Restored 1938 Lake Michigan Cottage: Inside a Stunning Renovation

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Before we dive into an incredible home transformation from Erin, Sherry shared a small Easter DIY she made for Clara over on Young House Life, so feel free to visit that post for step-by-step details (there’s a sneak peek below): Now, back to Erin’s remarkable renovation. Both Sherry and I have long daydreamed about lifting … Read more

How We Used Solid Stain to Protect Our Outdoor Shower

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In all our years of DIY projects, we had never used a solid stain — until a recent job made it the perfect choice. A professional house painter recommended solid stain for our outdoor shower, and we quickly understood why. It was simple to apply, provided excellent coverage, and produced a result even better than … Read more

When Our Painting Choices Went Wrong: Lessons Learned and Fixes

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Once again it’s one of those busy weeks. After stenciling the floor in our bath and closet, squeezing in some seasonal crafts, and installing extra-thick crown molding in Clara’s room, we’re now sealing the stenciled floors, finishing the canopy wall in Clara’s room, ripping up the old carpeting on our stairs, and impatiently waiting to … Read more

Top Home Design Magazines to Inspire Your Decorating Ideas

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Recently we’ve had dozens of requests for a post about our favorite surviving shelter magazines. After the heartbreaking loss of beloved titles like Domino, Cottage Living, Country Home, InStyle Home and O At Home, readers want to know which publications still inspire us. Below is our updated rundown of the shelter mags that make us … Read more

Free Fashion Find: I Feel a Refreshment

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As we mentioned on Friday, our kitchen sink is unusually shallow. When Kohler offered to provide a new sink and faucet, we decided to pass the opportunity on to one of our readers. We’re excited to announce a giveaway: one winner will receive any KOHLER sink of their choice and a KOHLER Sensate Touchless faucet, … Read more

Colorful Glass Cups on Sale — Shop Stylish Glassware Deals

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Many of you know I keep a giant binder full of clear plastic sleeves where I stash tear sheets from magazines, catalogs, and other sources of inspiration (I’ve written before about how I organize that binder). One torn magazine corner that’s lived in that binder for years features a photo from Elle Decor of vintage‑style … Read more

Add Shoe Storage by the Door: Smart Entryway Solutions

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We couldn’t leave the laundry room makeover without addressing our messy shoe situation. The side door to our laundry room is the most-used entrance, so it naturally became a dumping ground for footwear—since we try to keep shoes off inside the house. Until now our “storage solution” was a shallow woven basket from Bed Bath … Read more

Sunroom Makeover: Wood-Look Tile Ideas by Jenna Sue

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Maybe I’m clinging to the last bits of summer, or maybe I’m dreaming of a sunroom makeover (ours hasn’t been touched since we moved in). It could also be that Jenna Sue has a real talent for beautiful renovations — you may recall her entryway transformation. Whatever the reason, enjoy this bright, cheerful update. Here’s … Read more

Build a Vented Cabinet to Conceal Your Microwave

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So remember that microwave we scored a great deal on a few months ago? Well, we ended up returning it. When we first bought the larger microwave, a few readers asked why we needed such a big unit. That made us realize we don’t use the microwave that often — a bowl of soup, reheating … Read more

Creative Baby Announcement Ideas to Share Your Big News

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We wanted to share some happy news: our family recently grew by one. On Friday the 14th at 5:57 p.m., Clara Kenley Petersik was born weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long. We are completely in love with her. She and Burger are already inseparable—he insists on standing guard beside her at … Read more