Create a beautiful home with modern coastal farmhouse style. Last year my daughters and I visited the Street of Dreams in Portland, a tradition we try to keep when we can. One of the homes that stuck with me was a modern coastal farmhouse — a blend of clean contemporary lines with warm, lived-in farmhouse … Read more

If there’s one simple way to turn a house into a true home—aside from filling it with loved ones and memories—it’s to introduce pieces that show personality and surprise. Standard furniture and predictable accessories like chairs and lamps are necessary, but they won’t give a room character on their own. A well-chosen accessory can add … Read more

In the busy rhythm of everyday life, those of us who care for the home often pour out our time and energy nonstop. We make sure children have space to play, keep clothes clean, prepare nourishing meals, host gatherings, and support the ones we love. We volunteer, we clean, we organize celebrations — and we … Read more

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