2019 : Year in Review

As we near Christmas and the end of another year, I always like to look back and reflect. I’m recapping the top 10 blog posts of 2019 (aka- YOUR favorites), along with some milestones, events, my personal favorite projects, and achievements. Click through for a look at Room for Tuesday in 2019. Come reminisce with Emmett and I… A LOT happened this year and I owe each and every one of you a big thank you for showing up, offering encouragement, and making me smile every single day this year. 2019 has been so wonderful! 

YOUR FAVORITE POSTS

Let’s count them down from ten (#1 is the highest traffic post of all time on RFT!)…

#10 // Budget Friendly Laundry Room Makeover

This post was a pretty recent one… at the end of November, I shared my solutions for updating a laundry room on a MEGA budget. Did you see the before and after images? It’s pretty crazy!

→  read it  ←

---

#9 // Our Patio & Outdoor Living Space

Our patio and outdoor areas were a total surprise when moving into our home. We had no idea what type of plants would bloom, since we moved last December and everything was covered in snow, but man- were we pleasantly surprised. Our patio and outdoor living space got SO much use this year!

→  read it  ←

---

#8 // How to Install Herringbone Hardwood Flooring

I decided I wanted herringbone hardwood flooring throughout the main level of our home and Emmett worked tirelessly to make it happen… in fact, he’s still installing flooring! It looks beautiful, is a work in progress, and I’m glad lots of you have used (and enjoyed) the tutorial. I’m glad we could make the process a bit easier for you!

→  read it  ←

---

#7 // Humane Society Makeover

I was really excited to see this one made the top 10 list, because it was a passion project of mine! I had the opportunity to give my local Humane Society a much-needed makeover and although it was a ton of work, it was such a rewarding and heart-warming project. I’d do it over again in a heartbeat.

→  read it  ←

---

#6 // My Favorite Travel Essentials

This post surprised me! I had no idea so many of you loved traveling as much as Emmett and I do. I’m glad this post was helpful in sharing items that make traveling easier and more enjoyable, that most of you hadn’t heard of.

→  read it  ←

---

#5 // Basement & Media Room Makeover

At the end of September, I used the Color of the Year to spruce our basement and make the media room feel more like us, in terms of aesthetic. For an inexpensive makeover, the paint made a BIG impact!

→  read it  ←

---

#4 // Predicted Paint Colors for 2019

Every year (it never fails) my predicted paint color post slides into a top 10 slot and receives a ton of traffic. This year I was seriously close with my predictions- I almost guessed the exact color of the year! If you’re in need of paint color ideas, this post is a must-save.

→  read it  ←

---

#3 // Bedroom Balcony

You guys were into my summer bedroom balcony makeover! I spent a lot of hours out there during the warmer months. It was really a simple styling makeover… the only thing I added was paint and furniture, but the before and after images are VERY different.

→  read it  ←

---

#2 // Guest Bathroom Reveal

The guest bathroom was the very first room we renovated after moving into this house. It’s still a space I love and it sees a lot of use. It’s timeless, unique, and super functional!

→  read it  ←

---

#1 // Our Dark & Moody Kitchen Reveal

This was our biggest project of the year and the most rewarding. Emmett and I built our dream kitchen over the summer, and the moody cabinetry color is my absolute favorite. This space is really our happy place in the heart of our home!

→  read it  ←

---

RENOVATION MILESTONES

I always share our renovation milestones in a timeline format… we had another BUSY year. With the first year in our home almost under our belt, I can look back and say, “WOW! I’m proud of us- that was a lot.” It didn’t feel like we accomplished that much until I looked at everything in list format.

• January // We started designing and renovating our guest bathroom.
• January // I set up and organized my “prop closet”.
• March // We finished the guest bathroom renovation.
• April // Emmett began replacing the existing flooring and installing the herringbone hardwood.
• April // I started designing our kitchen.
• May // We started demo on the kitchen.
• June // I styled and shared our patio and outdoor living space.
• June // We installed our new kitchen cabinetry.
• June // I painted the exterior brick and gave the bedroom balcony a little makeover.
• July // We had new windows installed in the kitchen.
• July // We finished the kitchen renovation.
• August // We worked on our landscaping and shared our routine.
• September // We made over the basement media room, using the color of the year.
• October // We had our front door replaced for a double door, and I styled the porch (we also had our garage doors replaced).
• October // We started demo on our formal living room.
• November // I gave the guest room a mini makeover for holiday visitors.
• November // We finished our fireplace makeover.
• November // I gave the laundry room a budget-friendly makeover.
• December // We added beams to the living room.

