Last week our family enjoyed a staycation to celebrate Father’s Day and my son’s birthday. One evening we turned our backyard firepit into a simple, cozy s’mores night. I love gatherings that are easy to plan yet feel special—so much so I wrote a book about it, Simple Gatherings. For our s’mores evening we used … Read more

Recently I mentioned having trouble finding large glass lamps and that I had made a DIY glass bottle lamp instead. Since then I discovered that HomeGoods stocked several beautiful, oversized glass lamps — including the ones I placed on my console cabinet — and I was thrilled to find them. They make a strong, stylish … Read more

Paper organization ideas I need to get better organized. With busy schedules, family life, work commitments and community involvement, it’s easy for things to pile up. We juggle businesses, volunteer efforts, weekly events, three children, two dogs and a lot of daily details. Over recent months we’ve introduced systems that help, but there’s still more … Read more

Years ago I struggled to keep my house clean. I loved decorating and cared deeply about my home, but no matter how much I wanted a tidy space, I couldn’t figure out how to maintain it. I was overwhelmed by everything that needed attention. Eventually I discovered that the key wasn’t trying to do everything … Read more

I have always loved gallery walls. A gallery wall is simply a curated collage of art, photos and objects arranged on a wall to create interest and personality. They can be relaxed and eclectic or precise and symmetrical. They can feel modern and fresh or classic and traditional. There really isn’t one correct way to … Read more

Paint Colors Choosing a White Paint for an Older House I receive many questions about the antique white paint I used on the walls, trim, and kitchen cabinets in my older home. I love this particular paint color for older houses. It reads as a soft, subtle cream rather than a stark, cold white or … Read more

Thank you for the kind responses to our laundry room progress. I’m thrilled to have a refreshed space to do laundry in and I’ll share more as the room comes together and the finishing details are in place. I received a lot of questions about the window shade, so here are clear, easy-to-follow details. This … Read more

Oyster Gray Grout We’re steadily moving forward with the kitchen renovation, making progress one step at a time. Although the contractors are handling most of the work, I’m actively supervising, making decisions and occasionally changing my mind as things progress. That’s just part of the process. Here’s a quick update on what’s new. The grout … Read more

House Beautiful Farmhouse Kitchen I have always loved natural wood furniture and cabinetry. Even as many homeowners move toward lighter palettes, a well-chosen wood finish still brings timeless warmth and character to a kitchen. My appreciation for darker wood goes back to childhood daydreams of living in a grand old English house. That affinity stayed … Read more

Love the pop of turquoise in this inspiration photo, via BHG IIf you’ve followed The Inspired Room for any length of time, you already know about my seasonal passion. ……………………{awkward silence.}………………………. ……………………………………………………………………….. You know—the love affair I have with this time of year. Oh, that affair—of course! It’s pretty obvious. I don’t try very hard … Read more