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Polished Habitat

Tour Our Home

A perfect home comes together over time, transitioning as needs and tastes change and you stumble across pieces you love.

I’ve always loved touring houses. I remember being 20 or 21 and going to open houses, day-dreaming of the point in our lives we’d be able to build a home like the ones we were visiting.

It took years of patience and hard work, plus two starter homes, but at the end of 2011, Corey and I accidentally fell in love with a floor plan. Both of us were in back in school at night and working full-time, so it was a horrible time to sell and buy a house.

At the time, interest rates were dipping under 4% for the first time and we thought there was no way they would stay there (we were so wrong!). Our first mortgage in 1999 was 8% and we know we couldn’t swing this house at those rates.

So, we took a deep breath and followed the dream. As we made decisions during the building process, we knew we could upgrade builder basic items later at a lower cost if we did the work ourselves.

I had no idea that I’d end up blogging, but updating the house gradually has given me tons of opportunities to share the process with you!

I thought it would be fun to make one page where you can find all the before and after photos from each rooms in one space.

Before & After Home Tour

To get yourself oriented, here’s how the downstairs of the house is laid out.

Polished Habitat Floor Plan

For more photos and details on product sources, click on the name of the room above the images.

ENTRYWAY

Starting at the front door, I struggled to decorate the entryway for several years, but it finally came together with inexpensive decor from At Home and a set of auditorium seats we found at a vintage sale.


Before
Modern industrial glam entryway by Polished Habitat
2017

2017

2018

My Office

Those double doors off the entry lead to the office, which has been through several phases over the last 5 years. The current version is clearly my favorite!


Right After Move-In

New Bookcases (2014)
A variety of concert posters collected over the years turned into a grand gallery wall when paired with matching frames. Click for the full room tour!
Home Office for Two (2016)

My Finished Office

Can you believe all those images are the same room??? It was cool in the 3rd photo, but I work from the office all day, and my husband rarely used it. It made more sense for us to transform it into a functional spot that inspired me.

Garage Entry

The tiniest space in our house is an entry from the garage that leads to the laundry room on one side and the main entry hall on the other. After some small changes, this little space became more functional and chic at the same time!

Mini-Mudroom BEFORE
Before
Even the tiniest spaces can be organized. This 15 square foot entryway provides tons of function and style!
After
Modern industrial glam entryway by Polished Habitat
View from the Main Entry

 Cleaning Closet

Continuing down the entry hall from the front door, we had a coat closet that I turned into a cleaning/household closet. It might have been my best decision of the year! Our coats now live in the garage entry, and the standing coat rack in the main entry is perfect for guests.


Before – A Nightmare!

Our DIY Shelves
Organized cleaning closet with space for vacuum and other supplies

Dining Room

This room hasn’t received any love and it’s next on my list. We used our existing table from the old house. I’m planning on keeping Jackie, but everything else in this room will be updated as soon as my budget matches up with my plans. 🙂 UPDATE: We finished the dining room right before Christmas! 

Slightly Modern Dining Room Design
Before
Sherwin Williams Web Gray wall & ceiling in a dining room, with West Elm Mid-Century Expandable Table & black Eames Chairs
Dec 2017

Summer 2018
mid-century modern dining room with large wood map art on dark wall
Jan 2019

Kitchen Makeover

Most of the changes we’ve made in the kitchen have been to the organization behind the doors. This post has links to all the kitchen organizing projects we’ve done.


Right After Move In
Fall Kitchen Decor Ideas
Fall 2017 Tour
Kitchen with orange and teal accents
Fall 2017
Fall Decor That's NOT Rustic - Click for the Full Tour!
Fall 2017
White kitchen with aqua accents, dark island, and granite
Spring 2018

Fall 2018

Fall 2018

Fall 2018

Pantry

The moment I saw the walk-in pantry in the model home was the moment I told Corey we had to have this house. I was IN LOVE with the space . We were going to have a wine fridge, but realized that for the same price we could add a second fridge with some extra freezer space. That was one of our best building decisions!

In the fall of 2014, I made over the pantry for my first One Room Challenge and pushed myself to make bold decisions and do what I really wanted without worrying about making it a space everyone would love. The risks paid off and the space turned into the stuff my dreams are made of.  It was a huge lesson that I’ve carried with me into future room decisions (like going so pink in the office, busting out the entire closet, and making the geometric wall in the bedroom).

