I dream of finished rooms like this one from Cove Interiors via Queensland Homes!
I have been imagining “finished” rooms for a long time, and today feels like a turning point — painters and contractors are finally in the house. Not for the kitchen yet, but they’re working on important areas: the living room, dining room, family room, office, Luke’s room and the staircase.
I’m grateful for any progress. These updates will meaningfully improve both the look and the livability of our home. If you prefer only the after photos, feel free to skip ahead when those are ready. But if you appreciate the process and the time it takes to get a house from one stage to the next, I’m glad you’re here to celebrate this milestone with me.
Most of all, I’m ready to say goodbye to the swine-and-hog tones that have lingered in many rooms. If you like those colors, that’s fine — they may suit your space — but they don’t bring me joy here. It’s time for a brighter, fresher palette.
See the swine ceiling? It’s time for it to go.
Our living room — the new daybed, a test-painted wall and the freshly painted fireplace.
When we bought this house it featured a patchwork of whites, tans, yellows and even a few reds, plus that mauve-leaning ceiling in the living room. Because I like to make a home feel like ours, painting these spaces is exciting. Fresh paint really makes a house feel personal and settled.
We decided the main rooms will be painted white — a bright but warm white that unifies the varied previous shades. We tested several neutrals, and given the abundant natural light in the house, this white was the clear choice: it enhances the rooms without making them look washed out or dingy. Living with colors and testing them over time really matters. We’ll also be installing new bamboo window shades, which will help finish the look in these rooms.
My office and Luke’s room will get different colors, and I’ll share those in separate posts soon.
Dining room — removing the doorbell niche, adding planking and painting the walls one consistent color.
In the dining room we’re covering the doorbell niche with a planked wall to create a cleaner look. My relocated office on the lower level will get a new wall and door so it becomes a true, functional room.
The lower-level family room already looks promising from certain angles — the white brick fireplace and a new chair set a fresh tone — but the surrounding swine-colored walls need to go. It will be great to have a clean slate in this space, too.
Next up: a new sofa that’s on order and, hopefully, new flooring in time. The far end of this room will house my new office; I’ll explain and show those changes in a dedicated post.
Soon we’ll turn our attention to the kitchen remodel. I’ve been eager to begin that project, but it’s thrilling that contractors are transforming so much of the rest of the house right now, allowing us to finally set up each space.
For those curious about the side yard project, that’s another long-running story, and there will be more progress updates and after photos to come.
Meanwhile, today I’m sharing at Proverbs31 about making room for what you love, including a giveaway — check out my post on that site for more details.