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I almost stopped myself from writing this post.
You see, we’ve been in our 1990’s home almost 4 years, and we’ve been working on room makeovers almost constantly. When you are DIY’ers and on a budget, things move pretty slow.
I wanted to document the changes in one place, but as I scrolled through my collection of before and after images, I felt a tinge of shame creep in. Thoughts that said, “Whoa! What was I thinking?” or “Oh man. I used to think that image was great”. Or how about, “I’m so much better at styling and photography now, I better not resurface some of these images or I might loose followers.”
Seriously. I just thought all that.
For shame.
But then something inside of me shook off the demons from my shoulders, I sat up straight, and realized what I was seeing was called . . . growth.
And I realized, that probably a year from now, I might look back and think, “Whoa! What was I thinking?” or “Oh man. I used to think that image was great.”
And all I can hope is that I will remember that teeny tiny word, that holds ginormous possibilities.
Growth.
So, right now, I’d like to take you through the complete before and after of every space in our home which we’ve fixed up or made over. What I hope you will see is the slow growth, change, and refining of my style, skills, and abilities. What I hope you will take away is that we all start at the beginning and we all have the ability to grow. I am so very excited to see what more I can add to all this in the coming years, and where this blogging and home makeover adventure takes us.
Most importantly, thanks for being a part of it. I couldn’t do it without you!
(Feel free to click on the title of each room, to take you directly to the reveal post where I keep all the sources and details of each space makeover, plus get more pictures of each space).
I’ll begin with the most recent makeovers and work down from there.
Home Office Makeover
BEFORE
AFTER
French Cottage Bathroom Makeover
BEFORE
AFTER
Mailbox Makeover
Before
After
Deck Makeover
*The project where I learned that you should never neglect your outdoor spaces. We love to hang out and relax here!
Master Bathroom
*This is my happy place. The difference of the before and after is my favorite transformation, and this was probably the project that took the most work too!
Living Room
*This space was the first one we tackled after we moved in, because it is the main living area, and because it was so dark! It has undergone many changes and makeovers as I’ve tried to get it just right. I’m certain I’m not finished quite yet, but here it is today.
Master Bedroom
*Among all the bedrooms in the house, we waited last to do the master bedroom. BIG MISTAKE! Having this escape and enjoying your own space is a sanity savor.
Porch
*I don’t have a before for this space, but it was just bare before. I’ve enjoyed making it more welcoming through the seasons.
Kitchen
*The heart of the home, but the most expensive to fix up. We were stuck on this space for a loooong time! It’s the most challenging spot in the home for me because there is no direct natural light so it always feels dark. I did my best to lighten it up a bit!
Kitchen Office Space
*Here is where I sit and do all my behind the scenes work. I’d love a large office, but for now this space in the kitchen is working just fine.
Dining Room
*This space is awkward for me. My husband made a super large table that I love so much, but it is too big for the space. I can’t seem to part with it, but I still haven’t figured out how to love our dining room as much as I would like. But for now, it is still better than what it was! I have very limited images of it because I don’t really love it!
Entry Way
*It may be a small space, but I still have fun changing things around from time to time. My husbands custom made super slim entry table comes in pretty handy.
Mudroom
*Just off the garage, this place is the dumping ground. It’s a dark hole, but I needed it to be a lot more functional and pretty than it was. Yikes!
Closet into a Nursery
*This space makes everyone laugh, but it truly is working just fine! We turned our master bedroom closet into our son’s nursery when he was born, out of necessity. It was really a nightmare as a closet anyway. We only intended him to be there for at most a year. He is 2 1/2 now, and still in his little closet. Things need to change people!
Girls Shared Bedroom
*We needed to make the most of this small bedroom for 2 girls, and we managed to do that by building two small beds that lined up against the wall. It freed up a lot of playing space for them! It’s changed and adapted a bit as they’ve grown, and it’s just about ready for more changing. I’ll always think of it as the sweetest little girls room. These before images are sort of in-the-process images, but hopefully you get the idea.
Big Girl Bedroom
*This room was meant to be a formal living room. We were in need of another bedroom and not another living room, so it became my oldest daughters bedroom. It is small and cozy, but still one of my favorite spaces in the home.
That completes every space we’ve managed to refresh or fix up. You might think we must be done, but we have another bathroom that needs rescuing, and the bedroom situation definitely needs to be adjusted. We have a whole basement that has a large family room, craft room, sun room, bathroom and 2 bedrooms that we haven’t even touched (except to throw our junk in). Needless to say – there is still lots to be done!
But that is half the fun, right?
Thanks for taking the before and after tour of my house! I hope to keep adding on to it!
Did you see a favorite space above, or which space do you think had the best transformation?
I’d love to hear!
I love all the blue and white striped linens, especially the throw in the living room. Do you list sources?
Thanks!
Wow! Everything looks so perfect! You did a great job!
It’s all just beautiful. And beautifully photographed! All the rooms are that right balance of elegant and incredible attention to detail, but still feels homey and like a family lives there. The office is the best home makeover I have ever seen. Cheers! Leslie
I just loved what you did with your old home! So beautiful. Can’t wait to see the growth in the future. Thank you for sharing.
We are in the process of selling our family home of 19 years where we raised our three girls. We made major updates to put it on the market, most of them in line with your style, ie: painting maple cabinet white ,etc. Mostly DIY. It was hard work but brought us closer together as a couple. You were a great inspiration and resource. I thank you! I am excite about our new home where we start a new phase of our lives, it is very emotional to admit our girls are grown and gone and that part of our lives has passed. It was all so quick. Now a new young family will raise their children there. as it should be. The tasks of sorting out and letting go of all the accumulated stuff and decorating our new home seems overwhelming, I hope to create a space that still feels like “home” and is a place our daughter and their families visit often. I also want to get my family photos into albums so I look forward following your progress on that! Thanks again for all your help and inspiration!
