A reader recently asked for help making a dog crate blend with home decor, so we gathered ideas and options to solve the problem. Whether you prefer a DIY makeover or a ready-made piece that looks like furniture, there are elegant solutions that make a crate feel intentional rather than an eyesore. First, here’s a … Read more

We know the biggest upgrades our laundry area needs are energy-efficient appliances and built-in storage to make the most of that small space. While we save and plan for those larger changes, we spent a few hours after Clara’s bedtime a couple of nights ago tackling smaller, high-impact fixes on our laundry to-do list. Our … Read more

As Sherry and I discussed on this week’s podcast, we’ve both been deeply affected by the devastation Hurricane Maria brought to Puerto Rico. It’s hard to watch anywhere, but having been on the island just a few months ago celebrating our ten-year anniversary makes it especially heartbreaking to see this place we love struggling. The … Read more

We just found out our first overnight guests are arriving at the end of the month, and our guest room currently looks like this: Not acceptable — especially since our guests are my in-laws. Sherry’s mom and stepdad are flying from New York to Richmond to spend time with Clara, so we now have a … Read more

Want to turn Ikea Besta cabinets into custom built-ins? We used three straightforward hacks to make our Bestas read like higher-end custom storage without the hefty price tag. The result: more concealed storage and added architectural interest in our bedroom. table | white chairs | wicker chair | ottoman | lamps | glass vase | … Read more

We made it through our first summer hosting on Airbnb, welcoming 23 different families over the last three months — and the duplex survived, too. The season brought memorable highs, a few stressful moments, and plenty of unexpected lessons. In this update we’re taking you behind the scenes: what we learned about running a vacation … Read more

I’ve had a lot of readers ask for an update on how we’re doing with the elusive work/life balance we publicly committed to this year. We never intended to work nights, weekends, and even on vacation, but with both our jobs tied to the internet and laptops always within reach, it’s been a struggle. We … Read more

We asked. You voted. We listened. Recently we ran a poll asking readers to help choose a new color for our dull bookcase. After tallying your votes, we went with the clear favorite and gave the piece a bold refresh. All three subtle options had supporters, and several of you suggested different hues, but the … Read more

We figured it was time to update our to-do list (originally shared here) after living in the house for five months. We’ve crossed off a number of items and naturally added many more — the way projects go. To stay organized we keep one master list. We circle small, quick wins to tackle right away, … Read more

Tomorrow is the big day: we’ll finally reveal our porch makeover, completed as part of Better Homes & Gardens and The Home Depot’s 48-Hour Challenge. Since you’ve been so patient, we thought we’d share a small teaser to hold you over until the full before-and-after reveal. First, meet the little frog we found near the … Read more