How We Restored Stained Grout to Bright White in One Weekend

featured 62938

The discolored, dirt-stained grout in our foyer tile made the whole entry feel old and neglected. After nearly a dozen cleaners and experimental tricks, we were ready to give up—until we finally found a straightforward solution that restored the grout to a clean, white appearance. Once the grout was refreshed, the difference was immediate. The … Read more

DIY Cardboard Snowflake Wreath: Step-by-Step Holiday Craft

featured 20088

Let’s get wreath the program, shall we? Forgive the pun — we’re just excited about our latest holiday project. Cardboard Safari, who we recently mentioned in a Sponsor Shout-Out, sent us two of their white cardboard snowflake wreaths, and we were eager to assemble them. One of the best things about Cardboard Safari kits is … Read more

Tag, You’re It: Fun Outdoor Tag Games for Kids and Families

featured 30558

Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes. Some of you may have already noticed that after Friday’s new house announcement, we updated the tagline in our blog header. Calling the site “two young people falling in love with their first house” no longer felt accurate. A longer phrase like “two young people making the emotional decision to leave their first house … Read more

Stop Driving Your Contractor Crazy: Common Mistakes Homeowners Make

featured 87015

We flipped the script and asked dozens of contractors — including our own — what they wish their clients would do differently. We heard a lot of honest feedback, learned common homeowner missteps (we’re guilty of some, too), and collected practical tips to help renovations run smoother, finish faster, and sometimes cost less. We also … Read more

How Fancy Is Too Fancy for a College Dorm?

img 78330 1

Welcome to the show notes for Episode #15 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we discuss college students whose over-the-top dorm rooms have grabbed national attention, and we share where we stand on the debate—along with a few candid stories about our own college housing experiences. We also get design tips … Read more

Our Beach House with Drywall: A Cozy Coastal Makeover

featured 83340

This has been a long time coming, and we couldn’t be more excited: our beach house finally has walls again. When we first “met” the house the original plaster was falling apart and riddled with mold and termite damage, so it has taken over eight months to rebuild much of it from the studs up. … Read more

80 Signs It Was Time for Us to Move and How We Decided

featured 85173

Deciding to move is a major life choice, and we learned the hard way that making that decision for the wrong reasons can lead to regret. This week we share our personal test for knowing when the time is right to move (spoiler: it isn’t about a hot market). We also highlight kitchen trends for … Read more

Create Art Using Paint Swatches: 10 Inspiring Techniques

featured 1185

When Meghan Carter came to interview us, we pulled out all the stops to make our home look its best. Small details can make a big impression, so we set out a tidy assortment of apples in our clam-shell fruit bowl, replaced towels in every bathroom, and even did a quick spot-clean for good measure. … Read more

Built-In White Bookcases Framing a Window: Stylish Ideas & Tips

featured 45726

Linn’s built-in project is a perfect example of how transforming freestanding bookshelves into true built-ins can elevate an entire room. Here’s her note about the process: My husband and I built custom built-in bookcases ourselves. Our old bookcases weren’t attractive and didn’t offer the storage we needed, and hiring someone to build custom shelves was … Read more

Closet Secrets: How to Stop Clothes from Overflowing Your Space

featured 11121

We’ve been holding onto a fun secret, and now we’re ready to share it. Recently we took a little road trip that turned into a memorable blogger meetup — a real-life crossover that felt a bit like the social version of a TV event. No cliffhangers here: we’re spilling the details. That’s Katie Bower from … Read more