Let’s talk about what Santa brought us this year. This Christmas felt extra special: in seven Decembers together, we’d never woken up in our own beds to open presents under our own tree as a family. Normally we were traveling, so this felt like a new tradition. We did join a big Petersik family gift-opening … Read more

We had a lot of excitement last week when our brick house got painted white, but there was also some behind-the-scenes stress leading up to the transformation. This week we’re sharing the realities of a big project like this, including the worries we still have about what comes next. We also talk with a very … Read more

It’s been about five months since we first showed you the exterior of our Florida house, and our outdoor areas have been put to good use ever since. You’ve already seen how our second-story deck came together, so today we’re sharing updates on the front porch, the covered “side porch,” and the new landscaping we’ve … Read more

When we needed heavy-duty shelving for our new shed, we followed a clear and reliable DIY plan from Ana White. These shelves support heavier items like power tools and paint cans, and they’re straightforward to build — even for beginners. We liked this method so much that we repeated it in the beach house shed … Read more

Who remembers the old furniture-and-pillow hoarding room at the end of the hall that we used to call “the storage room”? We stole a bit of its square footage to create our laundry room, which left a more rectangular-shaped space and easier access through the new glass door we installed at the end of the … Read more

As many of you saw on Facebook and Instagram, we went on a big lumber run, which means there’s a lot of building about to begin in the nursery. But before we start construction we need to paint the walls and ceiling, so we’re hoping to finish that today and tomorrow and post an update … Read more

So. My basement workshop. I admitted how messy it was a few months ago. Then building Clara’s dollhouse prompted me to tidy it up a bit — enough that you could actually see some of the floor. But when we completed the deck project it all went downhill again: sawdust, scrap wood, and general chaos … Read more

It’s official: Hunger Games fever has arrived at Casa Petersik. I started it first, deciding to read the book before seeing the movie. I’d heard it was a fast read and that proved true—I finished it in about 24 hours. Sherry was reluctant at first, saying she didn’t have time, but I convinced her to … Read more

Q: I love your blog and often check in twice a day. Thank you for your great work! But I have one question: what do you do at the kitchen sink with the few things you regularly use for washing-up/cleaning the dishes and the table (like a sponge, a dish cloth, a brush, dishwashing detergent, … Read more

When Ania sent us her beautiful after photos (inspired by the mood board we created for her last month) we couldn’t wait to share the results. You love a good before-and-after, and Ania did a fantastic job. Here’s the note she sent us: Here are a few after pictures that I took for you! Needless … Read more