The past year has been a whirlwind of creativity, dedication, and countless trips to the home improvement store. Every single day was either spent fully immersed in a DIY project or meticulously planning the next one. It’s a wonderful feeling to finally take a moment, put down the paintbrush, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. This pause in the renovation marathon allows me to reflect on an incredible journey and share a significant milestone with all of you.
December 8th marked precisely one year since Ed and I realized a long-cherished dream: moving to live right along the picturesque shores of a vast, tranquil lake. This past year has been more than just a change of address; it has been an exhilarating adventure in transforming a house into a home that truly reflects our style, our spirit, and our passion for lakeside living. Through a continuous stream of DIY projects and thoughtful updates across many rooms, this house has truly blossomed into something special.
Indeed, it has become our sweet home. The satisfaction derived from pouring our hearts and hands into every corner of this dwelling is immeasurable. Each painted wall, every installed plank, and every repurposed piece tells a story of dedication and a shared vision for a serene, beautiful life by the water.
Looking back over the past twelve months, it’s astonishing to see just how much we’ve accomplished. This isn’t to say we didn’t take time to savor our new surroundings. Plenty of downtime was dedicated to embracing the water: swimming in its refreshing embrace, boating across its shimmering surface, and simply relaxing as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with an ever-changing spectacle. Every sunset by the lake is a unique masterpiece, and enjoying these natural shows has been an integral part of our lakeside dream.
As we gear up for an exciting roster of new projects planned for 2017, I wanted to take a moment to recap the significant transformations we’ve already completed. This “before and after” journey highlights our commitment to creating a space that feels utterly ours, blending function, style, and the undeniable charm of lake house living. Let’s revisit the changes that have already turned this property into our personal oasis.
The Evolution of Our Lakeside Haven: A Year of DIY Transformations
Our home renovation adventure began the very week we moved in. The first major undertaking was addressing the flooring in what would become my “studioffice”—a combined studio and office space. We had a supply of beautiful vinyl plank flooring from Floor & Decor, carefully transported from our previous home in Pennsylvania. This durable and stylish flooring was the perfect solution to replace the existing carpeting, immediately elevating the room’s aesthetic and practicality.
Installing these vinyl plank floors in the craft room, which now serves as my dynamic studioffice, made an immense difference. The transformation was palpable, enhancing both the look and feel of the space. The addition of a cozy area rug further softened the room, creating an inviting and inspiring environment for work and creativity.
This room also became the starting point for another significant aesthetic upgrade: painting all the dark, stained brown trim throughout the house. The initial brown trim, while traditional, felt heavy and dated. Our vision was to brighten and modernize the interiors, allowing the natural light and lake views to truly shine. The studioffice served as the ideal canvas for this transformative project.
The laborious but incredibly rewarding process of painting the trim white completely changed the atmosphere. The difference was astonishing. What was once a somber, somewhat enclosed space now feels open, airy, and infinitely more conducive to creative work. This simple yet impactful change set the tone for the rest of our home’s revitalization.
The fresh white trim created a much more inviting and pleasant place to work. This foundational change was crucial for achieving the light and bright aesthetic we desired for our lake house. For those looking to undertake a similar project, our detailed guide provides valuable insights:
- How to Paint Stained Wood Trim White
Bedroom Serenity and Custom Drapery
With the studioffice looking refreshed, our attention turned to the master bedroom. The goal was to create a sanctuary of calm and comfort. The existing decor was stripped away, making way for a tranquil palette. We opted for a soothing shade of soft blue, a color that evokes the peacefulness of the lake and sky, perfect for a restful retreat.
The soft blue walls transformed the master bedroom into a serene escape. Choosing the right paint color is an art, and our experience with selecting the perfect hue for our bedroom is detailed here:
- Choosing Bedroom Paint Colors
A crucial element of the master bedroom and other rooms with sliding glass doors was finding the perfect window treatments. Standard drapes simply weren’t wide enough to provide the desired coverage and aesthetic. This challenge sparked another DIY opportunity: creating custom, extra-wide white drapes. By cleverly sewing together pre-made drapery panels, we achieved the expansive width needed to elegantly frame the lake views and ensure privacy when desired.
