New home, new list!
If you’ve been following us for a while you’ll already know that I’m a list keeping kind of person. I have lists for everything (probably way too many!) and we even shared a to-do list printable to make your own lists. For me, it’s the best way to keep organised and keep an overview of what needs doing.
In our house in Manchester, we had one super long list with all house goals (you can read about our progress here) and our new apartment is no different.
It’s great to have a rough overview of what needs doing and for us, it’s also a good way to be accountable. At the moment it’s only a rough guide and I’m sure it’s a list that will get longer before it gets shorter!
Hallway – 0% complete
- Restore front door
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Install tiled floor
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Update apartment security
- Add lighting
- Paint & decorate
Guest Bathroom – 0% complete
- Paint & decorate
- Update plumbing (& add warm water!)
- Update electrics
- Change toilet
- Clean and save floor tiles (if possible)
- Change washbasin & fittings
- Update wall tiles
- Add fixtures & fittings
Office (Ultimately to be the new kitchen) – 0% complete
- Sand floors
- Paint & decorate
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Install a kitchen
- Possibly widen or knockdown wall between kitchen and dining room
- Add lighting
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
Dining Room – 0% complete
- Repair stained glass
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Paint & decorate
- Sand parquet
- Add lighting
- Repair balcony door
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
Balcony – 0% complete
- Sort floor
- Paint balustrade
- Add plants
- Update electrics
Living Room – 0% complete
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Paint & decorate
- Sand parquet
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Add lighting
Guest Bedroom – 0% complete
- Sand floorboards
- Paint & decorate & add panelling
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Add lighting
Kitchen & Pantry (To be new bathroom) – 0% complete
Temporary
- Paint cabinets & makeover current kitchen
- Refinish shelves in pantry
- Repair floor
- Strip, sand & refinish antique fridge
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
Long-term:
- Strip out everything
- Save floor
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Block door
- Divide room
- Install new bathroom
Bathroom (To be new en-suite & utility room) – 0% complete
Temporary:
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Add fixtures & fittings
Long-term:
- Knock down current wall and update layout
- Add en-suite
- Add utility room
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
Master Bedroom – 0% complete
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Move door
- Sand floors
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Add opening to create walk-in wardrobe
- Paint & decorate
- Add balcony
Narrow Bedroom – 0% complete
- Strip, sand & refinish doors
- Block doorway
- Update window
- Install built-in wardrobe and storage
- Refinish floor
- Update electrics
- Update plumbing
- Paint & decorate
This apartment definitely needs a lot less work than our house in Manchester. It’s in a perfectly livable state at the moment and it can really only get better over time.
The biggest jobs definitely involve knocking down walls and rejigging the layout. From our previous renovation experience we already know that knocking down walls is messy and dirty but if you get it right it’s also one of the best things you can do to improve your space. It’s one of the jobs we’re looking forward to most and I already can’t wait to get out my sledgehammer!
How do you keep on top of your home improvements? Do you have lists like we do? What are your favourite home improvements? Are there DIY jobs you love and are there any you hate doing?
Andrea says
Wow! That’s a lot to do! What are you starting with? I’m facing into updating the electrics at my place.
Christine says
It’s funny you should say that, Andrea! I’m meeting the electrician later today!
Cx
Andrea says
It’s deciding whether to do all the electrics at once and get the chaos out of the way, or do them room by room. Will be watching to see what way you go!
Christine says
We’ll be doing a few rooms at a time. We want to change the layout at the back of the apartment and won’t be able to do any electrical work until the messy building work is done. Having said that I would totally recommend doing all electrical work in one go if you can! It’ll mean you only have the inconvenience once and it should also be a bit cheaper. It’s what we’d do if we could afford to!
Cx
Hannah says
Ever since you’ve posted the first photos of the kitchen, I’ve been wondering about that cupboard under the window. I don’t know the English term for “garde-manger,” but is that a built-in with openings to the outside for ventilation? Because if it is and if it’s still intact or can be easily restored, that’s a brilliant way to keep food fresh and cool (well, except for on really hot days).
If the current pollution levels of the “Berliner Luft” permit it and you do get to try it out before you move your kitchen to another room, I’d love to read about it. Maybe you’ll even decide to keep it?
Christine says
You’re totally right, Hannah! I’m not sure if there are any openings in the back (I’m sure we’ll find out as soon as we move in) but it is a kind of antique fridge. We’ll definitely be keeping it and restoring it even if we move the kitchen as it’s such a fab original feature. It would be great if it actually works and we’d love to give it a try!
Cx