At long last, the Before & After (B&A) Party is officially underway!
Welcome to the summer edition of our Before & After party! The idea behind these gatherings is simple but powerful motivate yourself to start a project by sharing your “before” at the beginning of the month (or, in this case, the summer), then return later to showcase your progress. Anything goes! Whether it’s home renovations, personal growth goals like quitting smoking or taking up running, starting a business, or learning a new skill this space is all about celebrating progress.
That said, you are not required to have shared a “before” in order to participate in today’s after party! Whether you’ve tackled a big project or made small yet meaningful changes, this is your time to reflect, be proud, and share what you’ve accomplished. The goal is simple: find motivation, inspire others, and be inspired yourself. That’s what these Before & After parties are all about!
A Summer of Memories
My primary goal for this summer was to pause home improvement projects and focus on creating meaningful memories with my children. The past two years have flown by, and I don’t want to look back with regret, wishing I had spent more time listening, laughing, and simply being present while my kids are still under my roof. So, for a little while, I put down the paintbrush and picked up the camera not to document home renovations but to capture the little moments of childhood that pass too quickly.
Did we do anything remarkable? No. But we had a summer filled with simple, old-fashioned fun, and I will never regret the slow progress on our house in exchange for these memories.
That said… what’s a big end-of-summer Before & After party without a few before-and-afters to share?
Marking Two Years in Our Home
This month marks two full years in our house a home that had fantastic bones but needed a facelift. Our first year was filled with dramatic transformations, from painting nearly every wall and piece of trim to completely reimagining spaces. The second year, however, was all about refining and layering creating a home that feels comfortable, casual, and personal for our family of five.
Progress has been slow, but I remind myself that creating a home you truly love takes time. When impatience creeps in, I look back at where we started, and it’s a good reminder of how far we’ve come. Honestly, the only room that I can confidently call “done” is Hannah’s room but where’s the fun in a house that’s finished? I thrive on the creative process carpentry ideas, furniture makeovers, painting projects they’re always on the horizon.
Even at a turtle’s pace, I feel incredibly lucky to be renovating this home. It’s been a dream of mine for years, and today, I want to celebrate the progress we’ve made in Year Two!
Game-Changer: Our Finished Basement
One of the biggest transformations in our home was finishing the basement. In our previous house, we had a large, finished basement, so adjusting to this home’s layout was a challenge. From the beginning, we knew we needed a designated space for our kids, their friends, and family movie nights.
While I love a good DIY project, this time, we brought in a professional builder to finish the space last winter. It’s still completely bare in terms of decor, but the kids don’t care they live down there! Mark envisions a pool table in the open area, while the kids have claimed it for knee hockey. Either way, this has been hands down the best improvement we could have made.
Foyer & Staircase Upgrades
This year, I added board and batten to the foyer and staircase, giving it more character. The tile grout got a temporary facelift with a fresh coat of paint (until we eventually replace it with hardwood to match the rest of the house).
One of my favorite changes? Swapping out the solid basement door for a French door. This simple swap made the basement feel like a natural part of the home rather than a separate space.
The mirror in the foyer was borrowed from our master bedroom. While I love its scale, I eventually want something warmer and more natural-looking here. It’s a work in progress—to be continued!
Repurposing the Old TV Room
Before finishing the basement, this room served as a makeshift TV/playroom for my teen and tweens. Once we had a proper basement hangout, I repainted the walls, refinished the table and chairs, relocated the lantern light from the kitchen, and made drop cloth curtains.
Next up? A natural fiber rug to pull the space together (and help disguise the well-worn floors!).
Hannah’s Room: A Fun Closet Transformation
One of the first projects I tackled after moving in was decorating the kids’ rooms. Since then, Hannah has rearranged her furniture approximately 7,429 times.
The big change this year? A closet makeover. Instead of traditional doors, I removed them entirely and designed an open-concept closet that’s both functional and stylish. Surprisingly, this setup has worked amazingly well for her it makes organization easy and gives the space a modern, airy feel.
Master Bathroom Mini Makeover
Our master bathroom was long overdue for some attention. While a full renovation is in our future plans, for now, I worked with what we had:
✅ Striped the walls with a pearly paint finish
✅ Hung a shell mirror and a jewelry board
✅ Built shelves for towels and extra storage
Small changes, but they made a huge difference in the space!
The Reality of Home Projects: Patience & Perspective
The reason I wanted to share these before and afters is to remind everyone that progress takes time.
🕒 Time to save up for renovations.
💡 Time to dream about what you want your home to feel like.
🤔 Time to make decisions.
⚒️ Time, because when you’re a DIYer, there are only so many hours in the day!
Just like raising my children, I remind myself to enjoy the process. Renovating and decorating is something I love, but at the end of the day, it’s not life or death. I can’t take it too seriously, and neither should you!
So whether you’re tackling a full remodel or just making small tweaks to improve your space, celebrate every step. Enjoy the dreaming, the decision-making, and the process of bringing your vision to life even if it takes time.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Enough about me let’s see what you’ve accomplished!
Drop your Before & Afters below, whether it’s a home project, a personal milestone, or something completely different. Let’s inspire each other and celebrate getting things done!
