We recently updated our House Tour page with new progress photos and realized we hadn’t shared a status update on the new house since the early moving-in posts. Here’s a clear snapshot of where we stand just over three months in — roughly Day 101.

On move-in day the formal living room looked directly into the original dining room. We decided that space would function better as an entryway and dining area that opens into a home office, which fits our daily life more naturally.

The dining room now looks toward the converted office after we organized the built-ins and painted them. That small change made a much bigger visual difference than we expected. We also moved in a large 70″ table that will seat eight once we collect the chairs.

The future dining room / entryway is mostly set up now. Aside from bringing in the table, we haven’t done much else yet, but we’re excited to cut a 6-foot opening in the wall to connect this new dining area to the kitchen. We’ll also define an entry nook behind the table so the front door doesn’t open straight into the dining space.

The eat-in kitchen was long and cozy on move-in day. Our plan is to prime and paint the paneling, refresh the cabinets, and install a large island to highlight the fireplace. The pass-through to the new dining room will be on the right wall; we’re aiming for at least a 6-foot opening to keep the house feeling open and inviting.

At the moment the kitchen mostly looks like a work-in-progress — messier than before and with a temporary small table where the island will go — but we’ve got big plans. We’re pacing the projects while we save money and energy, so progress will happen in stages.

The hallway looked plain on day one, but we’ve filled one side with a collection of frames, which makes the corridor feel much more personal and lively. The opposite wall still has paper templates as we plan out the layout, but it will be balanced soon.

You can also see the hallway from the kitchen doorway. Adding the framed gallery and a console table helped the flow between rooms, and it now reads more intentionally as a passage rather than a transitional afterthought.

The living room had several updates early on: we painted the walls, refreshed the trim and the beams, removed ceiling fans, hung art, and added a larger area rug. The fireplace is one of the major future projects — we’d love to make it double-sided — and we still plan to build a console behind the sectional, hang curtains, add table lamps and new light fixtures, and update the media cabinet. Refinishing the parquet floors in a deeper tone is a long-term goal.

The sunroom was a relatively modern addition when we moved in and felt visually separate from the older parts of the house. For now we’ve furnished it with existing pieces, but the plan is to paint the bricks, ceiling, and walls to unify the space. Breezy window treatments and artwork will help balance the off-center window and tie the room back into the rest of the home.

The master bedroom received a new bed, a new duvet, no-sew curtains made from budget fabric, an updated light fixture, and a replacement rug. There’s still more to do — we want built-ins in the nook, a bench at the foot of the bed, and a better art choice above the headboard — but the room is coming together.

The small sink nook adjacent to the bedroom was awkward at first. We removed the bi-fold doors, demoed the old backsplash to make the sink feel more like a piece of furniture than a bathroom fixture, and replaced the awkward side medicine cabinet with a mirror centered above the window. It’s much easier to use now, and we have additional plans to refine the vanity area.

The master bathroom hasn’t changed much beyond raising the shower curtain for a cleaner, taller look, but it’s on the list for a future refresh.

The hall bathroom resembles the original full bath from our first house, and we’re happy the tile is in good shape. So far we removed an off-center bar under the window, added trim for balance, and raised the shower curtain. Painting the walls, adding art, making a window shade, and styling the space are next steps.

Clara’s nursery was similar in size to her previous room. We painted the walls a soft lavender-pinky-gray tone and hung her art, which made the space feel calm and finished for now.

The middle bedroom is functioning as a playroom and currently holds overflow items like extra bedding, art projects, and miscellaneous decor. It will become another kid’s room eventually, but for now we’re prioritizing organization before making it a polished space.

The guest bedroom arrived without a bed but now features bold peacock-blue walls, curtains, bedding, colorful accessories, and a DIY luggage-rack side table. Future plans include crown molding and additional artwork.

The guest bathroom sits beside the guest bedroom and was once the original master. We’re working with the vintage tile, replaced the medicine cabinet with a mirror, added towel hooks, hung art, and installed a bright shower curtain and a graphic bath mat. It’s functional and cheerful for now, with more updates planned.

The laundry room was small and empty on move-in day. We’ve upgraded to energy-efficient front-load machines and will add built-in storage to serve as a mini mudroom and a practical laundry center.

The basement started empty and is now a storage zone for our things and a few items for family downsizing. It’s a big project waiting to be organized, and it’s currently low on the priority list.

Although there are rooms we haven’t touched yet, we’re pleasantly surprised by how much has been accomplished in just a few months. Renovation moves in waves: some stretches are productive and fast-paced, while other times progress slows due to budget, energy, or life demands. Our pace will likely ebb and flow — that’s normal. We expect this renovation to take several years, similar to how our first house took years to evolve. It will be unpredictable, occasionally frustrating, and often fun. We’re enjoying the process and appreciate having you along for the ride.

Psst — a floor plan is available to help visualize the layout, and there’s an earlier video house tour if you want more context. We also recently announced a giveaway winner; check that update to see whether it’s you.