Mountain Home Renovation Series | Part 2 of 4 Tuesdays in Thomas

If Part 1 was all about the why, this part is all about the reality.

Welcome back to Tuesdays in Thomas: our small-town home renovation series and honestly, this is where things started to feel real.

Final Plans (After Going Back to Square One)

It was this time last year that we were deep in the decision-making phase. And when I say deep… I mean late nights, reworking plans, and going back to the drawing board more times than I can count.

Originally, we had planned to double the size of our tiny starter home. And then we got the quote back. 

Between the cost of materials, moving everything, and how expensive block work is, we realized pretty quickly that we needed to pivot.

So instead, we landed on:

• Two new bedrooms
• One additional bathroom
• A partial basement
• And a full renovation of the existing home

Looking back, it was the best decision we could have made, but at the time, it felt like starting over.

The Control Freak + The Visionary

If you know me, you know I like to be involved in everything. Thankfully, our contractor (who is also a friend of ours) trusted me to take a lot of ownership in the process.

I was:

• Waking up in the middle of the night reworking layouts
• Trying to stretch our budget while still getting what I envisioned
• Constantly asking, “How can we make this better?”

I’m a visionary. Thomas is the realist.

Which meant… a lot of conversations. Haha!

Breaking Ground (And a Lot of Rocks)

We officially started digging in April. And even though we have 3 acres, the very first thing we heard was:

“You’ve got some pretty rocky land… this might be a challenge.” Just what every home-owner wants to hear.

But truly, it was such a God thing. Everything worked out better than expected, and the digging was done within hours.

The Never-Ending Rain Delays

Next came the block. And I will never forget this part…every single time the crew came to lay block, it rained. 

Without fail.

They would:

• Start working
• Get going
• And then have to stop and cover everything

Over and over again.

It felt like it took forever just to get started, and in that season, it honestly felt like “Is this ever going to be finished?”

Learning Patience in the Middle

I’m not known for being patient. When I want something done… I want it done yesterday. But this part of the process slowed me down in a way I didn’t expect.

It reminded me:

• That things take time
• That not everything is in our control
• And that God’s timing is always better than ours

Even when it doesn’t feel like it at the moment.

Choosing What Actually Matters

During this phase, we had to ask ourselves a big question: What do we really want our home to feel like? Not what we saw on Pinterest. Not what looked good in million-dollar homes.

But what made sense for:

• Our life
• Our budget
• Our future

We wanted something functional, warm, built for hosting and able to grow with our family.

Designing Within Our Budget

One of the best decisions we made was working with Jackie at Koval Building Supply for our kitchen design.

Jackie walked us through layout decisions, material options and the best budget-friendly solutions while still maintaining the quality and design I wanted. She helped us create something that felt both beautiful and realistic! She was also available anytime to answer my questions and give reassurance. I cannot recommend them enough. 

Real Life in the Middle of Renovation

And this is the part no one really talks about…we were living in it.

• All of our belongings were stored in U-Haul containers
• We lived in basically one “bedroom”
• We didn’t have a kitchen for THREE months

It was messy, inconvenient and it was very real life. Of course this was during my busy season too. But somehow… It was also really special.

What’s Next

This part of the process truly felt like a season of stretching our limits. It was filled with big decisions, the kind that don’t just affect how your home looks, but how it functions for years to come. At the same time, progress felt slower than we expected, especially in those early stages when weather delays and timing were completely out of our control.

And if I’m being honest, that was one of the hardest parts for me. I like to have a plan, a timeline, and a clear vision of what’s next… but this season really taught me how to loosen my grip a little. To trust the process. To be patient. And to remember that not everything is meant to happen on my timeline.

Looking back now, I can see how necessary that was, even when it didn’t feel like it at the moment.

In the next post, I’ll share what happened when things finally started to move again, from framing and unexpected setbacks to the moment we could actually see the house starting to come to life.

Until Part 3 🤍

(If you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE)

Zoe Evans | East Coast Wedding and Brand Photographer

Zoe Evans is a West Virginia wedding and brand photographer who also shares glimpses of real life behind the scenes — from small-town living and home renovation projects to faith, family, and the everyday moments that matter most.

Through her Tuesdays in Thomas series and personal blogs, Zoe invites you into the in-between; the growth, the lessons, and the beauty found in building a life you love.

If you’re here for the home updates, real-life moments, and everything in between, she’d love to stay connected with you.

Follow along on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes + daily life.