2023: The Year of Finishing Projects

I began writing this post from a very quiet rental house in Idaho. I was there with Andy’s family, including my in-laws, nieces, and nephews. It had been a few years since we had all been together, so it was wonderful to see everyone. My nieces and nephews are mostly grown now and have turned into remarkable people.

Taking quality time off was a welcome change after an intense 2022. Idaho was gorgeous, and it was refreshing to set aside the stress of house projects and spend time in nature–my happy place.

Andy and I were talking about 2022, and it’s hard to believe that it’s been an entire year since he left for Utah, and I stayed here in New York.

When I started this blog nine years ago, I never had an inkling that it would lead to the career that I have today. I’ve been a DIYer for a long time, but now I’m a writer here and elsewhere, podcast host, wood window restoration educator, and public speaker. These are titles I would never have given to myself before owning BHH. I love what I do and find my work so rewarding, and I’m grateful my career is portable too.

This house has changed my life in many ways, but after some much-needed rest, it’s time to wind down and finish what we started here.

So, my main focus this year will be completing a few large projects and wrapping up the last 10% on others.

Big Projects

The Staircase

Although I should be on the last 10% of the staircase restoration after more than two years, there’s still about 70% left to do. It’s been in a state of disrepair for so long that I hardly notice anymore.

The Big Bathroom

After the nightmarish guest bath remodel, it’s no surprise that I haven’t been too enthusiastic about doing another bathroom project. However, it is necessary before we put the house on the market. We significantly improved the big bathroom in 2018, but our bandaid fixes haven’t held up well enough to leave it alone.

The bathroom photographs well, but up close, it is a mess with inadequate storage for a family. Now that I have a great electrician, plumbing, and tiling team, this remodel should go much smoother. I’ve just been procrastinating ordering supplies and putting the final plan together.

Electrical Work

There is one more long run of electrical wiring upstairs to finish. However, I need to vacuum the attic before we begin. I promised my fantastic electrician I would clean up before he had to work up there again. Last year, it was so dusty, and I could tell he was uncomfortable. All of the debris is from the roof replacement in 2015. That is not a typo. What can I say? We don’t keep anything significant in the attic, so it’s a forgettable space.

The Upstairs Hall

The hall leading to the big bathroom and two bedrooms is another project I’ve been putting off for too long. It requires a ton of plaster repair work, and that’s not my favorite task. I’m still trying to come up with the most plaster-friendly coating too. Right now, I’m leaning toward wallpaper. I’m also considering covering the cracked plaster ceilings with 1/4′ drywall, but I’ll attempt to repair it first and course-correct if necessary.

Downsizing & Decluttering

Andy and I don’t know much about our next house, but we know it will be smaller. Fortunately, I am a near-constant declutterer, but the fact is, we can’t take all of our stuff with us when we go. We’ve got four kids’ worth of belongings, plus a whole lot of furniture, decor, tools, and supplies we’ve acquired for BHH. It’s…a lot. Nevertheless, I look forward to whittling it down to a manageable and usable level.

The Last 10%

The Street Side Front Porch

It’s come a long way, baby, but there are some details I’ve been ignoring.

Just out of view, there are a couple of missing boards, some pillar rot, and a bent floorboard.

Four years later, the left side of the porch remains unfinished, and a few stair treads are rotten. In addition, the metal handrail attachments have rusted, and the whole thing isn’t entirely safe anymore. I want to replace the stair treads and handrails with cumaru to match the porch floor. Then, I’ll enclose the side with tongue and groove.

Windows Windows Windows

My workshop is full of bits and parts and unfinished windows. There are also little tweaks to make on some windows upstairs; I just need to buckle down and get to work.

Touch-up Painting & Minor Repairs

Throughout BHH, there are signs that we enjoy living here and sometimes break things. Hopefully, spending 15 minutes here and there will knock some of these minor tasks off my to-do list.

A Balance of Work and Play

I won’t be finishing everything by myself. Instead, I plan to hire out some of the work on the big projects, so I can stick to a realistic timeline that works for my family and job commitments.

During 2023, I hope to find a bit of balance and avoid the burnout I felt in 2022. Spending time away from my responsibilities sure helps. Cheers to more of that this year.

Happy New Year! Thank you for being here.