Quick note Book tour update! — We’re posting this early because we’ll be at our stop in Wilton, CT this morning and later at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ at 5:30 pm (we’ll stay as long as it takes to sign books and chat). More details here. We’d love to see you!
Recently we took a short road trip up to Northern Virginia to tour a charming home in Herndon that we thought you’d enjoy. Michele and Nate have invested a huge amount of time, effort, and creativity into renovating their house, and the result is a welcoming, carefully crafted space full of smart DIY solutions. Let’s get the tour started.
Meet Michele and Nate. They were warm and humble hosts who generously invited us (and our kiddo) to photograph their home and share it with you.
Just behind them is a painted accent wall Michele created using painter’s tape — a patient, precise DIY that really defines the entry. The console table in front was a bargain find from HomeGoods; Michele darkened the finish with walnut stain to better suit the space. If the lines and proportions of a piece work but the color doesn’t, refinishing is often an easy way to save money and end up with a piece you love. The rug visible in the living room is a colorful clearance find that helps draw the eye into the space.
The dining room is cozy and deliberate. Michele and Nate installed two pendant lights above the table (a playful symmetrical choice) and added wainscoting for classic detail. The textured wall treatment is especially interesting — they actually starched textured linen fabric and applied it to the wall, producing a soft, tailored look that’s removable and renter-friendly.
The fabric-on-wall approach came from a sale linen at Joann and is an effective, low-damage method to add texture. Michele documented the process on her blog for anyone who wants to try it in their own home.
The kitchen is one of the most impressive spaces because of the amount of work they put into it. They tiled the backsplash, replaced the countertops, and — remarkably — built the cabinets themselves from scratch. The craftsmanship looked professional and seamless in person. The bar stools were great outlet finds from Crate & Barrel.
They transformed a small recessed area into a functional wine nook with built-in storage and a bench — a smart use of an awkward space that adds personality and utility.
The kitchen’s marble mosaic tile makes a striking centerpiece, paired with a classic apron-front sink. Details like these elevate the space while still feeling approachable. Several fixtures and appliances were sourced from major retailers like Overstock.
The family room is cozy and inviting, anchored by a large sectional, custom art, and a textured stone accent wall. They painted the room in Benjamin Moore Gunmetal Gray for a moody, enveloping feel that makes you want to curl up and stay awhile.
The oversized map art was a DIY using a map from eBay and reclaimed wood. The tree-trunk coffee table is another standout: they cut and hollowed a red oak stump (about 110 rings), sanded, carved, and finished it with tung oil. It’s a bold natural piece that became a real focal point.
Michele and Nate paid attention to every nook. They added wood detailing along the stairway walls and made an industrial-style orb pendant from a secondhand metal cage and a light kit — another example of creative upcycling.
The guest room had a sentimental touch: the row of dressers belonged to Nate as a child. Instead of discarding them, Michele refreshed them with paint (Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray) and new hardware from Home Depot — a great reuse strategy that keeps memories while updating the look.
The main bathroom includes refined details like a penny tile border, deep-toned floor tile, and a vanity sourced from Lowe’s, creating a classic, clean aesthetic. Small thoughtful touches make the room feel finished and deliberate.
The downstairs powder room features a full accent wall of tile from Home Depot, paired with simple sconces, a pedestal sink, and a rustic wood-framed mirror they built from reclaimed wood. These materials and textures make a compact room feel curated.
The garage was another highlight — organized, functional, and inspiring. Rather than discarding their original kitchen cabinets after installing new ones, they repurposed and painted the old cabinets for garage storage. The resulting workshop is tidy and extremely well thought-out, with labeled hardware and efficient storage systems.
Personal touches throughout the house are meaningful: framed childhood airplane models that Nate’s grandfather preserved, carefully labeled bins of screws and nails, and other curated details that reflect the couple’s personalities. Their “type-A” organization makes the space both practical and visually pleasing.
Finally, the backyard feels like a private retreat. The outdoor kitchen was added gradually over time, and there’s comfortable outdoor seating plus a tucked-away hot tub. The stone steps and hardscaping elevate the yard; the thoughtful landscaping reflects Michele and Nate’s profession as landscape architects and their eye for layered outdoor design. Many planters were collected or repainted to create a cohesive look.
That’s a tour of Michele and Nate’s beautifully renovated Herndon home. Their DIY skills, resourceful reuse of existing pieces, and attention to landscaping and interior detail make this project especially inspiring. For a deeper look at their process and more before-and-after photos, visit their blog here.
Psst — want more house tours? Check out our other House Crashing features here.