Updated 2018, Originally Posted 2009 We get a lot of questions about edging, cutting in, and trim painting, so here’s our favorite tool: a short-handled, 2-inch angled brush made by Wooster. With this brush and a little practice, you can paint crisp lines without relying on painter’s tape. Best Cutting In Brush Buying Options Short-handled, … Read more

Nope, we didn’t discover we’re having twins. There’s definitely just one little baby on the way (we actually found out the sex the day before Christmas Eve and will reveal it soon, so stay tuned). What we did find were two unexpected and delightful holiday surprises waiting in our PO Box when we checked it … Read more

When we shared John’s less-than-stellar bedroom yesterday (for reasons unknown, it seemed kind of charming at the time), we also got quite a few requests to show my NYC homes. So here’s a look back at where I lived in the city—plus the one photo I could dig up of John’s Upper West Side apartment … Read more

This week’s kitchen mood board blends French-inspired charm with clean modern details for a collected-over-time look that feels fresh and original. 1. The color scheme centers on navy-charcoal tones, deep pistachio greens, soft blue-grays, and antique whites. Consider painting the walls an artichoke-like green to ground the space—the large green swatch at the top of … Read more

We were sneaky. Before we put our first house on the market, we dug up a Japanese maple we had planted in the backyard. We planted it around the time we got married; it was an offshoot from a beautiful maple that grew at John’s parents’ house—the only home he lived in during his childhood, … Read more

Q: You’re putting time and energy into this “temporary” job for your bathroom (not to mention some money), so why not just go ahead and do the full gut job? I know you guys watch money really well, but isn’t this not the most cost-effective in the long-run? 🙂 – Karen A: Great question. We … Read more

On this week’s podcast we share our top five tricks for creating better flow in any room so it reads larger and less cramped. We also reveal a major financial upside to buying a beach house in rough shape (it’s saving us thousands), discuss organizational items that professional organizers dislike and what they recommend instead, … Read more

I love detailed product reviews, and when readers pointed out that searching the blog didn’t turn up much about our favorite air purifier, I decided to fix that. For full transparency: we bought these ourselves and aren’t sponsored. Sherry has long struggled with seasonal allergies, and finding an air purifier that actually helped was a … Read more

For those who joined us in tackling closet clutter this weekend, how did it go? Our weekend ended with fewer unused items tucked away and more space ready for incoming baby gear—or whatever else needs a new home once the baby arrives. We have plenty to recap, so we’ll start with the master bedroom and … Read more

We’re getting video-happy again. It’s time for another house tour — it’s been about six months since the last one and a lot has changed. So here it is: ten lively minutes of John and me walking through the house while I talk and he films (John = steady hands, Sherry = the chatty one). … Read more