Today I want to take you on a flashback journey through how and why our living room has evolved over the last four years. You might remember that this spring I brought home a new striped couch that I love, after passing the leather one on to my mom. I also finally made a decision … Read more

Bookcases bring an instant sense of charm and warmth to a room. I love how they make a space feel like a cozy, personal library. This year we had plans to install built-in cabinets and bookcases in both our dining room and living room — something I’d dreamed about since we moved in. Those plans … Read more

This post was created in partnership with Pottery Barn Have you been enjoying the Christmas home tours online? It’s such a festive time of year, and I love seeing how everyone makes their house feel cozy and special. Today I’m sharing a few favorite seasonal décor pieces that I’ve been using — they’re easy to … Read more

This Fall Garage Enhancement project was in partnership with The Home Depot* Do you have a space in your house to organize tools for DIY projects this fall and winter? Every autumn I tell myself the same thing: clear out the garage and organize your tools before cold weather sets in. Each year I put … Read more

Pottery Barn I wanted to ask whether you use special plates for the holidays. I tend to favor white and neutral dishware most of the time, but I always enjoy adding a few festive pieces when the season calls for it. A single holiday salad plate or dessert plate can make a table feel celebratory … Read more

Hi friends! How are you? I want to say thank you for all your thoughtful comments. I’ve been out of town this past week with spotty internet while we work through the final details of our move (including the never-simple question of WHERE we’ll live in January). I’ll share an update soon—I promise. Even though … Read more

Welcome to my Christmas house tour! I’m so happy you stopped by. If you’re new here: we’ve lived in this house for nearly five years and have been slowly making it our own. We recently finished a kitchen remodel and have been adding personal touches and character ever since. Although I love the charm of … Read more

I get a lot of questions about our hickory hardwood floors and how they’ve stood up over the years with dogs and a busy family. I wanted to answer the most common questions in one place. If you have more, leave a comment and I’ll add them to the list. 1. What kind of flooring … Read more

Hi friends! Courtney (Melissa’s daughter) here. I’m glad to share a tour of my son Forrest’s bedroom in our new Lake House. Last month we moved into our new home, and my parents-in-law joined us in the lower-level MIL suite. We’ve been enjoying the house and slowly making it our own. One of the first … Read more

April 2014 I know a house doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. We embrace imperfection quite well in our home. Life here is often messy, loud, and a little ridiculous — and that’s okay. Actually, sometimes my life at home is just plain ol’ ridiculous. When we brought the new puppy home the … Read more