Mantle Makeover: Stunning Before and After DIY Fireplace Update We received a letter from Jacky about her mantle makeover and couldn’t wait to share the dramatic before and after photos. Her story is a great example of practical, budget-friendly DIY that transforms an awkward architectural feature into a clean, custom-looking focal point. The Challenge: An … Read more

Maybe I’m clinging to the last bits of summer, or maybe I’m dreaming about a major sunroom refresh (we haven’t touched ours since we moved in). Or perhaps it’s simply because Jenna Sue has a gift for beautiful makeovers—you might recall her entryway transformation. Whatever the reason, take a look at this bright, cheerful sunroom … Read more

This is another post John wanted me to call “Stool Boom” (he has his reasons). A while back I redid a stool that mysteriously arrived in the mail. I’ll explain that in a minute, but first here’s how the makeover went. The original was an old, beat-up periwinkle blue stool with rusty nails, holes, and … Read more

Each month we like to bring home an inexpensive—or sometimes free—bouquet to keep the house feeling fresh. The idea started as a sweet gesture years ago and quickly became a simple ritual: pick up a modest bunch of flowers, arrange them, and enjoy the small boost they bring to a room. For July, which happens … Read more

Yes, that’s an SNL reference. Before anything else, thank you — your kind words this morning really lifted me on a soggy, sad day. I appreciate you all more than I can say. Now for a post many of you asked for: photos and a description of what I put on our new craigslist buffet. … Read more

Our First-Year Pumpkin Carving: A Simple, Sweet Jack-o’-Lantern After making a set of four puffy-painted pumpkins (one for each family member), we couldn’t let Clara’s very first Halloween pass without a classic carved pumpkin. A recent trip to the pumpkin patch put us in the mood, and our little queen happily posed like she owned … Read more

Ever since we painted the brick wall in our sunroom, we’ve been eager to hang artwork. After a hectic travel stretch, we finally found time last Friday to get it done. It’s surprising how much more “lived-in” a space feels once art goes up. We often procrastinate on hanging things, but after nearly seven years … Read more

And now for a little chair-related riddle: What’s worse than buying eight chairs on Craigslist only to discover they don’t work after a year and a half of trying? A: Buying eight chairs on Craigslist and documenting every failed attempt to make them work for the whole internet to see. We like to keep it … Read more

Yup, Sherry and I have started work on another new house. Before you gasp — we’re not moving into this one, and it isn’t technically ours. In fact, it isn’t even built yet. The lot currently looks like a blank slate, and that’s part of the thrill. Some of you may remember the Mega House … Read more

So I finally finished decking out the other half of my Instagram-fied basement pegboard. I built a small makeshift shelf that I primed and painted, added a non-electrical music dock (more on that in a second), and even hung a kitchen item as wall art. A lot of you asked what we did with the … Read more