Thanks to Lowe’s for their support in this home improvement project!
Last week something very exciting happened: we finally moved from dreaming about home improvements to actually making them happen.
After three years in this house, everyday wear and tear, life commitments, an older dog and a puppy, a few DIY missteps and the demands of starting a church meant some projects got put on the back burner. If you’ve been through seasons like that, you know the feeling—wanting things to be better but not having the time, budget or energy to tackle them all at once.
I’d been mulling over ideas for some time, and the prospect of making them real felt overwhelming. We don’t have unlimited resources, so patience and contentment have been necessary companions. Still, I kept dreaming. In January I wrote about my home dreams for the year, and to my delight, every single one of those dreams has either come true or is about to—just six months in.
One of the biggest priorities was replacing the worn and damaged carpet with Hickory hardwood floors. Initially I hid a paint stain with a seagrass rug, but over time the carpet went from simply unattractive to noticeably smelly thanks to Winston and Jack. Smelly carpet was no longer acceptable—this became a necessity.
We needed new flooring in our connected living and dining area, the family kitchen, the stairway, the hall and the master bedroom. When a job feels urgent but you’re not sure where to start, I head to the store to look around. In this case, a trip to Lowe’s turned out to be exactly what we needed.
Lowe’s sent their project manager Robert to assess the situation. He listened, answered questions and offered practical solutions. Soon the installers were at the house measuring and outlining the work. Knowing professionals would handle the installation meant this wouldn’t be a DIY disaster—just a quick, well-executed project. That relief was huge.
With the plan in place, the carpet will be removed soon and new hardwood installed in the coming weeks. I’m thrilled.
This is one of those projects where one improvement leads to another. I’ll share details about the floor selection, installation process and the specific rooms we’re updating. We’ll also tackle paint and a fun kitchen update that I’ll reveal in the coming weeks. The photos in this post show many of the areas we’ll be working on, and I’ll return to each space with more information as the work progresses.
I’m particularly excited about the master bedroom. Since we moved in three years ago, nothing has been done to it—privacy was solved with towels in the windows and life went on. That’s three years of towels and original, dated paint. Not ideal for someone who loves a pretty, fresh-smelling bedroom. That will change this week: new paint, carpet removal and soon, beautiful new floors. The master makeover is finally happening.
When Robert and the flooring installers came by, it was a chaotic scene at our house—my parents had dropped by unexpectedly and everyone was in pajamas, dogs included. I hadn’t had time to tidy up or put the dogs away, so the crew met the real, lived-in version of our home. It was slightly embarrassing, but it reminded me of a lesson I learned during a previous remodel: when contractors are working at your home, you accept the mess and treat them like part of the family—after all, they’ll get used to how your household really is.
Want a peek behind the scenes?
Take note of the kitchen in these pictures—this renovation will influence that space as well. Changes there will follow as one improvement leads to another.
That’s a typical day in our house—full of life, noise and a few surprises. I’ll be sharing updates as the floors go in and rooms get refreshed. Tomorrow I’ll post photos of the home office, which is finished enough to show.
So, what do you think? Some big transformations ahead, huh?
And I’m sure Jack will keep us highly entertained through it all.
Huge thanks to Lowe’s for working with me on this flooring installation project. I’m so excited!
For updates on the kitchen remodel and to follow the project, see the first post on the kitchen makeover.