I had a feeling this would happen — all of our home projects have converged at once. It’s been a whirlwind of activity, but exciting to finally see everything moving forward.
Technically, the stair runner installation started last week and is still being finished, so one long-standing project is almost complete. Meanwhile, several other projects that I’ve been planning for months are now underway.
The Exterior Paint Job
Right now the trim, shutters, and doors on the exterior of our house are being painted. This is the project I wanted to tackle as soon as we moved in, and I wrote about these early goals in my Home Goals, Part 1 post at the beginning of the year. It took time to save, hire painters, and wait for favorable weather, so the process has stretched out over more than a year.
We hired the same painting crew who refreshed the kitchen, hallways, and main living areas in Edgecomb Gray last year. They finally started yesterday, and I snapped a few photos to show the contrast between the previous yellow trim and the new Simple White.
I was concerned the white might read too stark against the brick, but I love the result so far. The yellow never felt like us, and Simple White blends much better with our interior palette. It already feels like the outside of the house finally matches the inside.
For the front door and shutters I initially considered Graphite by Benjamin Moore, but after testing a sample it didn’t read as I expected. I ended up choosing Onyx by Benjamin Moore for a deeper, more dramatic accent color that complements the white trim.
I’m eager for the painters to finish so I can share a full reveal with before-and-after photos and more details about the prep work we did.
The Grass Project
On to the yard: long story short, a lawn treatment company damaged the previously lush grass in our front yard last summer. We hoped they would correct the issue, but by the time we realized it wouldn’t be resolved quickly, it was too late to salvage the season. We ultimately decided to replace the lawn with sod.
Because our yard slopes and gets direct sun most of the day, maintaining a healthy lawn can be challenging. Both neighbors have had good results with Zoysia grass, so we joined a wait list to get Zoysia sod. It’s a slow-growing variety, but it’s durable and handles sun and slope better than many alternatives. The sod will be delivered this coming weekend, and we’re finally ready for installation.
My husband has spent the last several days scalping the lawn and removing dead material to prepare a clean base for the new sod. It’s a lot of work, but getting the grading and surface prep right is crucial for successful sod installation and long-term lawn health.
Once the exterior paint is finished and the lawn is established, I’ll finally be motivated to tackle landscaping details such as shrubs, beds, and annuals. Before now it felt premature to invest in decorative planting when the house itself didn’t yet reflect the look we wanted.
Our Favorite Pressure Washer
Preparing the exterior for painting and new landscaping required a lot of cleaning, and our pressure washer has been one of the most useful tools in the process. I focused on pressure-washing as much of the exterior as possible before the painters arrived because the siding and hardscapes had not been cleaned in a long time.
This affordable pressure washer has been indispensable for rinsing away grime on siding, steps, and walkways. I plan to use it on patio furniture and outdoor rugs as soon as painting is completed.
One of the most gratifying tasks was pressure-washing our front steps. They had accumulated a lot of dark, caked-on dirt since we moved in, and the difference after cleaning was dramatic.
I’ve also been cleaning our back patio and concrete pad — the amount of built-up grime was surprising. It feels great to see these surfaces restored and ready to complement the fresh paint and new lawn.
Between the exterior paint, the sod installation, and the cleaning we’ve been doing, the curb appeal transformation is finally happening. I can’t wait to share the after photos once everything is complete.
What are you planning for the exterior of your home this spring? Share your projects and ideas in the comments — I’d love to hear what’s inspiring you.