*Let’s address that asterisk first.
This is not a complete rundown of The Homestead afters – in fact this is more of a “where we are in progress” post sharing just a few spaces. It’s been a labor of love to get to where we are and while there is still SO MUCH to do on that huge home list (which it’s time for an update!) but we’re making things happen one day/month/year at a time! Honestly it’s so good to have Eddie back home to help me with some of the bigger projects (hi new board and batten in the office coming soon!) and to enjoy all that I’ve done while he was away (military). Home really is where your people are, and my person is back home!
Before: I’m sharing the listing photo and then some “moving in” images that will give you a feel for the space. About 95% of the downstairs is slathered in a textured wallpaper that the previous owner painted over. I literally LOATHE it but it will be a big job that we plan to hire out (because I’m sure there will be drywall patching to be done) and for now It just isn’t on the top of the list.








Room Details:
- Wall Color – Again the walls are the textured wallpaper the previous owner painted over and after digging around in the garage *I THINK* the color is Agreeable Gray.
- Couch – IKEA Kivik & we bought these legs to raise it up.
- Rug – Lorena Canal Washable rug (yes, you can wash it and yes it’s amazing).
- Hutch – Was my grandmas
- Curtain Rods/Curtains – Double curtain rods both from IKEA, sheer curtains are IKEA that I can’t find a link to, the solid white ones are LEMA.
- Coffee Table – Target
- Shelf – Eddie built, head on over to this post for details
STILL TO DO
- Remove Wallpaper
- Paint walls
- Get a larger rug
Before: Again with the listing photo because you’ve just got to see what we were dealing with here. This dining room is honestly very small when it comes to sitting a crowd (which is my extended family) so I knew we had to re-think this room. This is the one room downstairs that was not (thankfully!) wallpapered so it was definitely getting painted! We added some cabinets to look more like built ins and plan to use this room as a chill dining room for family events and game nights, etc.






Room Details:
- Wall Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams
- Bookshelves – IKEA HAVSTA. We went with 2 glass uppers, open bottoms, and then a middle slide bottom.
- Curtains – are World Market that I fear are discontinued. If you google “watercolor floral world market curtain” some pop up that you can buy 2nd hand. I got them over 10 years ago so here are a few similar options: one, two, three.
STILL TO DO
- Build circular table (it’s very hard to find the right size table for this small space so Eddie is planning on building it).
- Get a rug.
- Replace the pendant light.
- Hang some art.
Before: That. Dang. Yellow. This room was actually THE ROOM that sold Eddie and I on the house. We actually never stepped a physical foot inside before purchasing (we did a virtual tour, you can read all about that here) but this room and the backyard/pond made us giddy. I saw the potential, big time and went a little ballsy with the paint color and I am SO GLAD I did! I also hated the terracotta floors at first but they have started to grow on me.





Room Details:
- You can see a full rundown of this room and ALL the details on this post. Trust me, it’s full of all the goods.
Before: Oh the mater bedroom. I still can’t get over those HEAVY thick curtain that just did nothing for this room. This photo made the space look so small but when I came in after buying it I was shocked at how large it was. It just needed some daylight to brighten it up!




Room Details:
- Wall Color – Again the walls are the textured wallpaper the previous owner painted over and after digging around in the garage *I THINK* the color is Agreeable Gray.
- Headboard – Husband built. Similar (one, two)
- Mirror & Bench – Homegoods
- Faux Fiddlefig – Some of my favorites (one, two)
- Wall Sconces – World Market ( i love them so much!)
- Rug – Same one as the sunroom, Indoor/outdoor Target (threshold)
- Curtains – IKEA LEMA
- Bamboo Shades – got them from our old house, but you can google to find any!
STILL TO DO
- Remove wallpaper & paint.
- I’m dreaming of a new headboard. I haven’t sold Eddie on it yet, but we shall see!
Before: This guest room. UGH. It was painted the same hideous yellow that THE ENTIRE upstairs was painted (minus the master bedroom) which means 3 bedrooms, a long hallway, and a full bath. It’s the type of yellow that makes your eyeballs sting and each time you test a paint color the yellow throws it off and makes it look wonky.




Room Details:
- You can see full room details all over this post.
- Wall Color – PPG Storm’s Coming This is my new favorite griege and I plan to use it throughout the house as we go along.
STILL TO DO
- Hang curtain rod (I’m thinking a black curtain rod).
- Get new curtains.
- Replace blinds with more of a pull down light blocking system.
- Update closet doors.
- Hang photos / wall art.
- Maybe get a rug for in here?
- Get a large plant for the corner between the night stand and the dresser.
- New quilt / duvet.
So there you have it! A small but mighty update on a few of our rooms we’ve given some love to. What’s crazy to me is most of this happened last year (2019) while Eddie was deployed and extended. I used the loneliness and free time to make a dent in the to do list.