Every year we’re asked for theme ideas from my family’s long-running Christmas gift exchange. We first mentioned this tradition on a podcast episode in 2016, and nearly a decade later we’ve gathered a full, updated list here in an easy-to-reference post. If your family or group is stuck or overwhelmed by holiday shopping, introducing a … Read more

Our $35 secondhand chairs — originally found here — aren’t completely finished yet (imagine me tapping my foot while I impatiently wait for the paint to cure). We wanted to share the makeover progress and the decisions that led us to the final color choice. First, a quick rundown of all the hues John and … Read more

In all our years of DIY, we’d never used a solid stain—until a recent project made it the perfect choice. A professional house painter recommended it for our outdoor shower, and we were surprised by how easy it was to apply, how well it covered, and how durable the finish feels. The result was better … Read more

We tackled a small foyer ceiling refresh recently, and since many of you spotted it in the background of yesterday’s post, we wanted to share the full details. We actually completed this update before our larger kitchen painting project, but that post got published first because it was just too exciting to hold back. The … Read more

I often hear the saying “things are as easy or as hard as you make them,” and when you stop to consider it, that idea really holds up. As I go through my day I frequently ask myself: am I making this more difficult than it needs to be? Is there a way to make … Read more

Packing up our house is underway while floors are being laid in the new place. Before we leave this home we love, here’s an updated Listy McListerson of projects we finished—and a few ideas we would have loved to tackle if we’d stayed longer. It’s long, but it’s a good look back at what we … Read more

You probably know Lesli — a friend who lives out in the country in Greenwood, Virginia. She’s an incredible painter (you may remember the giveaway we did with her), runs a lovely blog, and lives in a charming old house full of 100+ year-old details and extra-high ceilings we can’t help but covet. Her home … Read more

Parents’ Bathroom Redesign: A Modern, Timeless Update This renovation was inspired by two very special homeowners: Tom and Kathy, who bought their Northern Virginia house as new construction thirty years ago. Over those decades they raised four children, and now that the kids have left home, they’re planning for the next chapter. With retirement approaching, … Read more

2013 was an eventful year for us. It began with a book tour, included a move into a new house, and ended with the exciting news that we’re expecting a baby boy. Between those milestones we tackled a lot of projects, celebrated family moments, and learned a ton. To close out the year we wanted … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** Brighten your day—this week we offered a generous paint giveaway to help refresh a room in your home. Three winners would each receive a room-sized supply of paint from Olympic: two gallons of Olympic Premium Interior Paint plus one gallon of primer. We featured this brand because its … Read more