Signing Off For The Year
I always take the last week between Christmas and the New Year off from the blog, but this year, I’ve decided to take these next two weeks off. Things are just moving so slowly on the bedroom suite. I had expected the contractor’s part to be finished two weeks ago, and here we are two weeks later and barely anything has been done. And as for the projects I wanted to concentrate on while they’re working on the bedroom suite, well, the weather and my Amazon shipments have been uncooperative.
So rather than stress about the lack of progress, I’m just going to take the next two weeks to destress, spend time with Matt, watch a few cheesy Christmas movies, and get ready for the new year. Hopefully by then, I can hit the ground running on the bedroom suite projects and get those knocked out as quickly as possible.
This year has been…different. It hasn’t been different in a bad way. It’s been different in a good way. But it’s definitely been different.
Just like I do every year, I started off 2024 with a Master List of Home Goals. You can see my whole 2024 list here: 2024 Master List of Home Goals. And the year started off with me tackling the studio. Here’s how it looked at the beginning of the year…
And here’s how it looks now…
But from there, all of my other plans for the year kind of went off the rails. I had plans to finish the studio half bath…
And I had plans to do a few minor projects in the guest bedroom…
And I had plans to do a makeover in the hallway bathroom…
But the main thing on my 2024 list was the start the addition. And one year ago, this is what I envisioned the addition looking like…
But then things went completely off the rails when we started having some serious problems problems with our home gym floor. I had only finished the home gym 17 months earlier, and we were getting a ton of use out of the room. So it was incredibly discouraging to find that the floor in that room was ruined to the point that it was buckling so badly that I’d trip over it.
The idea of having to replace flooring (and subfloor) in a room that was fairly recently finished sent me into a tailspin. I called off the addition that we had planned for the last eight years, and I went back to the drawing board. After all, replacing the floor and subfloor in a pier and beam house is not a small thing. So if we were going to have to do that anyway, then this was the time to reevaluate our plans and make any needed changes.
And that’s what we did. After getting tons of input from readers on a whole range of ideas, and after testing about probably 50 different floor plan ideas, we’ve finally settled on this floor plan for our house…
It was a very long and circuitous route to get to that final floor plan. And in the end, did we really accomplish anything? I mean, we’re still going to build an addition, although the new addition isn’t nearly as big as the original addition, so we’ll save money.
But I am actually very happy with this new direction. After spending months wrestling with these decisions, and getting input from so many readers, I was able to “see” our home and our floor plan with new eyes, so to speak. I was offered ideas that I never would have thought of in a million years (like turning the studio bathroom into a walk-through pantry for easy access from the back door into the kitchen). I was able to rethink ideas that I had previously written off because I thought they were almost impossible (like moving our kitchen to the breakfast room and pantry area).
And every single day, I get more and more excited about our new bedroom suite where we’re turning the home gym into our bedroom,
…and turning the guest bedroom into our walk-in closet and laundry room.
So while that ruined home gym floor seemed like a tragic thing at the moment, I think things have turned out just fine. I love this new plan for our house even better than all of our original plans for that huge addition. Sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out.
And of course, I can’t end 2024 without poitning out two HUGE projects that we’re on my 2024 list, but did get done this year! First, we had my workshop built.
It was amazing watching them build that in a day. I documented the whole process here: How To Build A Shed (Or Workshop) – My Workshop Build From Beginning To End
And of course, we finally got a driveway!
This thing has been one of the best decisions we’ve made. I can’t even express how much easier a driveway has made my life. I shared more about our new driveway here: Here’s Our New Driveway! (Plus The Ramp To My Workshop)
So next year looks to be a pretty exciting year. My main initial focus will be our bedroom suite — bedroom, closet, and hallway. After that, I’ll turn my attention to our new kitchen, and then once the new kitchen is finished, I’ll tear out the old kitchen and turn it into a dining room. So that’s a preview of what I think 2025 holds. But for now, I’m going to take it easy for a few days and watch a Christmas movie or two. I’ll meet y’all back here in the New Year!
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.
Everything looks great. You’ve done an amazing job on all the projects, don’t worry about finished and not finished, things work at their own pace. Enjoy the last two weeks of what has been a very fast year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Matt and your family.
Cheers!
Merry Christmas to you and Matt and family.
Blessings for a happy new year!
You accomplished a lot this year—even don’t sell yourself short!
And don’t forget doing all of this while eating healthier!
Merry Christmas to you and Matt!
If any one deserves some R & R it’s you! Enjoy your Christmas movies! The creativity that lives inside you is amazing! On top of the work you do & your blog and look after your amazing husband I take my hat off to you, your amazing in everything you do! Have a lovely Christmas & all the very best to you & Matt in 2025 🙂
Hi Kristi, I’m wishing you and your Matt the best of Holidays. I’ve read your blog for years and admire your talent and creativity.
I would say 2024 was a successful year for you. Finishing the Studio was a major, major accomplishment. Praying you have wonderful holidays with your family and Matt. REST.
Happy New Year!
Wishing you and Matt a happy holiday season! I love doing some small craft projects, especially Christmas crafts, while watching sappy Christmas movies. It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
I was hoping for an update on your year of no sugar. I lasted a short 6 weeks and even then I’m sure a few grams snuck in somewhere.
