Hi friends, Courtney here (Melissa’s daughter)! I’m so happy to welcome you to our new home. After years of renting, my husband, our son, and I have just moved into a house we share with my parents-in-law. A few years ago my parents-in-law suggested the idea of living together, and it immediately felt right. We … Read more

While I enjoy finding style inspiration online, one of my favorite ways to build confidence in my own taste is to study the photographs in design books. Holding a book and turning pages at a relaxed pace is incomparable — it feels like a calm return to an earlier, simpler way of discovering ideas. The … Read more

I can’t believe we’re about to celebrate our first Christmas in our new house! Last spring we were just beginning to consider moving to Seattle, and now we’re settled in and making it our home. Celebrating holidays here has already helped the house feel more like ours. Thanksgiving with family was wonderful, and I expect … Read more

Do you decorate every room in your home for the holidays? I find there’s something wonderfully cozy and uplifting about adding a touch of holiday decor not only to the living and dining rooms, but also to bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and the kitchen. I admit I’m a bit of a holiday romantic. Decorating every room … Read more

I don’t know about you, but when my home becomes cluttered and chaotic I feel out of sorts and less productive. The condition of my living space has a real effect on my emotional well-being and daily focus. Do you notice the same thing when clutter builds up? Because clutter has such an impact, establishing … Read more

This small bedroom makeover was completed in partnership with Ashley HomeStore Welcome to our small bedroom makeover. I’m excited to share, for the first time, the before-and-after photos of this cozy main-floor bedroom. I originally considered using this room as an office, but after working in it for a few months I realized it felt … Read more

When I lived in one of my smallest homes, a charming English cottage in Portland, I turned a bare patch of dirt and scraggly grass into a cozy little garden. It wasn’t a vegetable plot but an English-style planting with ground covers, boxwoods, rocks, a small bridge and stone paths. I loved that yard. I … Read more

We made a lot of progress inside our house over the past year. I’m delighted with what we accomplished — sometimes I still pinch myself when I walk through the rooms. A year ago things felt very different: the carpet carried odors, the colors didn’t work, and the kitchen didn’t function or please the eye … Read more

Hello, friends! I took a few days off to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. It was wonderful to slow down, relax, and enjoy great food. For the record, my 24-pound turkey turned out perfectly browned, juicy, and cooked to the right temperature — a definite success. Even though the break was refreshing, I missed chatting with … Read more

1. Linen Napkins 2. Ethiopian Raw Silk Napkins 3. Indigo Polka Dot Napkins 4. Burst Napkin 5. Parisian Blue Napkin 6. Tile Napkin 7. Hand-Embroidered Naraka Napkin 8. Mina Napkin Set Do you have a drawer full of beautiful cloth napkins to mix and match? Fun patterns and colors for every season and occasion? That … Read more