The excitement started yesterday at the stone yard when we went to look at our granite slabs and peaked when we spotted a massive piece of Blanc Noir. The small white sample with gray and black flecks that had charmed us months ago looked nothing like the large slab before us. Instead of the delicate … Read more

The number of questions we received on this Instagram post made it clear we hadn’t kept you up to date on the backyard. We’ve made several major changes — including hiring professional landscapers — which turned out to be the best warranty we ever bought (we talk about why two DIYers outsourced planting on this … Read more

As we wait for the final cabinet to arrive, we’ve found a fun way to pass the time: making holiday cards. We’re not usually the type to send cards every year, but a Target coupon for free photo greetings gave us the perfect excuse to share a little cheer with friends and family. Below is … Read more

As mentioned in our previous kitchen update, we decided to embrace the existing countertops and lean into a tone-on-tone approach for Phase One — after all, when else do you get mauve counters to work with? We prefer making smaller, thoughtful updates and living with a space for a while instead of gutting it immediately. … Read more

Kids returning to school means teachers and staff are back too, so we were excited to brighten the start of the year for a local public school’s teachers’ lounge after the school reached out for help with a volunteer makeover. In June, someone who had seen our makeover of Hudson’s room contacted us about doing … Read more

I know what you’re thinking: do John & Sherry really love built-ins? Yes—absolutely. We’re suckers for the combination of function and form, and Hilary’s clever transformation of inexpensive Craigslist bookcases into a cohesive architectural feature had us at hello. It was a smart use of space and an economical way to adapt premade pieces to … Read more

Amanda’s bathroom makeover is a perfect example of how paint can do more than refresh walls — it can revive a tired wood vanity and give an entire space a new personality. Decorative drawer liners add a polished finishing touch. Here’s the note Amanda sent: I just wanted to share the before and after we … Read more

When we received a letter from Jacky detailing her mantle makeover, we were excited to share the before-and-after photos. Here’s her note: I’m a big fan of your site, and I wanted to share my living room transformation. We had an oddly shaped concrete mantle and left it untouched for more than two years. After … Read more

If this were a fable, the moral might be: when something in your home doesn’t feel right, do something about it — or wait for it to die and take it as a sign. Our story’s protagonist is the small hanging light that lived in the corner of our living room. We’d always felt something … Read more

*** This giveaway is closed – see who won below! *** This week’s lucky random winner is.. Keelan (who’s favorite picture of herself from her Costa Rican honeymoon, saying “my husband took it of me at the end of the trip while I was lying in a chaise lounge and I just look the epitome … Read more