Each one of our rooms starts with a floor plan, a list of objectives and changes, a shopping list and a design board. Even the smallest rooms like our entry need a game plan to make sure our budget, aesthetic and project list are all aligned. The design for the entry is neutral and modern with lots of textures and smart storage.

When we bought our house, renovating the kitchen wasn’t even on the list. There was so much else to do in our fixer upper, but a year later, we have a completely new space. How does that even happen?

There are plenty of home improvement blogs. Austin and I are not doing anything new here. In fact, we are doing something that many other people have been doing much better for much longer. Open Pinterest. There are no shortages of living room decor pins and bathroom renovation reveals.

Inspiration from an online source is a great place to start no matter what camp you relate to. Here are some tips I've discovered while trying to avoid the pitfalls of a great photo and making design truly personal.

It feels like such a big project, especially for Austin's busy season and for me to be in my second trimester, but between advice from our parents and the kitchen experts at Lowe's, we can conquer it. We are sticking with stock cabinetry and will DIY them look more custom and high-end. We're trying to stay under $6000 for everything top to bottom (sans appliances).

We have been completely blown away by our backyard. The previous owner was an avid gardener and made our giant backyard into an oasis. We've been spending more and more time outside, finding out what perennials are starting to bloom.

I really want to create an original, inspiring space to work from. My goal with this room and the rest of the house is that I don't want to have seen it before. I want to really push and design, not just replicate what others have done.

One of the best things about our home is how it's laid out. There is a lot of potential to transform the space relatively easily.

Can I be real here? Things are exhausting right now. We're under contract with a house. A house that has the perfect size yard and so much potential inside.