2019 Bayberry House Projects

Last week I posted a Q&A on my Instagram stories and received a lot of great ideas for blog post topics. One of the most requested was information on home projects I plan to complete this year.

I love this topic because I had not yet sat down and listed out projects I want to do in my home in 2019. While I have a mess of ideas in my head, I just hadn’t put pen to paper (or in this case, fingers to keyboard) until now.

As I compiled this list, I realized there’s so much I’d like to do. This list is a bit ambitious, and I realize that due to time and money, not all of these projects may come to fruition in 2019. Still, I figured it’s good to dream big.

I also included a few items at the end of this post that detail other things I’d like to tackle if funds and time permit. So, without further ado, these are my 2019 Bayberry House Projects!

KITCHEN RENOVATION:

Okay, this is the big one. And if I just complete this major project in 2019, I’ll be satisfied. In the next couple of weeks, I’d like to have a tentative timeline for this project. My hope is that work will begin by March.

Naturally, I will be sharing updates throughout the project. I intend to do a before post soon as well as a post that outlines my plans and shows the new layout. In a nutshell, the kitchen will be gutted. That means installing new flooring, cabinets, lighting, appliances, and windows, tearing out a portion of a wall, and making a lot of other changes. Yes, it’s a huge project.

As a result of the Kitchen Renovation …

Since the kitchen is connected to several other rooms on the first floor, I’ve decided to tackle a few more projects during the renovation. Some are necessary and some are just easier to do while things are already being disturbed. These projects include …

Powder Room Renovation

I currently have a full bathroom (with a shower) on the first floor. This will be converted into a smaller powder room and pantry.

Replace French Doors with Windows

I love my dining room, but it’s a dark space with only a set of French doors to the outside. The plan is to put in 2 or 3 new windows on one wall and replace the French doors. This will bring in a lot of light to the dining room and the adjacent kitchen.

Replace Entryway Floors and Refinish First Floor Hardwood Floors

I will be extending the wood floors from my living room, dining room, and family room into the entryway and kitchen. Currently, the entryway floor is slate, and although it doesn’t show in the photos, the slate is damaged, plus there is paint spatter and crumbling grout.

New hardwoods will be installed in the kitchen and entryway, and then all the hardwoods in the downstairs will be refinished to match.

This refinishing project will include the entryway stairs and banister leading to the second floor.

Replace Entryway Closet

During all of this, I also want to rip out the closet in the entryway to open up this area. I will still need storage space for coats, a vacuum cleaner, and a few small outdoor items, so I plan to install custom cabinetry down the road. It just makes sense to take the closet out now so new hardwood flooring can be installed there as well.

Well, that’s it for the kitchen remodel sub-projects. It wasn’t my intent to take on so much while redoing the kitchen, but given that the kitchen touches these areas, I don’t have much choice.

OTHER PROJECTS:

Create a Planting Garden

I had big plans last fall to put in a planting garden for vegetables. This sounds like a fairly simple project, but we have a sizable deer population in my neighborhood so creating a garden entails more than building a couple raised beds. Everything needs to be enclosed to protect the plants from being destroyed by the deer.

I was working with a landscape business that I had hoped could help bring my vision to life. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the work the company completed, so now I need to find another landscaper and start from the beginning.

Needless to say, I’m still trying to figure this one out. At the very least, I can create a small informal garden on my own and enclose it with nets, if needed. I would just love to be able to plant a few veggies!

Paint and Decorate Bedrooms and Office

In general, I’d like to get everything painted on my second floor and start decorating it. I haven’t done much in any of my bedrooms or my office, and it’s starting to drive me bananas. As may remember, I sold my last house complete with furnishings, so that means I don’t have beds, dressers, side tables, and the like. A blessing and a curse, I suppose.

What is holding me up is that I have bigger plans for these spaces: built-ins in the office and master bedroom, major bathroom remodels, and more. However, I don’t know when those things will happen. Therefore, I need to forge ahead in a smart way. At the very least, I want to get everything painted, pick out furnishings and curtains, and update light fixtures.

Fix Exterior Chimney

You may have noticed in some of the photos of my home’s exterior that there are problematic bricks. I’m not sure what’s going on, but a few bricks here and there (mostly on one of my chimneys) are crumbling away. I need to get this situation checked out and have the brickwork repaired and repainted.

Since new window openings are part of the kitchen remodel, I might need to repaint the brick portion of my house. However, I’m hoping a few touch ups will suffice for now until I’m ready to replace the siding.

Create a Molding Plan

Now I know this sounds totally strange, but I love interior moldings and want to figure out a plan for this house. I want everything to be consistent and coordinated, so I need to formulate a plan and select go-to moldings that I can use throughout the house.

My thoughts are that this will come together nicely when I do over the kitchen as a lot of molding decisions will need to be made there.

Landscape Project

As I mentioned in a post last week, I hope to tackle a small landscaping project every year. I haven’t decided which project I’m going to do this year, but first I need to find a new and fabulous landscaper so we can figure out something together.

I do know that a few more trees need to come down. This is usually expensive since the trees are quite tall, so I want to do a little every year to keep costs more manageable.

Other Possible Projects:
Replace Upstairs Windows
Upgrade Front Porch
Build Outdoor Storage Shed
Update Living Room Built-ins
Change Living Room Fireplace to Gas

And that’s it. Quite a list, right?

While I’m both excited and overwhelmed, I know many of these changes will help me feel more at home in Bayberry House. I’m also looking forward to sharing my adventure with all of you!

I hope you enjoyed this look at my plans for the new year, especially if you’re one of the folks who requested this information. If you have more questions, please let me know in the comments below.