Hendel Homes I have long been drawn to charming architecture and classic, natural materials, and soapstone has always held a special place in my heart. Early on, we used soapstone around the stove in our English Tudor, though we chose wood counters elsewhere to complement the existing tile floors. Those wood counters were gorgeous, and … Read more

It’s been roughly two years since our kitchen renovation, and I still receive daily questions about the space. This updated post collects many of the details, sources, and answers I’m most often asked for. Scroll down for specifics. I’m also preparing individual FAQ posts about topics like whether we still like our marble and soapstone … Read more

Isn’t Jack handsome with his new spring haircut? I certainly think so. He was a little miffed about being left at the groomer for his trim. At first, he didn’t see what the big deal was about getting a haircut. Then he caught his reflection in the mirror and suddenly understood — he looked very … Read more

Homebody Doormat Source Before we dive into Fall Nesting and doormats, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss a few recent posts when my email newsletter glitched. If you missed my sponsored post about Who Gives a Crap, or my posts linked below, you can catch up on the blog. I didn’t go MIA … Read more

Today I’m sharing simple, charming Thanksgiving table decorating ideas you can recreate with items you already own. These examples are meant to spark inspiration and help you create a look that feels personal and welcoming. Sources for many items are listed at the end of the post. If you missed yesterday’s inspiration board and source … Read more

Paper Clutter Organization With two self-employed parents running start-ups from home, plus taxes, receipts, a family of five, a middle-schooler in sports and regular household tasks, paper clutter became a real problem here. If you live in a busy household, you probably aren’t surprised. When I began a home transformation project last January, my goal … Read more

Source: Rattan Tray Cyber Monday and Black Friday Deals 2023 Many of the Black Friday deals below remain available for Cyber Monday. Black Friday is approaching, and here are early deals I’ve spotted so you can plan ahead before the holiday rush. This post will be updated as new deals appear, so consider bookmarking it … Read more

House & Home JI prefer to let the Christmas season unfold slowly and be savored, much like how I enjoy autumn. I don’t follow the rule that decorating for Christmas must wait until after Thanksgiving. That timetable doesn’t fit how our family likes to celebrate. It’s not just about deadlines or blogging—although I do those … Read more

White Paint Finding the right white paint can feel surprisingly difficult. A white that looks perfect in one home may look off in another because of light, surrounding colors, and the age of the house. I’ve painted several homes and tried multiple whites on woodwork and cabinets, so I wanted to share what worked best … Read more

With spring here and summer approaching, I’m excited to spend more time outdoors. In the coastal Pacific Northwest where I live, the months from May through October are wonderful for relaxing outside. I’m often asked about the items I use outdoors, so I gathered many of them here in one place to make it easy … Read more