Our Top 5 Projects from This Past Year and Initial 2024 Project List

Happy new year! I don't make resolutions, but I do love a project list, so as we turn the page to a new year, it gives us a great chance to reflect on all we've accomplished and put some early plans together for what's to come. 2023 was quite the year of unexpected house projects and after re-reading our 2023 Project List blog from this time last year and seeing that one of our projects was to maybe "take down a wall in the basement" I'm going to be careful of what I say we "may" accomplish so we can limit unexpected massive unwanted projects! Here's our favorite 5 projects from 2023 and a quick look at what we've got planned this year.

Top 5 Projects from 2023

Even with the unexpected basement flood and rebuild, we accomplished a lot. It's hard to narrow down the list to five favorites, but here it is! It's New Years Eve so let's count 'em down.

5) Installing Abbey's Pretty Fandelier

We have officially changed out all the original clunky fans in the house but I've never loved a ceiling fan more than the fandelier that we put in Abbey's pretty pink room. It is the perfect blend of beauty and function. But mostly beauty. See more here: https://www.foreverhomefix.com/post/abbey-s-pretty-room-gets-a-pretty-new-fandelier

4) Painting the Granite Fireplace Surround

It was surprisingly easy to paint over the brown granite around our fireplace with chalk paint, and I'm impressed with how it's held up all year. Not a single scratch or peel. Paint is the cheapest way to make a big impact - makes this look much more clean and modern without having to replace the stone. Get the before and after here: https://www.foreverhomefix.com/post/painting-the-granite-fireplace-surround-and-hearth

3) Adding Solar Landscape Lighting to the Backyard and Patio

Cheap outdoor solar lights are making our top 5 for the second year in a row. I shouldn't be surprised by now how big of a difference lighting can make but I always am - and love what cheap solar lights can do. See how we lit it up here: https://www.foreverhomefix.com/post/solar-landscape-lighting-for-the-backyard-patio-and-plant-beds

2) Adding a Paver Walkway Along the Side of the House

Another simple project with big impact: adding pavers along the side of the house to connect the yard to the patio through the landscaping. This might have made the top 5 because it's finally starting to feel like winter outside and we're dreaming of our warm summer days, but it was a low-cost, high-style project that complements Zach's landscaping really well. See more here: https://www.foreverhomefix.com/post/creating-a-paver-walkway-while-cleaning-up-the-side-of-the-house-that-became-a-dumpster

1) Re-furnishing the Living Room

The fireplace was just the start of this year's living room transformation which was my favorite planned project of the year! Moving the TV above the fireplace, and refurnishing the room made this room finally feel just the way it was supposed to. See it all here: https://www.foreverhomefix.com/post/the-new-living-room-furniture-is-in

Ok I know what you're thinking... "but what about the basement!?" We've accomplished a ton in our post-flood rebuild, and are JUST ABOUT DONE. But we're rolling that project into new year so we can get count some early wins in 2024. See what I did there?

2024's Starting Project List

Here's what's on the punch list to start off the year.

• Finish the basement rebuild - workout room, man cave and bathroom

• Our primary bath shower floor has a crack in it which we unfortunately found out recently via water marks in the living room below. :( More water, more problems. We're not sure if we're going to simply replace the shower or take on a larger bathroom rehab. But it's a good thing we didn't get around to sprucing up that bathroom like I wanted to this year.

• We've decided to move our kitchen table down to the basement to use as a game table once it's finished, so we'll be replacing that.

• Paint the main level doors and the last little bit of wood on the windows - two carryover projects we didn't get around to this year.

• Keep pretending this is the year I'm going to paint the kitchen cabinets.

Let's just leave it there and see what the year brings! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!