Tag Archives: playroom

Home Goals 2026 mid-year report

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I started 2026 with a small list of home goals. Just three.

I really enjoy setting home goals every year. I like planning my projects, being organized with my time, working towards something, achieving what I set out to do. Even with a smaller number of goals, being clear about what I want to do helps me feel focused.

We’re already halfway through the year, so it’s time to check in on how I’m doing so far.

Ellie’s playroom

Ellie’s playroom was the first project of the year. And it’s done! There was a bit of construction and a lot of decoration and organization. This was a pretty fun project, and I’m so pleased with how it turned out. This room is the perfect representation of Ellie.

Catch up on the playroom:

Playroom makeover plans

Playroom progress

Loft reading nook in the playroom

Colourful, cozy, creative playroom

Garden(s)

The vegetable garden has been my major focus this year. After years of neglect, it was very overgrown, and it’s taken a lot of work to get it to a useable, plantable state. I’ve successfully cleared–and planted–half the garden. Ellie and I have been diligent about visiting and weeding it pretty regularly, trying to give it the attention it needs.

We have tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, onions, carrots, zucchini, beets, watermelon, raspberries, grapes and lots of flowers growing. We’ve eaten asparagus, garlic scapes, lettuce and raspberries so far. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished and am optimistic we might be entering a new era for gardening at the farm.

Catch up on the garden:

The year of the garden begins

Progress and planting in the vegetable garden

Prepare for the worst

I feel like I’m finally making progress on preparing for the worst, after having it on my to-do list for many years. I’ve updated my will and put all of my important documents together in a “death binder.” I have more to do, but I’m feeling much more comfortable with where I’m at.

I feel the same about my 2026 home goals list overall. Comfortable with where I’m at. With having a smaller number of goals, I’ve been able to be very focused and I’ve made good progress on all of my projects.

I’m feeling pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished and that gives me some excitement to see what else I can do with the remainder of the year.

How are you feeling about 2026? What’s your biggest accomplishment so far this year? What are you most proud of for the first half of 2026?

Colourful, cozy, creative playroom

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The playroom is done.

In my Home Goals post at the start of this year, I wrote, “Our girl is so creative and I really want to give her a special space for whatever she wants to do.” This room is exactly that.

It started with removing the pocket door that led into my bedroom and closing up the opening. There was demolition, framing, electrical, drywall. It took a while. Then we painted the walls pink, purple and blue tie dye. I questioned the paint a bit. It felt like a lot. But as I added furniture and accessories, it became much more livable. And it definitely fits with Ellie.

Next up was the cozy corner, her elevated loft reading nook. Curtains provide privacy. Cushions, pillows and blankets provide coziness. I often find Ellie here, either above or below.

I brought in shelves to store craft supplies, toys and even display some of her creations. Open storage is important for our girl, who needs to see her things to use them. More shelves and bins are in the closet for lesser used items, like craft kits, additional supplies and her dolls.

Matt’s desk sits against the wall. Ellie has always chosen to work on the floor, but she’s now using the desk. I like that this desk–and the whole space–will grow with her as her interests and needs change. The chair came with the farm and I keep recovering the cushion. This time Ellie and I did it together in a dark purple fabric. A lighter version of the same fabric covers the large bulletin board that hangs above her desk.

Tucked behind the door is a dress-up zone with the Eames hang-it-all hooks I made for her nursery. The small narrow dresser I made for the little nook on the other side of the door holds play-do. Above the dresser, we hung the duckling picture from her nursery. Ellie really wanted to keep this picture, and it fits perfectly here.

This room is completely Ellie. It holds all of the things she likes and gives her space to do the things she likes. It was an interesting process to design the space with her. Her nursery and bedroom were really designed by me, using my perspective of who she is, what she likes and what would look nice. The playroom is her, and it was really fun to think about who she is, what she wanted and how to put it all together.

Now, she is using the room all the time. Whether she’s making year-end cards for her teachers, sculpting with her 3-D pen, reading in the cozy corner, braiding yarn, playing restaurant, dressing up in a fancy outfit, or any of the many other things she likes to do, she can do it all here.

I’m really grateful I am able to give her this space.

Did you have a playroom growing up? What’s your favourite memory of your play space? Do you have a grown-up playroom now? What’s your favourite part of the playroom? What would your ideal playroom have?

Loft reading nook in the playroom

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Welcome to cozy corner. As I shared in my last post about the playroom makeover, we decided to build a loft reading area. Ellie loves snuggling down in a nest of pillows and blankets. She loves a fort. And she loves to read. The loft ticks all of those boxes.

