The Supreme Indexer

Embarking on a home transformation journey can be both exhilarating and daunting. For many homeowners, the dream of creating a personalized sanctuary is strong, but the path to achieving it often feels overwhelming. We understand this sentiment perfectly. Our approach to home improvement, whether it’s a quick weekend refresh or a multi-year renovation, centers on a strategic yet flexible methodology that keeps us motivated and moving forward. It’s all about breaking down the grand vision into manageable steps, celebrating small victories, and patiently saving for those monumental changes that truly redefine a living space.

The beauty of home renovation lies in its continuous evolution. There’s no single “right” way to tackle projects, and sometimes, the best method is simply to dive in and learn as you go. This philosophy has been instrumental in helping us overcome the common pitfall of “analysis paralysis.” Instead of meticulously planning every detail of every project from the outset, we empower ourselves to make decisions, even if they’re temporary. We might hang frames, arrange furniture, or experiment with paint colors, knowing that if something doesn’t quite feel right, we can always adjust it. This iterative process allows us to truly live with our home, understanding its quirks and potential before committing to significant, potentially irreversible, changes. It’s how we transform a house into a home that’s cherished piece by piece.

Our practical system for managing home projects is remarkably simple but incredibly effective: the “Living List.” It’s a dynamic, ever-evolving roster of tasks, scrawled casually in a notebook by the bed. This isn’t a rigid Gantt chart, but rather a fluid roadmap that adapts to our moods, available resources, and newfound inspiration. We jot down everything, from the smallest cosmetic tweaks to the most ambitious structural overhauls. Then, we categorize them visually:

Circled items: These are the immediate, bite-sized tasks that we can tackle right away. They offer quick satisfaction and build momentum.
Crossed-off items: Our completed projects! Seeing these checked off provides a powerful sense of accomplishment and fuels our motivation for the next task.
Underlined items: These represent our long-term aspirations – the big-ticket renovations that require significant financial investment and careful planning. They serve as exciting goals that inspire us to save diligently.

This living list keeps us excited about the future possibilities of our home while constantly reminding us of the progress we’ve already made. It’s a testament to the idea that even small, consistent efforts can transform a space over time into the home you’ve always dreamed of. Here’s a glimpse into our current home project list:

Immediate & Mid-Term Home Refresh Projects:

These are the tasks we’re focusing on in the near future, blending DIY efforts with thoughtful updates that make a big impact without breaking the bank.

