It's hard to believe it's been an entire year since we moved into this house. There have been so many ups and downs throughout the year but with every space we make our own, it feels more like home and we fall more in love. There are more roots established and ideas dreamt about. We love talking about the future in this house.
Every year we do a video tour to document the changes. You can see all of the untouched, unfinished and in progress spaces in this video and even some things we haven't shared on the blog yet! With these annual videos, it's not about getting a bunch done before we shoot them, it's about celebrating how far we've come in that year.
And for reference, here's the first video tour of this house taken last year on June 5th. (We moved in June 4th!) We tried to follow the same path so you can even watch them side by side if you want!
There have been so many massive changes in year 1. All of the structural changes and the beginning of the exterior makeover (that's been a curveball!). I feel like year 2 will be a lot of really fun changes and hopefully less heaviness. I want to diving into designing more spaces and breaking out paint brushes and hanging more wallpaper. I'm excited to put more of our personality into this house now that the layout feels more conducive to our family and lifestyle. I want to hang art and window treatments and new lights! I'm excited to add some bold colors and layer in more furniture (yes, some rooms are still empty!). Year 2 feels even more exciting than year 1 to me and although I look at our house tour this year and think, "wow! we've come so far!" I know one day we'll look back in disbelief. (It's kind of my favorite part of my job.) Haha.
Thank you for being here and for cheering us on through all of the ups and downs of renovation. You make it so fun for us, every day.
Leave a Reply
WE'RE CHRIS + JULIA
Portfolio
Projects
Absolutely love the work y'all did inside your home! Wow! It is beautiful, inviting, and just lovely! Thank you for sharing!
Wow it gave me goosebumps, almost cried and its not even my house I felt ridiculous haha.!
You've done such an amazing job , wish you the best in this beautiful home of yours.
This took my breath away! You have such vision. I want to live here! Love that we get to follow along.
Amazing!
This was such a fun review. I did watch them side by side and remember back when you first purchased the place. I had faith in you, but truly could NOT see past the decor and weird layout. Its been educational on a broad level, not just details. Still not sure I would trust myself to tackle a transformation this significant, but I love watching and learning from you both. Thanks for continuing to share and inspire.
What a transformation already! I’ve always loved these yearly videos and am amazed by what you accomplish each time but this year takes the cake! So happy for you! And seeing your office in this video made me want you to paint it all in that same moody color you used on your one paneled accent wall...I think it was F&B Downpipe? But seriously, everything was so lovely! Can’t wait to see next years video!
Yes, "Downpipe" by Farrow and Ball
https://chrislovesjulia.com/a-dark-beadboard-accent-wall-in-the-office/
Long-time reader here: I started reading your blog just after you moved into your last house, through the podcast years ????, still reading! I love reading about your renovations, and you have brought us along, for which I am so grateful. So much has changed in such a short time! (Short to us, probably not to you...) I’m looking forward to the next phases inside too, since painting and choosing furniture and accessories and lighting for an existing room is what I need inspiration for. Does that make sense? I’m here for all of it, but the smaller makeovers are the ones I can directly apply to my home. The little decisions over time that made Greta’s room what it is now is one example of this.
Thank you for consistently writing and video-ing and picturing a blog I want to read every time!
Your home is so beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for sharing the video! Xx
Julia, loved watching the first and current tour videos back to back. What a transformation. I just want to sit in that master closet with a snifter of cognac! It feels so upscale and cozy. Since you'll likely do the phase 2 kitchen reno next summer, have you guys considered a DIY project creating a small outdoor kitchen beforehand? That would make it much easier once you're ready to redo the indoor kitchen. Can't wait for the new master bathroom design. Thanks again for taking us along!
Awesome job! I can’t wait to see what you do this year. Any chance you bench source in the entry? Love it!
Thank you
Julie
Hi Julie! That was recently sent to us from Ginny MacDonald celebrating her new line with Lulu & Georgia! Available here.
Truly stunning space!!! Warm, inviting, cozy, artistic, beautiful!
