That’s right — I used the word dastardly. We should be knee-deep in our office cabinets project, but that’s a big job (a weekend project, maybe two), and this rocker has been giving me the stink eye since November, even before we moved. For anyone who doesn’t remember, here’s the short version: I found the … Read more

We didn’t expect to find $1 cabinets again like we did for our previous office built-ins, but we couldn’t resist checking the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for the four cabinets we need to build a peninsula and enclose the microwave and refrigerator. We’re able to reuse the 36″ base cabinet that used to sit where … Read more

Let’s talk about the Benjamin Button–ization of our style. Maybe it was a comment one of you made recently, or a quiet moment of looking around our house, but lately we’ve noticed our style moving in a younger direction. Maybe it’s a mid-life design crisis, or maybe it’s simply the latest stage of our constantly … Read more

If Teddy ever forgets which letter his name starts with, the big wall between the built-ins will remind him: T is everywhere. We recently decided to add a subtle accent pattern across that wall, and after some consideration we chose removable vinyl decals instead of paint. Vinyl is a popular option for kids’ rooms because … Read more

After mentioning our recent near cross-country road trip last week, you might be wondering how we kept ourselves entertained during more than forty hours behind the wheel. We documented much of the trip with our trusty Flip video camera, and this past weekend we finally sat down to edit the footage into a short, fun … Read more

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