As any homeowner knows, house projects are a never-ending to-do list. However, it can be fun to see how your house transforms over time. We’ve been changing a lot of things in our home in just a little over a year!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/01-bushes-0-300x225.jpg)
outside of our house last fall — we have since gotten new windows (without grids) and are in the process of tearing out the bushes in front for some new landscaping
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/02-bushes-1-300x225.jpg)
Step 1: chopping off all the branches
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/03-bushes-2-e1499465494189-225x300.jpg)
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/04-bushes-3-e1499465533913-225x300.jpg)
Step 2: digging up the root
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/05-deck-1-300x225.jpg)
Steve installing our new grill last summer — notice the little bush tree to the right in the corner of the deck
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/06-deck-2-300x225.jpg)
After the bush tree was removed
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2779-300x225.jpg)
crazy wind and snowstorm destroyed our umbrella!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3867-300x225.jpg)
our new umbrella with LED lights :)
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/07-tree-1-e1499465684312-225x300.jpg)
Sawing off dead tree branches (an HOA violation)
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/08-tree-2-300x225.jpg)
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/music-room-1-300x225.jpg)
my first time at the house meeting Toby — sitting in the room that would later be turned into my music room!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/music-room-2-300x225.jpg)
my music room today where I have started giving private violin lessons
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/09-windows_family-1-300x225.jpg)
old window in the family room
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/10-windows_family-2-e1499465754534-225x300.jpg)
new window in the family room
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/11-windows_kitchen-1-300x225.jpg)
old kitchen window — we could hardly see out!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/12-windows_kitchen-2-300x225.jpg)
new kitchen window
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/13-windows_living-1-300x300.jpg)
old living room window with grids
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/14-windows_living-2-e1499466164919-225x300.jpg)
new living room window — no more grids
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17-kitchen_sink-1-300x225.jpg)
old kitchen faucet — broke because our water pressure valve was broken and the pressure was way too high!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/18-kitchen_sink-2-300x225.jpg)
got our plumbing problems resolved and got a fancy new sink with sensors that I love to use while cooking!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/15-kitchen_light-1-e1499466202384-225x300.jpg)
old kitchen look — old light, old windows, no drapes
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/16-kitchen_light-2-300x225.jpg)
new kitchen light, new windows, and drapes
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/19-bedroom-hall-1-300x225.jpg)
bedroom hallway — Steve’s old bedspread and set-up, and blank walls!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20-bedroom-hall-2-300x225.jpg)
our bedroom now and decorated walls :)
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/21-bedroom-1-e1499466426140-225x300.jpg)
Steve’s old bedroom set-up and old ceiling fan
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/22-bedroom-2-e1499466467898-225x300.jpg)
our bedroom — new ceiling fan, painted walls, new windows, drapes, and new cozy couch chair
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/23-dining-room-1-300x225.jpg)
dining room before I moved in
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/24-dining-room-2-e1499466520324-225x300.jpg)
after we painted the walls and set up my great-grandparents’ china cabinet
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/25-family-1-300x225.jpg)
BEFORE
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/26-family-2-300x300.jpg)
AFTER
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/27-living-room-1-300x225.jpg)
living room as I was unpacking my boxes last summer
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/28-living-room-2-300x225.jpg)
living room after we painted around the window on December 31
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/29-hall-light-1-300x225.jpg)
old hallway light looking down into the living room
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/30-hall-light-2-300x225.jpg)
new hallway chandelier looking down into the living room
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/31-hall-light-3-240x300.jpg)
old hallway light
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/32-hall-light-4-e1499466681945-225x300.jpg)
new hallway chandelier
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/33-living-space-1-300x225.jpg)
just Steve and Toby in their bachelor pad
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/34-living-space-2-e1499466725138-300x225.jpg)
our family now!
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/35-living-space-3-e1499466755839-225x300.jpg)
THEN
![](https://sarah.4jcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/36-living-space-4-300x225.jpg)
NOW