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At the beginning of 2025, I shared a list of home projects we hoped to tackle throughout the year. Some were big, some were practical, and all were rooted in creating a home that functions better and feels more layered and intentional.
As the year wrapped up, I thought it would be helpful (and honest) to share where things actually landed – what we completed, what’s still in progress, and what quietly evolved along the way.
Because if you’re living in your home while improving it, you already know: progress rarely happens in a straight line.
Finished in 2025: The Projects That Came Together
Backyard & Front Yard: A Major Win This Year
One of the biggest accomplishments of 2025 was completing both our backyard and front yard projects – something that had been on our list for a long time. We hired a local landscape designer recommended by a family member. This was a huge job, that had we tried to do ourselves, probably would have taken us all year to complete. Plus, we needed someone with expertise in grading and drainage to help us reroute water away from our home.
- New patio in the backyard and retaining walls
- Fenced in the backyard for the dogs
- New furniture for backyard patio
- Sod laid for front, side and back yards.
- Front porch remodel that included a new walkway leading to a larger stoop and patio
These changes completely transformed how we use our outdoor spaces and made the house feel more finished from the outside in. Extending our living space in the warmer months and giving us more room to spread out and be together.
What’s next:
This coming year we’ll focus on planting flower beds and selecting furniture for the front patio so it feels just as intentional as the backyard.
Kitchen Refresh: Simple Updates, Big Impact
While the kitchen still needs to be remodeled, I was able to refresh the space in meaningful ways.
- Fresh coat of creamy white paint to update the gray walls
- Artwork and decorative plates hung
- Started work on breadboard backsplash
These small updates instantly made the kitchen feel lighter, warmer, and more personal – a reminder that not every upgrade has to be major to make a difference.
In Progress: Projects That Moved Forward (But Aren’t Finished Yet)
Family Room: So Close, Yet Still Evolving
The family room made good progress this year, but it’s not fully complete yet. I mean, is any space ever really complete?
- Final coat of paint still needs to be done
- Stair tread needs to be stained
- Baseboard trim needs finishing
- We did purchase and reupholster a second hand sofa that is BEAUTIFUL in the room.
- Furniture layout is pretty set but we still need to select side tables, an ottoman or coffee table, and maybe a console for additional storage
- I ordered picture lights for the built-ins and those need to be installed but I still need to add additional accent lighting
- I also need to figure out what I want to do for window treatments. I’m leaning towards roman shades and need to select a fabric and find a workroom that can create them.
This space is a reminder that a great paint color can do A LOT for a space and create a great foundation from which to build upon.
Storage & Organization: Slow but Practical Progress
Functional storage was high on our priority list, and while we weren’t able to start on the garage as we hoped, we were able to make a little progress.
- Preliminary basement organization started in the spring when we got a dumpster to clear out junk and any previous project scraps we couldn’t use.
- Not on our initial list but Mike started working on the interior of the shed. Adding tongue and groove to the walls so the space feels more finished. This allowed us to move tools currently in the garage and free up space for the reno to come.
These behind-the-scenes projects may not be glamorous, but they make everyday life easier and set us up when we are ready to remodel.
Upstairs Hallway: A partial Start and Maybe a Couple of Steps Back
The upstairs hallway didn’t get fully completed this year, and it also feels like we’ve gone a bit backwards.
- Mike started replacing our existing hollow core doors with solid wood ones. We installed 3 and have 2 more to go.
- We also upgraded the hardware on the newly installed doors using a set from Emtek in a French brass finish. Simple and elegant.
This is one of those projects that quickly snowballs once you start. When we replaced the doors, we had to remove the door frames and use the frames that came with the new doors. This threw off the spacing and alignment of the box moulding we had added to the walls a couple of years ago.
We’ll need to remove most of the moulding and reinstall so it lines up again. We also added a few additional boxes about the doorways.
We also figured out a plan to execute my favorite feature in this space – a hidden door for the linen closet. Mike built part of the base and purchased the hinges. We just need to work out the door and moulding placement once we fix the box moulding on the walls.
Upstairs Bathroom: Finishing Touches Still Needed
The upstairs bathroom is mostly there, but a few important elements are still missing.
- We need to update the window treatment and find fabric for a roman shade and a workroom to create it
- I want to introduce more pattern in the space to add an additional layer. I thought about and tested a stencil option but quickly decided the execution wouldn’t be right
- Select and hang artwork on the walls
- Select a new ceiling light
- Source a small antique furniture piece for additional storage
- Swap hardware on vanity
These final layers will help the space feel finished and intentional rather than purely functional.
Guest Bedroom: Planning Phase Complete, Execution Next
I made solid progress in the guest bedroom this year – just not the visible kind yet.
- The biggest hurdle was selecting the wallpaper for the walls. I finally honed in on what it was I wanted, look and feel.
- Next steps: Order wallpaper and get a quote to have it installed.
Once the wallpaper is installed, I’ll move on refining bedding, selecting a rug, and window treatments to complete the room.
What 2025 Taught Me About Home Projects
This year reinforced something I already knew, but needed to fully embrace.
A well-designed home is built in phases.
Some projects wrapped up beautifully. Others moved forward quietly. And a few reminded us that timelines shift – especially when life gets in the way and you’re living in the spaces while trying to improve them.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, the focus will be on:
- Completing unfinished interior spaces
- Adding garden layers outdoors
- Refining the color palette of each room so they flow effortlessly into one another and feel cohesive
If you’re working through a long list of home projects yourself, I hope this update shows that process doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing to be meaningful.
Save This For Later
If your enjoying home progress updates and traditional design inspiration, be sure to save this post on Pinterest so you can revisit it as you plan your own projects.
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