Spring Bedroom: Coastal Grandma Style I can finally call myself a “Coastal Grandma” now that I’m a real grandma living by the sea. For the past two and a half years we’ve lived on an island on Washington’s upper northwest coast, a little cottage that was always our dream retirement spot. Although I’m not retiring, … Read more

Christmas House Tour The post below tours my Christmas-decorated home from 2011. Much has changed since then, but I wanted to share these memories and ideas. You can find my 2013 Christmas House Tour here (sneak peek above) and photos of the whole house here. . . . . . . . Welcome! I’m so … Read more

My daughters and I were thrilled to be at the West Elm in Seattle on Saturday the 21st for a book signing of The Inspired Room. We visited between 12–2; if you were in the area, I loved meeting readers and friends. Bring your copy or pick one up there and I was happy to … Read more

Today I took time to reflect and count my blessings. Looking back on a story often reveals how far we’ve come, and hearing others’ stories of patience in creating a home can be comforting. At this time of year, when houses look festive and put together, it’s easy to forget that many took years and … Read more

A while back I began transforming a guest room—also used by my daughter Courtney when she visited from college—into a cozier, more useful space. You may remember how it looked partway through the project. The walls were painted (we used a lightened Studio Taupe to match our living room) and we were preparing for new … Read more

We did a thing. Meet Finnegan. He’s the coziest, cuddliest little companion we’ve ever met. Finnegan is a small schnoodle, about four and a half months old. We hadn’t planned on getting another pup anytime soon—if ever—because we knew no dog could replace Jack in our home. We still mourn Jack, but we find comfort … Read more

Spring Decorating Last week I gave my family room mantel a fresh, simple spring update. To welcome the season I added a few live spring plants and a moss wreath. Green feels like the perfect first hint of spring. I know the plants might not survive the whole season, but I plan to enjoy them … Read more

This post is in partnership with World Market Can you believe Mother’s Day is only a couple of weeks away? If you’re planning something special, hosting a brunch is always a crowd-pleaser. My family loves to make breakfast together, so we often host casual holiday brunches. We had one on Easter and are planning another … Read more

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Merry Christmas, dear friends. P.S. If you missed our festive Christmas video earlier, it’s embedded below for you … Read more

Atlanta Homes I’ve been feeling inspired to refresh our living and dining rooms lately. It helps that it’s officially the first day of fall — a perfect reason to make a few changes and welcome a cozier season. Seasonal shifts often spark ideas for small, impactful updates. You don’t need a major renovation to change … Read more