Pantry BEFORE the One Room Challenge
Before

After

Kitchen Nook

Painting the inside of the back door this summer really transformed the space and provided inspiration to continue the evolution of this space!

Spring Home Tour - Polished Habitat
Spring 2017

Spring 2017

Fall 2017

Fall 2017

Winter 2017

Dining nook with white modern chairs and IKEA Skogsta wood wall shelve

Fall 2018

Living Room

The living room has been undergoing a very slow transformation, but it’s finally feeling like it represents us! I absolutely loved the grey and white rug in the spring 2017 photo below, but Maddie’s claw put new snags in it every single day. It was looking 10 years old after 6 months. The new rug in the fall 2017 photo is MUCH more pet-friendly and durable!


Christmas 2013

Summer 2016

Spring 2017

Fall 2017

Fall 2018
Transitional living room with leather tufted ottoman, bright pillows and chesterfield chair.
Early Spring 2019

Hallway to Master

BEFORE photo - short hallway
Before
Brewster Wallcovering Geometric Peel & Stick Wallpaper in modern hallway
Spring 2018

Fall 2018

Master Bedroom

I mentioned the pantry pushing me to make bold decisions. What a gift that was! I can’t even believe this is the same space.

We did everything ourselves to pull off the transformation within a reasonable budget for a whole room makeover.

Polished Habitat bedroom BEFORE
Before
Modern Glam Bedroom with Gray Tufted Headboard - Love the blending of modern and glam with a little downtown edge!
After

Master Bathroom

We haven’t changed anything in the bathroom, and I have some tile-regret. The room definitely isn’t bad, it just doesn’t have the same feel as the “done” rooms like the bedroom, closet, and office. One of these days, I’ll paint away the beige walls and make a few other inexpensive changes to hold us over until it makes sense to replace the tile.

Glam Farmhouse Bathroom
Before
Glam Farmhouse Bathroom - Click to see the whole space and how is it organized.
Before

Little Updates

Little Updates

Future Dreaming!

Future Dreaming!

Master Closet

Yowsa, this makeover was probably the most physically and emotionally taxing. We aren’t afraid of a DIY project, but we are also self-taught with limited woodworking experience. So, deciding to take on a 5 week challenge to rip every shelf out of a closet and re-configure everything was insane.  And we did it in the fall, which is Corey’s busiest time at work. So some days he would work 12 hours and then come home to fight to custom build a closet. None of the walls were square, so measurements were not friendly. But in the end, I think you’ll agree it was worth it. I can’t even begin to imagine how far out of our budget this project would have been if we hired it out.

Master closet BEFORE - Click to see the afters!
SCARY Before
We DIYed our way to a complete dream closet. I can't even imagine how much this would have cost if we hired someone. Click to see the before photos and all our money-saving ideas.
After – Vanity
Dream closet alert! There is an organized spot for EVERYTHING, but the purse storage and drawers are my favorites.
After – My Side

Laundry Room

This was my first room makeover in the house in 2013 – for a total of $86. We knew we’d eventually do a full renovation, and that time came in 2019. We replaced everything but the drywall and added a sink! Now the room works so well for us.

Laundry Room Before
Before
Bright & happy organized laundry room makeover - Under $100!
After (Only $86 Spent!)

2019 Laundry Room

Garage

This was another intense transformation in 2015. If you came over today, the garage still has the great bones of the after photos, but needs a good cleanout. It never got back to perfect after all the sawdust and scrap wood happened during the closet makeover. Seeing the afters again is inspiring me to bring it back to perfect!

Our DIY work bench was put together with IKEA supplies to keep the price low. Using RAST dressers, LINNMON table tops, and KALLAX shelves let us customize the perfect space on a budget. Adding a pegboard creates even more storage without adding much cost. Our garage used to be a cluttered mess, but after a makeover we have plenty of room to create. Dividing the space into a workshop and "shed" was easy using $99 rolling shelving units.

Back Patio

The back patio was our most recent makeover and added a great outdoor living space to our home. I love starting the morning with coffee on the couch.

