A Look Back Before The Final Push Forward
Today is May 1st. I officially started working on this closet on March 12th. That means that I’ve been at this project for seven weeks. The whole bedroom suite has been underway for longer than that, obviously. It was at the end of last year that the general work began.
It was at the end of last year that my mom and I cleared out all of the bedroom items, tore down the two closets that flanked the window, and got it ready for the contractor to do his part. So the room went from this…
And after we were done, it looked like this…
Then I handed it over to the contractor to do his part. After having contractor problems (which I wrote about here) and needing some time to regroup, I turned my focus to my workshop for a while. When I was finally ready to turn my attention back to the bedroom suite, I hired out the installation of the flooring in the bedroom suite. So this room, and the whole bedroom suite, has been under construction since the end of last year.
But I count the official start date on this closet as March 12th. That’s the day I actually started building the closet. That’s the day I built the first cabinet for the washer.
Seven weeks seems like a really long time to me, so it would be easy to be disappointed with my progress. But I knew going into this project that this would be my biggest build yet. When I look back at other big projects that I’ve done, seven weeks doesn’t seem like very long in comparison.
My pantry, which I built from scratch, took me about 3.5 months from beginning to end, and it was about half the size of the closet.
And my studio…well, that project took 17 months from the day I started sanding the floor to paint it, to the day that it was completely finished. It’s a much bigger room, but it didn’t require quite as much building since I used IKEA cabinets in there, and I just customized them with trim and paint. But being a much bigger room, it did require more projects in general that had to go into that room in order to finish it.
So I guess seven weeks isn’t really that bad. At the beginning of this year, this room looked like this…
And at the end of the day on March 12th, the day I consider the official start date of this walk-in closet project, it looked like this…
And over the course of the last seven weeks, I’ve built all of the cabinet boxes…
Added all of the shelves…
Trimmed out all of the cabinets…
Added all of the decorative molding and corbels…
Built the glass-top jewelry drawer and pull-out necklace bar…
Primed, caulked, sanded, and painted all of the cabinets…
And hung the wallpaper, mirror, and sconces.
And along the way, there were all kinds of other time-consuming things I had to do, like sanding the floor around the perimeter before I could attach the baseboards to the cabinets, installing the vent for the dryer, etc.
During a big project, it can be easy to start feeling disappointed with the speed at which the project is progressing. I’ve kind of hit that point with this closet. So I think it’s important to take a minute, look back at the progress that has been made, and realize just how much has been done.
That’s why I always encourage people to take pictures along the way. Take lots of pictures before and during a project. If you’re doing a big project like remodeling a kitchen, take lots of pictures, because I can almost guarantee you that you will hit a point during that remodel when you wonder if things are actually getting accomplished, and if the project will ever come to an end. It can be an encouragement to look back at actual pictures (rather than relying on your memory) to the very beginning and be able to see the actual progress through a series of photos.
And while I’m very ready to be done with this closet, and I could very easily be disappointed that it has taken this long so far, I’m also incredibly encouraged when I compare how this room looked at the beginning of the year and what it looks like now…
I don’t know how much longer this room is going to take me, but I’ve decided to stay focused on this room until it’s finished. Matt and I have talked over the options, and he didn’t like the idea of me leaving the closet unfinished and starting on the bedroom at all. We’ve come up with two other options (based on your suggestions) for where we can put his recliner — the studio or the bedroom while I’m finishing the closet. He says he can be comfortable in either place, and both places have a TV, so we’ll try out both of them and see which one he likes better.
So as long as he’s on board with me working on the closet until it’s completely finished, that’s what I’ll do. I still have quite a list of things that need to be done in here, but the biggest and hardest part is behind me. I’d love to get it finished by the end of May, so we’ll see how that works out. The one thing left on my list that may throw a wrench into that plan is the island. I’ll be building that from scratch, and it’s been a while since I’ve built something with lots of drawers from scratch. I feel confident that I can do it, but it may take me longer than I think it will.
Other than that, the rest of the items are pretty small in comparison. But I’m going to stay focused and see just how quickly I can get it all finished. Today is lighting day. I’ll be adding all of the recessed lights, removing the ceiling fan, and hanging the new chandelier. I’ll have to take it down in the future and give it a makeover, but I can use it as is for now to give more light to the room.
So here’s to a successful month of May! Let’s see if I can get this thing finished by the end of the month.
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Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I was wondering if there was a tv elsewhere in your house that Matt could watch. Sounds like you found a good solution that you and Matt are both agreeable to. I hope you reach your goals for May! The closet will be beautiful.
You two are such good spouses for each other! And the closet is marvelous, houzz worthy. I look up to you, Kristi!
Whew! Looking back at the Before photos and the current stage, you have done a LOT! No need whatsoever to be disappointed, imho. This closet is worth a little more time, and you will be able to enjoy it for years. Glad Matt is getting some change of scenery, lol.
Slow and steady wins the race. I think you’ve come a long way, and it looks so great. We’re going to get started on our closet build because of you. It was going to be the last thing we do in our master bedroom remodel, but my husband is so onboard with what you did, he’s looking at how we maximize all the space that we have in our walk-in closet, it’s the size of a small bedroom, so I cannot wait to get rid of those horrid wire shelves. Here’s to a Happy May Day and you will get 31 days for this month instead of just 30 for last.
Cheers to you and Matt!
Kristi I feel like this project has moved along very quickly considering all the detail work you have done. Stay focused and know we are all here to encourage you to reach the finish line.
I was wondering if you had considered using a vintage piece for the island with lots of drawers maybe similar to the purple piece in the breakfast room. If you could find the right piece. And it could be easily moved if necessary. The chandelier above would be so beautiful over vintage furniture. I find a lot of nice furniture on marketplace here in Houston. Just a thought. Everything is looking spectacular!!
The challenge with that idea is that I need a piece with drawers on both sides. So I’d need to find two identical pieces that I could put back-to-back and then add a new top to. And that would present another challenge because the whole island can only be 30 inches wide, which means that each individual piece couldn’t be more than 15 inches. That’s pretty narrow, especially for a vintage piece.
Now that you have decided, you will just work along. Don’t ever be disappointed. You have actually turned a mountain out of a mole hill. It is looking so good.
I’m glad you decided to finish the closet because I am so anxious to see it finished!
I know you are too.
Just enjoy the progress and the work ahead of you. Does it really matter how long it takes…I have to keep telling myself that question when I get frustrated with a project, because I’m bored, tired or just want to be done! You’ll get there and I knew you would find a place for Matt…you always do, just as he encourages you with all of your ideas, building, and getting things done.
Kristi, you are making great progress and I am happy you came to a solution for Matt.
Seeing the closet from the doorway again at me that the washer and dryer will look like something is missing framed by the beautiful wallpaper on the window wall. Rather, try putting your beautiful wallpaper on the sides of the washer dryer cabinets. Then, leaving the wallpaper off the two walls above the washer and dryer. With the two art works plus the lighting there will be enough going on above the w/d.
Keep up the great work.
I think it is AMAZING what you have accomplished in seven weeks! I’m sort of surprised you feel it is going slowly. You are doing an awesome job, and I’m glad we are finishing the closet before moving on.