We’re currently working on our formal living room and hope to have that finished within a week or two- definitely before the end of the year!

---

PERSONAL EVENTS

We worked harder this year than we’ve ever worked, but we played hard too. We took vacations, weekend trips (lots I didn’t include in this list because they went undocumented), made memories, settled into our “new” house, and we had a whole lot of fun along the way. I’m incredibly thankful for a year of prosperity, good health, and positivity.

• January // Emmett and I set goals (you can read about them in this post). Spoiler alert- we accomplished all of them this year. It feels good saying that!
• January // We settled into our new home and welcomed house guests.
• February // We shared 5 tips for renovating with your significant other.
• February // I answered all of your Instagram questions via video.
• March // Emmett shared a big construction and renovating Q&A with you all.. plus, answered some personal questions.
• March // Our family flew out to visit and took advantage of our brand new guest bath.
• April // Emmett and I went on a little camping trip.
• April // I went to Orlando to attend the Coverings trade show (and learn alllll about tile & stone).
• April // We shared our proudest renovating moments so far.
• June // We gave back and made over our local Humane Society.
• July // We hosted a 4th of July backyard BBQ.
• July // We took a trip back home to Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio to visit family.
• August // I went to Phoenix to makeover my best friend, Laurie Anne’s, master suite.
• August // We helped our friends makeover their nursery for their baby girl.
• October // We hosted an outdoor fall dinner party.
• October // We celebrated my 30th birthday in Amsterdam and the French Riviera.
• November // We attended our annual “Friendsgiving” and had a sleepover with our besties and their dogs.
• December // We hopped a flight for a quick weekend getaway to visit Laurie Anne in Phoenix.
• December // I hosted my annual digital cookie exchange for the holidays.

2019 was leaps and bounds better than 2018 for Emmett and I. After a year of hardships, health issues, and heartbreak, 2019 was a breath of fresh air and it was much more positive, overall. 2020, let’s do this! Let’s try to top 2019. I think it’s going to happen… I have a good feeling about the year ahead!

---

MY FAVORITE POSTS

For the sake of time, I’m just going to line item my top 15 personal favorite posts of 2019 below (not in any specific order)…

1. The Kitchen Reveal
2. The Basement Makeover
3. The Guest Bath Renovation
4. My Styled Bar Cart Makeover
5. My Enamel Desk Makeover
6. The Nursery Reveal for Friends
7. Our Fall Dinner Party
8. The Humane Society Makeover
9. Guest Room Window Nook
10. Fireplace Mantel Makeover
11. Replacing the Front Door
12. The Balcony Makeover
13. Laurie Anne’s Bedroom Makeover
14. The Laundry Makeover
15. The Patio and Outdoor Living Space

I really hope you take the time to click through and read some of those if you missed them the first time around- I worked really hard, spent an insane amount of hours, and am very proud of everything I share here on the blog! Above all others, these 15 were the most fun for me to style, photograph, create, design, and share.

---

THANK YOU

Lastly, I want to wrap up the yearly recap with a giant THANK YOU. Thanks for following along, offering encouragement, engaging, taking the time to like or comment, for showing up, and for being there. I couldn’t do what I love if it weren’t for you. Emmett and I are both so grateful for the part you play in our journey. I sincerely mean that. I loved “meeting”  and chatting with each and every one of you this year. So big hugs and THANK YOU to the brand new and longtime followers, alike… you all are the greatest a girl could ask for. Sending lots of love and happy wishes for the holiday season and year ahead.

Be sure to check back for my 2020 goals soon. I’ll be sure to share what to expect in the coming year, projects we want to tackle, our updated goals, and more. It’s going to be a fun one, but I’m not wishing 2019 away quite yet! There is more fun to be had.