We’re back with our weekly basement update. Since we’re inching closer to the best word ever — finished — this week’s project is quick and practical. It ties into that built-in cabinet to the right of the IKEA workstation that we painted white last week. Remember it was bare and we said we had a … Read more

Note: This is a retroactive post I put together in December 2011 to create a month-by-month recap for our first year in the new house. I’m a little type A, so here’s what we tackled in February — in high school yearbook style. Coupon Lover: A post about how I try to save money by … Read more

Thanks to a few strategically placed nails, we finally got our small guest bedroom frame project up on that blank wall. We were pleased with the result: But once the final frame was hung, we both felt the display needed more. So we made a quick trip to Target and picked up a few additional … Read more

And now for a post about saving money. The less we spend on groceries, the more we can spend on paint and projects. Since I recently shared my 2011 goal to learn how to use coupons and save more, here’s a straightforward update for anyone else trying to turn clipped coupons into real savings. I … Read more

One challenge when building the floating shelves in our duplex kitchens was drilling through the tile backsplash. After spending time and money installing this beautiful tile, we didn’t want to damage it. Yes, it felt a little nerve-wracking, but it’s completely doable with the right approach. Here’s how we tackled it. wood cabinets | white … Read more

It’s been a hectic few weeks on our beach house renovation, and things haven’t gone as smoothly as we hoped. This week we’re sharing the story of three setbacks that hit in quick succession: a missed deadline, discovering the house had no water line, and an unexpected medical complication. We’re honest about how renovations can … Read more

Discovering unique artwork you truly love can be a challenge, which is why we’re excited to share this week’s giveaway from ArtTwo50. Their online gallery features original pieces from over 500 artists, spanning abstracts, portraits, landscapes and more — all priced at $250, with shipping included. The collection is curated to offer a wide variety … Read more

Sherry and I have started work on another new house. Before you gasp—no, we’re not moving into it, and we don’t own it yet. In fact, it hasn’t been built. Right now the lot looks like this: Some readers might remember the Mega House Crashing tour we did last year, where we visited eight custom … Read more

This weekend we picked up two vintage children’s chairs—each just two feet tall—at a local yard sale for $7.50 apiece. They were originally marked at $10 each, but a quick “two for $15” offer sealed the deal. At first glance we loved their solid construction: steel legs, clean mid-century lines, and a weight that said … Read more

You get extra credit if you noticed we have a new camera — we bought it ourselves and weren’t sponsored — and I’ll explain why. We picked up a Nikon D3200 on Amazon — essentially an update to our old Nikon D3000 that we’ve used since early 2010. The short version: I’m a bit of … Read more