The loft is 4 feet by 4 feet and 42 inches high. It is tucked into the corner between the window and the toy shelves. I built it by screwing two 2x4s into the wall and putting a plywood shelf on top. Two legs support the outer curve.

Once we had the structure complete, it was time to dress it up. Ellie picked all of the fabrics and I love how they coordinate with each other and the walls.

On top, there is a large cushion with the softest furry pink cover. The cushion is secured to the platform with large velcro patches, so it won’t slide. Then we added the requisite pillows and blankets. Ellie sewed the sparkly ones. The purple furry ones were from her previous play space in the basement.

We tucked a small shelf along one side to hold a book, drink, notepad, pens.

Under the platform, I had planned to have an open play area or fort. From the start, Ellie wanted to have curtains and make it another cozy spot. The curtains are very simple. I gathered two panels and sewed velcro along the top. The hook side of the velcro I stapled to the edge of the plywood. To hang the curtains I simply attached the two sides of velcro.

Inside, there are more cushions and pillows. Ellie decorated the walls and ceiling with glow in the dark stars and butterflies. Another shelf (that my Dad and I built for my childhood room) holds a fun lamp that Matt’s Dad bought for her. It changes colours–perfectly coordinated with the playroom–and is controlled by remote. She loves it.

The final touch is the canopy. I bought sheer ready made curtains at Ikea and hung them from a rod of pex tubing. The pipe is lightweight and flexible, so it’s perfect for making the smooth curve that I wanted. The rod hangs from three hooks screwed into the ceiling.

Ellie spends lot of time in cozy corner. I enjoy climbing up with her too. It’s such a comfortable nook.

Were you a snuggly, cozy kid? Anyone else know kids who love forts? What would your ideal cozy corner include?

Playroom progress

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Last post I shared plans for Ellie’s playroom makeover. Today, I’m back with an update. Thanks to March Break, we’ve made really good progress.

The biggest milestone is paint. Look at these walls. Ellie couldn’t decide what colour she wanted. Then she spotted a pink, purple and blue cloud-like shoebox and said, “If I could paint the walls like that, that’s what I want.” We took a look for wallpaper, sought advice from staff at a couple of paint stores, searched for tutorials online, collected lots of paint chips, tested some samples and then went for it. She loves the result.

We also started building a cozy corner. High on the priority list for this room is a reading nook. Ellie loves an oversized chair, so we considered a few options and then decided to build a loft nook. This way, she still has a lot of floor space for other activities. The platform is in place and next up is cushions (and a taller ladder).

On the topic of cushions, while she was off for March Break we also went fabric shopping. Ellie picked out a bunch of beautiful fabrics that all coordinated really well with the walls and with each other. We’ve recovered the desk chair already. Other fabrics are going to make curtains and a cushion for the cozy corner and cover a large bulletin board that we’ll hang over her desk.

We’ve already started putting the room back together a little bit. Shelves and bins are set up in her closet, and we’ve loaded them up with crafts and dolls (note the welcome message on the mirror). The desk is in place, curtains are hung, and we reorganized her main craft shelf. The dress-up zone is back with hooks and a big basket of outfits. Matt’s nephew helped me carry in some bookshelves that we had stashed in the barn, so I’ll be redoing those to give Ellie more storage. Some pillows and blankets have been added to the cozy corner and we’ve already snuggled in with a few chapters of her current book.

This is turning out to be a really fun project. Everything is designed for Ellie and what she likes and what she does. We’re really enjoying working on it together and seeing it come to life.

See more of the playroom makeover on my Instagram stories.

What is your must-have for a playroom? Would you go for pink, purple and blue walls? Who else loves a cozy reading nook?

Playroom makeover plans

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Imagine you are a creative young child. Your mind is brimming with ideas for drawings, stories and crafts. You’re inspired by everything you encounter and want to try so many things.

Now imagine the perfect space to fulfill all of that imagination and creation.

That is my goal in making an amazing play space for Ellie.

This project has been on my wishlist for awhile, and we’re finally making it happen.

The space we’re using is Ellie’s old nursery. This room has gone through a few different phases.

When we first moved in, it held boxes that we hadn’t unpacked… for about five years. Then it became my office. Then Ellie’s nursery. Then a shared office-sewing-creating-playing space for both her and me… but with no real functional or decorative changes.

Now it’s time to make it Ellie’s own room again.

The first step was a bit of construction. Some readers may recall that there was a pocket door between this room and my bedroom. It was helpful when this room was Ellie’s nursery, but not necessary any longer. So I wanted to fill in the doorway. Normally this would be straight forward, but I decided to make it more complicated. Beside the pocket door and behind the door to my bedroom, the wall bumped out by about one foot. If I was going to wall-in the doorway, I might as well straighten the rest of the wall at the same time. (The floorplan below might help to clarify my description.)

