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 wallsReplace 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 spaceFinish the drywallReplace the broken bottom panels of the garage doorReplace bricked over windowsPatch holes too numerous to countRun additional electrical outletsRemove old fire alarm system and cablesRemove old alarm systemRepair the pole holesWash the walls and floorPaint everything whiteBuild a room around the furnacesand cover it with a cool textureReplace 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 windowsAdd a new lighting fixtureBuy 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 LotSeal the roofLay a huge patioReplace the asphalt in back with a new parking padInstall 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!
I’m so glad you posted this – it’s great to have links to projects you’ve already completed that I haven’t seen before! I love the kitchen light fixture!
Dudes. I still think this is the coolest thing ever. Jealous as always!
Ha! Thanks!
I also keep a running project list. The only problem is that sometimes it seems I add more to the list than I take off! I just started this list in January as a sort of New Year’s resolution, so it doesn’t show all of the projects we’ve done, but it does have links to the ones we have completed since the beginning of the year.
http://capeofdreams.wordpress.com/project-list/
Nice! You have a lot more crossed off than we do 🙂
Holy cow this makes me so excited! SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Oddly enough, one of the places I’m most excited to see how it develops is the basement. Wine cellar? YES. Workshop? YES YES YES.
Oh my! We’re so excited about the basement too. The wine cellar is competing with the patio for (potential) “FAVORITE space!”
Super jealous of the Mojo washing station you have planned. That is a must have in our dream home because I basically just have to bathe with our dogs if they need a bath.
With three dogs, I’m sure you could get a lot of use out of a dog washing station!
[…] have plans (oh boy do we have plans) that include a home for the trailer. Originally, we wanted to store it on Right Lot, but when […]
I am SO glad Kim and Scott shared your blog! I seriously just spent an hour reading about your firehouse! The progress you’ve already made in the studio is awesome! Definitely bookmarking you! 🙂
Shannon
Thanks and welcome! Some days we don’t feel like we’ve even made a dent (probably because our dining room and downstairs living room are filled with boxes of studio stuff and construction equipment, respectively).
[…] time to take stock on what we’ve accomplished and update our master plan (original found here). This will give you a snapshot of what we have planned and how far along each room is. (Spoiler: […]
[…] About 6 months ago, we popped a bottle of champagne and celebrated the fact that we bought the firehouse. It was ours. We were giddy, full of plans and ready to move past the “waiting to close” purgatory. Our sights were set on a list of projects so long it would make even a seasoned renovation pro think twice. […]