I know the idea of using puffy paint on pumpkins sounds a little dubious—been there—but we decided to experiment this year. After painting pumpkins last season and carving them the year before, we wanted a new approach that added texture and interest without too much fuss. The solution: puffy paint to create raised designs, then … Read more

Let’s talk about restoring a buffet. Remember the one we scored on Craigslist and parked in our entryway? Here’s a reminder. The piece was beautiful but had a few nicks and damaged spots I wanted to fix without stripping or repainting the whole thing. This is a quick, inexpensive repair that keeps the character while … Read more

Well, Clara has officially completed the transition from crib to bed. We never expected her to stay in her crib for so long — we had a big-girl bed ready for more than a year, since many of her friends switched early — but she truly adored her crib. We loved that she slept through … Read more

I recently tried chalk paint for the first time, specifically a small sample of Annie Sloane chalk paint in the color “Emperor’s Silk.” Since many readers have asked whether chalk paint is worth trying, I wanted to share a clear, practical account of how we used it on a thrifted set of chairs and a … Read more

This morning, while Clara was occupied with another task, I decided to finish a small bathroom repair that had been waiting for attention. The job was straightforward but necessary: A few days ago I applied spackle to several small cracks and uneven spots in the bathroom walls. Even though we were thrilled with the big … Read more

Who doesn’t want more money and fewer financial headaches? In this episode we speak with personal finance expert Tanja Hester about how value-driven spending and creating a clear “money mission statement” can help you achieve even your loftiest financial goals. Whether you’re saving for a home in a particular neighborhood, planning a major renovation, or … Read more

It’s time to open every cabinet, drawer, and door to show how we organized our smaller kitchen after a slow renovation over the last two years. This walkthrough highlights how much more functional the space has become since we first shared our storage solutions nearly two years ago. We also made a video tour that … Read more

Who wants to refinish a table? You? Great — we refinished two dining tables using elbow grease, zero chemical strippers, and a lot of sanding. It’s proof that an old thrifted or hand‑me‑down piece can be refreshed without a huge budget or complicated products. Why Refinish A Table? We needed two dining tables for our … Read more

Every time we share a photo that includes the framed collage above our living room console table, we get the same question: where did the big P print come from or how did we make it? The answer is simple, inexpensive, and totally do-able—it’s just a blown-up initial taken from a magazine. Here’s how it … Read more

Who remembers that old furniture-and-pillow hoard at the end of the hall we used to call “the storage room”? We ended up sacrificing a corner of it to create our laundry room, which left the remaining space more rectangular and easier to access thanks to the new glass door we installed at the end of … Read more