McListerson Letters: Updated Edition

featured 35283

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

Porch Makeover: Step-by-Step Front Porch Transformation Progress

featured 10642

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

How to Install Crown Molding: Step-by-Step Video Guide

featured 56575

Mission: Finish installing crown molding throughout the rest of the house (with the nursery already done, we still needed to tackle the guest room, the playroom, and the hallway). Status: Complete. Thanks to the magic of the internet, a project that took us about two weeks of intermittent work can be shown in seconds. Here’s … Read more

Breastfeeding for 14 Months: Benefits, Challenges, and Tips

featured 37949

Yup, that’s what I did. Well, technically 14 months and three days if you’re really counting. And yes, this is a post about breastfeeding, so if that’s not your thing you can skip it. I never expected to be writing about it, but I get a lot of questions and this blog is our memory … Read more

How to Strip a Deck for Staining: Step-by-Step Guide

featured 60025

When we bought our house, the deck was in rough shape. Before it could be revived with a fresh coat of stain, we needed to strip off the old finish. It took time and effort — our deck is nearly 700 sq. ft — but it was a totally doable weekend project, even for a … Read more

10 Practical Tips for Smoother Travel and Stress-Free Trips

featured 55709

* We’re sending lots of love to everyone in Boston (our cousins were at the marathon but are thankfully safe). Back in October we wouldn’t have called ourselves travel experts. We used to fly only every few years—our honeymoon to Alaska in 2007 was followed by another flight in 2012 for a family trip to … Read more

Free New Year Makeover: Simple Ways to Refresh Your Start

img 31521 1

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – scroll down for a special discount and to see the winners!*** If your New Year’s resolutions include words like “simplify,” “organize,” “declutter,” or “make more time for [blank],” this giveaway is for you. Simplify 101 offers practical, interactive tips and online workshops designed to help you reach … Read more

Planning Our Beach House Kitchen: Design Choices & Layout Guide

featured 83946

The beach house kitchen will be our seventh kitchen project after redoing three of our own (this one is our favorite), a 2014 showhouse, a 2016 spec house for a local builder, and a teachers’ lounge we refreshed last year. Even with prior experience, planning a kitchen still feels overwhelming because of the many decisions … Read more

Grouting White Subway Tile: Pro Tips for a Flawless Finish

featured 20785

After my tile-laying extravaganza, grouting and sealing felt like small tasks — especially since I took the week between Christmas and New Year’s off and planned several days to finish them. Still, I dreaded grouting. My dad called it “the pits,” and friends like Katie Bower admitted it was the hardest part of tiling. Even … Read more

Freebie Lighting Ideas to Brighten Any Room and Accent Board

img 29862 1

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – scroll down to see who won!*** We were thrilled when Room & Board reached out to offer a giveaway. Their furniture and accessories capture the clean-lined, comfortable-yet-sophisticated look we love, with natural materials and thoughtful details. One of their Galbraith & Paul pendant lights was featured as … Read more