I was inspired my Young House Love‘s mega to do list and thought we’d share our own list, along with the progress we’ve made (spoiler alert: most rooms are at 0%) in each room. Grab your favorite beverage because this is a long one!

Basement
5% done

• DryLok walls
• Replace the sump pump
• Create a cover for the sump pump hole
• Run electric and build a platform for the chest freezer
• Add shop lighting
• Assemble shelving and organize our personal stuff and business materials
• Add a light to the stairwell
• Build a door for the stairwell
• Build a wine cellar
• Build a workshop
• Paint the stairwell

Studio
65% done

• Remove the windows between the home and work space
• Finish the drywall
• Replace the broken bottom panels of the garage door
• Replace bricked over windows
• Patch holes too numerous to count
• Run additional electrical outlets
• Remove old fire alarm system and cables
• Remove old alarm system
• Repair the pole holes
• Wash the walls and floor
• Paint everything white
• Build a room around the furnaces and cover it with a cool texture
• Replace fluorescent light fixtures (We need to give you an update on this.)
• Build a platform for Aaron’s desk <— In progress!
• Build a viewing area for client meetings <— In progress!
• Run Cat6 network cable <— In progress!
• Install gallery hanging system
• Set up Aaron’s office
• Hang art
• Build a partial wall for Heather’s office/printer area
• Set up Heather’s desk
• Build shelving in the mechanical room
• Build a conference table
• Build a cool light fixture to hang over the conference table
• Build a new front door
• Design and build a screen door for the garage door

Entry cube
0% done

• Replace the fire hose lights
• Finish the drywall
• Paint
• Hang art

Dining room
0% done

• Secure the fire pole at the bottom with more bolts
• Patch all the holes, including the large one that was possibly a coal door
• Finish the duct work
• Run more electrical outlets
• Put the dining room lighting on a different switch than the studio lighting
• Build a new door for the basement stairwell
• Paint
• Run new floors throughout the first floor, maybe lifting the floor to add a radiant heat system
• Build a light fixture that’s been floating around in our heads for years
• Build a large dining table
• Hang art

Downstairs living room
0% done

• Finish the duct work into the bathroom
• Patch the holes
• Paint
• Run new floors throughout the first floor, maybe lifting the floor to add a radiant heat system
• Add a cool, modern fireplace
• Buy new seating (couch and chairs, some of which may be vintage)
• Add a window or door to the yard
• Hang art
• Find a spot for a bar

Kitchen
2% done

• Replace two of the bricked over windows
• Add a new lighting fixture
• Buy appliances
• Open up the kitchen to the rest of the first floor
• Build a new backdoor
• Vent the range hood outside
• Run new floors throughout the first floor, maybe lifting the floor to add a radiant heat system
• Basically completely gut the kitchen. We’re still figuring out what this looks like. It will probably have an island, definitely more cabinet/counter space, definitely an electric wall oven and built-in microwave

Half bath
10% done

• Replace the bricked over window
• Cover the Swiss cheese ceiling
• Add a new light fixture
• Paint
• Restore the slop sink
• Restore the toilet paper holder
• Restore the door
• Add art and accessories, like a mirror and storage

Stairwell
0% done

• Decide whether to keep the original door, if so, refinish it
• Patch the walls and paint
• Paint the railings and refinish the banister
• Add new lighting

Upstairs living room
0% done

• Tear down the plaster on the west side to expose the brick
• Make the roof hatch usable
• Fix the plaster on the ceiling
• Remove old fire alarms
• Run more electric and add outlets
• Hide the electric panel
• Replace the closet doors
• Insulate the furnace sound deadening material
• Refinish or remove the hall door
• Run new flooring throughout the second floor (some sort of old factory-weathered wood is our dream option)
• Add windows on the west wall (maybe)
• Investigate the ceiling ducts to determine if we can add a skylight
• Replace the lighting
• Paint
• Build a “mega couch” for ultimate TV and movie viewing
• Hang/hide a projector and screen
• Hang art

