Renovation Regrets: The Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but our 132-day renovation is officially behind us (yes, I counted). After over five months of dust, decisions, and daily surprises, our dream of transforming this tiny ranch into a rustic, Adirondack-inspired lake home is real! This home is everything I’ve dreamed about for years—a lake house with a dock for our boat just steps from the back door. Every inch of this place feels like a dream come true, and I am genuinely obsessed with the outcome.

But, in true renovation fashion, there are a few choices I’d change if I could. Here’s the honest rundown of my three biggest renovation regrets. I’m sharing these in the hope that it might save someone else a few headaches (or, at the very least, help me feel a little less alone in the journey).

Renovation Regret #1: Not Adding a Buffer to the Timeline

When we decided to start this renovation, the timing felt right: I wanted to finish by the end of October, just in time for holiday prep (we’re huge Christmas people!). I thought we had all our bases covered. I set clear expectations with the contractors, but I didn’t build in any wiggle room if they ran late. They ended up finishing just nine days past our original deadline, which honestly isn’t too bad, but those nine days set off a cascade of delays.

Here’s what I didn’t account for: after a renovation of this magnitude, everything needs a deep clean. We’re talking about layers of dust that will take forever to chase away! I didn’t give myself time to unpack, clean, and actually move back in before the holiday madness started. In hindsight, I wish I’d added at least three weeks to our “must be done” date. If I could do it over, I’d start in January instead of July, saving myself from the stress of an intense move-in and holiday season colliding.

Renovation Regret #2: Settling on the Porch Details

One of my biggest priorities was creating a porch that was worth driving up to—a grand, rustic, Adirondack-inspired entrance that would set the tone for the whole house. I imagined rough-hewn wood columns and a vibe that whispered “lake house” right from the driveway. But, in the whirlwind of a million decisions, I agreed to wrap the columns in Miratex. Now, they look… okay. They’re neat, polished, but not the rustic, wow-factor I’d pictured.

Then there’s the missing railing. It wasn’t strictly necessary since the porch is low to the ground, but I think it would have added so much to the overall aesthetic. When it came down to budgeting, though, a railing didn’t make the final cut. And honestly, it’s just one of those little details that nags at me. The porch is fine—it’s a massive improvement—but it’s not quite the “Adirondack retreat” I had in my mind. Lesson learned: sometimes it’s worth going the extra mile for those statement details.

Renovation Regret #3: Not Aligning My Expectations with Reality

I’ll admit it: I went into this renovation expecting that when the contractors finished, I’d have my Pinterest-perfect home, no “finishing touches” left to handle. But as the project progressed, I started realizing how different the reality was from my initial expectations. There were gaps between my wishlist and the budget, and while I wouldn’t trade our finished lake house for anything, I do wish I’d been better prepared for those inevitable compromises.

Looking back, I wish I’d created a clear outline of what was truly covered by our budget and what wasn’t. It would’ve helped me keep my expectations realistic and allowed me to plan for future touches like a window seat or mudroom shelving. So here’s the truth: renovations require trade-offs, and knowing what to expect makes those decisions a lot easier.

After all, we took a modest little ranch and turned it into a stunning lake house with more space and character than I ever thought possible. For a multi-six-figure renovation, if these are my regrets, that means our team did an incredible job, and I’m so thankful for each person who helped bring this vision to life. This house is home, and that alone is the biggest win.