The Project We Never Expected for 2026 (and a Few More We Did)
There are years when planning feels energizing, full of possibility and excitement. And then there are years when planning arrives unexpectedly, almost as a form of steadiness you didn’t know you needed.
As we step into 2026, this is very much the latter.
If you read my last post, Holding Grief and Dreams at the Same Time, you already know that the past season has held both deep ache and quiet hope for our family. It has been a year of learning how to stay present in the midst of uncertainty; how to keep dreaming without rushing ahead, and how to grieve without letting it hollow us out. I won’t rehash that story here, but if you’re curious about the heart behind this season, I invite you to read it HERE.
What I will share is this: when life feels unpredictable, I find myself drawn to the things that feel steady. Tangible. Certain.
For me, that often looks like our home.
Why We’re Naming Our Projects This Year
Laying out our 2026 projects isn’t about creating a rigid plan or chasing transformation for transformation’s sake. It’s about orienting ourselves toward care, toward tending what’s already been entrusted to us.
Some of these projects are small refreshes. Some have been patiently waiting their turn for years. All of them are rooted in the same intention: to make our spaces better serve the way our family lives now.
Naming these projects, writing them down, sharing them openly, has helped me feel anchored. It gives shape to forward motion without demanding urgency. It reminds me that slow, faithful progress is still progress.
Most of this work is unfolding right here at home: the back entry we pass through every day, a bathroom that was always meant to be temporary, a bedroom refresh for our youngest, and the greenhouse that continues to stretch our capacity for patience and joy.
And then there’s the one project that doesn’t live within these walls at all.
The Gym That Came Full Circle
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that our family also stepped into something entirely new when we purchased a commercial building in 2024. I shared the full story behind that decision in this post HERE; and how it marked the beginning of a new chapter for us.
What I didn’t know then was that part of that building would eventually become one of my favorite, most unexpected projects.
When we first bought the building, I half-jokingly (and half-hopefully) begged Guy to turn a portion of it into a gym. He laughed, nodded, and gave me the kind of “sure, Tessa” response that lets you feel heard without committing to anything at all. We moved on. Life kept moving. That idea quietly slipped into the background.
Fast forward a bit.
As one section of the building was remodeled and allocated for a new business endeavor, gym equipment began appearing at the shop…without any real home. Treadmills. Racks. Pieces that didn’t quite belong anywhere yet.
That’s when it clicked.
We remembered that old, slightly ridiculous idea. And more than that, we realized that the exact spot I had envisioned years earlier was still there….waiting. The layout made sense. The bones were right. It felt almost funny how naturally it came together.
So here we are.
The gym exists now. It’s functional. It’s being used. And it still has so much potential.
Where This One Is Headed
If you’re wondering what a Kindred Homestead–style gym looks like… so am I.
I keep saying the words cozy and posh in the same sentence as gym and then laughing at myself. Is that even a thing? We’re going to find out.
What I do know is this: I want it to feel welcoming, intentional, and layered, just like the rest of our spaces. A place that supports strength and discipline, yes, but also feels warm and human and lived-in.
This project, like the others, won’t be rushed. It will unfold as time allows. And I’m excited to bring you along; not just for the finished result, but for the in-between moments too.