Captain’s bedroom and bathroom
0% done

• Secure the top of the fire pole with more than just electrical wire
• Replace/add screens to the windows
• Fix the duct work
• Refinish the original door
• Refinish the window sills
• Use the water connections (maybe for a coffee bar?)
• Replace the flooring
• Rebuild the closets so they go to the ceiling
• Add a bed, dresser, side tables and other necessities for a guest room
• Hang art (maybe a large pull down map)
• Determine what it would take to make the bathroom functional

Awesome bathroom
-10% done

• Replace fixtures as necessary to make sure everything works
• Replace the lights over the mirrors
• Redo/cover the plaster walls
• Paint
• Build a storage solution for towels and other necessities (maybe a rendition of pipe shelving)
• Build an LED drop ceiling
• Build a new door
• Add a Mojo washing station in one of the showers

Workout room/extra bedroom
0% done

• Remove the “stage”
• Remove the pole closet
• Rebuild the actual closet so it goes to the ceiling
• Fix the window sills
• Finish the trim
• Build out the exercise area (mirrors and a weight rack)
• Mount the TV
• Replace the flooring
• Paint
• Build a Murphy bed and extra storage along the south wall

4th “bedroom”
0% done

• Build the old pole closet and furnace into a proper furnace room with a door leading to the hallway
• Close off the existing door and turn the space into a closet for the master suite by adding a door between this room and the master bathroom
• Paint
• Replace the flooring
• Add new lighting and electrical as needed
• Add a window (maybe)

Laundry room
0% done

• Expand the laundry room by stealing space from the master bedroom or workout room
• Build storage and a clothes drying rack
• Paint

Master bedroom
0% done

• Remove the half wall
• Remove the double closets
• Seal the brick
• Investigate the ceiling ducts to determine if we can add a skylight
• Adjust duct work
• Build a new door
• Update slide dimmers to something more modern
• Replace the flooring
• Redo the lighting
• Build a platform bed
• Buy/build side tables
• Add a fireplace (maybe)
• Buy additional furniture as needed (chairs, dresser, etc) – maybe some vintage pieces
• Paint
• Add light blocking window treatments
• Hang art

Master bathroom
0% done

• Extend the wall of the shower so we can add a steam feature
• Replace the jacuzzi tub with a claw-foot tub or an uber modern tub
• Replace the vanity/storage with something more modern
• Replace the flooring
• Add a door into the new master closet
• Add a window to the west wall (maybe)
• Paint
• Add new lighting and maybe an LED drop ceiling

Exterior
30% done

• Buy Right Lot
• Seal the roof
• Lay a huge patio
• Replace the asphalt in back with a new parking pad
• Install a carport
• Fence the yard (We’re close)
• Plant grass
• Replace mulberry tree with something non-fruit bearing
• Finish the carport into a garage
• Remove the dead tree in the front of the house
• Repaint the front garage door and hang new flags
• Create raised planting beds
• Section the patio into functional areas (like eating, lounging and a fire pit)
• Build an overhang for the grill area
• Build a fire pit
• Build fire wood storage
• Build patio furniture
• Build an overhang for part of the patio
• Move the trailer to the back
• Pour a concrete pad for trailer storage
• Tuck point the building (likely in stages)
• Replace the bad second story windows
• Landscape (another tree or two, ivy, tall grass)
• Fix the front lights
• Fix the light over the front door
• Add motion lights to the back and garage
• Run electric to the garage
• Run electric on the patio side of the building
• Fix the water faucet in back
• Remove the asphalt in the alley
• Add uplighting
• Buy the alley

Overall
10% done

• Activate the new security system
• Incorporate home automation, including smart thermostats
• Investigate on-demand water, especially for the upstairs bathrooms

So that’s the master plan… or most of it. I’m sure we forgot some steps along the way. Do you keep a master to do list or organize your projects some other way? Aaron is still working away in the studio as we inch that space closer to 100% completion!

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