I absolutely LOVE the after pictures. My home currently looks like your before and I have been wanting to lighten it up with lighter neutral colors, but we have forced air coal heat and I’m just worried everything will be black from the soot and dust in no time. its always been a problem, but I am so tired of all the dark in my house. You have done an amazing job. You can come decorate at my house anytime!!!
I really enjoyed your house tour- you have amazing creativity!!!
I adore your style and the work you’ve done! I am crazy about those blue and white dishes to the left of your sink. Where did you get the white glasses and the blue dishes?
Hi Danna! I got them from IKEA, but I don’t think they carry them any more 🙁
Your house is just amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. You are very clever! Love it!
Your home is gorgeous! Great job! Thanks for the reminder that it’s okay for DIY projects to take time and growth is part of the process.
Wow, what awesome transformations!! I love your style. I don’t know how I’m just discovering your blog! I also have 4 kids, 3 girls and a boy. The bedroom shuffling and clutter managing in small shared bedrooms is real!! I’m off to go measure my girls’ bedroom wall to see if I could make a similar bed setup work. I’ll be back, because I have a lot more to discover on your blog!!
I think you could be the next Joanna Gaines. Your style is right up my alley, so much of what I love as well. You are truly gifted in making a beautiful cozy home for your family. I just signed up on your site so I look forward to following you.
Love that I have discovered you!! I am so inspired by all that you have done with a young family to also care for!! May I ask if all your rooms are the same white and what brand and white you are using??!! Looking forward to following you in the future!!
Wow!! So, so impressed by all the work you put into each and every space! Well done! We are slooooowly transforming our 1991 tri-level home and there is always some work in progress. And then when you have touched every wall and room, its time to redo the first redo!
Best home tour I’ve ever seen hands down! I’ve been following u for a few years I believe and have enjoyed little “tidbits” 😉 here and there but this made me say “wow” out loud! My jaw dropped on your deck makeover. You guys should be so proud. Keep up the great work! Thanks again for sharing all your hard work!
The closet nursery is adorable! I love it. And the biggest transformation, I think, is the living room. I would never have guessed that is the same room! Great job with all of it. I just love you style. Thanks for sharing.
*your style* – sorry for the typo.
Thank you sweet Cecilia! Yes, the living room has come a long way. Hope you have a beautiful day!
Love your “new” house. Love it, love it, love it!!!!!
Thank you so much! We enjoy each room more and more.
Thanks for the before and afters! Love your style!
Thank you Linda! It’s always so fun to see the change.
Good Grief ” write”.
Wow, just wow! Every room is stunning.You are one talented girl. You should right a book. Seriously.
Sue. You are so sweet and encouraging. Maybe some day when my littles are all in school a book will come to life. That sounds like a good dream 😉
Oh my goodness that was fun! I need more ways to say WOW! Your visions and stick-to-it-ness amaze me. Your lack of clutter also amazes me. Thanks much for sharing your beautiful home. Well done!!!
Thank you sweet Sue! Wow is pretty flattering in my book 😉 I wish I could say it was always this clutter free, but I do have 4 children! I try my hardest to enjoy every second of them, clutter and all.
Absolutely beautiful !!!!! I especially am blown away by the Master Bath!!! Congratulations!!!!!!
Ah, yes. The master bath is my personal favorite! Thanks so much!
Love! Lucky you. Such talent and a handy husband.
Yep! Couldn’t do any of it without him! Thank you!
Incredible, absolutely incredible, Cami. You and your husband have made a truly lovely, comfortable home for your family. Cheers, Ardith
You are so sweet Ardith! Thank you! I really couldn’t do it without my husbands help. He is a great blessing. Cheers to you as well!
I think everything you’ve done looks spectacular!!! Makes me drool….
Thank you! The drool was a nice touch 😉 I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment. They always make me smile!
Wow! You sure have a lot of energy. I’ve kept up with each room, but I never saw the living room when it was navy. What a difference! Selfishly, my favorite is the bathroom because I won your guess on the tub? I was wondering if your son was still in the nursery. I don’t see how you’ve survived without your closet. Can’t wait to see what you do in the basement. Keep up the good work.
Ah, yes. My lucky winner! I do love that bathroom too, and babes definitely needs a new room. It’s in the plan ahead! If I can find the energy 😉
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I love how simple, clean, and yet lovely your updates made each room feel. I think the master bedroom was my favorite. I’m working on a flowy bedskirt like yours as we speak! ?
Beautiful! You have done a wonderful job!
Blessings, Candy
Soooo lovely! <3
Wow! That bathroom is amazing. Your husband is a rare jewel. Apparently, you work very well together to bring your ideas to life. Your color scheme is just beautiful. It’s bright and breezy, but you have somehow made it cozy too. All of your spaces are very, very welcoming. Great job!
The changes are Just stunning ! And thank you so much for “overcoming” your fears about showing the older photos – it was an encouragement to me . Now I’m going back through every picture and clicking through to see your sources and details…….I think I’m going to be looking for hours. It really is remarkable.
Hey girl I love your house! It is so pretty! The white really pops! So cool!
Hello Cami
your house is a real home ! I love it. You are gifted.
Can you come over to Belgium to help us with our home decorations ? :-))
What a sweet thing to say Marianne! And boy would I love to pop on by to Belgium! How fun would that be! Thanks for coming by.