I removed the little bump out. This involved stripping the drywall, taking out the old studs, relocating some electrical, framing the new wall and hanging new drywall.

I finally finished the drywall on the weekend, so we are now ready to officially begin the playroom makeover.

First up is paint, and Ellie has picked such a fun design–pink, purple and blue water colour tie dye. We have plans for a little loft in one corner, which will serve as a cozy reading nook on top and a secret fort below. My DIY knock-off Eames hang-it-alls will return for a dress-up zone. Matt’s desk will remain to give her a good crafting and creating spot. And we’ll be adding lots of storage for all of her toys and supplies.

We’re both really excited by this project and are enjoying working on it together. I’m sure we’ll be even more excited with the result.

You can check out some of my playroom ideas on Pinterest. Or follow along with renovation updates on Instagram.

Home Goals 2026

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Last year was a big year for home projects. This year is a little smaller in some ways. The list is shorter, but what I’m hoping to accomplish still feels big. Read on for all the details of what’s on my list for home goals 2026.

Ellie’s playroom

Sources: Wallmur & Designer Affair

My first goal is Ellie’s playroom, a carry over from last year. Our girl is so creative and I really want to give her a special space for whatever she wants to do. This will be the first project of the year. (In fact, it might already be underway.)

Garden(s)

A beautiful country vegetable garden from Country Living

Source: This photos is several years old, but it’s still a beautiful inspiration shot for me. It was originally from Country Living, but the link is not active. It is of Pamela Page’s garden.

Forget the year of the horse. 2026 is the year of the garden(s). The vegetable and flower gardens have received very little attention for the past several years. I’m hoping to change that this year. My main priority will be the vegetable garden, but if I have enough time and energy, I’d like to give the flower gardens some attention too.

Prepare for the worst

Preparing for the worst was on my list in 2022. I’ve taken some steps, but I’d like to do more. Some of the things on my mind are involved like working on a back-up power solution. Others are simple like running a fire drill. Some are tedious like making sure I have copies of important documents. This is an ongoing undertaking, and putting it on my list will hopefully motivate me to give it more attention.

That’s it. That’s the 2026 list. Three things.

Of course, other things will come up through the year. Ellie’s playroom will likely make some dominoes for the living room and my bedroom. We should have time to handle them.

Last year was productive and busy and fun. Taking things a little slower this year can also be productive and fun, but maybe a bit less busy.

What projects are on your list for 2026? Are you focusing inside or outside this year?

Looking back at Home Goals 2025

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2025 was a big year for us.

The birds! The bathroom! The cats!

I tackled the biggest projects we’ve done in a while here at the farm–maybe ever when I think of the birds who are now a fixture of the farm.

When I laid out my home goals a year ago, I was very excited by what was ahead. As I look back, I’m very excited and proud of what I accomplished.

Here’s my look back at Home Goals 2025.

Coop

The coop was a big construction project and it turned out so well. The barn, pens, storage, and runs all work very well and have kept our birds comfortable and safe. Adding birds to our family has been a very special, fun experience–even the turkeys.

While it’s not directly for the coop, there was another big barn task I completed last year: eavestrough. I’ll be sharing more details about this project in an upcoming post.

My office

My office was the first project of the year. It is a comfortable, personal room. Having this space for working, writing, crafting, sewing, whatevering has been so nice.

It’s also helped me to be more focused with my worktime. I still bring my computer to the couch occasionally, but having the desk, a place for my laptop and a dedicated spot for work has helped me leave work on my desk a bit more.

Ellie’s playroom

Ellie’s playroom makeover did not happen. As fall arrived, I really wanted to tackle it, but the reality of everything I was already doing and the number of hours in a day meant that another project would have been too much. I’m glad I decided to postpone the makeover, and I’m eager to start this room this year.

Main bathroom

The novelty of our renovated bathroom has not worn off. Every day I am grateful for how beautiful it is, how well it works, that I did so much of the work myself and that after living here for 13 years it is finally done.

Checking off three out of four home goals feels pretty good, especially since these were big projects for us. And, I need to say it one more time, they all turned out so well. I love the changes we’ve made to the house and the farm, and I’m really proud of what we accomplished.

Did you have any big home accomplishments in 2025?

Home Goals 2025 mid-year report

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I introduced this year’s home goals by saying, “I am really, really excited by the projects I have planned.” Mid-way through the year, I am still excited about these projects. I’m also really, really excited by how much progress I’ve made.

What a year it’s been so far!

