2016 was a remarkable year full of firsts and unexpected projects. Between launching a podcast, buying a beach house, publishing a coloring book, and tackling a variety of home and community makeovers, we packed a lot into twelve months. Here’s a tidy recap of the year’s highlights.
The most memorable makeover was a speedy space-themed bedroom update we completed for a local family after their young son Mason passed away unexpectedly. The room he shared with his older brother Hudson needed a refresh so Hudson could work toward sleeping there again. We’ve kept in touch with the family and remain grateful we could help during such a difficult time.
Another standout was the teacher’s lounge makeover we finished just before school started. This project brought unusual challenges (designing around a big blue Pepsi machine was definitely a first), but it was rewarding to create a more functional and welcoming space for a local public elementary school.
We also helped friends and family settle into a new home nearby—Sherry’s best friend (and my cousin) moved down the street this summer after we introduced them years ago. You might recall a little update Sherry did in their son’s room where she split one duvet cover into two, a simple fix that made a big difference.
At home, we made several big improvements. We started the year by finishing our bonus room, which included laying hardwood floors ourselves, installing custom cabinets and floating shelves, and creating a wire-free spot for the TV. What used to be unfinished storage has become a natural extension of our upstairs and a favorite hangout for movie nights.
The bonus room was followed by a major kitchen renovation. The new bright-white kitchen brought both aesthetic and functional upgrades: a more practical layout, improved cabinet organization, and a concealed mudroom that streamlined daily routines. We also shared five kitchen remodeling mistakes we learned along the way to help others planning similar projects.
After the kitchen, we finished the living room with DIY built-in bookcases that felt like the final touch on a long renovation journey. We also embraced more neutral paint colors by repainting our bedroom and office in beige tones—less flashy on social media, but perfectly comfortable and right for us in person.
Our daughter’s room moved through another phase as she swapped a twin daybed for a full-sized bed. We documented the room’s evolution over the years—it’s satisfying to see the progression and helpful if another room in our house makes a similar transition next year.
We also created video tours of the house—an Upstairs House Tour and a first-floor walkthrough—so readers could see the progress in motion. If the videos don’t appear in some readers, they’re available on YouTube and in the original posts.
Outside the house we added a practical structure: a backyard shed. It’s been a work in progress and podcast listeners have heard updates. We’ll share photos once it’s more settled—don’t judge the ever-growing scrap wood pile.
But the biggest acquisition of the year was the beach house. Calling it “our beach house” still feels surreal since it needs a lot of work before it’s fully livable. We shared before photos and layout ideas and have started making visible, if somewhat daunting, progress. We’ve been asking readers for input on paint colors and layout choices as we plan the renovations.
We also launched a podcast in June. Nearly 30 episodes later, we’re still enjoying the format. The podcast gives us a flexible space to experiment, invite guests, and share conversations in a different way than the blog. It’s one of our favorite new outlets and something we plan to continue developing.
In the fall we released an adult coloring book, a surprising and delightful project. Working with an illustrator to translate rooms into line drawings and then seeing readers’ colored pages was a lot of fun—almost like stepping into an alternate, colorful version of our house.
We even experimented with launching an app this year—an experiment that didn’t quite take off, but that’s part of trying new things.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about many projects in 2017: beach house renovations, new podcast episodes, more work around our home (including tackling two bathrooms with seashell-shaped sinks), and additional makeovers for friends and neighbors. We’ve also put together new resources on the blog like a Shop Our House page and curated lists of items we’re loving for readers planning their own updates.
If you missed other moments from 2016—like our free e-course on starting a blog or our holiday decorating tour—you can browse the blog archive to catch up. We hope you had bright spots this year and that the coming one brings even more good things. See you in January.