favorite blogs were always the ones that were talking about it all. Just because that’s something I like, doesn’t mean it’s something that everyone still likes. I’ve definitely felt the shift from quick posts about the process to epic masterpieces about the reveal. As a one person operation, I don’t feel like I can quite keep up. I’d be happy to share more of the general stuff that I have learned/still figuring out about home ownership. Happy New Year!
As a Duluthian who loves the twin cities and Northern WI, I find a lot about your blog that I can relate to, even though your style is so different from mine. Keep posting, I love reading it. Lofty goals for 2020, and I can’t wait to see it all come to life!
I’m so glad I have something here for you even if we have different design aesthetics. That’s a great compliment. I love Duluth, btw!
This is great! So to your question “Would you like to see tips and tricks for tiny home projects in the next year?” The answer is YES! Particularly those tips and tricks relating to how you have to fix things when you live in an old house. But really anything.
Haha. I’m not sure if I can cover all the tips and tricks Ellen, but I’d be happy to keep you readers updated on the day-to-day maintenance that comes a long with home ownership. Cheers!
Just a quick note to say that I’ve loved your blog for a long time (reading the epic kitchen reno posts!) and your ability to execute on your vision with so much DIY has always blown me away. Keep sharing the before, during, and after. For the rest of us, planning a renovation is a years’ long process and major headaches and expenses along the way (all worth it hopefully though) … some bloggers make it look like you snap your fingers and the construction crew is there doing demo. That’s not most people’s reality! The thinking, planning, hiring process is so much of it – I look forward to reading about your take and experience. Thanks for taking us along on the journey!
Hey Caroline! I’d like to think I’m part of the “rest of you” when it comes to renovation. Although some folks have blogs that help fund for their projects, I am not one of them (although I’d like to change that slightly in 2020). I do think that we all like that “HGTV reveal moment” when you get to see the final product; howevs, I still like the “This Old House” version where you get to watch the whole thing come together over an entire season. I’d rather be on the TOH end of the scale :) . Thanks for the comment, and Happy New Year!
Of all the year end wrap ups and new year goal posts I’ve read, this is absolutely my favorite. It is so encouraging and helpful to hear you process the personal aspects as well as the physical projects of the blog.
All of your proposed content sounds great. I would especially be interested in maintenance, addition planning, and basement planning posts. We live in an old home and sometimes it seems like there is a lot of maintenance that we can’t find much good information on. The addition planning would just be fascinating. I am still in awe of your basement renovation in your Twin Cities home, and would love to see any and all planning and solutions to basement stuff at the cabin. I’m not sure if our basement could ever be usable living space, but if it could be it would take your level of planning and problem solving, and I would love to follow along every step of the way!
Also, what a great job you’re doing as a mother and as an individual. I hope you find balance and your son can enjoy his summer in a different way this year. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Danielle, Thank you, that means a lot! I’m so excited that you’re excited about the basement project. Learning and using Sketchup has helped me so much with my planning skills. If that’s your sort of thing, I would highly recommend playing around with it to see if it could be a good tool for you. I learned how to use the program on youtube :) .
A few years ago, I bought my first house- a 1900 Victorianish fixer upper. I had no idea how to do anything, and found your blog in a google search for paint that paired well with unpainted trim. I shamelessly stole your exact living room color (the former teal one). Your style really freed me up from feeling like I needed traditional furniture in my traditional house. Happy New Year!
Liz! I felt the same as you when we had bought our house, I couldn’t find inspiration anywhere. For awhile I had worried that we had made a bad decision purchasing an old home. Then I found blogs like doorsixteen.com and I felt inspired. I realized it was possible to have one foot in a modern world while the other foot was smack in the middle of an in an old house. I’m glad I was able to do that for you. That teal is a great color, so glad it worked for you!
Started following you in 2019 and have loved seeing your home and cabin! My family is from Wisconsin (I was born in Milwaukee) but I’ve lived in Southern California since I was little. WI/MN seems like a world away sometimes! I love the character and heart in old homes. CA seems to be filled with ultra modern condos or beige tract houses.
Not sure if you know her/follow her, but I love @elisejoy’s conversations on goal setting. I read her book Big Dreams, Daily Joy right before the new year and she sent out a few newsletters on reflection and goal setting. And, most importantly, pivoting your goals to make them work for you in the present, rather than trying to constrict yourself to goals your past-self set. Its been really helpful (although it’s only day 10 of 2020…) to remember that I can set goals, work towards goals, change goals. And I hope you share your goal progress! I love seeing the process, not just the after. :)
Happy belated New Year!
Hi Stephanie! So glad you found me. My husband is from Brookfield, WI – he was the one who really pushed for us to get a Wisco cabin because he’s always loved Wisconsin. I’ll for sure check out Elise Joy – I agree with you on goals – my goals are meant to be beacons, not static intentions. What I really want to do is strive for my goals, and wherever I land between here and there I’ll be happy knowing that I tried. Happy New Year!
Can’t wait to follow along in 2020!
Awesome!!!
Thank you for writing, I absolutely love to read what you’re up to! I’m a Minnesotan, too, with an older (1936) house in St. Paul and a tiny cabin in Southern MN. You have inspired both my basement renovation and my cabin re-do — I absolutely love your esthetic! My kids and husband now tease me that everything needs to be black and white with an accent of green.
Hey Michelle! Your family can tease you all they want, but it’s true. I love picking a formula and sticking with it – it makes everything cohesive and creates unity between spaces in our homes. So glad you like to read the blog! Happy New Year!
I love your blog. I have only seen it only twice but now subscribed. We live in a condo by the ocean in Miami Beach and in a cabin on a lake in the woods in Mn. I relate to your home and cabin! Just a comment on your son taking time off from school this summer, maybe the reason he is doing so well is the discipline and learning of the previous years? I am a granny with 5 older grand kids so don’t really understand different challenges. And you don’t need to know my kids’s issues. Can’t wait to read more.
Woah! That’s so great that you can spend your time between those two places. I hope I have a warm spot to get away to when I’m a granny. Thanks for your comment on Gus, they call what you’re talking about “regression.” I co-taught him with guidance from our tutor last summer, so I think that I could keep up a more relaxed academic agenda over the summer that still allowed for lots of fun and didn’t take him away from all the good habits and learning he’s achieved so far.
Yay! I’m excited for what 2020 has in store. You have so much good stuff to share with us and we want to see it all!
P.S. I love the old iMac and new iMac graphic. Those computers sure have changed with us!
Hey, Buddy! I’m glad that the imac graphic didn’t go unappreciated. It’s kinda like that one time I called my macbook pro a powerbook.
Love this recap, and yes to home maintenance posts!!
Awesome! I’ll do my best on those home maintenance posts :)
I can’t wait to follow along! <3
Great! I’m so excited to share!