When we bought our 1950s house last year, we loved many features, but there were also several things that needed updating. Finding a home that was perfect from the start wasn’t possible with our budget and timeline, but we recognized this house had good bones and potential. We committed to making gradual improvements to turn … Read more

Hello, friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. Today I’m excited to be a guest contributor on Chris’s welcoming blog, Just a Girl. I wrote a post about the ways I find inspiration for decorating our home and the simple habits that help me create spaces that feel calm, personal, and inviting. In the … Read more

Twine-wrapped pine cone and an old book. Fall 2011: Simple Decorating Ideas Welcome — it’s great to have you here. I’m on day five of a 31-day series about getting inspired for the season and upcoming holidays. I began with a few simple fall decorating ideas and over the month will share tips for preparing … Read more

Spring is approaching, but the winter mornings are still quite dark when I head to the kitchen for coffee. Recently I had a simple idea that made a big difference: I moved a cordless lamp from the porch into my coffee cabinet. Now I just tap the lamp before I start making coffee, and the … Read more

Photo from my new digital Dreambook // Please do not share or pin these images without credit @theinspiredroom and a link to the dreambook: A Cottage by the Sea Guide to A Lovely Spring You may not live in a cottage by the sea. But you can create the feeling—right where you are. That soft, … Read more

Sometimes I have to laugh at the oddities of blogging. While browsing HGTV.com for inspiration yesterday I kept stumbling across photos of rooms from my own house—images from past Christmases that appeared in a few of their idea collections. I did a double take. I had given permission for those photos to be used when … Read more

Hi friends! I can’t believe how quickly Saturdays arrive. Maybe I’m more aware of time now that I share these Saturday roundups, or perhaps I’m noticing small moments I’ll miss once life changes — like watching my son make a sandwich. Jack has been clinging to Luke like velcro. I think he knows something’s different. … Read more

Hello friends — happy Saturday! To celebrate the 200th Home Style Saturdays post, I’m hosting a special giveaway. One lucky reader will win $200 via PayPal and a runner-up will receive $100 via PayPal. To enter, leave a comment on this post. For extra entries, comment on each of the participating blogs listed below. Full … Read more

When I moved to the Seattle area, one of the things I disliked most was that there wasn’t a HomeGoods store nearby. I used to drive three hours each way to shop in Portland — not ideal, but sometimes necessary. We do have a TJ Maxx close by, which helps, but it’s not the same … Read more

Hello friends! I’m Cassie, back with my monthly guest post. Babies have filled my thoughts lately—between parenting a lively one-and-a-half-year-old, expecting another in a few months, and celebrating the many friends who are pregnant, I’ve spent a lot of time exploring baby gear, buying items, and making things for little ones. The world of baby … Read more