I do these lists every year and there are certain items that crop up again and again and yet, somehow we never get to them. I reckon I’m completely unrealistic in what I think we can accomplish in a single year but that never dampens my enthusiasm come January when I’m geared up at the prospect of a whole YEAR to work on our home.
So, this year, I’m not going to list out EVERYTHING that needs to be done (because, believe it or not, there is still plenty) but what I think will be reasonable for us to accomplish! Of course, this year I’m going to be working from home which is a massive change from both of us working full time (and thus not home much during the week). However, most of the ‘big DIY jobs’ are things we do together – with Wayne leading the way in the heavy artillery stakes so while I can probably get a few things done myself, the really big stuff will still be fairly slow going!
Goal #1 – The Guest Bedroom/Office Remodel
This is a biggie but thankfully, both Wayne and I are really keen on getting stuck into this project this year. I’ll be giving you a little update on that one soon but suffice it to say, there is a LOT of work to be done before we get to the fun pretty parts of the project. At the moment, I’m working from the dining table and so I have notebooks and planners and all manner of bits and pieces that are pretty much just permanently hanging out in here. Not good. I need an office dammit. So we’ll be working to get it done and I’ll be lighting a very big fire under Wayne if it slows down at all!
Goal #2 – The Outside
As you know, I’m working with Original Style Tiles to give our front entrance a brand new look with Victorian Floor Tiles so hopefully that’ll be happening fairly soon.
Otherwise, Wayne is keen on replacing our tiny little shed with something a little bigger. Our storage area in the cellar is becoming a bit too full with tools and paint and DIY paraphernalia and having a larger outside storage area would really come in handy. The patio area will remain untouched of course but I’m thinking of a slightly different look for the outside right now anyway so it’ll give me a chance to flex a little garden design muscle out there once the weather warms up a bit.
Hopefully we’ll be able to also get the deck completed as well, adding a railing around the perimeter and getting the steps and paving stones down.
Goal #3 – Finishing Off The Man Cave
Speaking of the cellar, we’ve been doing some work down there (adding a radiator, a new wall mural and a door to the storage area) as well and I need to share that with you guys on here but there’s still plenty to be done with boxing in some pipes and wires, finishing the stairwell and making it look blog-able (is that a word? it should be) so I can share. But that’s definitely on the list.
Goal #4 – The Kitchen
And finally, the kitchen has been neglected a bit last year and there are still things I really want to do – replacing the countertops has been on my wishlist 3 years in a row now (make a decision already, woman!!) and dammit, this is the year it’s gonna happen. I also want to replace the extractor fan and the lighting in here and bring in a little more brass! I did add just a touch of brass the other day, however, so I’ll share that with you hopefully next week.
Other stuff!
As for this here little splodge of the internet I call Swoon Worthy, I have quite a few things planned! I want to showcase more simple DIY tutorials (ie., not of the ripping down ceiling variety) every month, create some really cool resources (I have one I’m itching to get started so more details on that one soon!), and start giving my subscribers something extra to look forward to rather than just an email notification that I’ve posted something new. I also have some other plans in the works that entails selling my art (I know, I know, another thing I’ve been talking about far too long). There are a few other things I have up my sleeve but I’ll reveal all when the time comes (oooh she’s sneaky).
Obviously, there are always a million other little things happening here so these won’t be the only things I’ll talk about this year but those are my big five!
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What kind of goals do you have for 2014? I’d love to hear!
Exciting plans, I have just had a new quartz worktop installed yesterday. It was a big expense and we have got some touching up to do but it makes the kitchen look brand new. Our plumber thought we had a totally new! I am really interested to see goal 2 completed. My big plan for the year is to knock down my freezing lean to bathroom and build a new bathroom. 2015 is not going to be cheap for me!
I have lived with my crappy laminate ones for so long, I don’t even notice them anymore but it needs to happen! No year is ever cheap for us either ;) LOL! Good luck with all your renovations! xxx
Hi Kimberley, loving the new look of your blog. We share a similar design aesthetic in that we both love colour! Good luck with all the projects, looking forward to seeing your finished projects. Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Oh we do indeed! Your blog is lovely! Thanks so much :D xxx
Ok, first…that office/guest room is going to be amazeballs! I love what is going on with that little glimpse :) I am so excited to follow along with your projects this year, I just know they will be so fab! Cheers to the weekend! xoxo
Thanks darling – I’ve made some *decisions* this week as well so more coming up on the design stuff soon :) Can’t wait to get stuck in! Happy Weekend! xxx
I love those Star Wars prints in the man cave! Could you tell me where you got them? xx
Hi Georgina,
They were from this Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JWCdesigns
Hope that helps!
Kimberly x
Beautiful new site Kimberley, I love all the colour, it looks amazing, have a wonderful 2015! x
Thank you so much Jeska! Happy new year my dear! xxx
Love your style!
Thank you so much! :D xxx
Your site re-design is beautiful!
xo julesinflats
Cheers lovely! So pleased you like it! xxx
Excited to see your progress with all these projects, especially the guest room which is going to be amazing!
One thing I’ve been meaning to say (don’t think I did, but apologies if I’m repeating myself) was with regards to worktop ideas…
We had our kitchen done nearly a year ago, and liked the idea of quartz worktops etc, but they’re just sooo expensive. In the end we fell in love with a walnut laminate. Typically it was one of the most expensive of their range of laminate, but nothing compared to the price of real wood, or even more expensive quartz or marble. I remember you saying at one point (while I was obsessively reading your whole blog!) that you missed the warmth of wood in your kitchen, so I thought this could be a good budget-friendly option. It was Artis Romantic Walnut, and it’s got a lovely matt feel – not plasticky and fake at all. It’s a good quality of laminate.
You can get an idea here, the pic that probably shows it best is of the tea/coffee station:
http://dinkidots.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/kitchen-transformation-part-2.html
Just an idea, though, you may be wanting to go down a completely different route, and you may also want to steer well clear of laminate!! I just thought it was worth mentioning.
Maria x
Ahh your kitchen looks lovely and yes, it certainly looks like the real deal! I think over time, I’ve decided against wood (real or otherwise) as I wanted something less rustic and more polished and I’m hoping with the addition of more brass & gold (my favs) this will sufficiently ‘warm up’ the scheme! But thank you – laminate has certainly come a very long way and it’s definitely one of my considerations :) xxx
Crept your advances so far today on Instagram for your home office and alls I’ll say is holy balls. You are my kind of designer! Getting in there like swimwear. It’s projects like your home office and the changes you want to make to your kitchen that make me so utterly jealous that you’re a homeowner and we’re piddly renters. Because I want to tear out ALL OF THE THINGS AND START OVER.
I can’t wait to see progress on your yard this year too. And of course we mustn’t forget man cave progress. I will be taking notes for a future man cave for husband. And I know all too well about making things blogable first. I have about 20 projects ‘almost’ finished, but they’re not yet blogable.
xx A
I lived in rentals for most of my adult life so trust me when I say I know the pain of not ‘owning’ the space and being able to make the big changes! But I suppose with that comes it’s own cons (DUST EVERYWHERE / CONSTANT UPHEAVAL / LIMITED BUDGETS) so while I’m really so very fortunate to own, it comes with it’s own issues lol But thanks darling, I always have so many things on the go, nothing seems to get finished! lol xxx
I can’t wait to see all of your progress and new designs :) my goal this year is to find and start decorating a little place of my own. I’m planning to go seriously dark with some of the walls, and have a lot of ideas involving artificial birds :) xxx