I Think My List Is Getting LONGER!!
At the beginning of this year, I made a commitment to myself that I was going to completely finish my kitchen and breakfast room before moving on to another room. I just need SOMETHING to be finished in this condo. No more hopping from one room to another, starting projects, getting distracted, starting more projects, and never finishing anything.
So I’ve really tried to stay focused. I’ve had several people ask me, “What about your bedroom? Is it finished?” Ha! Not even close. But I must stay focused. FIRST…kitchen and breakfast room. NEXT…bedroom. Every once in a while, I look back at my “roadmap” photo that I did for my breakfast room.
So last night, I looked at that photo, and then looked a recent photo…
…and thought to myself, “Oh good, it’s almost finished!!”
Then I made my “to do” list, and realized just how FAR from “almost finished” my breakfast room and kitchen really are. It’s all of the little finishing details that really get me!!! My “to do” list went a little something like this…
- Make painted floor cloth
- Make pillows for banquette
- Reupholster and paint dining chairs
- Re-caulk around tile
- Re-caulk around sink
- Artwork for above sink
- Replace light above sink
- Install and paint trim above cabinets
- Paint ceiling
- Finish installing floor tiles
- Paint touchups on cabinets and walls
- Centerpiece for table
- Paint pet station
- Artwork for wall above pet station
- Paint pantry and have cabinet doors made and installed
Seriously? SERIOUSLY??!!!
I almost wish I hadn’t made the list. It was so much nicer thinking that I was almost finished.
I do take comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one with this problem. One day last week, I decided to take some time and just read blogs, which I seldom seem to have time to do lately. One of them I visited was Just A Girl, and the blog post that I read started off like this:
“I’ve been working on re-vamping my master bedroom. So far, it has taken me 7 years. I should be done pretty soon.”
I can soooo relate to that. So much so that I’ve gone back to that blog post several times since then just to read those three sentences. I love knowing I’m not the only one. It really is comforting. Then on Sunday, Chris posted a room reveal of a bathroom she’s been working on. That post started off like this:
“Back in July, I decided I needed to do something to my kids’ bathroom… The only problem is that this was back in July…of 2008. Yes. That’s when this “remodel” began, and it is finally finished.”
I know these long, drawn-out projects are worth it in the end, especially when the finished project looks as fabulous as Chris’ bathroom!
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| Wow!! Such an amazing job. If you haven’t seen the whole before and after, you simply MUST click here to see the whole thing. |
But sometimes when the process drags on for so long, it hits the “not fun anymore” point, and I get a bit discouraged. I know this slump is just temporary. Perhaps I’m just exhausted from all of the ceiling work and need a nice, long nap. But I must…and I WILL…press on.
So do you have any long, drawn-out remodels or redecorating projects like this? I’d love to know what you do to keep yourself pressing on towards to goal!
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.
For what it's worth, that list does make it look like you're almost finished!!
I understand, though. 🙁 I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to take 2 months to redo ONE cupboard door for the kitchen… At this rate, I'll finish the doors (note, that doesn't include the cabinet bodies or the walls or the counters or the floors or the fixtures or the..you get the idea) by next year!
I recently began doing our guest room. We'd planned it for something else, but circumstances changed that. Anywho, Only 4 months in, and I'm potentially one headboard and two pillows away from being done….well add the birdhouse I want in there and THEN I'm done. I completely understand the feeling of being close to finished and then realizing, "wait, i need that too!"
I have been working on the simple task of replacing my drawer and cabinet shelf paper for 6 months!!! I know if I'd stay on task, I would be finished in one day. Instead of concentrating on one simple thing I've re-decorated our loft, started purging the entire house (pile of junk now resides in the living room)and have a two page list of other projects I want to do. I choose to blame it one creativity – the kind that wakes you up in the middle of the night!!! LOL I think your progress is incredible.
Kristi, I think you need to look back at a picture of your kitchen and breakfast room before you started working on it, then look at it now. And…look at all you have accomplished in the homes of other people during the time since you started working on yours. Obviously, your main focus has had to be on theirs. I think it is amazing that you have accomplished so much on your kitchen and breakfast room. Give yourself a pat on the back. That list is not bad at all when you consider where you started. You need some rest, some sunshine, and some fresh air. Then you will be good to go again!