Gosh I am just in LOVE with your home and vision for your future in this space, it’s really inspiring. Two tiny things I was curious about in the video: I live with a chef who would LOVE the cutting board over the counter top you use under your toaster. Do you mind sharing the source? Does the cutting board slip or do you find it’s sturdy? And secondly, is that an air purifier in between your master bedroom and bathroom? If so, have you found it’s been helping with health issues? Thanks!!
The over-the-counter cutting board is from Ikea years ago! We love it and the air purifier is Rowenta and it has served us well, too. Especially during construction.
Julia..... I have to agree with everyone's comments! Absolutely beautiful. My favorite blog to follow. The living/dining room fireplace...... how big is your mantle and could you tell me what kind of technique they did for the surface. I would so like to do something similar at our cottage! Keep up the amazing work!
Hi Karen! Here's a blog we did on the fireplace: https://chrislovesjulia.com/fireplace-update-close-to-done/
Wow! I can't believe how much was accomplished in the last year! I think I love your master bedroom and closet the most right now. The bed, the bedding, the bench and the rug look so good with the fireplace. The closet, of course is amazing, but I love the way the way you really embodied the modern cottage in the master bedroom.
SOOOO beautiful!!! I was cheering when the dining room came in haha! That room is just NEXT level. Amazing job so far!!! The house + the land is such an exquisite combo. It really feels like an "estate" and not just a house lol!
Julia, I am enthralled! It's truly amazing how far it's come. Would you mind sharing the source for the round (marble, maybe?) end table in the living room? I couldn't find it on your site and I'm looking for something similar. Your home is so, so beautiful. Thank you for taking us along on this journey!
Hi Morgan! Thank you so much! That is from World Market!! Right here.
Would love to get info on your fireplace is it gas? Or wood burning?
It's natural gas, yes.
It looks so great! So much has changed already. Can't wait to see what else you guys do.
It's so funny how much bigger it looks with furniture in! So fun to see the changes, I need to be better about documenting our renovations!
Hi C&J. Would you please share the source for the gorgeous blue bench at the foot of your bed. Thank you.
Certainly! https://rstyle.me/+s8Y93h-sizOCLcFqKVjpBg
Also, all of the sources are here: https://chrislovesjulia.com/cottage-master-bedroom/
I love these! It's so fun to compare. Biggest takeaways: 1) The kitchen looked so much smaller in the "before"! 2) I knew Greta had her own bathroom but I didn't realize it was an ensuite. Lucky girl! 3) The basement has so much natural light - is part of the basement exposed in the back of the house? 4) Super minor suggestion: the big vase on the console table in the dining room may look better on the other side of the console - it felt very "look at me, I'm in front" when "walking" from the living room. 5) Closing up the music room and making the master closet was the best decision ever. I love it.
I cannot WAIT to see what you all do next!
So beautiful! You guys have done such an amazing job with every space.
Where did you get the couch in the girls' homework room? It looks so comfy!
It's from Downeast Home! It's their cloud sofa.
Wow! Your home is coming together beautifully. I love following along and living vicariously through it all????
It looks so amazing! I love how far it's come, and can't wait to see how the rest comes along
What a great video. You clearly take such care with your spaces and your home feels so warm, cozy and welcoming. I bet it smells amazing with all those flickering candles. Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely stunning - The house and the video! Thank you for sharing your home with us. ❤️
Sooooooo incredible! But I miss the ending of you all outside jumping on the trampoline! I’m curious about the bathrooms that have been redone (basement, powder room, and Greta’s bathroom) - did you guys do those? I can’t remember any major bathroom renos yet, but you all do work so quickly I could have missed it! They are all so stunning. The entire house is a dream! So happy for you guys!!
We've only done Greta's bathroom (see that here). The others were as is when we moved in!
I’ve watched your video several times, your home is absolutely lovely. I can’t decide my favorite room, maybe the dining room? No it’s too hard to choose. Thank you for taking us on this journey. May you make a multitude of happy memories there!!
I love where you've taken this home so far!
You've made great progress this year! One question - I didn't notice any family photos in the tour (could have just missed them) but a lot of artwork. Do you have any specific plans in place for displaying them?
We haven't hung much on the walls yet!
You should definitely celebrate! It has been a wonderful busy year with so many amazing changes. My favorite is the dining room. Best renovation I have ever seen. Congratulations.