Take a look at our year of transformations as we updated a traditional Cape Cod–style home—mostly exterior cosmetic changes with a few interior refreshes sprinkled in.
Welcome to my annual recap of home updates. Here I share the projects we completed in 2021, our second year living in this house. (If you missed it, you can view the first year’s tour in my one-year before and after post.)
Writing these recaps helps me appreciate how much progress we’ve made. Laying out the before and after photos reminds me of all the work that can be easy to forget over the months—especially when juggling work, family and everyday life.
My hope is these makeovers inspire you to shape your home into a place you love. Big renovations can feel overwhelming, so I focus on small, attainable goals and refresh my priorities every few months to stay on track.
If you want ideas for setting realistic home goals, take a look at my Home Goals 2021 posts:
- Home Goals 2021, Part 1
- Home Goals 2021, Part 2
- Home Goals 2021, Part 3
I’ll share my home goals for 2022 soon, but first—let’s look back at 2021.
Before and After Home Tour: 2021
As a reminder, the house was built in 1996 and had lots of yellow and hunter green paint when we bought it. A few of those colors remain, but we’ve been working on replacing the older tones with more timeless choices. Green is trending again, just not in the hunter-green variety we inherited.
Thankfully the home’s bones are excellent: refinished wood floors, newer upstairs carpet and a layout that suits our family well. So most of our work has been cosmetic—paint, lighting, finishes and landscaping—rather than structural remodels. We do plan a primary bathroom gut in the future, but for now it’s mostly refreshes and refinements.
In 2020 I focused on painting as many walls as possible to neutralize the biggest offenders. In 2021 my priority shifted outdoors: I wanted the exterior to reflect the interior’s updated look. Most of our time, budget and effort went into making the outside feel cohesive and welcoming.
Now, when I pull into the driveway I smile—those yellow trims and green shutters are gone, and the lawn and landscaping look much healthier. Below are the highlights from the year. (Click any numbered room title to read the full reveal posts.)
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. See my full disclosure policy.
1. The Exterior Makeover
Our red brick Cape Cod home has lovely symmetry and classic lines, but the yellow trim and green shutters didn’t match our vision. We repainted the exterior trim in a black-and-white palette, pressure-washed the entry steps and installed new zoysia sod after a lawn care mishap had damaged the yard.
The new lawn has filled in nicely and the exterior refresh made a big visual impact. We still may replace the boxwoods near the steps, but overall the curb appeal improvements were a huge win.
And, for fun, we even captured the house in its first real snowfall since moving in—always a beautiful sight.
2. The Front Porch Update
As part of the exterior work, we updated the front stoop—replacing a tired fixture with a New Orleans–style lantern, adding classic planters (filled with low-maintenance faux plants), a new doormat and a brass door knocker. These simple tweaks instantly elevated the entry and added welcoming curb appeal.
3. The Kitchen Makeover
Our kitchen refresh stretched from mid-2020 to mid-2021 because of delays with furniture and decisions along the way, including the stair runner. The changes were mostly cosmetic—paint, lighting, seating and decor—but they dramatically improved the room’s look and function.
I may eventually update the sink, faucet and refrigerator, but for now the space functions well and feels fresh. For more before-and-after shots, see the kitchen reveal and the separate eat-in kitchen makeover posts.
4. Powder Room Makeover
My favorite transformation of the year is this tiny powder room. It was an opportunity to try painted trim, wallpaper and DIY picture frame moulding—techniques I’ll use in other rooms. This small project delivered big style and helped preview the look I want for the dining room.
5. Stair Runner
The stair runner that leads to the kitchen was one of those decisions I went back and forth on. After trying a few options, I ultimately hired a design company to install the original carpet runner I loved. It was worth the investment—months later I remain very happy with the result.
6. Haint Blue Porch Ceiling
One more painted space in 2021 was the back porch ceiling, finished in a subtle haint-blue shade. It’s delicate in photos but very pleasant in person. The exterior project also covered all the old yellow paint with crisp white trim, tying the whole look together.
7. Dining Room Furniture
We replaced the oversized farmhouse pieces from our previous house with smaller, more traditional dining furniture that better suits this home. My mother passed down family dining pieces, which fit the room’s style perfectly. Although the earlier farmhouse setup photographed well, the new furniture will support the dining room makeover I have planned.
I’ve already ordered many items for the dining room and can’t wait to begin the makeover.
More Dining Room Posts:
- A Traditional Spring Tablescape (& the End of an Era)
- Gold & Greenery Christmas Dining Room
- 17 Beautiful Dining Room Chandeliers
Two years ago I tackled a lot of painting and fixture swaps to get each room to a solid “phase one” state. Last year I focused on the exterior and a handful of interior highlights. Now that the outside is at a comfortable stopping point, I’m excited to return my attention to interiors and create more show-stopping rooms—building on the powder room success and more.
Thank you for joining me on this look back at 2021. I’m excited for the projects ahead and I’ll be sharing updates soon—stay tuned!