This is exactly what I've been looking for! Our patio needed storage space and serving space, but we didn't have much room or a big budget. I should have ordered this affordable stand years ago!
Before

After the Derecho
Patio Makeover! This porch went from dreary to a perfect relaxing spot for reading or entertaining. The furniture was provided by Cost Plus World Market. Click for before and more after photos! #ad
2017 Makeover

Wow.  When you slowly do projects over 5 years, you really lose track of how much you’ve accomplished. Sometimes I feel “behind” – like I should be done making the house our own by now. Can anyone relate?

That feeling usually comes from the dining room and the upstairs, but I know we’ll get to both places. In fact, the game room finally moved a HUGE step forward this year when I surprised my husband with a pool table for his birthday. It’s not normal for us to do big gifts like that, but he’s pretty incredible and has wanted a pool table forever.

Game Room

We still have work to do in this room, especially in the two corners you don’t see in these pictures.  But you can see how far it came this year.

Game Room Decor Ideas - Pool Table

Guest Bathroom

This is grand example of what you can do with a smaller budget. Hobby Lobby asked me to update the organization in a bathroom for under $100. In addition to their $100 budget for organization, I used $200 of our money to update the paint, lighting, and decor. The room feels totally different and is way more functional for $300. And I get to recoup some of that cost by selling the old art, shelf, and light fixtures at the next garage sale!


Before

Before
Budget Bathroom Makeover - This guest bathroom went from boring beige to organized modern industrial style in one weekend for under $300.
2017
Budget Bathroom Refresh - This guest bathroom went from boring beige to organized modern industrial style in one weekend for under $300.
2017

Guest Bedroom

Page Gray Duvet by Crane & Canopy - perfect for a guest room! (sponsored)
Before

Guest Bedroom Fall 2017

The rest of the upstairs consists of another guest bedroom and a small TV area, which serves as the hallway between everything else. Those rooms need some serious love, but we’ll get there!

Do you get the Friday Polished Habitat newsletter? If not, sign up here so you can follow along as we update the rest of the house!

Welcome!

In 2013, Melissa started Polished Habitat to share her skill of mixing decor & organization to add style & function to everyday life at home.

Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and Room to Create Magazine, and online by HGTV, House Beautiful, Buzzfeed, & more.

In 2018 &  2019, Melissa was named as a Style Maker by Better Homes & Gardens. In 2019, she was also short-listed by the Amara Blog Awards for Interior Styling, International Division.

Need to reach Melissa?
Email: Melissa @ PolishedHabitat.com

Recent Posts

The Prepared Home - How to Stock, Organize, and Edit Your Home to Thrive in Comfort, Safety, and Style

The Prepared Home Book Launch!

BIG NEWS! It’s hard to believe this is real, but my book, The Prepared Home, can be ordered now! The book truly is a culmination of things I’ve learned in different parts of my life. Before I wrote about organizing and decorating, I worked as a project specialist for a hospital. Over the years, one of the projects I ... Read More about The Prepared Home Book Launch!

Where to Start with Big Organizing Projects

While I love solving issues around our house, I like helping others even more. In a recent newsletter, I asked readers to share the biggest struggles around their home. While all the responses were great, one of them instantly stood out because it was such a relatable question. It's something that I struggle with myself. ... Read More about Where to Start with Big Organizing Projects

Game Closet Organization (Before & After)

I'm thrilled to share our game closet makeover with you today! It's been a while since I've done a big closet organization project, and for good reason. All the downstairs closets, like our master bedroom closet, bathroom closet, office closet, and entry hall turned cleaning closet were all finished and still working well. ... Read More about Game Closet Organization (Before & After)

backyard patio with turquoise adirondak chairs

Backyard Patio & Landscaping Before & After

There have been a lot of projects that we've been VERY relieved to finish, like the master closet, but the backyard tops the list! It's been a 6-month process, which was mostly waiting on the first landscaper. When we hit two months past his original estimate, we moved on to another company and things finally got moving. ... Read More about Backyard Patio & Landscaping Before & After

7 Spice Storage Ideas

A couple of years ago, we switched from using a spice cabinet to storing spices in a kitchen drawer next to the stove. While having a spice drawer has been the perfect solution for us, I know it won't work in every kitchen space. I've seen some other spice storage ideas that provide easy access in a variety of kitchen ... Read More about 7 Spice Storage Ideas

