We’ve been holding onto a little secret, and now we’re ready to share it. This isn’t one of those coy “I-know-something-you-don’t-know” teases—this time we’re pulling back the curtain and walking you through a recent weekend adventure that involved friends, DIY, and plenty of inspiration. It was one of those rare crossover moments where online friendships finally met in real life, and it was as delightful as we hoped.
That lovely face belongs to Katie Bower from All Bower Power. After several months of emailing and commenting back and forth, Katie invited John and me to her home in Atlanta. We didn’t hesitate—road trip! We spent three lively days at Casa Bower hanging out, staying up late talking about projects and life, and enjoying relaxed mornings and busy afternoons. The guys even squeezed in some racquetball while we settled on the floor to chat for hours. It felt like visiting old friends rather than meeting someone from the internet for the first time.
But the weekend wasn’t just about socializing. Katie and I teamed up for a small decorating project and filmed a step-by-step video showing how to refresh a corner of her bedroom without spending any money. It was one of those satisfying projects that proves a little creativity and a couple of power tools can go a long way. John and Jeremy handled the filming quietly in the background while we focused on design and execution, so you’ll get to see the process and the finished result soon.
One request we get a lot from readers is to peek into closets, so while we were visiting we indulged that curiosity and snapped plenty of photos of Katie’s gorgeous dressing room. We’re calling this little series “Closet Crashing,” and we’re excited to keep sharing organized, stylish wardrobes as we visit friends and homes. Katie’s closet is cheerful and colorful—every piece arranged by shade—which makes it both functional and visually appealing.
You might notice the setup looks familiar—Katie uses the same Ikea wardrobes that we have in our bedroom, complete with white curtains for concealed storage. The format works beautifully: lots of storage space, easy organization, and a clean look. I tend to photograph John’s side of our closet more often because his colorful work shirts photograph better than my predominantly black wardrobe. Katie’s closet, however, is a vibrant mix of hues that photographs beautifully and makes getting dressed feel like a treat.
Katie’s jewelry organization caught my eye too. She uses clear Ikea drawers that slide in and out, making it simple to grab a statement piece or a delicate everyday item. Watching her pull out the drawers felt almost like watching a well-choreographed routine—everything has a place and every place has a purpose. She sorts pieces by color and material, which keeps things easy to find and visually tidy.
The wall of wardrobes in her extra bedroom is an organizer’s dream: bins, baskets, adjustable shelves, and hanging rods give plenty of options to corral everything from shoes to handbags to seasonal clothing. The well-planned layout turns what could be a chaotic collection into a serene dressing area. It was easy to see how much thought went into making the space both beautiful and practical.
All in all, the weekend was a lovely mix of friendship, creativity, and a few simple DIY wins. We came home energized with new ideas, plenty of photos, and a short video that captures a bit of the magic—how two friends can turn a small space into something special with zero dollars and a handful of tools. Stay tuned for the decorating video and more installments of Closet Crashing, where we’ll keep sharing inspiring, real-life storage solutions and behind-the-scenes moments from our travels and visits.