This project, though time-consuming, was incredibly rewarding. It took several months to complete all the drapes for every room, but the effort was undoubtedly worth it. The result was exactly the custom look and functionality we envisioned, proving that with a little creativity, store-bought items can be transformed into bespoke pieces for a fraction of the cost. Our guide outlines the process:
- How to Make Custom Drapes Using Store Bought Curtain Panels
The impact of well-hung drapes is often underestimated. They not only control light and privacy but also add a layer of sophistication and warmth to a room. Achieving that perfectly tailored look involves more than just the drapes themselves; it’s also about how they are installed. We learned many tricks along the way, which we’ve gladly shared:
- Curtain and Drape Hanging Tips and Tricks
Foyer Transformation: Staircase and Hidden Storage
The foyer staircase was another area begging for a dramatic makeover. In its original state, it contributed to the darker, more traditional feel of the house, clashing with our evolving vision of a bright, modern lake home. Our goal was to lighten it up significantly while preserving its classic structure.
The staircase makeover involved a meticulous process of painting the balusters and risers a crisp white, while carefully re-staining the steps to a rich, warm tone. This combination dramatically brightened the foyer, creating a welcoming entrance that now harmonizes beautifully with the rest of the home’s aesthetic. The transformation breathed new life into the entire entranceway.
- Foyer Staircase Makeover
Beyond the aesthetic changes, Ed has already started on an exciting functional addition: creating a clever storage area beneath the stairs, complete with a hidden door. This ingenious solution will provide much-needed storage without disrupting the clean lines of the renovated staircase, embodying our philosophy of blending beauty with practicality.
Living Room Revitalization: Fireplace and Open Concept
The living room’s original brick wall and fireplace presented a significant design challenge. While brick can be charming, this particular flat brick wall felt heavy and lacked the contemporary appeal we desired for our lake house living space. A dramatic transformation was in order to turn it into a modern focal point.
This living room fireplace and the surrounding wall underwent a monumental change, one that truly reshaped the character of the space. The key to this transformation involved a creative repurposing project and the installation of modern materials.
The transformation was truly remarkable. We started with a dining room hutch top from our previous house, which no longer had a designated place. Instead of letting it go, we reimagined its purpose. We carefully removed the top section of the hutch, realizing its potential for a new life.
This beautifully crafted hutch top was ingeniously transformed into a custom floating mantel for our newly installed AirStone fireplace. The AirStone added texture and a sophisticated, modern rustic feel, while the repurposed mantel provided a unique touch of character and history. This blending of new and old elements created a truly unique focal point in the living room.
Completing the living room’s transformation were the striking vertical paneled walls. This design choice added architectural interest and a fresh, clean backdrop that beautifully complements the new fireplace and opens up the space. The combination of these elements created a living room that is both inviting and visually captivating, perfectly suited for our lakeside retreat.
Another monumental change that profoundly impacted the feel of our home was taking down the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. This decision was driven by a desire for an open-concept living space, allowing for better flow, increased natural light, and, crucially, an expanded view of the lake from both areas.
Ed masterfully handled the majority of the demolition work, meticulously removing the wall piece by piece. However, recognizing the structural importance of the wall, we wisely brought in a professional to install the necessary structural beam. This ensured the safety and integrity of our home while achieving our desired open layout.
We lived with the partially opened space for a period, allowing us to envision the full potential of the new layout. Now, we are thoroughly enjoying the benefits of a much larger, more cohesive space. The unobstructed views mean we get to admire the lake from both the kitchen and the living room, effectively doubling our connection to the stunning natural surroundings.
The Power of White Paint: Brightening Every Corner
Even amidst these larger-scale projects, the ubiquitous presence of a paintbrush and a bucket of white paint remained constant. My mission to transform all the dark brown trim in the house continued, extending to every door, window frame, and baseboard. This painstaking process, though repetitive, was essential for achieving the cohesive, bright, and modern aesthetic we desired. Even challenging elements like louvered doors succumbed to the power of white paint.
Painting louvered doors requires a specific technique to ensure even coverage and a smooth finish, and our experience led to a comprehensive guide:
- How to Paint Louvered Doors
Gallons upon gallons of white paint were meticulously applied, transforming every room from dull to dazzling. The effect was immediate and dramatic, infusing each space with a sense of freshness and expansiveness. This extensive painting project was foundational to establishing the bright and airy ambiance of our lake house.