Bathroom drawer organization - hair supplies in clear containers

Home Organization Products: The Best Storage Containers, Drawer Organizers, & More

Over the years, I've narrowed down the best home organization products through a lot of trial and error. Last month, I sent a box of clear drawer organizers back because I strayed from my favorites to see if something cheaper would work. Unfortunately, the less expensive versions were so thin and brittle that several were ... Read More about Home Organization Products: The Best Storage Containers, Drawer Organizers, & More

Entryway Organization & Decor

Product links in this post may be affiliate links. We made a couple of minor organizing and decorating updates to the entryway that I thought you might like to see this week. Hopefully, as I talk through them, they’ll inspire some helpful changes in your home!Let’s start with the theoretical before photo of what the ... Read More about Entryway Organization & Decor

spices in drawer

10 Things to Declutter Every Fall – Fall Clean Up Series

Adding a fall clean up routine to your year is a great way to get the house ready for the holidays with less stress! Spring cleaning gets all the attention, but I don’t know anyone that has time to declutter, organize, and deep clean their entire home each spring. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that ... Read More about 10 Things to Declutter Every Fall – Fall Clean Up Series

Backyard Makeover – Before Photos & Plans

It's been a while since we've tackled a big project around the house, but I think the next one will be worth the wait. Ten years ago, when we picked out our lot to build on, we paid a premium for a larger backyard. While it was worth the price, we still haven't optimized the space for ourselves or for entertaining. Our ... Read More about Backyard Makeover – Before Photos & Plans

Wood tray with dark blue vinyl applied reading Sprinkles & S'mores

How to Customize a Wood Serving Tray with Cricut Joy

Each season, I love to add a little something to freshen up our home décor. At the same time, not being intentional with those minor additions can turn into major clutter over the years. Now, I try to stick with decor that adds function or has personal meaning. In today's new post, I'll show you how I updated a simple wood ... Read More about How to Customize a Wood Serving Tray with Cricut Joy

Wood nightstand with marble tray containing clear water carafe & bottle of Natrol Vitamins next to white vase with pink flowers

Tips for Falling Asleep

This post is sponsored by Natrol®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I’m the first to admit that I’m not a joy to be around the next day if I don’t get a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep multiple nights in a row leads me to feeling physically ill and completely non-productive, so I have ... Read More about Tips for Falling Asleep

Long Wood Charcuterie Board

How to Prevent Clutter Before it Starts

In the past, I've written about different techniques for dealing with clutter in your home, like the root cause worksheet that helps things STAY decluttered. But there's actually a very important step before anything we've talked about before. Shopping. More specifically, our shopping habits have a huge impact on ... Read More about How to Prevent Clutter Before it Starts

white robot vacuum cleaning wood floor

How to Save Time on Housekeeping – Yeedi K650 Tips

It's no secret that I'm always looking for ways to make cleaning quicker or easier so I can spend more time doing things I enjoy. You'd think I would have been an early adopter to robot vacuums, but instead, I've been holding out for years, letting the technology improve and hoping for prices to drop.Well, it finally ... Read More about How to Save Time on Housekeeping – Yeedi K650 Tips

hand with white pen writing on kraft colored label

How to Label Storage Bins On a Dollar Tree Budget

One of the most important, but often overlooked, parts of my home organization process is labeling your storage containers, bins, or totes. I talk about this step in every organizing project I do because it's the key to keeping things tidy long-term. In the past, I've shared my favorite labeling tutorials using my ... Read More about How to Label Storage Bins On a Dollar Tree Budget

Books Stacks mounting on the wall with invisible brackets

Invisible Floating Bookshelf – Small Space Storage

If you're short on storage space for books or just looking for a wall to display your books in style, I've got a quick and affordable tutorial for you today! I fall into the camp of people that love having my own library of books at home. However, our living room floor plan doesn't allow space for bookcases without giving ... Read More about Invisible Floating Bookshelf – Small Space Storage

Hallway with wood floors, and white cube storage organizer against geometric blue and white wall. Organizer filled with bins and books.

Cube Storage Ideas

We recently tucked a new white 6 cube organizer into the hallway between our kitchen and master bedroom. It's become the perfect storage solution for some of our household clutter. You know, those annoying items that are necessary, but don't have a logical home in the house. In addition to the function, it's been a fun new ... Read More about Cube Storage Ideas

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