We spent the weekend crossing off several hands-on projects in the girls’ room at the showhouse. The space still feels a bit sparse and is far from done, so it will likely keep evolving up to our deadline. The bed needs to be raised and we’ll add a colorful throw. Linens need ironing and we … Read more

The other night Sherry and I decided to challenge each other to create something using only objects found around the house. The twist was that the other person got to choose the items. It wasn’t meant to be a serious competition, but we did set a few simple ground rules: Use anything you like to … Read more

We’ve painted kitchen cabinets before and installed Ikea kitchens before, but painting Ikea kitchen cabinets was a new combination for us. Despite initial doubts about painting a slick, factory-finished surface, we’re very pleased with the result. It turned out to be easier than expected — no paint sprayer or specialized gear required — and the … Read more

Here’s a quick recap of a few small projects and updates we knocked out—each one took less than ten minutes. Think of this as a “tapas” post: bite-sized projects that were fast and actually worked (sometimes quick projects spiral into long ones, but not this time). First up: wooden tattoos. I bought two temporary tattoos … Read more

I can’t promise we’ll recreate this mood board exactly for our future bedroom — the plan might change by the time we move — but right now this is what I’m excited about (and John is surprisingly on board): 1. I’m imagining a cozy, enveloping room painted a rich, saturated teal like the color stripe … Read more

When we upgraded to our new organic mattress this week, we suddenly had a spare queen mattress we didn’t need. We considered selling it on Craigslist or donating it, but ultimately decided to try Freecycle. Freecycle is a network of locally run message boards where people give away unwanted items for free. The concept is … Read more

September is almost over, so it’s a good moment to share this month’s bouquet — a sweet little gift from my husband. Like last month’s myrtle branch, these flowers didn’t come from a grocery store. They’re likely some of the final backyard blooms of the season, so we made the most of it and clipped … Read more

Ack, we’re painting the hall bathroom and can’t wait to finish, take photos, and share them with you. While that project is still underway, I thought this little example of a craft that didn’t go as planned might give you a smile. People often ask “what happens if you try something and it doesn’t work?” … Read more

You may remember when we took you on a virtual tour of one of our favorite homes ever — a charming bungalow in Charlotte. It belongs to our friends Matt & Kristin (and their affectionate pups Simon & Sage): We can’t get enough of this house, which is why we’re sharing a second look. You … Read more

2016 was a remarkable year full of firsts and unexpected projects. Between launching a podcast, buying a beach house, publishing a coloring book, and tackling a variety of home and community makeovers, we packed a lot into twelve months. Here’s a tidy recap of the year’s highlights. The most memorable makeover was a speedy space-themed … Read more