Affordable Jute Striped Rug Ideas for Stylish Home Decor

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Many readers asked for a “find of the week,” and our first pick is something we added to our third bedroom: a cozy jute rug from the clearance section at The Company Store. The Newport Stripe Jute Rug caught our eye for its charming stripes and an irresistible 50% off price. It fits perfectly in … Read more

How I Reduced My Cat Allergies: Proven Strategies That Worked

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Anyone who knows me is usually surprised to learn I now have — and sleep next to — a real cat. I’m surprised too. I’ve had a lifelong cat allergy that was far from mild; I’ve described it as “pretty severe” (once, while pregnant, it almost sent me to the emergency room). But if you … Read more

How to Digitize Old Photos for Long-Lasting Quality

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When I hyper-focus on a task, I tend to go all in. That’s exactly how I tackled the huge job of digitizing our old photo albums. We crowdsourced tips, combed message boards, and searched extensively. From that research I narrowed the choices to five digitization methods and tested them for quality, cost, and speed. One … Read more

How to Install Outdoor Ceiling Fans: Step-by-Step Guide

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Truth: Sherry was unexpectedly enthusiastic about adding two new ceiling fans to keep our newly opened sunroom cool and to create a breeze that would help keep mosquitoes at bay, while I was decidedly less thrilled about the idea. We actually have a fair amount of experience removing fans (see Exhibits A, B and C), … Read more

How to Build a Durable Cinder Block Retaining Wall

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When Christy sent us photos of her curb appeal makeover, we couldn’t wait to share the transformation. Here’s the letter she sent: First, I love the bathroom stripes! I was planning to stripe my laundry nook and seeing that project made me even more excited. But the reason I’m writing is to share our new … Read more

Top DIY Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

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We’re excited to be part of Mrs. Limestone’s “Junk Drawer Overhaul” series, where a handful of bloggers are sharing how they’re starting the new year by organizing their messy kitchen junk drawers. We bent the theme slightly and showed how we organized our tool drawers, which happen to live in the kitchen. Truthfully, it wasn’t … Read more

Cottage Vibe: White-on-White Room Color Palette Ideas

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When Sarah sent us photos of her dramatic sitting room makeover, we were excited to share her story. Below is the letter she sent describing the transformation: I have to admit I was in a makeover slump with our old cottage here in Australia, but you helped me find my spark again. This is the … Read more

Oversized Large-Print Living Room Rug Guide

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Ok, we know we said our sunroom’s mini makeover was next on the agenda, but we had to share this rug swap first. Readers often ask how we choose finishing touches like the right art or the perfect rug. Our answer is always the same: there isn’t a single “right” or “perfect” formula. There are … Read more

Why Decorating One Room at a Time Could Hurt Your Home’s Flow

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We recently passed the one-year anniversary of moving furniture into our beach house, so this week we’re reflecting on how we stayed sane while furnishing and decorating an entire house all at once. Tackling many decisions at once exposed some limitations to our usual slower, room-by-room approach, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’ve gathered a … Read more

What Quitting Our Blog Taught Us About Growth and Focus

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Here are the show notes for Episode #14 of Young House Love Has A Podcast, a recording of the closing talk we gave at the 2016 Haven Conference in Atlanta, GA. In this special episode, we share what we learned after taking nearly a year away from blogging. We outline five key lessons that became … Read more