The post of this title does not even begin to cover the giant list of projects that we want to do to make this house our home. A few weeks ago, Josh and I set down one night and mapped out our room-by-room to do list. Before I start sharing completed and continuing projects with you, I wanted to share our giant to-do list so that you can get a sense of where we are coming from. 
This is our current brain dump of everything that we currently want to do, but as with all things, this list is in no way set in concrete. We've already changed our minds on a number of things, a number of times, and are taking projects one step at a time. And so, with the warning that this is very long, here is our new house giant to-do list!
- The Basement (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Organize/create laundry nook
• Complete storage set-up
• Organize storage set-up
• Replace curtain above dryer

- The Den (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Clear away clutter
• Remove lace curtains
• Set up couch
• Set up entertainment space
• Tear down wood paneling
• Sheetrock and plaster walls
• Sheetrock and plaster ceilings
• Paint stairs
• Runner down stairs
• Create mudroom entry area
• Fix/Replace door to the garage
• Paint/Replace door to backyard

- The Garage (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Organize shelves
• Organize paint
• Sell hutch
• Fix walls
• Paint walls
• Clean/Paint? floor

- The Kitchen (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Paint walls
• Hang art
• Make and hang curtain above sink
• Create storage space (possible peninsula?)
• Remove door to downstairs
• Change hardware on cabinets
• Paint trim
• Install a built-in microwave over the stove to create more counter space

(Phase 2: Down the road, we're hoping to change the countertops and add cabinet and counter space, replace the tile, close the door to the deck, and switch out and upgrade appliances, as well as knock down the wall between the dining room and the kitchen.)

- The Dining Room (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Rip up carpet
• Buy and hang new blinds
• Buy/make and hang curtains
• Create (find/buy) sideboard storage
• Sell dining room set left by previous owners
• Buy new dining room set
• Replace chandelier
• Hang art
• Paint walls

(Phase 2: Down the road, we're hoping to replace the window with slider doors out to the deck.)

- The Living Room (1% Complete) - 

To Do: 

• Rip up carpet
• Take down paneling
• Buy new couch
• Buy rug
• Buy coffee table
• Add built-ins around the fireplace
• Fill and organize/decorate built-ins
• Buy new tv
• Wall mount new tv
• Create and hang gallery wall
• Create entry zone
• Buy entry rug
• Buy small entry table or bench for next to closet
• Organize coat closet
• Hang new blinds
• Buy/make and hang curtains
• Paint trim
• Paint walls

- The Hallway (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Rip up carpet
• Paint walls
• Paint trim
• Hang art
• Change doorknobs

- The Bathroom (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Paint walls
• Paint trim and doors
• Paint vanity
• Replace mirror
• Replace lights
• Replace shower head
• Replace blinds
• Buy/make and hang curtain 

- The Master Bedroom (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Paint walls
• Paint trim
• Install closet doors
• Hang art
• Bring mirror into room
• Buy nightstand for Josh
• Buy nightstand for Sara
• Buy hamper
• Add light to closet
• Buy rug
• Replace hardware on Hemnes
• Replace blinds
• Buy/make curtains

- The Spare Room (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Office set-up
• Closet organization
• Bring loveseat into room
• Paint walls
• Paint trim
• Hang art
• Replace blinds
• Buy/make curtains

- The Guest Room (0% Complete) - 

To Do:

• Set up bed
• Paint walls
• Paint trim
• Set up dresser and bedside table
• Buy rug
• Hang art
• Replace blinds
• Buy/make curtains

- Backyard (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Plant flowers in pots
• Plant herbs on shed
• Grow grass
• Wash deck
• Stain deck
• Buy patio set

(Spring 2016: Garden!)

- Front Yard (0% Complete) -

To Do:

• Change front light
• Replace numbers
• Replace door knocker
• Replace door
• Hang hose
• Replace broken spigot handle
• Replace shrubs and front plants

And that's the list! Some things have already been done throughout the house - all carpet was ripped up and the floors were all refinished, but I left the floor refinishing off of the list because there are no pictures of it happening. The list isn't 100% complete, but as the house is a work in progress, so is this list and nothing is set in stone. There's no real order to anything above, but we're hoping to just tackle things bit by bit as we set up our home!

