Sorry we haven’t posted more over the past two days. We spent Thursday and Friday enjoying good food with family and friends and taking time to appreciate a few home updates that finally came together. The biggest change is our new pendant light from CB2, now hung over the dining area we created in our open living space. From the kitchen, the pendant helps define the new eating zone and makes the space feel intentional:
Viewed from the living side of the room, the pendant and the relocated table and chairs instantly read as a dining area. Placing the furniture and fixture together transformed one side of the room into a comfortable, usable spot that feels like it’s always belonged there:
It’s surprising how a few thoughtful changes—a table and chairs, plus a well-chosen pendant light—can create a functional dining nook within an open-plan living area. For lovers of open living, this setup works beautifully: the dining space sits right off the kitchen, making it easy to serve meals and clear the table. The pendant lamp itself was an economical update, costing around one hundred dollars, but delivering a big impact on how the space reads and functions.
While the pendant brings the dining area together, we also had electrical updates completed in the kitchen. The electricians rewired the room and installed a full lighting refresh; we’ll share more about the five new recessed lights soon. In the meantime, we added a seeded glass pendant from West Elm over the sink. It softens the light above the prep area and adds a touch of texture to the kitchen—there are a few ceiling marks to patch, but that’s just part of the finishing work:
Another major improvement: we replaced the windows throughout the entire house. New windows make a huge difference in comfort, energy efficiency, and the overall look of the rooms. The replacements are double-hung units with Argon fill and Low-E glass, which reduces drafts and helps control heat transfer. The installers were efficient—most rooms were done quickly—and after a day of repainting the window trim in a bright glossy white, each room felt refreshed. The upgraded windows also qualify for tax write-offs in many cases, which is an additional practical benefit for old-house owners tackling energy improvements.
Between the pendant lighting, the kitchen rewiring, and the full-window replacement, the house feels more cohesive and welcoming. Small aesthetic choices—trim color, fixture style, furniture placement—combine with technical upgrades like improved insulation and modern wiring to make everyday life more comfortable and pleasant. We enjoy open-plan living, and these changes reinforce how adaptable these spaces can be when you layer proper lighting and deliberate zones for dining and lounging.
We hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. We’re heading to our old stomping grounds, New York City, for a couple of days to revisit the place where we met and fell in love. We’ll be keeping an eye out for new retail spots like the CB2 store in Soho and, of course, we’ll report back on Burger’s impressions of the city. Expect updates and photos as we explore—likely cold, definitely fun, and full of inspiration for more small projects around the house.