Hoping for a happy and healthy new year for you and Matt.
I was also hoping for an update. Hoping for inspiration either by Kristi’s great success or needing to do a reset and getting back on track. I will miss your posts, Kristi, but you deserve the time off! Have a Merry Christmas!
I’ll do an update on that at the beginning of the year. For now, go enjoy those Christmas treats. 😀
I’m happy you can make a pivot and see the wisdom in some rest and fun. It will energize you for the new year. I hope to do the same and I’m not crazy busy like you.
Merry Christmas!! Have a rest and see you in fighting form in 2025!
Good for you! I pray you and Matt enjoy a well earned break together. Your year has been a perfect example of Proverbs 16:9 (and mine too!) You have accomplished so much this year! You finished a huge project, plans shifted, you have a new vision, some things went on hold and some fast forwarded. I remember you were even able to attend your ladies retreat at church earlier in the year and were richly blessed and refreshed. This is exactly what happens when we surrender to the Lord’s work in our lives. He orders things in the ways that are best for our good and His glory. May the Lord bless you and Matt with rest and peace during this season Kristi! Love and prayers from NC 🙏🏻
Merry Christmas from our house to yours!! Prayers for God’s blessings for you and Matt in the New Year.
It has been a wild ride at A2D, and I have enjoyed every moment. I look forward to reading more of your and Matt’s house and life journey in 2025. Destress, relax, and have a Happy Holiday.
I’ve enjoyed watching your progress on your house for years now. I think I’m as excited with the new designs and directions as you are. LOL
You and Matt have a good Christmas!
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year with Matt and other loved ones! Blessings to you and Matt!
Yep Kristi….ive been here for many many years as well. I’m not going away anytime soon, either. Love your work, love your home.
Take this time to rest, rejuvenate, recharge and just enjoy what you’ve accomplished this year. You and Matt deserve this restful break. Go enjoy your Christmas holidays together doing exactly whatever you want to do.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Matt and your family!
It’s been so fun getting to read about the journey and definitely inspiring.
I am excited to see the pieces come together. I dont know if i understand how the new floorplan is any smaller than the previous plan, but it is beautiful. Sometimes you have to get the feel for things, so i am excited to see how you keep things going. I was surprised to see closets in the guest room and gym. The bump out on the back of the house has to add cost for the roofing adjustments and additional wall space – I’m not in construction, so it’s probably a non-issue. I wouldn’t be inclined to want my guests to feel THAT comfortable and the home gym is basically just equipment. I guess what I really want to ask is, did you bend to the pressure of all of us couch sitters that you must have a guest room for fictitious resale value?
Have you written lately about your no sugar year 2024? If so I must have missed it.
And how’s the outside “neighborhood” cat situation going?
Looking forward to spending a new year with you and your projects. Blessings to you both and wishes for a very merry Christmas and a New Year filled with good health, peace, joy, and much happiness.
YaY for you taking some time off. I do look forward to seeing what you do in 2025 but I can wait haha. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Matt.
🎄✨Merry Christmas to you and Matt✨🎄
Merry Christmas
Sondra–Waco
I really like the new floor plan, but one thing I ask you to consider. Since you have the new workshop, when nature calls, you have a half bath right inside the studio door that you can use while you’re working. In the new floor plan, when a bio break is needed, you’ll have to track all the way through your home if you come in through the studio or through half your home if your come in through the added family room. Perhaps consider keeping the half bath instead of turning it into a walk through pantry.
Enjoy the time off with loved ones! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Matt!! May the new year be healthy and productive for you.
Hey Kristi, your year certainly has seen many changes; but one thing that hasn’t changed, is the way your creativity and can-do approach has motivated me to try things DIY I never would have, before following you. I look forward to your posts every day and thank you for adding so much positivity to my life.
Wishing you and Matt a wonderful Christmas and a healthy happy 2025.
From Binginwarri, Australia.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Love your blog so much – you’re absolutely hands down my favourite!
God bless,
Claire x
Enjoy your well-deserved time off. Thank you for taking us along on your ride. It’s been fun, educational and inspiring. Happy holidays to you, Matt and your families
dear Kristi, I wish you and Matt a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2025! I hope you have a wonderful time and can relax as planned. I’m looking forward to the next leg of your journey – thank you very much for sharing it! Love from Germany
Thank you Kristi, for a great year of following you. I loved watching your projects, and the discussions, and the plans for next year are so exciting! Please enjoy your break with Matt, and all the fur babies. Have a wonderful Holiday celebration with your church family, and your friends and family, and we will all look forward to your work next year. Take a well deserved rest and relaxation. Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy, Joyous New Year!
Congratulations on all your accomplishments in 2024! Enjoy your time off! I look forward to seeing what happens in 2025!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas to you and Matt and a blessed New Year! You have had some amazing accomplishments in 2024, now go and enjoy your blessings!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Matt! You deserve some much needed rest ❤️ I look forward to all the new things to come in 2025!!
Enjoy this time off. Merry Christmas to you and Matt and all your loved ones. Excited to see where the new year leads us.