A few readers spotted the small white object on the floor at the left side of the photo of our new salt lamp and asked what it was. It isn’t a stray sock or a piece of decor—it’s Burger’s little food and water station, cleverly tucked behind the media stand so it stays out of … Read more

When we decided more than two years ago to number every tip in our book, we hoped one day to offer an online place where readers could share their versions of the projects by referencing the project number. That day has arrived. This page will collect reader submissions tied to specific projects, and over time … Read more

Installing drywall doesn’t have to be intimidating—you can do it yourself. I managed to drywall our entire laundry room, including the ceiling, in one day without an extra pair of hands. In this guide I’ll walk you through the tools, techniques, and the one tool that made the job possible. Drywall Installation Tools & Materials … Read more

Note: This post grew out of an updated Before & After page that some readers had trouble finding, so we’ve turned it into a standalone chronological post to keep a permanent snapshot of our progress. We’ll continue updating the live Before & After page over time, but this post freezes a moment in our renovation … Read more

Have you heard of the Furniture Free movement? It caught my attention, so Sherry and I decided to give it a try for seven days (Sherry agreed—reluctantly). What does it mean to live furniture free, and how might it change our daily routines and the way our home feels? Will it make us happier, or … Read more

We finally made the call: the old floral curtains had to go. They’d been hanging for years, charming in their own way, but they no longer fit our style. After a few jokes about celebrity looks and a bit of hesitation, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work removing them. At first glance … Read more

We did rehang the shower curtain at ceiling height right after we moved in, but besides that this bathroom has been largely untouched. All three of our bathrooms are pretty much blank slates when it comes to updates, and we decided to begin with the one we use most. It’s also the quirkiest: there’s no … Read more

We’re back with the final clue about a major home improvement project that has swept through Casa Petersik like a storm. If you’ve been following along, here’s a quick recap: we took the Christmas tree down early, completely emptied the guest bedroom, endured a stretch of chillier indoor temperatures, and hung a sheet between the … Read more

The boldest color we’ve ever painted on a wall is Martha Stewart’s Plumage, which we used throughout our guest room walls. We fell in love with that shade instantly, so when Jackie sent photos of her dining room makeover—featuring a generous amount of Plumage—we were excited to see how she used it. Here’s her note … Read more

Sherry’s junk drawer switcheroo was really just the start of our kitchen makeover — the first phase of a larger plan. With our self-imposed six-month waiting period ending earlier this month, we finally began putting plans into motion last week. We like to live with a space for a while before doing anything permanent so … Read more