Roger Oates My husband has been repainting our small basement staircase for the past week or two, and it’s turning out so charming. When we moved in it was carpeted and not very attractive. A few years ago we removed the carpet and painted the steps a dark gray, but the paint wore away and … Read more

So, I’ve been hinting at a rough couple of weeks. I had hoped to reach today with good news to share. I can’t go into specifics for legal reasons, but I can tell you that today was supposed to be the closing on my old house — it would have been officially sold, and we … Read more

New England Home Right before Christmas I wrote about the value of having something to look forward to in January to lift your spirits. You can read that earlier post on the idea of starting a new home project to refresh your mood. With 2021 drawing to a close, now is the perfect time to … Read more

via BHG and Simple Details Blog As we work through renovating our side yard and plan an interior remodel, one lesson keeps standing out: there’s a single mindset that makes the difference between a stressful, drawn-out project and one that actually goes well. If you don’t have this, you probably shouldn’t start renovating yet. Flexibility … Read more

BHG Fall Porch Ideas Are you eager to embrace the rich colors of fall? Here are fresh, fun porch ideas and inspiration photos to help bring autumn color to your porch and garden. These ideas will put you in the mood for fall. via Apartment Therapy 1. Embrace fall color with paint. Refresh doors, planters, … Read more

I’ve always been fascinated by gates. They do more than mark a boundary or keep pets safe — the right gate can feel like an inviting threshold to a secret garden. Even a simple gate, with a touch of charm, can change the whole feel of an entrance. I enjoy gate hunting around neighborhoods almost … Read more

House Beautiful I’m in a yellow mood. Maybe it’s the gray, rainy weather outside. I found myself craving a little sunshine indoors, so I gathered some yellow decorating inspiration to brighten the day. If you already live where the sun shines every day, enjoy these ideas anyway—yellow has a way of lifting the spirit and … Read more

Hi friends! I wanted to share a quick reminder that today, Thursday, October 15, is the only day Barnes & Noble is offering 50% off pre-orders of my new book, The Inspired Room. This special price makes the hardback edition an outstanding value—it’s roughly $13 for a beautiful, full‑color coffee table book. This deal is … Read more

Each week on our Inspired Room Style Instagram (and on TIR and the blog) we highlight classic and current home decor finds to help followers decorate affordably and with ease. A few months ago we began a new monthly series here on the blog that rounds up the previous month’s most-loved items from Inspired Room … Read more

I love charming kitchen faucets, especially the vintage appeal of gooseneck and bridge styles. In a recent post I shared that I chose a faucet for my new kitchen and I’m excited to see it installed. Below I’m sharing faucets I’ve used in past homes along with a variety of options at different price points. … Read more