Welcome to the most zen home renovation series.
@HomeRenoZenARCHIVE 020
01/24/26
In Archive 020, we start building the retaining wall in the back yard that will become the foundation for future deck and landscaping projects, while we also take some time to celebrate with friends (and decaf Cottage Cottage because we're old now) before heading Up North for a long weekend, soaking our native garden to survive the summer heat wave while we're gone.
ARCHIVE 019
01/17/26
In Archive 019, the local deer gang wreaks havoc with their cuteness, the continually evolving plan for the back yard retaining wall gets written in pen, the drainage hose gets dug down as deep as we can get it, and the cats score a Herman Miller Eames Lounge chair for when they're not sunbathing in the windows. And more.
ARCHIVE 018
01/10/26
In Archive 018, the cats are losing in the local cat and mouse games with the chipmunks, we (finally) start painting and installing the interior doors from over a year ago, we also get around to grouting the kitchen backsplash, which means we can put back the final cabinet doors, the blue office gets IKEA cabinets to match, and the basement studio gets a (new to us) TV that will likely be a distraction while scanning rolls of film.
ARCHIVE 017
01/03/26
In Archive 017, we finish working our way down through 15+ yards of organic mulch as we plant over 50 plants, get ourselves into a bigger-than-expected project while digging up a buried drainage system, and finally paint and reinstall interior doors that have been off their hinges for over a year.
ARCHIVE 016
12/27/25
Year 002 of Home Reno Zen starts where we left off: Spring is in the air in Archive 016, as we start working outside on a landscape makeover, the neighborhood streets get an upgrade, we plant our seasonal patio herb garden, and more.
YEAR 001 RECAP
11/27/25
Get caught up on all 15 archive episodes from YEAR 001 in this 3-hour compilation video.
ARCHIVE 015
03/29/25
In Archive 015, we have reached the 1-year mark since getting the keys. Over the holidays, we cozied up with our wood-burning fireplace, finished the floors in the guest bath, painted new shelves for the office, enjoyed some wintery bird watching, and more.
ARCHIVE 014
03/22/25
In Archive 014, the white flakes start to fall to signal it's time to put up our first Christmas tree, along with less fun tasks like sealing up the window gaps, installing a de-icer melt system on the roof, assembling new office desks and rug, and finally getting new doors cut and installed on the built-in bookshelf.
ARCHIVE 013
03/15/25
In Archive 013, the leaves drop like flies as the late Fall weather is as unpredictable as your March Madness bracket. After finishing the wood siding and trim repairs, it's time to reseal the windows and repaint the frames to extend their life as long as possible. Inside, we fill and label jars capturing small handfuls of our favorite places from our 5+ years of living as creative nomads in our first home: a 2017 25' Airstream trailer.
ARCHIVE 012
03/08/25
In Archive 012, the green leaves are losing their majority rule as we continue to repair and repaint the wood siding, including the entryway. Kendra's handcrafted Halloween decorations have become a neighborhood hit while I retreat to the back porch for a quiet morning work session before we enjoy an evening bonfire dinner with friends.
ARCHIVE 011
03/01/25
In Archive 011, the leaves are starting to change as we repair the wood siding before touching up the exterior paint, finish setting up the basement studio, find the right place for a Nelson Platform Bench, and more.
ARCHIVE 010
02/22/25
In Archive 010, we're supervised by Luna and Sunny as we assemble shelves in the basement studio, refinish the entryway coat closet, flip the kitchen cabinet doors, finish repairing the chimneys, and more.
ARCHIVE 009
02/15/25
In this segment, we finish filling our bookshelves, paint the last room on the main floor, reorganize the basement studio, enjoy the natural beauty of a slow morning, repair the chimney, almost shatter the glass of our new coffee table, install some kitchen drawer pull tabs, mourn the loss of a cardinal, and meet some new wild neighbors.
ARCHIVE 008
02/08/25
In Archive 008, we wake up for the first time in our new home, introduce our cats to their new digs, slowly keep moving stuff in, begin to figure out the basement studio setup, and more... all with project manager cats hovering over our shoulders at all times.
ARCHIVE 007
02/01/25
In Archive 007, we paint a little bit more, get a new fridge, refinish the outdated kitchen tile floors, pretend to be a plumber, finish trim, and plant herbs before a storm knocks out power. And, believe it or not, we move the cats over to FINALLY spend our first night 154 days after first getting possession.
ARCHIVE 006
01/25/25
In Archive 006, we refinish the bookshelves, tile over almost everything, finish & install endless amounts of trim, eat a lot of Chinese takeout, have friends over to help install the TV and watch March Madness, and paint more walls.
ARCHIVE 005
01/18/25
ARCHIVE 004
01/11/25
In this session, we yank up the nasty carpets and their pesty tack strips & staples before (finally) choosing paint colors by splattering our clothes with them.
ARCHIVE 003
01/04/25
In this session, we yank up the nasty carpets and their pesty tack strips & staples before (finally) choosing paint colors by splattering our clothes with them.
ARCHIVE 002
12/28/24
In this session, we discover evidence of past infestations while removing trim, continue to prep for paint (colors TBD still), and try our best to collectively decide on wood flooring options.
ARCHIVE 001
12/26/24
Welcome to the beginning of the most zen home renovation archive. You may/may not learn anything, may/may not be entertained, and may/may not follow the complete archival collection to its conclusion. But if you're reading this, maybe you will.
FIND ZEN
IN THE PROCESS
BEFORE IMAGES
FRONT ENTRYWAY
FRONT ENTRYWAY
FRONT ENTRYWAY
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY BEDROOM
PRIMARY CLOSET
PRIMARY BATHROOM
PRIMARY BATHROOM
PRIMARY BATHROOM
LIVING ROOM / OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE / LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM / STAIRWAY
LIVING ROOM / STAIRWAY
BASEMENT
BASEMENT
BASEMENT
BASEMENT
BASEMENT BATHROOM
BASEMENT BATHROOM
BASEMENT BATHROOM
LIVING ROOM / KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
GUEST BATHROOM
GUEST BATHROOM
LAUNDRY ROOM
LAUNDRY ROOM
LAUNDRY ROOM
GARAGE
GARAGE
GARAGE
GARAGE