In Pursuit of Home Improvement

A to-do list for my home-in-progress.

There’s an ongoing “Home To-Do” list on my Google Tasks that I’m constantly trying to make progress on.

With home improvement, there are always those things you put off for months that actually only end up taking you 30 minutes to complete, and then afterward, you’re like, Wow, it feels like I have a totally new apartment, why did I wait so long to do this?

P.S. I highly recommend you read this newsletter while listening to my favorite playlist at the moment to work and write to. 🌸

Welcome to My Homemaking To-Do List

I think seeing everything laid out this way will help me — and maybe help you too, if you’re also looking to start a mini home project.

✔️ Improve entryway space

I’m starting with the task I JUST completed. For months, the tiny wall near my front door was a pile of shoes and atrocious wall hooks. Teak sent me a shoe organizer that fits a few pairs of shoes and my dog’s leash. I decorated it with a catch-all for keys, a lamp, and some books. I also hung a piece of art ON my breaker box, so I got to cover it up (thank goodness) and didn’t even need a nail. My experience leaving and entering the home has significantly improved since sprucing up this little corner. Even if you don’t have a huge foyer area, there are always ways to make entering your home feel special, even when you’ve got a small space.

P.S. I asked Teak if they had a code and here it is! You can get 10% off with SANDY10 until May 16-ish

⭕ Get new curtain rod + café curtains for kitchen

I made the mistake of getting off-white café curtains with a dark rod that’s too thick, and it just doesn’t look right. For months, it’s been bothering me. My plan is to get a smaller, white rod and different curtains. I came across some curtains with tiny, stunning details. They’re in my cart now. Café curtains truly are the perfect way to instantly make a space feel more special.

Two Tone Curtains from Etsy, $49

Organic Cotton Cafe Curtains with Inlay, $44.50

⭕ Cover up marble countertop with sticky paper

I love certain marble countertops, but mine is an eyesore. I’ve been seeing people cover up their countertops and walls with sticky paper, and it’s exactly what I plan on doing.

Claudia Williams

covered hers up with a wood-like sticky paper like this one. And for my kitchen wall tiles, I’m torn between something like this vibrant blue tile and a simple white tile. Or maybe I’ll go pink. I don’t know how time-intensive this will be, but I’m thinking I could finish it in an afternoon, and it will completely change the entire energy of my kitchen.

Imagine this photo but the countertop is a nice, warm wood color. I can already see it.

⭕ Get better and bigger bookshelves

I’ve been talking about bookshelves for what feels like ages now. I’ve currently got half my books on the floor, and the other half in varying bookshelves. Aaron and I decided to just make our shelves, and we even measured out and taped up the wall where we’re going to put the shelves.

BUT now we’re back to maybe just buying some bookshelves, either some heavy-duty steel bookshelves (pretty affordable and perfect for our hundreds of books) or the Vitsœ Dieter Rams 606 Universal Shelving System (pricier but a dream). Or I'll source a few more teak bookshelves (vintage and somewhat affordable). I still don’t know. But once I have the bookshelves, it’ll be easy to categorize my library.

Forever Hunting for the Perfect Bookshelves

These small IKEA shelves have been good to us, but it’s time to move on.

⭕ Hang art and mirrors

This is one of those annoying things that I could either do myself or get a TaskRabbit and boom, it would be done in a matter of minutes and I would be happy. I love the look of things on the floor, but some things *need* to be hung for balance. My beautiful gold mirror has been on the floor for a year now. I did, however, finally hang the painting of flowers pictured below that my talented friend Frank made. So we’re making progress.

Mirror, mirror, on the floor.

⭕ Get a toolbox

Maybe the home improvement stuff has been difficult because there’s no proper toolbox in my apartment. Maybe, just maybe, if I had this gorgeous Japanese toolbox that I’ve been eyeing for years, I’d be ahead of my to-do list instead of scouring my apartment for my tools. Maybe I’ll order it right now.

For Your Leisure

• I finally wore my new slingback heels out. I am in love with them.

• I went to see A Man and a Woman at Film Forum the other day by myself and then got a burger at Hamburger America afterwards. I love solo evenings. You can still get tickets until May 1.

• I’m still reading Ninth Street Women and it’s one of my favorite parts of the day. I start and end my day by reading a few pages of it. It's a massive book and I don’t know when I’ll finish it, but I’m taking it slow.

• I bought this spiral sun brooch recently. Look up words like taxco, modernist, and vintage sterling silver and you’ll find a bunch of unique brooches.

• Organic architecture is on my mind.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend, leave a comment, and subscribe. Say hello on Instagram or TikTok and see my favorite items here. And if you’re a brand interested in collaborating, send me an email at sndy.snchz@gmail.com ⭐️