Looking for a fresh, stylish pumpkin idea this season? Try these two homemade stencil designs: an elegant couples’ monogram jack-o’-lantern and a detailed damask pattern. Both use simple, printable stencils and produce modern results that stand out from traditional orange pumpkins. Choosing the Right Pumpkin Instead of the usual orange gourds, we chose white pumpkins … Read more

We did it — we made an oversized pendant light for the office, and the total cost was just $32. That’s especially satisfying when it’s reminiscent of a pricey $412 version, meaning we saved hundreds with a simple DIY. Here it is, glowing in the room: To start, here’s the original fixture we began with … Read more

Painting cabinets is one of the most cost-effective ways to refresh a dated kitchen without a full remodel. With careful preparation and attention to technique, a DIY cabinet paint job can look professional and last for years. We’ve used the process outlined below on cabinets in multiple kitchens and other rooms, so the method is … Read more

Every year we celebrate our anniversary with little traditions: recreating our wedding menu, taking a day trip near our engagement spot, cooking a favorite honeymoon meal, or even taking a big trip to Hawaii. This year was no different. We kept up several annual rituals (including the photo that many of you asked about) and … Read more

When we created a custom mood board for Chantel in Canada a few months ago, we were eager to see the results. She’s returned with beautiful after photos and a lovely note: Thank you again for all your help with our living room in January. We followed all of your advice to the letter (except … Read more

After enduring 9.5 hours of holiday traffic, we finally made it home from our fast-paced Thanksgiving weekend in New York. We began with a family Thanksgiving on Long Island, followed by another meal on Friday in New Jersey, and capped it off with a day in New York City on Saturday to revisit the places … Read more

Now that the big bathroom makeover is finished, it’s nursery time. We love our third bedroom, so turning it into a nursery feels bittersweet, but we’re thrilled to welcome our little girl in May and excited to create a cozy, functional space for her at Casa Petersik. We’re a use-what-you-have family, so we wanted to … Read more

Our month-long shopping hiatus ended last week, so today we’re sharing everything we learned. What was the hardest part? How did it change our habits? What did we buy first when it was over? Most importantly, how did it affect our bank account? We cover all of that, plus offer alternatives if a full shopping … Read more

Here’s a simple, budget-friendly idea in the same spirit as our vacation jars and framed key art: save a postcard from each trip and write one to yourselves. The idea came from my husband early in our relationship. While addressing a few postcards home, he suggested we keep one for ourselves to capture a few … Read more

Somebody put a cork in us, because we’re done with our latest quick and easy DIY project. We wanted a handy bulletin board in the kitchen to keep favorite recipes and meal ideas visible—out of sight means out of mind when it comes to recipe clippings. But we didn’t want those clippings to clutter countertops … Read more