I follow a lot of other folks on Instagram who are also renovating and restoring old homes. Ours is a 1908 Craftsman Bungalow, others are renovating farmhouses and making homes of buildings that were formerly businesses.
There’s something we all have in common, that feeling that the work is never done. We cheer each other on, rejoice over the small victories and try to be an encouragement when the going is slow and rough, which is often.
This past month when I spent the majority of it in bed, I spent a lot of time looking up at the walls and ceiling in my room, that we have yet to renovate. Quite frankly, the walls are pretty lumpy. Lol These plaster and lath walls have been ‘repaired’ many times by folks over the years and boy do they show it. They’re difficult for me to look at.
We also need to remove the door and picture molding you see in the photo, and restore the walls, baseboards, floors and windows. You know, a weekend project! #not LOL
I wish I could say this was the only room in the house that needed this much work, but it’s not. We have done so much work on this house but we still have so far to go.
Having “so far to go” on a house can be discouraging.
Many of my instagram peers will have transparent moments where they share ‘behind the square’ photos and videos of what it’s really like to renovate a home in real life. It’s slow and difficult and absolutely nothing like your favorite HGTV home reno show, that’s for sure. Behind a few squares of super styled photos are rooms that are still in a rough state.
You know, whether you’ve started on one or two projects or you’re just dreaming about starting, I want to remind all of us that our homes, in their current state are worth celebrating.
I know it’s tough, believe me, I’ve had exposed lumber in my bathroom for over eight years. That same bathroom has never had baseboard and the vanity is too dang small. If you’re thinking, why don’t you just fix it, you’re a renovator for Pete’s sake?! I would say, I would love too!! But the reality is, before you fix that, you have to fix this, and before you fix this you have to fix that. You add in a busy schedule, and other rooms and projects that are a priority, and well, things just don’t happen as quickly as we want them to.
Maybe for you, it’s dealing with carpet you want to rip out, cabinets you want to replace or painting you need to get done, bottom line, it’s driving you nuts. And it’s impacting how you feel about your home and yourself.
I hear you.
Though I’m not advocating for just sitting in your mess and tolerating it, I am saying, during a season of ‘hurry up and wait’, try to remember all the good your home provides, even in it’s current state.
We love our home, I’ve said that many times before. But even I, if I focus too long on those lumpy bedroom walls will start to get down about all that still has to be done in this old home.
Our bedroom (though desperately needing renovation/restoration) still provides a warm and cozy place to sleep at night, what more can I ask for?
Would I love for our bedroom to be done and decorated the way I see it in my head? Yes, of course! But I also know that we’re not just sitting around and waiting for things to happen, we’re working as much on our home as we can, when we can.
I need to remember that this is just a season.. and seasons change.
I know I talk a lot about gratitude and focusing on the good and I don’t think I’ll ever be done talking about it. Lol The fact of the matter is this, regardless of what the situation is, everything will be better when we chose to look for the good and be grateful for what we have. The alternative, focusing on what we don’t have, brings nothing but anxiety, anger, frustration and even depression. Who wants that? Not me!
Even the rooms in my home that are ‘done’ are still not done being decorated, they’re not where I would like them to be. I still have a choice to make, to focus on the good, work on what I can and be grateful for the rest.
We have a few more (big and small) projects to complete before we plan to tackle the bedroom or bathroom so it will be awhile yet before I’m seeing smooth walls in my bedroom.
But let’s just choose together, to work on what we can, and rest in the season and home we find ourselves in.
Blessings on your home,
Catrina
