1st year as a homeowner reflections - Ep 121
It has officially been twelve months since we made our big move, and today on the podcast I am checking in to share what life looks like after a full year of homeownership in our Hoboken home.
In this episode, I am reflecting on how we are feeling in the space, looking back on our renovation decisions with a bit of hindsight, and sharing the projects and decor searches that are currently keeping me busy.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating: week in my life vlog: Harry Styles concert, Caitlin’s visit, packing for my trip
What Austen is consuming: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
In this episode:
One year in our Hoboken home
Overall, I am feeling so good about where we landed.
I genuinely love our home and our building, and it is amazing how moving just a few blocks over within Hoboken has created a completely fresh atmosphere compared to where I used to live.
One of my biggest priorities this past year has been making sure we do not rush to fill every single corner or overstuff our rooms.
We are intentionally letting the space evolve, keeping things open and uncluttered as we get used to how we actually live here.
Kitchen renovation reflections
Looking back on our renovation choices, I still deeply love how our kitchen came together.
The cabinet silhouette and color, the flooring, the countertops, and all of our appliances have held up so well.
We went with a single-door refrigerator, which I definitely prefer, and my only immediate task there is replacing the water filter now that we are actively using that built-in feature.
If I could go back, I might make a couple of minor adjustments to the cabinetry.
I am pretty neutral on the handle selection and think a vintage-inspired brass option would have paired better with our hardware.
I also wish I had pushed a little harder during design planning to get a custom corner cabinet for extra storage.
Bathroom wins and lessons learned
In the primary bathroom, installing a double vanity was one of our best choices.
Having dedicated spaces is wonderful, even if I have admittedly taken over the vast majority of the drawer space for my daily products.
I am still obsessed with the skincare shelf we built into the old medicine cabinet slot, though in hindsight, I wonder if staining the wood would have given it a slightly richer finish.
We are also looking at potential new organization systems for our primary linen closet to make that space work harder for us.
Over in the guest bathroom, removing the original medicine cabinet was the right call, and I still love that clean, streamlined wall layout.
The smaller bathtub size has turned out to be completely fine for our routine.
I also worked out a great under-vanity storage system for extra shampoos, toiletries, and travel minis.
The main thing missing in the guest bath is wall art, and I am actively searching for small prints, vintage movie posters, or classic travel tourism posters to bring some color into the room.
Beyond the kitchen and baths, the rest of the home has adapted beautifully to daily life.
Having a dedicated space to work from home has been seamless, and enjoying our fireplace during colder days has made the entire space feel cozy and complete.
Projects still to do
Even after a full year, we still have a list of projects on our radar.
High on the list is figuring out our closet strategy, as we are currently deciding between semi-custom or full-custom closet builds.
I also recently found decorative wood overlays that I am considering adding to the bathroom linen closet doors for a custom look.
Outside of closet organization, our main focus is finishing the window treatments with proper blinds and curtains, along with finally hanging up more framed art across our empty walls.
Currently shopping for
Because we are curating our home slowly, I have a clear running list of items I am actively shopping for right now.
I am looking for:
the right coffee table
a functional storage bench
a sleek utensil holder for the kitchen counter
an entryway organizer near the front door to catch keys and mail
small filler pieces to complete a gallery wall
a larger bookshelf to display our collection without cluttering our living areas
Summary:
This first year of homeownership in Hoboken has been such a rewarding journey, and I’m so grateful to finally settle into a space that truly feels like ours.
I hope sharing our renovation wins, minor regrets, and ongoing project list gives you some inspiration—be sure to listen to the full episode for all the details!
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