DIY No-Sew Curtains: We plan to find bold, saturated, or patterned fabrics to create custom no-sew curtains for various rooms including the living room, future dining room, office, guest bedroom, playroom, and master bedroom, as well as the hall sliders. This cost-effective method allows us to introduce color, texture, and privacy, instantly elevating the aesthetics of each space. The impact of well-chosen curtains on a room’s atmosphere and light control is often underestimated, making this a high-priority, high-impact DIY project.
Whole-House Painting Project: Painting every room is a monumental task, but one that we’ll tackle slowly over time. We’re thinking about a cohesive color scheme, drawing inspiration from harmonious tones. Paint is perhaps the most transformative and budget-friendly upgrade a homeowner can undertake. It breathes new life into tired walls, brightens dark corners, and sets the mood for each area, reflecting the overall aesthetic we envision for our home.
Painting Dark Wood Trim: While some homeowners adore natural wood trim, our preference leans towards a glossy white finish for a fresh, modern, and expansive feel. This includes the beams, trim, baseboards, and crown molding in the living room and kitchen. Painting trim requires meticulous preparation, but the visual impact of bright white trim against newly painted walls can dramatically lighten and update a space, creating a crisp, clean backdrop.
Removed Unnecessary Bi-Fold Doors: We’ve already completed the removal of several bi-fold doors throughout the house. This simple change instantly opens up doorways, improves flow, and eliminates the awkward space consumption of these outdated door types.
Frosted Side Door: This project, recently completed, involved frosting the glass on the side door that offers a direct view into the kitchen. It provides much-needed privacy without sacrificing natural light, offering an elegant and functional solution. Details and a how-to guide will be shared soon!
Removed Shelves Next to the Fireplace: To simplify the living room and create a more open aesthetic, we’ve removed the existing shelves next to the fireplace. This decluttering step provides a clean slate for future styling and makes the room feel larger. We’ll be sharing the details of this project shortly.
Prime and Paint Kitchen Paneling: The kitchen features wood paneling that we plan to prime and paint. This is a fantastic way to update a dated feature, offering a smooth, contemporary surface. The color choice is still up for debate, but the transformation will be significant, moving the kitchen towards a more modern and bright aesthetic.
Redo Kitchen Backsplash: A new backsplash can dramatically alter the look and feel of a kitchen. We’ll be exploring options on overstock.com and local vendors’ clearance sections for stylish and budget-friendly tile. This update will tie together the new cabinet colors and hardware, creating a cohesive and fresh design.
New Kitchen Hardware: Replacing kitchen hardware is one of the easiest and most impactful upgrades. We’ll hunt for new pulls and knobs at local stores, online retailers, and big box stores to find the best deals and the perfect style to complement our refreshed cabinets. It’s like adding new jewelry to your kitchen!
Prime and Paint Oak Kitchen Cabinets: Painting the oak cabinets is a core component of our kitchen refresh. This project requires careful preparation, but it offers a dramatic transformation at a fraction of the cost of new cabinetry. The color decision is still pending, but we’re envisioning a palette that brightens and modernizes the heart of our home.
Refinish and Reupholster Craigslist Rocker: We have a vintage Craigslist rocker that needs some love. Refinishing the wood and reupholstering it with a vibrant fabric will give it a new lease on life. Once complete, it will find a cozy spot in one of our living areas, ensuring it gets plenty of casual use.
Recover Leather Parsons Chair: The leather parsons chair at the white desk in our living room corner will be recovered with a bright, fun fabric slipcover. This project injects personality and a pop of color into the space, updating the chair’s look to align with our evolving design scheme.
Replace Light Fixtures: Dated light fixtures can drag down a room’s aesthetic. We have a long list of fixtures to replace throughout the house, opting for more contemporary and energy-efficient options. This update significantly improves both the functionality and style of our lighting.
Spray Paint Door Hardware: To achieve a cohesive and updated look without replacing all our door handles, hinges, and doorknobs, we plan to remove them and spray paint them with an oil-rubbed bronze finish. This cost-effective DIY method provides a high-end look.
Frame Hall Bathroom Mirror: To elevate the basic mirror in the hall bathroom, we’ll frame it out. A DIY frame adds a custom, built-in look that can dramatically enhance the vanity area.
Paint Hall Bathroom Vanity: Similar to the kitchen cabinets, painting the vanity in the hall bathroom will provide a fresh, updated look. This small change can make a big difference in a compact space.
Hang Velvet Curtain for Walk-In Closet: Instead of a traditional door, we’ll hang a thick velvet curtain in front of our walk-in closet. This adds a touch of luxurious texture, softens the space, and offers an elegant privacy solution.
Wallpaper or Stencil Master Bedroom Sink Nook: The sink nook in the master bedroom presents a perfect opportunity for a decorative accent. We’re considering either wallpapering or stenciling this area to add visual interest and a personal touch.
Frost or Add Curtains to Bathroom Windows: Privacy is key in bathrooms. We plan to either frost or add curtains to the window in the master bathroom, and potentially the other two bathroom windows, ensuring seclusion while still allowing natural light.
Create Outdoor Cutting Garden: The area between the addition and the old house, featuring sliders, will be transformed into a sweet outdoor cutting garden. Its proximity to the kitchen and ample light make it ideal for growing fresh herbs and flowers. We’ll share detailed plans in the spring.
Built-ins Around Washer and Dryer: To maximize functionality in our laundry area, we’ll create built-ins around the washer and dryer, mimicking a mini mudroom. This includes replacing upper cabinet doors with pull-out baskets or drop-down blinds for efficient and aesthetically pleasing storage.
Paint Front Door: The front door is the first impression of our home. Painting it a fresh, inviting color will significantly boost curb appeal and set a welcoming tone.
Frame Out Porch Columns: To update the exterior, we’ll frame out the ornate and curvy porch columns, transforming them into chunky, square pillars. This architectural modification will give our rancher a more substantial and modern look.
Plant Evergreen Trees for Privacy: We plan to plant evergreen trees around the perimeter of the property to enhance privacy from neighbors. While waiting for them to grow will require patience, starting with smaller plants is a cost-effective strategy for long-term landscaping.
Landscaping Upgrades for Curb Appeal: Beyond privacy trees, we’ll undertake further landscaping upgrades to pump up the overall curb appeal, focusing on a mix of plantings that offer year-round interest and complement the home’s exterior.

