As of last week, my parents officially live in Richmond. This is great for several reasons (free babysitting being near the top), so we’re very excited to have them about 15 minutes down the road where they can easily help out. You’ll likely see glimpses of their new place as they settle in and as … Read more

Today we’re talking about two recent “treat yourself” moments at home that didn’t go as planned and what they taught us about when to splurge and when to let go. One involves a bathroom feature we’ve dreamed about for years but are now questioning in practice (great in theory, not so much in reality). We … Read more

Many readers have asked for practical bookcase-styling tips. There’s no single correct method, but these guidelines reflect a straightforward, effective approach to arranging shelves so they look intentional, balanced, and visually pleasing. Experimentation is key: move things around until the overall composition feels right. Too many small items can read as clutter — try swapping … Read more

“We just couldn’t figure out why you weren’t tearing out the kitchen.” That’s what one of our contractor’s crew said when we moved in last year. I get the reaction. We were redoing floors, moving doors, vaulting ceilings and more, yet we left the small, dated kitchen largely intact—including the mauve laminate countertops. You can … Read more

Seeing former homes altered by new owners can sting more than you expect. This week we talk about how we coped with those feelings and found the silver lining when someone undoes your design choices. Back at our current house, we finally made the driveway more kid-friendly—a project that was long overdue and surprisingly easy. … Read more

As we prepare to move into a house that’s less than half the size of our current home, we’re taking a close look at our belongings to decide what to bring and what to let go. Below we outline the systematic criteria we’re using to evaluate every item, share how we’re getting rid of things … Read more

There were tons of sales this weekend—almost everything we still sell from our house was deeply discounted. I’d wanted to get a heads-up out to anyone who’s been eyeing pieces from our home, but we just got back from spring break and had Easter and family stuff, so it didn’t happen. Then many of the … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** This week’s giveaway is brought to you by two wonderful sources of inspiration offering a fantastic prize for one lucky reader. Fresh Home magazine, a new quarterly that launched last year and focuses on budget-friendly home improvement and décor ideas, has partnered with Cost Plus World Market to … Read more

John’s dad, nicknamed “El Cheapo,” is one of our money-management role models. He doesn’t live in misery or wear tattered shoes—he simply prioritizes what matters most to him. He saves for big, meaningful goals like a family-sized vehicle or a vacation home where the family can gather, and he opts out of things that carry … Read more

If you’ve ever imagined (or dreaded) living in a tiny house, you’re in good company. People have strong and varied opinions about small-space living, so we reached out to a couple who have lived in an 188-square-foot home for more than two years to answer all the questions you’ve been wondering about. We learned what’s … Read more