Lights. Camera. It’s time for a March recap. Last month was a busy stretch of projects: crown molding and fireplace refacing, fresh paint in the kitchen, a couple of helpful tech upgrades, and more. We’re taking a moment to celebrate everything we checked off the list in March to help kickstart an equally productive April. Below are highlights from the month, organized by category to make the recap fun and easy to scan.
Most Colorful: A lively giveaway teased earlier in the month had us dreaming in bright hues. It set the tone for a week full of paint ideas and inspired combinations that we can’t wait to try around the house.
Scariest: Tackling crown molding in four rooms felt intimidating—especially after a rough first attempt years ago. This time, new tools and a better plan made the process far smoother, and the confidence boost led to a complete tutorial so others can follow along without dread.
Best Paint Picks: We shared our favorite Benjamin Moore selections for 2013 and talked through ways we’d love to use those colors around the home. One new addition to the kitchen stood out: a shade that is labeled gray but reads decidedly blue in real life, proving how important it is to test paint in your own lighting.
Most Overdue: For too long we lived with capped ceiling fixture boxes in the living room. This month we finally hired an electrician to convert two boxes into recessed can lights and relocate the third so we could hang a pendant over the table. The lighting update transformed the room’s functionality and mood.
Most Mixed Up: The decor arrangements in Clara’s big-girl room evolved into a playful mix of patterns and prints, which prompted a reader Q&A about mixing scales and textures. The result was a practical, approachable guide to combining bold pieces without overwhelming a space.
Most Hilarious: A reader sent a photo inspired by our doorbell replacement post that made us laugh for days. Their perfect timing turned a barking-photo moment into a shared joke that still cracks us up.
Least Gray Paint That Has “Gray” in Its Name: After swapping out a hard-to-photograph grellow, we painted the kitchen in Benjamin Moore’s Colorado Gray. In our light it reads more like a soft blue, and it instantly refreshed the space while making photography easier.
Most Likely To Include Superlatives (But Honest): Our family yearbook, printed to capture last year’s memories, packed the highlights into a tidy keepsake. It opens with key moments and ends with a gallery of Instagram photos—proof that documenting the year feels rewarding in more ways than one.
Most Arrow-Happy: We made an explanatory graphic to map out the fireplace refacing plan, complete with arrows and notes. It may look busy, but it helped clarify the sequence and design intent for the project.
Coolest Local Spot: We visited and photographed an inspiring local ice cream shop whose interior design features milk-bottle lights, layered materials, and historic penny tile. It was a quick lesson in how thoughtful details elevate a small commercial space.
Purtiest Tile: Laying marble subway tile in a herringbone pattern along the hearth became one of the month’s favorite finishes. The subtle veining and classic layout gave the fireplace a sophisticated, tactile quality that renewed the entire room.
Most Familiar: A house crash visit to my sister Emily’s Richmond home felt uniquely personal because the space has hosted so many family gatherings. Photographing it was both familiar and a little nostalgic.
Laziest (Inventive): I embraced a neat lazy hack—a remote control that turns off both bedside lamps from bed. It feels like a small luxury and one of those easy wins that makes everyday life smoother.
Biggest Nerds: We compiled quirky tour statistics into an infographic—hours on planes, cupcakes received, and other odd tallies that only proud data nerds would track. The result was charming and surprisingly telling about the behind-the-scenes hustle.
Best Photobomb (Sort Of): I almost snuck my face into a framing photo for the fireplace build-out. Not exactly a showstopper, but it made us smile and reminded us that small behind-the-scenes moments are part of the fun.
Most Magical: An IR extender for the TV solved a practical problem: the cable box is hidden in a ventilated drawer, yet the remote still works perfectly. We also used a restorative product on the media cabinet to revive its finish—small fixes that felt a bit like magic.
Most Talked-About Post: Sherry’s candid post clarifying that she wasn’t pregnant struck a chord, sparked meaningful conversation, and generated a large number of thoughtful comments. It’s a reminder that honesty and context matter in discussions that touch on personal topics.
Most Neglected: Our guest room had been largely untouched since 2010. A simple mirror swap brightened the space and gave us an opportunity to answer a reader question about where to splurge on decor and where to save.
Most Transformed: The refaced fireplace, finished this month, made a bigger impact than expected. Updating the hearth rippled through the kitchen and living area, making both rooms feel fresher and more cohesive.
Most Inspirational: Sherry experimented with temporary tattoos applied to wood for quick, meaningful art—which paired with a few other small updates like a timer for Clara’s play kitchen and framed metal art, made for a creative, resourceful smorgasbord of DIY ideas.
How was your March? If you had to summarize it in one word, what would you pick—relaxing, whirlwind, productive, Easter-y? Ours was: nail-gun-riddled. And a quick note: our latest roundup of Clara Conversations is live on Young House Life—her curiosity and personality continue to be a highlight around here.