It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month in the new house. To be honest, things still look a little chaotic: bright blue trim everywhere, wallpaper in multiple rooms, a salmon-colored living room, old carpeting that remains on the stairs and in the closet, and a lot of furniture that was simply dropped where it landed on moving day. That means most pieces won’t stay in those exact spots for long. Some rooms feel unchanged since move-in day, while others — especially upstairs — have already evolved so much that it’s hard to remember the original look. Below is a concise, room-by-room update on where we are one month in.

The foyer:

The kitchen:

The table is too small for the space, but it already looks less overwhelming than it did on moving day. We’re still sorting out the layout and dining setup, and plan to find a better-sized table and more functional seating as we settle in.

The sunroom:

The office:

The living room:

The dining room (confession: nothing has changed here since day one, so we reused the same photo):

The half bathroom:

We’ve started to lighten and brighten this space by removing wallpaper and making small cosmetic changes. The result feels cleaner and more modern than when we first walked in.

The guest room:

This room has come a long way since move-in day. A few weeks before we moved in it looked very different; now it feels more welcoming after painting, new blinds, and hanging curtains.

The hall bathroom:

The spare room / possible future nursery:

This room no longer features mauve-trimmed carpet and outdated finishes. We’re considering multiple options for its future use, and it’s already much more neutral and usable.

Clara’s room:

Clara’s room has been transformed significantly compared with its pre-move condition. It’s now much more tailored to her needs and looks fresher and brighter after a few small updates.

Our bedroom:

Our bedroom is shaping up and already feels far removed from the pre-move photo. It’s becoming a calmer, more restful space as we add furniture and personalize the layout.

Our bathroom:

Some areas still feel very much like “just moved in,” such as an open kitchen cabinet that’s essentially a jumble of tools and supplies while we finish unpacking and organizing. The closet is another area that needs a lot of attention and will be reorganized soon.

Overall, we’re grateful for visible progress. For example, where we used to see worn carpet and blue trim as we climbed the stairs, the upstairs now feels fresh and clean. The hallway has changed dramatically: the moment you reach the top of the stairs it feels like a new home. The stair railing does need an upgrade, but that’s on the long list.

Progress highlights from the first month include:

• Removing several layers of old carpeting throughout the house
• Installing hardwood flooring upstairs
• Painting doors and trim on the upper level to update the look
• Adding new doorknobs throughout the house for a quick refresh
• Removing wallpaper from the half bathroom to brighten the space
• Taking out interior doors between the foyer, kitchen, living room, and dining room to create a more open flow
• Completing some necessary tree work outside
• Removing glass shower doors and re-caulking the bathtub to address water issues and refresh the bathroom
• Hanging curtains in the guest room to finish the windows
• Stripping old carpet from the sunroom to reveal a cleaner floor
• Installing new blinds in all bedrooms and bathrooms to improve privacy and light control

We’re slowly feeling like this house is truly ours. We’re in love with it — trim quirks and all — and are excited to keep working on each room. We intentionally move through projects in phases so we can research and plan thoroughly as we go; that approach keeps the process manageable and ensures we’ll share each improvement in detail over time.

Psst — if you’re wondering about our long-term plans for each space, we have a large to-do list that we consult as we decide and tackle projects. We prefer to plan as we move forward, and we’ll post updates with details as each space evolves.