With our fireplace refacing plan finalized and supplies at the ready, we dove into step one: tile. Below is a clear recap of the entire process — from prep and cutting to installation and grouting — in case you want to try this yourself. I highlighted the areas in the photo that we planned to … Read more

Yes, I spray painted upholstered chairs. I’ll admit it sounds odd, and it’s not the move for most people. But when you’re a determined person with a risky plan and a stack of slipcovers ready to hide any missteps, strange things happen. These are the Craigslist chairs we found last March—hotel castoffs with faded and … Read more

Thanks to a bit of time-lapse photography (and remembering to snap occasional photos of our backyard), here’s a concise look at how our patio planting progressed over the past few months. In February the space was essentially a blank canvas. The year before we filled it with annuals for a backyard wedding, but this time … Read more

When we featured Lindsay’s kitchen makeover as a Reader Redesign back in October, we never imagined that Kitchen Makeovers (a special interest publication from Better Homes & Gardens) would reach out to her. They saw her before-and-after photos on our blog and wanted to feature her kitchen. We were thrilled, and Lindsay — who welcomed … Read more

Just in time for John’s 27th birthday, Burger created an original paw painting as a heartfelt gift for his doting dad. He’s quite the little artist — a regular Jackson Pawlock. The project was a simple, fun activity that Burger and I enjoyed together. I used an 8.5×11 piece of white cardstock as the canvas … Read more

When I was recently flipping through old photo albums with a friend—college reminiscing, you know—I was honestly shocked and a little grossed out by my grade school, dorm and first-apartment decor (not to mention my clothing choices). I’m pretty sure you’ll react the same. Most people assume I’m the type who folds underwear neatly (newsflash: … Read more

***This giveaway is now closed – see who won below!*** Thanks to random.org, the person who’s about to experience $750 worth of bliss is… Eryka (who also finds bliss in clean sheets and sleeping in!). Congrats! Who doesn’t appreciate a little home indulgence, especially when it’s free? This giveaway was sponsored by Bliss Home & … Read more

Our house. Right now a crew of ten is here shooting a glossy magazine feature about our home. This time the team includes a hair and makeup artist and a wardrobe stylist — which makes us feel equal parts excited and self-conscious (fingers crossed we don’t look like giant nerds on camera!). The rest of … Read more

You know nothing makes us happier than a good DIY project. Here’s a letter from Elizabeth describing her recent headboard makeover: If you can believe it, I’ve recently tackled a headboard project since becoming a mom seven months ago. I have to thank you for your helpful tutorials — they gave me the confidence and … Read more

Let’s take a moment to explain how book publishing worked for us. Every now and then we get charming comments like, “Holy cow, your book was a New York Times bestseller! Congrats! You must be rich!!” and it reminds us we haven’t really explained the process beyond a brief mention in a blogiversary video. Since … Read more