Living room: inexpensive drop cloths unify mismatched furniture.{Sofa was hunter green. Ottoman was blue and pink plaid.} Do you wish your home looked more put together? Do you want a warm, welcoming room but are living with hand-me-downs or older furniture that feels disjointed? You don’t need to replace everything. With a few simple edits, … Read more

Coffee Maker here or here (30% off) / Mug Rack / Chemex / Mug Hooks – Ikea It’s been a while since I shared an Instagram Lately post. I love pulling together little glimpses of life behind the scenes and sharing updates from our family’s Instagram feeds here on the blog. First, a big thank … Read more

Christmas Home Tours 2011 Are you getting ready for the Christmas Home Tours at The Inspired Room? I am getting ready, too. Right now the house is a little chaotic and I could use a Christmas miracle to get everything photo-ready. If the weather cooperates and I can catch some good light, tomorrow I’ll share … Read more

Dining Room Design Caitlin Creer Millhaven Homes & Alice Lane Home Collection Photography Hiyapapaya TThis time of year I start paying more attention to my dining room and how to make it feel welcoming for family and guests. I already have a few ideas in mind—more on those soon—but for now I’m enjoying inspiration from … Read more

Paint color: Glidden Polished Grey For readers who have followed my blog, you know we tackled a lot of painting in our previous home. Although the house was new when we bought it, the builder’s paint choice wasn’t one we loved. The finish looked flat and worn from the start, so we decided to repaint … Read more

Let’s make a cozy fall simmer pot. One of my favorite things about autumn is the way the air fills with warm, comforting scents: cinnamon, orange, vanilla, and clove. I prefer natural aromas over synthetic fragrances for health and atmosphere. No plug-ins, no artificial room sprays, no perfumed cleaning products—just the real fragrances of plants, … Read more

In January I set a goal to work through my home room by room, focusing on how each space functions and how it’s organized. That included considering new furniture or built-ins when needed, but also paying attention to smaller details—hooks, drawer organization, and simple fixes that improve daily life. Aiming high helped: even if I … Read more

Decorating with Branches I love finding ways to stretch my decorating budget and keep versatile items on hand that work for multiple seasons and occasions. My mother has always decorated with sticks and branches. Over the years she collected many styles—glittered sticks, plain winter branches, stems with flowers or tiny leaves. Simple branches make a … Read more

Orange Front Door via Etsy {decal via Tasty Suite} Painted Front Doors I love colorful front doors. They add personality and curb appeal with a simple, relatively low-cost change. Do you? This photo shows my old front porch and door. Over the years the porch decor has changed, but the door stayed the same. The … Read more

Farmhouse Entry by Roxbury Architects & Building Designers Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects Happy Monday! I woke this morning with the window open and noticed that familiar crispness in the air — a clear sign that my favorite season, fall, is approaching. I love fall. In the Northwest, fall brings rain (which we need), mud … Read more