Note: This is a retroactive roundup I put together in December 2011 to document our first year in the new house with monthly recaps. I like having everything organized, so here’s a look back at what we tackled in February — presented like a high school yearbook.
Coupon Enthusiast: A post about how I save money by trimming coupons and making the most of grocery deals.
Sneakiest Trick: The drywall dust–catching tape method we described here, which makes cleanup way less painful during projects.
Most Mischievous: Painting an old glass lampshade turquoise while John was out for a run — a little surprise DIY that felt delightfully impulsive.
Best Photo Moment: A post about snagging a resin ram at TJ Maxx that also produced the unforgettable shot of Burger doing yoga behind it.
Biggest Surprise: Finding out we were named Apartment Therapy’s Best Home Design Blog of 2011. We were totally floored and very flattered.
Favorite $2.80 Project: Gray-washing a living room beam using a dry-brush technique and a small test can of paint — inexpensive and effective.
Most Fowl Find: A thrift-store goose we picked up along with a quatrefoil tray. We plan to give it a bright, shiny makeover someday.
Most Magpie Instinct: Eyeing a few shiny metallic paints as options for the living room ceiling — because sometimes you just want a little sparkle.
Most Table Drama: Our long saga of hunting for the perfect table, written in too much detail and ending in a triumphant find.
Most Panic-Inducing: Realizing my mom and stepdad would be visiting at month’s end and seeing that the guest room still needed a lot of work.
Most Fashionably Late Tutorial: A tutorial for upgrading a 40-cent Goodwill platter with decorative paper — posted two months after we actually did the project.
Best Thrift Score: Snagging two secondhand chairs for $35 each — a steal compared to similar retail options — shared in this post.
Most Likely To Look Small: Moving our console table from the previous house to a new hallway because it looked too tiny in the current entryway — the relocation and framing ideas are in this update.
Most Well-Rounded: Our chunky, curvy dining table, which easily accommodates our large family gatherings.
Least Bothered By Mothballs: Me, when thrifting. I’ll dig through the musty finds to uncover gems like this $4 mirror — spiderwebs and all.
Most Thrifty Outing: A roundup of acquiring 23 items for $98 during a family trip to Rehoboth, DE — proof that vacation shopping can be surprisingly budget-friendly.
Burger’s Favorite: A post about Burger’s favorite spots around the new house, showing how our chihuahua adapted to the move and claimed comfy hangouts.
Most Extra Credit: Giving the guest room a quick makeover by painting the walls before guests arrived — we primed first and then took the plunge.
Most Dramatic Change: Painting the guest room a deep, moody teal. We loved the result, and the post even includes a video showing how to cut in clean edges without painter’s tape.
Most Likely To Put You To Sleep: Our new guest room mattress, chosen after careful research to ensure a comfortable night’s rest.
Most Appreciated Upgrade: Making the guest bathroom usable by replacing the shower head and toilet seat and adding a shower curtain and bath mat — small changes that make a big difference.
Most In-Progress: The guest bedroom as we tossed in new curtains, an old rug, leftover chairs, and other items — a functional setup that still needed final tweaks before company arrived.
Most Cheerful: Our bold and happy guest bedroom, which is ready to host guests even though it still needs final art and a few permanent pieces. The post also explains how we made a luggage-rack side table.
Most Shower-Ready: Our guest bathroom, not perfect but stocked with a new curtain, bath mat, and small touches to help visitors feel welcome.
Most Proud Locals: Sharing a list of our favorite Richmond spots to eat, shop, thrift, and hang out — because we love this city and love passing along local favorites.
Most Likely To Spark A Pun: A post about swapping out two old side tables as temporary nightstands — which inevitably invited a few cheeky jokes.