Ugh…I know the feeling! Make a list of what you have accomplished, I'm sure it will be longer than that. Probably with just what you have done today!
Our entire house is a multi-year long renovation!!
We took our pool out 8 years ago. People told us to pile a little bit more than flat so that it could settle. We're still waiting for the slight mound to 'settle'. Running out of excuses to tackle the backyard living area…sigh
I feel the same way about all my projects! My list keeps getting longer too! ahhhh. Everything you have done looks beautiful!
I don't have the focus to just stay on one room! I'm always finding things that are in one room that would work better in another. I think my husband wants to hire someone just to move furniture on a weekly basis for me. =o)
My problem is that by the time I finish a room, my tastes have changed and I'm ready to start all over again.
I'm not so bad when it's ME in charge of doing things, 'cause I have wicked OCD and will just keep going. But when I have to count on others to do a job, it makes me so frustrated!
Considering that you have a job too, you do way more than many! And it looks beautiful!
WOW, so I am not alone. woo hoo…. I have had paint splotches on my wall for MONTHS…. I had planned to paint but then something came up and then something came up and then something else came up. I think the 16 foot ceilings scared me….so guess what? I am hiring the painting out… I know it is chickens way out…..
Even with the to do list, your kitchen still looks great!
LOVE your blog! And I really love your kitchen cabinets and green chandelier! 🙂
Take it easy on yourself. Your kitchen looks fabulous. I would get the trim and re-caulking done, all the non decorating stuff. Then in my spare time I would get to the decorating and making it look pretty(er) stuff done.
I've been working on my living room for a year and a half. The worst part is when people don't understand why you haven't finished yet. But when you have a full-time job and everything is DIY (flooring, painting, building furniture, sewing drapes, reupholstering furniture) on the weekends or nights it takes a long time! Being on a strict budget also slows things down. It is horrible when something you started with so much excitement and hope turns into a chore. I try to take it one project at a time so I don't get overwhelmed by the big picture. I've also stopped myself from starting projects on other rooms so I can really focus on finishing this one. Some days I break things down to tiny tasks so they are manageable in the evenings(ie. just pin the hem on the drapes…I can press and sew them another night).
Good luck…and keep at it, your kitchen has come so far!
I can't believe how MUCH you get done! I think you're amazing! =)
Wow I like your "to do list" as well as your new kitchen and breakfast room setting. I think anyone who has interest in home decoration should follow your instructions which describe in this blog. As kitchen is main part of house so when you decided to start from the kitchen then bedroom, it’s a great idea.i think your effort is incredible.
Well, obviously you know I can relate! If my unfinished projects can help just one person, I accomplished something. 🙂 This was a great post (thank you for including me in it) that I know so many of us can relate to. Don't be too hard on yourself. Life comes first.
I love this post! I do the same exact thing! I just told myself I need to finish one project completely before I do anything else. Yet I still bounce from one thing to another. I did get my room cleaned up and painted the walls, now I have to caulk and paint the trim It's always a work in progress, I change my mind like 10 times a day about what I want done.
I completely relate and I'm very guilty of jumping from one room to another, doing a little bit here and a little bit there. There are some things I wish I could get finished ( guest bath) but I have lived in a 'finished' house and for me it was boring! I love the process. Don't get too frustrated, enjoy every moment. Oh and can someone come help me finish the bathroom!
I love this post! I do the same exact thing! I just told myself I need to finish one project completely before I do anything else. Yet I still bounce from one thing to another. I did get my room cleaned up and painted the walls, now I have to caulk and paint the trim It's always a work in progress, I change my mind like 10 times a day about what I want done.
I don't have the focus to just stay on one room! I'm always finding things that are in one room that would work better in another. I think my husband wants to hire someone just to move furniture on a weekly basis for me. =o)
I can't seem to stay in one room either! And by the time I manage to get one room close to completion, something happens in our family and we end up moving the kids around (again!) and I have to start that room all over again….. I just started a bedroom for my girls and it's the third time I've decorated that room in the last nine years! And I haven't managed to get to the room we wanted to redo first when we moved in 10 years ago!!! I really need to get some focus and organization…..