It might seem like selling our house late last year would clear our project list, but if you thought that, you’d be delightfully mistaken! In fact, I made a similar assumption.
I genuinely believed that once we had officially sold our former home – which had been the primary source of my extensive project to-do list and countless delays – I would magically find ample time. My vision was to dive into the growing backlog of content that had been accumulating and sitting in various stages of editing since our baby arrived. My biggest error was assuming that time would simply materialize in easily manageable blocks, free from distractions. Oh, how wrong I was! In the months since we transitioned into our temporary living space while actively searching for our new home, none of that happened. Instead, I found myself immersed in new basement apartment projects and obsessively scouring real estate listings daily, leaving the content backlog to wait. And you know what? That’s perfectly fine!
And that’s precisely why I’m kicking off this year with a comprehensive post detailing all our plans for 2023. While it might sound cliché, it’s incredibly useful for me to lay everything out transparently. I believe in the power of “building in public.” By sharing my intentions and goals with you, even when I occasionally fall short, it motivates me to stay focused and continue setting new aspirations. We have a lot on our minds for the upcoming year, regardless of when we finally secure our next permanent home. And I’m excited to share some fresh updates on that front as well! So, here they are, our ambitious plans, and I can’t wait to bring these projects to life for you. Some are already nearing completion, so you can expect to see them on the blog much sooner than you anticipate. Let’s get started!
Our House and Project Goals for 2023
1. Find Our New Home and Make the Big Move!
This goal is undoubtedly the most prominent for those of you who followed our significant house sale and our ongoing search for a new dwelling. For new readers, we sold our Atlanta-area home in 2022 with plans to move several states away – an exhilarating yet challenging prospect for our family of three. After two extensive road trips back and forth, we’ve successfully narrowed our search to a single geographic area. This might not sound like monumental progress, but it’s a huge step for us! Our initial criteria involved finding a location within a two-hour radius of the coast, with convenient travel access to Richmond, VA, where my sister resides. The idea is for our son, Ellis, and his cousin to grow up together, fostering a strong family bond. This meant meticulously evaluating and crossing off numerous cities from our potential list, a task we accomplished in record time, exploring over 20 houses, neighborhoods, and realtors across the state. Many properties were “close, but not quite.” We were absolutely ruthless in trusting our instincts to say “yes” or “no” and swiftly move on from unsuitable options.
Here’s where we currently stand: We’ve completely fallen in love with an old city and its exquisite collection of historic homes. I’m genuinely thrilled at the prospect that, instead of merely
2. Share More Personal Updates
I’ve actually already completed writing the next post, which will be a more personal update from me to you. Since Ellis was born, I’ve been openly struggling to find my footing again, which I suppose isn’t entirely unusual. Adjusting to life as first-time parents is a significant transition for anyone, right? However, in my unique situation, being self-employed presented specific physical and mental challenges, especially after a difficult pregnancy. Both Ellis and I faced our own health challenges during this period. After some recent, significant revelations with my doctor, I truly feel like I’ve finally embarked on the path back to feeling more like “myself.” You can expect all the details in the very next post. Please note that it’s not intended as medical advice, but my sincere hope is that by sharing my story, it might bring a little peace and understanding to someone else out there experiencing similar struggles. You are not alone, and I truly see you. <3
3. Share Projects We Finished Before the Move
Our decision to sell our house last fall was quite swift, which meant I fell even further behind on editing new videos and blog posts for you. Two significant projects that come to mind are the robust and sturdy backyard garden beds, and the elegant window plant shelves in my office (which we quickly repurposed back into a dining room for showing purposes). It feels a bit surreal to edit these projects now, knowing that other people are enjoying them instead of us! Posts that include detailed plans typically require more time and effort from my end, as I prefer to release the blog post, video tutorial, and the plans all simultaneously. However, due to popular demand, folks have requested both sets of plans in advance, so they are already available on Spruc’d Market. You can expect to see more plans for complex builds over there this year. Additionally, free plans for simpler projects will be making their way to my library soon!
Beyond the plans-based projects, I also completed several non-plan related transformations. For instance, I outfitted our hollow core doors with elegant trim. It’s amazing how little effort it takes to elevate their appearance, and I’ll be sharing a tutorial on how you can achieve this too. Our primary bedroom walls also received a stunning makeover; the YouTube video is already available here, and I’m currently updating it with a detailed written tutorial and more photos. The kitchen enjoyed a charming update with a fun spice rack, which we had the pleasure of using for a mere five minutes before the house sold! And I’ve been meaning to circle back with the full garage door reveal, along with an in-depth discussion about working with tongue and groove boards. Rest assured, all these exciting posts are still on their way!
