This is the story of a door that became a desk and then a pint-sized activity table. When Clara caught the coloring bug a few weeks ago, it became obvious she needed a dedicated surface other than the floor. Tummy-drawing is fine, but sometimes a proper little table is nicer for crayons, markers, and paper. … Read more

Ok, we have a fun little craft for you, complete with an easy how-to and some festive photos. First things first: we finally got our tree decorated this past weekend. Each year we enjoy changing things up a bit with a loose theme or a few fresh ideas, but this year the theme was simple … Read more

Let’s talk about what Santa brought us this year. This Christmas felt extra special because, for the first time in seven Decembers together, we woke up in our own beds and opened presents under our own tree as a family. In past years we’d always traveled, so having that slow, cozy morning at home made … Read more

After a few months of settling in, we’ve entered what I jokingly call the “What We Really Need (And Don’t)” phase. Like most people who move, we tried to pare down by donating, selling, or posting on Craigslist anything we were sure we wouldn’t use again, so we wouldn’t waste time and energy hauling it … Read more

I have fond memories of My Little Ponies—I probably owned around six as a kid—and that nostalgic, playful feeling led to a recent decision to finally fill the empty wall spaces flanking the sink nook in our bedroom. After months of hemming and hawing, John and I had several long conversations about what should hang … Read more

I’ve written about monograms and personalized initials before, but this time it felt different because we actually brought a few into our home. Aside from the makeshift monogram above our bed and a few scattered P’s, we hadn’t fully introduced first initials into Chez Petersik until this little bathroom refresh. To celebrate our newly updated … Read more

Our bedroom began life as a living room, so turning it into a cozy, functional, and beautiful sleeping space took time and thoughtful choices. It’s now one of our favorite rooms, and below we share the six most impactful improvements we made, along with updated photos that show the transformation. bed | art | similar … Read more

Today we’re celebrating a special kind of birthday: Hamburger “Burger” Petersik’s second birthday. To mark the occasion we treated the little guy to a fun day out, starting with a stop at Three Dog Bakery for a dog-friendly cake and finishing with a new harness that’s gentler on his small neck than the collar we’d … Read more

Tomorrow is the big reveal: our porch makeover completed as part of the Better Homes & Gardens and Home Depot 48-Hour Challenge. We know you’ve been waiting, so here’s a small teaser to give you a sense of what’s coming. Consider this a quick preview before the full before-and-after gallery goes live. During the final … Read more

Doorless bathrooms, toilets behind glass walls, showers and tubs placed openly in bedrooms—these “open concept” bathroom trends are popping up more often. Some people find them exciting and modern, while others worry about privacy. In this episode we explore what’s driving this trend, where we stand on the bathroom privacy spectrum, and the practical trade-offs … Read more