It's been 2 months and 19 days since we officially signed the papers and became homeowners! Hurray! We have long been dreaming of owning our own home - having a place to make our own and a home and yard to call our own. These photos were taken the day we moved in - some of them after the carpet demo had already started - but otherwise these pictures are as "original move-in condition" as we have outside of the listing pictures. The pictures of the living room are complete with some demo-sneak peeks!
It's a 3-bedroom, 1-bath tri-level split with an unfinished basement and a garage. It has a deck and fenced-in yard, and is the perfect home for us. This post is very photo-heavy, and we hope you love the space as much as we do! 
View of the Front 

Inside View from the Front Door


View of the Dining Room


View of Downstairs from the Fireplace



View of the Kitchen


View Up the Stairs/Hallway

View of the Master Bedroom (Left From Hall View)





View of Corner Bedroom (Straight Ahead from Hall View)




Guest Bedroom (Right from Hall View)



View from End of Hallway


Bathroom (Right from End of Hallway View Above)



View of the Den


View of the Basement

View of the Backyard (From Bathroom Window)

Wow! Like I said, so many photos! We love this house so much and are slowly, but surely, turning it into our home. On Friday, I'm going to do a list - Young House Love style - of all of the wonderful things we are doing / want to do to our home. There will definitely not be a dull moment as we work our way through projects!

Since I never finished showing you picture tours of our current apartment and now we're searching for a new one, I thought it would be best to finally finish showing you where we've called home for the past 11 months! While this apartment was absolutely wonderful to us as our first home together, some of it was not completely decorated - mainly our second bedroom, but some other areas as well. We also didn't hang curtains where we should have and learned quickly that Nash loved to eat pillows, so we couldn't keep them on the couch. Additionally, we have quite a few pictures and pieces of art that need to be hung, but once we decided to move, it didn't seem necessary to put them up now, so we'll do in our next home. And now, without further ado, here is a brief tour of our home.

First up, the master bedroom with closet and bathroom. In case you're wondering, yes, Nash was very helpful in the photographing of our apartment - you'll see him pop up in a few places. Josh and I do have a small collection of stuffed animals. I bought him one when we first started dating (a polar bear - not seen below - named Jack in honor of Lost) and since then, we've picked up a few more together.

     
Here are a few shots of our hallways - leading into the bedroom and the kitchen, to the living room, and from the second bedroom.

Our kitchen overlooks the living room and these are just a few shots. Our fridge is a huge mecca of information in our home - complete with wedding invites and save-the-dates, Nash's diploma's from obedience school, a calendar (dachshund, of course!) and the word magnets - Genius edition. For the record, we don't know what half of the words mean, but as far we're concerned, that makes them even more fun.


Here is our living room and dining "nook," the areas where we spend most of our time in the apartment. On most nights, you can find Josh and I sitting on the couch, computers in our laps, with Nash nestled between us. Or sometimes Nash will be running around in circles barking at us while we're trying to watch one of our DVR'd shows (True Blood, anyone?). When we move, I plan on darkening up the couch's legs (c/o John and Sherry @ Young House Love) and we'll likely be craigslisting our dining table (any takers?). Also, you'll notice that Nash blends in quite well with the couch and loves to use the edge to look out the window.


Finally, we have our guest bathroom and second bedroom below. Do you follow Nash on Twitter? If you do, you'll know his Twitter handle is @eatingbathmats. There's a reason for that, as evidenced below, and this is the second bathmat for this bathroom. The picture above the toilet is an upside down map (your eyes are not deceiving you) and I was given it when I left work from my last Outback Steakhouse in Colorado. It's a wonderful memento of Outback and Colorado. We didn't do too much to the second bedroom, but it did come in handy for football Sundays and being able to watch more than one game at a time. Well, it worked out for Josh. I usually spent this time crafting in the other room. That's what I call a win/win situation.


I am very much looking forward to our next apartment and creating a home there. Josh and I plan to take full advantage and hang pictures and curtains, paint where we can, and fully enjoy all of the space. I hope you liked the tour of our current home - I can't wait to show you our next one!