(acrylic spice rack here and spice jars here)
4. Share Our Basement Apartment Makeovers
After the sale of our house, we moved in with family, who generously offered us their vacant 600+ square foot basement. They essentially gave me free rein to tackle any DIY projects I desired, and I’ve taken full advantage! In just a few short months, I’ve installed brand-new flooring, meticulously decorated the walls, cleverly divided the open space into distinct “rooms,” and completed a custom build-out of a media wall in our living area. A major focus has been repurposing most of the old furniture I discovered in storage downstairs, which has kept these projects incredibly budget-friendly. As a result, you can look forward to three “converting an old bookcase” posts coming your way (yes, I managed to find and utilize three sets of bookcases!). It’s been a truly fun and creative challenge to transform this temporary space in ways that will still serve a purpose for my family after we move on. There’s even a tiny kitchen area in progress, complete with a stylish backsplash, perfect for inspiring renters or those in small living situations!
5. Ruby Progress: Restoring Our 1946 Spartan Manor
Our ongoing passion project, the 1946 Spartan Manor camper, affectionately known as Ruby, continues to demand our attention. Conveniently, Ruby is parked just outside the garage, which separates our basement apartment from the driveway, making access relatively easy. Last summer, we made significant strides in protecting her original frame from further wear and tear. Our immediate focus, before our big move, is to install the new subfloor. Depending on our relocation timeline, we also aim to tackle the installation of the plumbing and electrical systems. My husband, K, is primarily in charge of these more intricate technical aspects, and he’s been incredibly busy with his day job since our move. However, our renewed focus for spring is entirely on Ruby, so expect to see a lot more video updates on her restoration series on my YouTube channel. I would absolutely love it if you followed along with our journey to bring this vintage gem back to life!
6. Several Informative Video/Tutorials in the Works
For quite some time now, I’ve had a strong desire to compile a wealth of DIY basics, tips, and tricks into easily digestible, handy guides for my audience. Much like how I previously shared these essential drywall tips, the very first guide I’m actively working on is a comprehensive stain guide. Following that, you can expect tons more invaluable painting tips, detailed instructions on how to effectively use some of my absolute favorite tools, and explorations of different approaches to achieve the same project goals. My aim is to provide you with a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips. I’ve already curated a list of my favorite safety gear here, so these new resources will similarly involve products I genuinely rely on, alongside practical checklists and downloadable e-books that you can take with you. I’ve always firmly believed that DIY becomes far less intimidating the more you understand about it! This “in-between houses” stage feels like the perfect opportunity to dedicate time to these educational projects, as they aren’t tied to a specific room or property, making them universally helpful.
7. House Tours: A Peek Inside Inspiring Homes!
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been invited to tour stunning “showhouse” homes in the past, and for a brief moment, I actually thought I had lost all the precious footage! Thankfully, I’ve recovered it, and I’ve been diligently editing to get these exciting tours up on both my YouTube channel and the blog very soon. One of these tours was presented by a local magazine, offering an exclusive look, while the other was a special preview before the showhouse opened its doors to the general public. This means you’ll get to see some of the fun chaos and behind-the-scenes action involved in making these magnificent tours happen. It’s always such a joy and a huge source of inspiration to walk through these beautifully designed spaces! I almost always come away with at least two brand new ideas that I’m eager to implement in my own projects immediately. After these two tours are live, I’ll actively be on the lookout for more opportunities to bring you similar inspiring content in the future.
8. Perhaps Another Property? Our Investment Dream!
Selling our house last year unexpectedly opened up an incredible new opportunity: I might finally be in a position to invest in another small property. This is a dream K and I have shared for quite some time. I have a deep love for the inherent charm and character of old homes, and the area we are moving to boasts some genuine architectural gems. My vision is to actively save these homes from profit-driven flippers who, unfortunately, often prioritize cost-cutting by covering original hardwood floors with generic gray LVP. I’ve been profoundly inspired by friends like Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl (you can see a pic from “Saving Etta” below!), but my plan is to start small, steadily building my skills and confidence in renovation and restoration. Finding the right house will undoubtedly take time and patience, but we’re actively considering our starting point and the type of property that would be a perfect fit. Rest assured, I’ll be taking you along every single step of this exciting new venture!
Take a deep breath. Okay, I know that’s a lot of ambitious goals to pack into 365 days! But it also feels like a breath of fresh air, a much-needed breathing room. After several years of feeling like I was perpetually drowning in a backlog I’d never conquer, I’m finally starting to feel myself climbing out of a creative rut (you’ll get the full backstory in the very next post). I’ve felt more like “me” lately, and that renewed sense of self is truly invigorating. I don’t typically subscribe to the “word of the year” goal-setting trend (I’ve tried it, with rather meh results). However, I can deeply appreciate the act of striving to be just a little bit better than the day before. The fact that I’ve written more words in the last week than I have in quite a long time is a strong indication of this renewed focus and energy. I intend to capitalize on this surge of motivation for as long as I possibly can, bringing you more fun and engaging posts along the way. As I mentioned, the very next post will be a more personal update. Following that, we’ll dive into the details of those fantastic window shelves. Talk soon, friends!