To further enhance the brightness and modernity, even the ceiling fans, often overlooked, became targets for a coat of white paint. This seemingly minor detail made a surprisingly big difference, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the white ceilings and disappear into the updated decor. It’s an easy and budget-friendly way to update a dated fixture.
My simple method for updating these fixtures made the process much easier than anticipated:
- The Easy Way to Paint a Ceiling Fan
The Powder Room: A Small Space, Big Impact
Initially, updating the powder room wasn’t high on my immediate project list. However, Ed, ever the proactive DIYer, decided to take on this challenge, much to my delight. This small space presented an opportunity for a dramatic before-and-after, starting with bidding farewell to the dated green toilet.
With the green toilet gone, it was time to say goodbye to the dark brown elements and usher in a new era of light and brightness. The transformation was truly remarkable, turning a once-overlooked utility space into a charming and stylish powder room.
One of the most creative elements of the powder room makeover was the custom sink vanity. We ingeniously repurposed a sideboard, which I had previously used as a desk, by cutting a precise hole for a new sink. This not only saved us money but also added a unique, personalized touch to the space, demonstrating the power of creative reuse in home decor.
- How to Make a Sink Vanity from a Sideboard or Dresser
In this small but impactful space, I enthusiastically embraced the shiplap trend, adding horizontal planks to the walls. This popular design element brought a fresh, coastal-farmhouse vibe, perfectly suiting our lake house aesthetic and adding texture and character to the powder room.
The installation of horizontal planks on the walls was surprisingly straightforward, offering a high-impact design solution. Our guide details the easiest way to achieve this popular look:
- How To Install Horizontal Planks on Walls
We even extended the shiplap to create a distinctive focal wall, where none existed before, further enhancing the character and design coherence of the powder room. This thoughtful addition truly unified the space and underscored its fresh, new identity.
Functional Elegance: From Coat Closet to China Closet
One of my absolute favorite updates involved another clever repurposing project: transforming a standard coat closet into a beautiful and functional china closet. This innovative solution not only addressed a storage need but also added a touch of unexpected elegance to our dining area.
This transformation proved that even small, often utilitarian spaces can be reimagined to serve a more specialized and beautiful purpose. The result is a stunning display area for our china, adding charm and sophistication to our home. Here’s how we did it:
- How to Transform a Coat Closet into a Storage Closet
The Ongoing Kitchen Makeover: A 1970s Transformation
Our most ambitious and current project began in September: updating the decidedly 1970s kitchen with paint. This undertaking is massive, but the progress so far has been incredibly exciting, and I am absolutely thrilled with how it’s turning out. The vision is to transform a dated kitchen into a bright, modern, and highly functional space that complements the rest of our renovated home.
The kitchen makeover has been a journey of careful planning and execution. You can follow our progress and learn more about the specifics of this major renovation:
Kitchen Makeover Progress | Kitchen Makeover Cabinet Hardware
While painting a kitchen is a lot of work, especially with numerous cabinets, we are nearing completion. The methodical approach of tackling one section at a time has been key to managing this extensive project, ensuring quality and maintaining our sanity throughout the process.
We’ve diligently worked through each section, transforming the original dark, somewhat worn cabinets into a crisp, clean white. This systematic approach has allowed us to maintain functionality in the kitchen while the renovation is underway, minimizing disruption to our daily lives.
I am thrilled to report that the kitchen makeover is approximately 95% complete. The vision of a bright, modern, and functional kitchen is almost fully realized. For a deeper dive into the final stages and what’s next, check out our update:
Budget DIY Kitchen Makeover
I cannot wait to share the complete “AFTER” reveal of our stunning new kitchen with you all in January. It will truly showcase the dramatic transformation and the incredible impact of a budget-friendly DIY approach.
This past year has been an incredible journey of discovery, hard work, and immense satisfaction. I hope you’ve enjoyed this comprehensive look back at all the home updates and DIY projects we’ve completed in our lake house. Each project has brought us closer to our dream home, and we are excited for what the future holds for this beautiful lakeside retreat. There are always more projects, and many more stories to share.