Recently Accomplished & Circled Projects:

These are the tasks we’ve recently tackled or are prioritized as quick wins, providing immediate satisfaction and visual progress.

Paint the Back of the Future Dining Room Built-ins: We’ve decided to paint the back of the built-ins in what will be our dining room a fun and bright color. This unexpected pop of color will add personality and a focal point to the room.
Update and Paint the Vanity in the Master Bathroom: The master bathroom vanity has been updated and painted, giving the space a much-needed refresh. This modernizes the bathroom without the need for a full renovation.
Replace Medicine Cabinet in Guest Bathroom: In the guest bathroom, we’ve replaced the old medicine cabinet with a charming mirror. This simple swap instantly elevates the style and creates a more aesthetically pleasing focal point.
Paint the Dark Brick Fireplace in the Kitchen: The dark brick fireplace in the kitchen has been painted, significantly brightening the space and giving the fireplace a contemporary makeover. This transformation is truly remarkable.
Paint the Master Bedroom: Our master bedroom has received a fresh coat of paint, creating a serene and personal retreat. Choosing the right color has made a huge difference in the room’s ambiance.

Long-Term Vision & Underlined Projects:

These represent the larger, more involved projects that require significant planning, saving, and often, professional assistance. They are the exciting goals that keep us focused on our long-term vision for the home.

Refinish Wood Floors: Throughout the house, we envision refinishing the various wood floors to a single, cohesive shade. Whether it’s a rich dark brown, a sophisticated ebony, or a chic light gray, a uniform floor finish will create a seamless and elegant flow across all living spaces, significantly impacting the home’s overall aesthetic and value. This foundational change requires professional expertise and careful consideration of the final look.
Convert Kitchen Fireplace to Double-Sided: An ambitious project, we dream of transforming the kitchen fireplace into a double-sided feature that also opens into the living room. This would create a stunning architectural element, providing warmth and ambiance to both key living areas. We’ll consult with a mason to confirm feasibility and get an estimate, ensuring structural integrity and a beautiful outcome.
Widen Doorway Between Kitchen and Living Room: To enhance the open-concept feel and improve flow, we plan to widen the doorway connecting the kitchen and living room. This structural modification will create a more expansive and inviting transition between these central spaces, improving light distribution and social interaction.
Create Large Doorway Between Kitchen and Dining Room: Complementing the widened kitchen-living room doorway, we envision a huge doorway between the kitchen and the future dining room. This will create a grand, interconnected space, perfect for entertaining and seamless daily living, all while maintaining a consistent visual line.
Build/Adapt Custom Kitchen Island: For the eat-in area of the kitchen near the fireplace, we aim to build or adapt a custom island. This island will be a focal point, offering additional counter space, storage, and a casual dining area, tailored specifically to our needs and the room’s dimensions.
Convert Carport into a Garage: A major structural undertaking, converting the existing carport into a fully enclosed garage will provide invaluable storage, security, and added functionality. This project also includes selecting a killer garage door that adds architectural dimension and character to our relatively flat rancher, significantly boosting curb appeal.
Add French Doors Between Dining Room and Office: To introduce elegance, define separate zones, and provide privacy when needed, we plan to add French doors between the future dining room and the office. These charming doors will enhance both rooms’ aesthetics and functionality.
Replace Kitchen and Mudroom/Laundry Room Flooring: We are considering replacing the flooring in the kitchen and mudroom/laundry room, potentially with cork. Cork offers durability, comfort underfoot, and natural antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic, potentially moist areas. This update will unify the look and improve the functionality of these utility spaces.

Furnishings to Slowly Save Up For:

These are the investment pieces that will complete our home’s comfort and style, purchased strategically as our budget allows.