Coop

The coop is finished. The birds are in residence. It is awesome. I love having birds again. Seeing them walking around makes me happy. I am so proud of the coop and how well everything has worked out. I will likely continue to make tweaks depending on what the birds need (like repairing the turkeys’ door after they take it apart–again), but I am comfortable saying that for now, this project is done.

My office

Another project that’s done? My office. Transforming, decorating and organizing this space was fun, and I love having my own working, writing, crafting, sewing, creating, whatevering space.

Ellie’s playroom

A dedicated play, crafting, creating space for Ellie is still on the list for this year. She’s been collecting paint chips in anticipation. Can you guess what her current favourite colours are? This room will likely be our fall project.

Main bathroom

The bathroom renovation is well underway, and what a transformation. I’ve been able to do a lot of the work myself, which feels really good. My vision for the design and function of this space is turning out beautifully. I am really happy. More updates to come.

2025 is a big year. I don’t think I’ve had this many projects on the go since early days (perhaps years) or moving to the farm. It’s been tiring, fulfilling, challenging. But mostly it’s been fun. I love working on the house and the property, making it ours and making it beautiful.

I hope I can keep up the momentum for the rest of the year.

Have you tackled any project around your house so far this year? What’s on your list for the rest of 2025?Anyone else having a big house year? What’s exciting you about your house right now?

Home Goals 2025

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I am really, really excited by the projects I have planned for this year. This year will bring a lot of new and big things for us and the farm. They’re all centred around how we live, how we use the house and what we want for our lives here.

Here is what I’m hoping to accomplish in 2025.

Coop

Source: Feathered Acres

Having birds has been a goal since Matt and I were thinking of buying a farm. I made really good progress on the coop last year (updates are coming), and I’m aiming to finish it soon so we’re ready to welcome some new feathered friends this spring.

My office

Source: Ampersand Living

Following our big cleanout last year, Matt’s office is ready to become my office. I am excited to have my own space for working, writing, crafting, sewing, whatevering. This will be the first project of the year. (In fact, it might already be underway.)

Ellie’s playroom

Sources: Lush Home & Young House Love

A dedicated play, crafting, creating space for Ellie is the second step in the game of dominoes that is our whole home reorganization. After I move into my new office (and remove all of my things from Ellie’s old bedroom), setting up this room just for Ellie is next on the list.

Main bathroom

Country bathroom inspiration

Source: Heidi Caillier

Yes. We are finally redoing our main bathroom. This will be a large project, and I’m hoping to do a good amount of it myself.

After last year’s reset, this year’s goals are big steps forward. I’m hoping we can stay on track and keep up the momentum for 2025.

What’s exciting you about your house right now? Do you have any home goals for this year? Anyone else have big plans for 2025?

Consolidating kid’s craft supplies

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It was the scissors that did it. They tipped the balance from crowded into chaos. To be fair, it’s a whole carousel of scissors. And the living room has been maxed out for a while.

The journey to move Ellie’s play zone out of the living room and into her old bedroom has begun. While I had a vision of it being a one and done undertaking, I’ve come to terms with this being a more gradual process.

We started with the crafts.

Ellie is a prolific and varied crafter. Paper, fabric, stickers, glue, beads, wool, she loves it all. We’ve managed the crafting process and supplies with a small table in the corner of the living room and storage in the coffee table and sideboard. For a while it’s been a tight squeeze.

Then Matt’s aunt arrived for Easter lunch with an assortment of provisions, including a carousel of scissors (she knows what our girl likes). This, just weeks after Ellie’s birthday where she received rolls of colouring sheets, cases of beads, and sacks of needle felting, meant we were overrun with craft stuff.

I had the idea to shuffle some things around. As I said in my home goals post at the start of this year, this shuffle becomes like a row of dominoes. I reorganized and relocated some of Matt’s things. That freed up a cabinet and a bookshelf in the basement. More of Matt’s things moved into the cabinet and the bookshelf came upstairs.

After a quick coat of paint, the bookshelf moved into the playroom and became craft supply central. The first item to move in? The carousel of scissors.

While we were stocking the bookshelf, we made a few other changes to the room. (Though we obviously did not clean the mirror.)

Her little table and chairs moved from the living room to the new (soon-to-be) playroom. I also used my knock-off DIY Eames hang-it-all to arrange a little dress-up area for her with all of her costumes and a bin for accessories such as hats, crowns, scarves, Minnie Mouse hands, or an inflated pink dolphin wearing a fluourescent green legwarmer (???).

This is just the start (and it’s definitely not Pinterest-perfect), but now Ellie has most of her craft supplies in one spot, clearly visible and easily accessible.

Anyone else have a crafty house? How do you handle craft supplies? Who else feels like home tweaks are like dominoes?