This post has been a long time coming—three years to be exact. Our house is finally finished, or at least mostly finished. (Is a house ever completely done?)
There are still a few small projects left—our laundry room, a patch of flooring, and a handful of finishing touches—but I was so excited to pull out the before photos from when we first moved in back in December 2013. From the moment we unlocked the front door for the very first time, this blog began.
This process has been exciting, stressful, exhausting, and strangely like raising a little “baby.” We bought a suburban tract home for the square footage, knowing we could customize and improve it over time. Upgrades during the build were costly and often low quality, so we invested our time and energy instead.
For a fun twist, here’s an updated full before-and-after home tour with a little Christmas flair and a focus on budget-friendly, do-it-yourself transformations.
The Foyer — Before and After
When we first moved in we owned almost no furniture—just a crib and an old sofa. Robert had just launched his career, I was teaching high school, and our daughter was a spunky one-year-old. Money was tight, but we were determined to make this first house our own.
We furnished and transformed the foyer using Craigslist finds and a lot of elbow grease. It became a welcoming entryway that sets the tone for the rest of the home.
Read about our foyer DIY projects and source list on the blog.
The Hallway — Space-Saving Makeover
The hallway initially felt narrow and closed-in, but a $35 Craigslist bench and a simple board-and-batten detail opened the space visually and added dimension. Now it’s the spot where we kick off shoes and drop our bags when we come home.
See more about our Christmas entryway and hallway styling on the blog.
The Dining Room — Secondhand Charm on a Budget
The dining area was assembled entirely from secondhand finds for under $700. I transformed a thrifted black chandelier into a rope fixture using hot glue and a hula hoop, painted a flea-market china cabinet, refinished the table, and reupholstered estate-sale chairs with drop cloth canvas. The result is a cohesive, lived-in dining room with farmhouse character.
More about our Christmas dining room and budget-friendly DIYs is available on the blog.
The Kitchen — From Builder Brown to Bright White
I always wanted white cabinets to brighten what was a very dark, cramped kitchen. Our builder only offered a single brown cabinet option, so we took the route of a full DIY renovation. It required a lot of labor, but walking into the room now and knowing we did it ourselves feels incredibly rewarding.
Find the kitchen DIY breakdown, budget details, and paint colors on the blog.
The Living Room — Statement Fireplace and Details
The living room has undergone the most projects. We added a faux wood beam over a plain doorway to introduce architectural interest, and we installed a faux fireplace when the builder’s $5,000 gas option didn’t make sense for our climate and budget. Our DIY fireplace cost about $600 and makes a bold focal point.
Instead of the plank wall I once considered for the stairwell, I chose a gallery wall of thrifted frames and reworked a Craigslist buffet into a printer’s cabinet-style media console to fit our large TV.
See the cozy Christmas living room reveal and project notes on the blog.
The Playroom / Media Room — Built-In Function
Upstairs we transformed the playroom into a true family space with plenty of built-in storage, desks, and comfortable seating. It’s ideal for working at a desk while our daughter colors or plays nearby.
Read the playroom reveal for project details, budget breakdown, and paint colors on the blog.
Olivia’s Bedroom — A Growing Space
When Olivia moved from a crib to a big-girl bed, we gave her a feminine, flexible room that can evolve with her tastes. Much of the furniture came from thrift stores and consignment sales and was painted for a fresh look. We kept the palette mostly neutral so the room will adapt as she grows.
Because she loves to sing and dance, we added a ballet barre and a large mirror for daily twirls and dress-up fun.
Find the full bedroom makeover, budget details, and DIY projects on the blog.
Olivia’s Bathroom — Simple, High-Impact Changes
This bathroom transformation was mostly paint and a new mirror. Those small updates changed the feel of the countertops and flooring dramatically without a hefty budget.
See the complete bathroom makeover and budget breakdown on the blog.
The Office — Industrial and Personal
Robert’s office serves as a man cave and a display for his mementos from military service. We furnished the room with a Pottery Barn desk found on Craigslist and used garage shelving to create industrial-style bookcases.
Full office reveal and sources are detailed on the blog.
The Master Bathroom — Big Impact, Small Budget
We transformed the master bathroom for under $400 by painting the cabinets, replacing the mirror, framing the window, adding a plank wall behind the tub, and giving the shower door a black-steel window look. Small changes added up to a major upgrade.
See the master bathroom budget breakdown and DIY steps on the blog.
The Master Bedroom — Character and Comfort
Our master started as a blank white box. We added white planks for a focal wall and framed the windows to bring warmth and texture to the space. An antique dresser and a Duncan Phyfe chair—tweaked with new hardware and styling—helped the room feel collected and personal.
Full master bedroom reveal, project details, and sources are available on the blog.
Some days I still can’t believe how far we’ve come. More than the renovations and décor, I love that our home includes pieces of our past and meaningful treasures that make it truly ours.
This journey wasn’t about accumulating stuff. It was about growth, learning, and the confidence we gained from doing big projects ourselves. Our house taught us lessons about hard work, teamwork, problem solving, and humility. Over these three years we’ve learned to trust one another and to see potential where others might only see limits.
We are grateful every day for the lessons—and the memories—that began the moment we turned that front key. We look forward to many more projects, adventures, and lessons in this home and beyond.
