Bathroom Remodel: Third Time’s the Charm

featured 213

To be honest, our bathroom probably needs a full remodel — or at least new tile and a replacement sink — but during our long and pricey kitchen renovation we decided a simple refresh would do for now. I chose (and gently persuaded John) to change the bold blue walls to a calming tan, and … Read more

Custom House Portrait Reveal and Our New Stroller Review

featured 37257

Ah yes — the long-awaited Father’s Day post. First, thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday. A belated happy Father’s Day to all my fellow dads out there. I had a wonderful weekend with my girls and my main man Burger. My father taught me to celebrate these occasions … Read more

Transform an Old Wooden Dresser with Bright Green Paint

featured 18299

When Monica sent in her stunning dresser makeover, we were excited to share the transformation. Her project is a perfect example of how paint and a little creativity can refresh an inherited piece and make it feel right at home. Below is her original note, followed by a few thoughts on the process and why … Read more

New Flooring FAQs: Answers About Installation, Care & Warranties

featured 117968

We’re working on a larger post about our finished renovation, but I wanted to answer the many questions about the new flooring we installed across the entire first floor (bathrooms stayed tiled). The floors have been one of the most asked-about details on Instagram while we shared the progress in Stories, so this post explains … Read more

Saying Goodbye to Clara’s Room: Memories and Moving On

featured 1678

Before we left our second house for the last time, we took this photo of Clara in the room where she woke up on each of her first three birthdays. It felt important to capture that small, private corner of family life—an ordinary moment that had become meaningful precisely because it repeated year after year. … Read more

DIY Christmas Ornaments: Handmade Ideas and Tutorials

featured 42899

As I mentioned earlier this week, we finally brought home a real mini Christmas tree. I put up twinkle lights and hung a few ornaments, and I’m honestly thrilled — it’s a game changer. I love it. Clara and Burger are just as captivated (try finding them in the dark — it’s a Where’s Waldo? … Read more

Make Your Own Advent Calendar: Step-by-Step DIY Guide

featured 42867

We’re still plugging away at the kitchen, so expect an update soon—probably not post #561, more like #19—but still: progress is coming. This week we’re hoping to share some big milestones like new countertops and a working sink again. In the meantime, it feels right to shift gears and get into the holiday spirit. There’s … Read more

How to Choose a Safe Nursery Chair and Test for Lead

featured 21957

The weekend after we finished our big bathroom makeover, we hopped in the car and drove five hours to the family beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware. It wasn’t that we were tired of our shiny new bathroom—we kept sneaking in to admire it—but we needed a mini-vacation after all that work. My main tile guy, … Read more

How to Start a Bathroom Renovation: Planning and Budget Tips

featured 92241

If you listened to this week’s podcast, you heard John and I say that we’ve moved out of the loooong phase of daydreaming and indecision about our master bathroom and into the phase where we actually know what we want and are starting to space-plan. For years we flipped back and forth — separate tub … Read more

How to Paint a Refrigerator Using Appliance Paint

featured 63753

So yes — our refrigerator is white now. It’s not a new appliance; it’s the same almond-colored fridge we’ve had for years, refreshed with appliance epoxy so it would coordinate better with our white cabinets. After dozens of readers praised appliance paint in a previous post, we decided to test it ourselves. I was skeptical … Read more