Queen Sized Bed for the Master Bedroom: We’ve already achieved this! No more sleeping on a mattress on the floor – a proper queen-sized bed now anchors our master bedroom, providing comfort and style.
Large Charcoal Gray U-Shaped Sectional: For years, we’ve dreamed of a living space large enough to accommodate a substantial U-shaped sectional. This charcoal gray sectional will be the ultimate comfort hub in our living room, perfect for family gatherings and relaxation, defining the seating area with luxurious scale.
Larger TV Stand/Media Center: Our current TV stand is comically small for the living room. We plan to sell it via Craigslist and invest the funds in a larger media center that better fits the scale of the space. We’re hoping to find a thrifted gem or even build one ourselves for a custom touch and budget-friendly solution, offering ample storage and a balanced aesthetic.
Giant Living Room Rug: An 8×10 or 9×11 rug will be essential to define the new seating area in the living room, adding warmth, texture, and anchoring the sectional. A large rug is crucial for making a vast space feel cozy and cohesive.
Stylish Kitchen Island Stools: Once our new kitchen island is in place, we’ll need some kick-arse stools. We plan to scout for affordable options that we can reupholster ourselves, allowing for a personalized touch that perfectly matches our kitchen’s style.
Large Round Wooden Pedestal Dining Table: For the future dining room, we envision a giant round wooden pedestal table with an expandable leaf. This will comfortably seat 10-12 people, making it ideal for entertaining and family meals, combining elegance with practicality.
Comfortable Dining Chairs: To complement the dining table, we’ll invest in comfy chairs, preferably upholstered parsons chairs. Their soft, library-ish appeal offers a more casual and inviting look compared to hard, wood-heavy alternatives, enhancing the dining experience.
New Bathroom Linens and Accessories: Fresh shower curtains, plush towels, and coordinated accessories for the hall and guest bathrooms will provide a spa-like feel, refreshing these essential spaces with simple, impactful upgrades.
Energy-Efficient Kitchen and Laundry Room Appliances: We are patiently waiting for killer deals to upgrade to new energy-efficient appliances for both the kitchen and laundry room. February often brings new models and sales, but we’ll also keep an eye on Craigslist and scratch & dent outlets for fantastic bargains that offer long-term savings and environmental benefits.
Full-Sized Bed Frame, Mattress, and Box Spring for Guest Room: To ensure our guests are as comfortable as possible, we plan to acquire a full-sized bed frame, mattress, and box spring for the guest room. Following this, we’ll embark on a fun DIY headboard project to add a unique, personalized touch.
Large Hallway Cabinet or Console Table: The hallway off the kitchen would benefit from a large cabinet or console table, offering both storage and a surface for decorative items. We’ll be on the lookout for a thrifted or Craigslist find that we can refinish to perfectly suit the space.
New Entryway Console Table: Our current entryway console table is laughably small and doesn’t quite define the space. We’ll sell it and invest in a new one that is better proportioned, helping to create a welcoming and organized entryway at the front of the house.
His and Hers Dressers for Master Bedroom: We are searching for affordable “his and hers” dressers for the master bedroom, ideally from Craigslist or a thrift store. Refinishing them will allow us to customize their look and provide much-needed storage, perfectly aligning with our personalized design vision.

In essence, our home improvement strategy isn’t rocket science, but rather a disciplined yet flexible approach: write everything down, tackle the immediate and manageable tasks to build confidence and momentum, and diligently save for the larger, long-term dream projects. Our priorities often hinge on what we’re in the mood to tackle, ensuring that the process remains enjoyable and prevents us from feeling forced or regimented. Of course, safety and extreme urgency always take precedence, but beyond that, we embrace a fluid work style.

This means you’ll see us jumping from DIY curtains to extensive paint projects, from minor accessorizing to heavy-duty structural renovations. Each project, big or small, contributes to the evolving narrative of our home. We’re committed to sharing detailed insights and progress on each undertaking over the next few years – a timeline we embrace, remembering that our previous home took us 4.5 years to “finish,” and even then, there were always new ideas to noodle on. This journey is about enjoying the process, celebrating progress, and continually refining our beloved home, one thoughtful project at a time.

Psst- Adorable “I heart lists” stationery found here on Etsy.

Psssst- Check out this floor plan post, which might provide a clearer understanding of some of the major layout changes and renovations we’ve outlined.