7 Home Projects That Still Make Me Happy

We’re constantly doing little DIYs around here and doing some big projects, too. I thought I’d highlight 7 Home Projects that Still make me happy.

7 Home Projects That Still Make Me Happy

1. Our Pool

This was probably the biggest and most expensive project we’ve tackled. This time 3 years ago, our yard was dug up and we anticipated an amazing spot to entertain and make memories with our kids. I shared the whole process along with videos. You can see the reveal here and a post on things to think about when installing a pool.

I think many friends thought we were crazy to put a pool in when we live around the corner from the beach BUT I grew up with a pool and had wonderful memories of swimming with my dad.

We’ve loved every moment of having a pool, especially over the last year when our home had to be our vacation spot AND oasis.

Our pool is still making all of us very happy 😉

2. Converting our fireplace to gas and giving it a little makeover

I spend hours sitting by this fireplace (even in summer). Yes, I get cold and put it on. Ha! Ha! It drives my hubby crazy, but anyway. I use this fireplace in all seasons.

To get the full before and after value you have to see the photo:

See the makeover post here.

I can turn my gas fireplace on with a click of a remote and it’s clean and not smokey and I can switch it off just as easily.

I love how realistic it looks, too.

I painted the fireplace interior with oven paint and it really makes such a statement. The dated fireplace brick was refaced with fossilized ocean floor. It makes such a difference!

I wanted something that looked like it could have always been in our historic home.

Below was our mantel at Christmas:

How our fireplace and mantel currently looks:

We have the screen to prevent Max from eating those little rocks.

3. Painting our sunroom floors bright white

Our sunroom is one of my favorite rooms. It has views of our pool and yard, and also is flooded with light. When we first did over this room we did a driftwood style stain which I loved BUT painting the floors BRIGHT WHITE made the room so much brighter.

You can see my tips for painting the floors here and this tablescape here. We’re actually working on this space currently – we just had a new door installed and insulated under the floor. It’s made this unheated room so much warmer. We’re using this room more now than ever. I paint at this table everyday but we’re also enjoying family meals and coffee etc. We plan on adding heating and adding a 15 pane glass door where that window is. I’ll share more about this space as it unfolds.

This was last Christmas and you can see how well the floors have stood up:

These white floors are still making me smile!

4. Growing a Garden Together

Since the boys were little we’ve grown vegetables together. I shared how to build raised beds and make garden markers.

Here are photos from a few years ago:

I love seeing how our garden goes from little seedlings to giant plants. It’s wonderful to pick lettuce for salads and nothing tastes better than fresh tomatoes.

I shared more tips here if you want to start your own garden.

In fact, in another section of the yard we’re planting a cutting garden and I’m really excited about that. You can see our plans here.

5. Creating a Sea Shed

A few years back I partnered with Home Depot to convert an ordinary garden shed into a coastal oasis. I was one of three bloggers and each shed came out differently – one was modern, one was farmhouse, and mine was coastal. You can see the reveal here.

Here’s a glimpse at the outside when Luke and I finished with it:

A sweet little shed…

Inside looked like this:

You can see more here. I enjoyed many quiet mornings out here when the boys were little.

But times change… When we installed the pool we decided to transform this into a pool house EVERYONE can enjoy.

Black and white and thorough coastal. You can see the reveal here. Luke created the slatted storage benches (which we store outdoor cushions) and the butcher block counters and raw edge shelf.

I tweaked the decor last year and added this watercolor seascape free printable.

6. DIY Board and Batten

Our old bedroom (which has become our office) wasn’t a very big room. We decided to do a DIY board and batten paneling. You can see the tutorial here. Here’s an in progress shot:

Here’s how the room came out:

This was last spring. What a difference!

7. DIY window boxes with watering system

Luke created this large coastal window box with PVC planks and pipes. I really love flowers. The shed came with teeny tiny window boxes which were more oranmental. So Luke made me a giant window box. I love filling it up each season. This was when we first built it. Get the tutorial here.

This is the same window box planted for spring. I just shared the other week here.

Did you enjoy this post? I hope it gave you some ideas for your own home. I realize some of these are very BIG projects but tried to included some simple DIYs. Small projects can make just as big an impact on the happiness in ones home. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned the past 7 years in our home is – it’s great to take your time on your home AND I often wonder why I dragged my feet on some projects like painting our floors… Can’t wait to hear what you guys think. Do you have a favorite project?