As October winds down, it’s tempting to jump into Christmas wrapping and tree setup. I’m not there yet—this is an older photo—but many of us will begin decorating in the coming weeks. Are you ready? For me, fall nesting naturally shifts into holiday simplifying and planning before the actual decorating begins. Sometimes the tree is … Read more

Hardwood floor inspiration via Design Sponge (Exquisite Surfaces) This post is sponsored by Mohawk Flooring. Are you dreaming of new flooring? Flooring shapes the look and feel of a home and influences decorating choices and future renovation plans. Whether you’re living with existing floors for a while or beginning with a blank slate, selecting the … Read more

When Melinda read about our tray tiling project, she and her husband decided to try a little tray customization themselves. Here’s what she sent us: My husband and I were inspired by your DIY tray project from a couple of weeks ago. My sister is a huge tea drinker, so I decided to make her … Read more

Paint Colors Choosing a White Paint for an Older House I often get asked about the antique white paint I used on many walls, trims, and the kitchen cabinets in my older home. I truly love this paint color for an older house. It reads as a soft, slightly creamy white—not stark or cold, but … Read more

Sherry and I were completely smitten with the room Anna created for her two boys. Partly because we don’t have a son (well, we do have a furry one, but he doesn’t have his own room) — so it’s fun to see design geared toward boys — and partly because she packed clever ideas into … Read more

With the holidays approaching and cold-season concerns top of mind, we’ve stepped up our cleaning routine. Whether preparing the house for guests, tidying the kitchen and bathrooms, or simply keeping our home healthy for family and pets, we rely on Thieves Household Cleaner Concentrate (THHC). I avoid harsh chemical fumes and prefer cleaners that are … Read more

Alternate post title: Paint Me Like One Of Your French Girls. Much like Rose once begged Jack, the dusty blue back of our front door was begging for a fresh coat of paint (okay, Rose said “draw me like one of your French girls,” but close enough). Our color of choice? The same cheerful teal … Read more

Hanging White Stars / Plaid Pillows / Similar White Adirondack Chairs / Similar White Lit Birch Trees Merry week after Christmas! I love this gentle, slow week between the holidays. The busy rush of December has passed and now it’s time to relax by the fire, enjoy a few treats and stay in pajamas a … Read more

Roeshel’s bathroom transformed from drab to dazzling thanks to her keen eye for style and the handiwork of her husband, Russ. Here’s her note: I’m a big fan of your blog (I read it every day) and wanted to share my before-and-after photos of our powder room. Your posts are often my inspiration—I think you’d … Read more

This post covers the full closet remodel: before-and-after photos, a video tour showing how everything is organized, the total cost, closet planning tips so you can tackle a similar update, and the simple trick we used to make the Ikea Pax system look built-in—using only about $65 of primed wood. First up: the before and … Read more