Spring Mantel Once again I’m rearranging the mantel for spring — a little fluffing, a little nesting. Changing small details brings such joy this time of year. For today, this is how my mantel looks. By tomorrow it may be different — I often keep tweaking until it feels just right. Isn’t that what makes … Read more

Welcome, my friend Sandy Coughlin! Early summer feels like the best time for gardening — the days are fresher, the air is cooler, and everything seems new and full of possibility. Later in the season the heat ramps up, weeds take over, and the work can feel tiring. Right now, though, is a perfect moment … Read more

House & Home | Photographer: Virginia Macdonald | Designer: Jack Creasy Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry 1. Create a New Mood with Color Natural light and architectural details have a huge influence on how a room feels. Choosing a moodier palette—deep greens, charcoal, or rich navy—can transform a space and add drama. In this Modern English Country … Read more

How To Paint Furniture I’m a big fan of painted furniture even though I’m not an expert at the process. I love the look of painted pieces but often struggle with preparation, technique and achieving a smooth, professional finish. I imagine beautiful results before I start, but my inexperience can lead to mistakes. Rather than … Read more

I’ve intended to write another blog post for a while now. Truly, I’ve been trying. Life has been a little chaotic lately — unexpected emergencies, puppy mayhem, being out of state without my computer, juggling several large creative projects, and our church relaunching this week in our new building (I have photos on my camera … Read more

@sweetshadylane Lovely Christmas Decor Inspiration Happy December! Today we’re finally putting up our tree. Normally it goes up around Thanksgiving, but with our travel plans this year it’s later than usual. Seeing these beautifully decorated rooms has made me so excited for the season, so I wanted to share a few of my favorite festive … Read more

Please welcome my special guest today, Emily from Chatting at the Sky! I met Emily when we, along with her sister Nester and Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer, all roomed together at Blissdom this year. It was a delight to spend time with her in person—she’s warm and genuine. Emily has a beautiful home and, more … Read more

H ave you considered painting your concrete porch or patio? I get a lot of questions about the color on our concrete, so I wanted to share what we learned and offer a clear, practical guide for doing it yourself. When we began our side yard project, we chose a deep gray for the concrete … Read more

While we were passing through Portland recently after dropping my son off at a filmmaking camp, my daughter and I stopped at our favorite bookstore, Powells. It’s an amazing place to get lost among books and we always spend hours browsing the shelves. What did we bring home this time? A huge stack of gardening … Read more

Surprise! A newly reformatted book titled Simply Home is coming mid‑August. Simply Home combines two of my popular paperbacks—Simple Organizing and Simple Decorating—into one elegant hardback. You can pre-order your copy now; the official release date is August 15. Click here to pre-order your copy of Simply Home (Releasing August 15!) Working with a publisher … Read more