Hello friends! What a summer it’s been — so much has changed in the past few weeks that I wanted to share a life update and a renovation progress report. Grab a cup of coffee or tea; this is a longer update!
- Before the update: HomeBody Gathering Place is open briefly to new members. We begin our fall season on September 1 and welcome anyone who loves creating a sanctuary for family. We only open a few times a year and would love to have you join us.
We’re so close to the finish line on this renovation and feeling very happy about the progress. The last few weeks have been among the most exhausting phases — but also the most rewarding.
Living in your home during a renovation has both benefits and challenges. Major projects require changing daily routines and repeatedly moving furniture and belongings as different rooms are worked on. We’ve spent weeks emptying closets, relocating items and shuffling things around so contractors could install flooring on the stairs and upstairs. It has been tiring, but absolutely worth it.
Please note the spaces I’m sharing are still in progress: we need to sweep, dust and await paint touch-ups, wood heat registers and finishing trim work.
We love our new floors — light, warm and beachy. They are European white oak engineered hardwood purchased locally. The living room also received a fresh coat of paint in Benjamin Moore Beach Glass, a nuanced blue-green that shifts beautifully throughout the day.
Although the major projects are nearly complete after six months, the finishing work and settling in can feel more chaotic than calming. We still have punch list items: final paint touch-ups, trim, and a few last details that prevent full use of some spaces.
Last week felt especially messy — lots of boxes, stacks of things and temporary chaos as rooms were worked on. The contractors helped move heavy items, but we still did a lot ourselves. As expected, our backs are reminding us we’re not as young as we used to be.
We’re slowly putting everything back, deciding what will stay and what needs to go, and planning the final touches. Some rooms — the mudroom, for example — remain piled with boxes until paint and shelving are finished. I’ll share the painted mudroom and powder room in a future post.
Renovating takes time, intention and patience. It’s not an hour-long makeover — it’s a process that yields a home you’ll enjoy for years. Even when contractors finish, there are always small projects and tweaks to make over time.
We’re resisting the urge to rush every decision. Instead we’re living in the spaces, sensing what feels right and making small changes until each room feels complete. That’s been the most rewarding part: layering color, texture and accessories and letting our style unfold slowly.
We’re finally starting to place furniture and personal items back where they belong, which makes the house feel more like home. Small details — hanging art, adding linen pin boards in the guest room, and arranging lamps and textiles — are bringing daily joy.
Our style has always evolved over time and this home is no different. I tend to stay true to a consistent aesthetic, but how pieces are arranged and combined changes with each space. My husband and I enjoy moving things around until the balance feels right.
It’s the little things that thrill me right now: creating a real guest room and bathroom, styling corners with familiar items, and making spaces welcoming for family and friends. My sister’s family is visiting soon, so that gave us extra motivation to settle in.
We re-use and move things around often, which keeps decorating playful — like a game of Where’s Waldo with familiar pieces showing up in new spots. Even Lily has a cozy chair with a little blanket to keep it tidy and comfortable.
One favorite is a rug I helped design with Annie Selke Dash & Albert — it’s still a beloved piece and a nice reminder of past projects and the long arc of creating a home.
We’ve also been making time to enjoy summer: walks, quiet mornings with coffee, and small rituals returning as our kitchen becomes functional again. Having a proper stove and counter space has been a delight after months of compromises.
Outside, we’ve started planning the backyard and planting. Our new jasmine on the porch is thriving and smells heavenly — I’ll share more about the yard and planting soon.
On another note, my book Simply Home launched this week. It combines my best-selling Simple Decorating and Simple Organizing into one hardback, offering practical tips and realistic ideas for creating order and beauty at home.
We also escaped for a few days to one of our favorite beach spots, Seabrook, and stayed in a charming new house. It was a lovely break and I’ll share that visit in a future post.
Thank you for following along with this renovation update. If you stuck with me to the end, I appreciate your time and support.
See previous “Life Lately” posts in the blog archives.
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