whistle while you work…

I had to title this post because I do love how whenever Page is working on something house-related I can hear him whistling…even if I’m inside and he’s in the garage, or he’s all the way in the basement, I can hear him – and he’s really good! Ha! Anyway, I’ve been hearing a lot of whistling lastely, as we’ve been tackling our never-ending house to-do list.

Several of the items in this list deserve their own post, but I haven’t gotten around to photos or writing up the details, and some of these things just aren’t totally finished yet. But for the sake of a quick update, here’s what’s been going on project-wise at our house:

1. Landscaping

One of the downsides of new construction is the landscaping is ALL up to you! And as someone with a very, very black thumb, it freaked me out more than a little that I would have no previous owner guidance and groundwork to go off of. But I did my research, talked to people who knew their stuff, and claimed landscaping as a “me” thing on the list of to-dos. (Since I’m all but worthless with finishing the basement or any other skill-related jobs!) I began with this little bed out front, dug up the sod, laid down a weed barrier, and put in three little boxwoods that will get as big as we let them to create a nice hedge. We also added a bench to the front porch that I scored at a favorite freight salvage store in Cedar Rapids a few weeks back. I love that there’s finally a little personality out front!

Before…

After!

I want to expand this a bit further around the front-left corner of the house and add a taller element to anchor the whole thing. I’m thinking a sun-happy magnolia bush that would give us some pretty flowers in the spring:

And you know you’re a homeowner when you get SUPER excited that a few budding leaves on your stick of a new tree out front start sprouting. We have plans to add a couple slightly more mature trees around our lot to speed up the process of having a (tiny!) bit of shade.

We still have to add some edging to the bed (once the magnolia is in) and we’ve had solar lights in the garage for months that are ready to go in as well. A few tall grass plants to hide the electrical box in the backyard, and we can check landscaping off our list!

2. Bookshelves Progress

I have a new appreciation for those who build detailed indoor projects like this – there are so many cuts and measurements and details…and with me doing the priming and painting of all the pieces, and Page having to cut each “round” of pieces, there is a lot of back and forth and waiting on the other. But we did get really big pieces cut and painted in the last week, not all of which are installed yet here…but I do love that I can get a feel for the space they’ll take up now – and it’s hard to tell in a photo, but the room feels larger now in person.

When we last left off…

And with the backboards and wall-sides mounted. Next up is the trim to hold the shelves in place, adding the other sides, and putting the trim on!

3. Master closet and bedroom

I picked an accent color for our master bedroom, and while I can’t wait to post pictures, I’m waiting for one final thing from Etsy to show up to pull it all together. It’s no major investment, but the pop of another color was something the room needed. While I wait, I’ve turned my attention to our master closet…particularly this shorter wall from which I’m going to rip out this hanging shelf and put in a more savvy storage solution for folded items, shoes, and other random things that need corralling.

So that’s what has been on our plate the last few days…and none of that counts the next BIG project – the basement! Before we do ANYTHING down there we have to get the garage organized and put together (and a garage sale next weekend to clear out some clutter throughout the house). We have to line up our contractors and draw out exactly what we plan to do so we can apply for our permit. One step at a time, but I’m really excited for that next adventure!