When Christy sent us photos of her stunning backyard transformation, we were equal parts inspired and a little jealous. Below is her story in her own words and a polished write-up describing the project and outcome. Our backyard used to be mostly dirt, patchy grass and weeds, with an existing in-ground pool and spa. The … Read more

Note: This is a retroactive post I pieced together in December 2011 so I could create a full set of monthly recaps for our first year in the new house. I admit I’m a little type A, so here’s everything we tackled during May — presented like a high school yearbook. Most Improved: We tackled … Read more

If you follow home design shows, admire Thom Filicia’s style, or use Kimberly-Clark brands, you’ll want to read on. Thom Filicia has partnered with Kimberly-Clark and a popular daytime program for a Room-A-Day Giveaway that will select 16 winners to receive $25,000 each to reinvent a room in their home. The sweepstakes was announced on … Read more

Everyone loves an imaginative, inspiring kid’s room, right? That’s why we were so excited to share this cheerful makeover from Amandelin. Her thoughtful, budget-friendly approach turned a challenging space into a bright, playful bedroom perfect for a young child. My son’s room needed a complete overhaul. Beyond the aesthetic issues — such as knotty wood … Read more

Simple, Zero-Cost Trick to Prevent Oil Rings on Marble and Granite Counters If you have marble or granite countertops in your kitchen—or even if you have other types of stone or laminate—keeping oil rings from seeping into the surface is an important consideration when you cook. Instead of constantly wiping every bottle or worrying about … Read more

We’re making steady progress in the kitchen (we wish we could share daily updates, but this renovation is happening in real time). Our latest decision: selecting the new countertops. We debated material choices for weeks. There are countless options, each with its own pros and cons, and it can be overwhelming to determine the best … Read more

This week would have been my Aunt Kay’s birthday, and it felt heavy because she passed away last year. She lived with us while I was growing up and was like a second mother to me. Aunt Kay had a joyful, colorful spirit and loved to paint and draw — it was even her college … Read more

Happy New Year! (You’ll see why that’s fitting in a moment.) The time had come to say goodbye to the ceiling fan in our bedroom so we could install a light fixture with more personality. Before anyone gets upset: we’re not anti-fan. We removed the ceiling fan from our first home’s bedroom and replaced it … Read more

A few years ago we began a design project with a local builder that had us genuinely excited — only to have it fall apart for reasons we never expected. It still disappoints us when we think about it. In this post we share that story, the surprising way Sherry found an amazing secondhand piece … Read more

Dear IKEA, We adore you. Your affordable, stylish pieces and the ritual of “some assembly required” make many of us loyal customers. Still, I need to register a small but sincere complaint about one of your products: the Kassett storage box. Typically, assembling IKEA furniture is part of the experience. There’s a certain satisfaction in … Read more