Our built-in wall-to-wall desk made great progress this week after we painted and raised the cabinets, but one thing remained missing: the countertop. We needed roughly thirteen feet of surface, which ruled out many standard kitchen countertops because suppliers typically won’t deliver pieces longer than twelve feet without a seam. At first we considered buying … Read more

I’m currently finishing and photographing the canopy I made for Clara’s bed (it just might be cute!), so I’ll share those photos and the full how-to with you tomorrow. I considered writing about September 11th today — I lived in NYC then and it was one of the most life-changing days I’ve experienced. Twelve years … Read more

The other day I was talking with Clara and, just for fun, asked her a few questions. She offers up some serious opinions for a little kid. When I asked, “What do you think the Easter Bunny’s favorite colors are?” she answered without hesitation: “green and blue.” It was delivered as plain fact. Then I … Read more

When we last left off, our kitchen was in the middle of a major shuffle — appliances and cabinets were being moved around as we prepared for a big update. Before the new appliances arrived, the first order of business was removing the cabinet that housed the old wall oven. The wall oven had seen … Read more

Another white ceramic piece has found a home at Casa Petersik. We admit we’re creatures of habit, but this one isn’t shaped like an animal—it’s a sweet little ceramic garden stool that feels both fun and timeless: Some people might call these stools trendy or say they’ve had their moment, but we don’t let trends … Read more

Looks like I’ve once again been roped into one of Sherry’s plans — this time her “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge — where she’s determined to actually do something with items we’ve been hoarding in our spare room. It’s basically a use-it-or-donate-it mission. This week’s subject: a light fixture we rescued from a thrift … Read more

Just as we mentioned last week, Reader Redesigns are back — and we’re starting strong with Michelle’s stunning bathroom renovation. She and her husband David gutted a dated yellow bathroom, reconfigured the layout, and rebuilt the space in a calm palette of grays and crisp whites. Here’s the note she sent us: Hi Sherry & … Read more

We have a soft spot for traditional baby names—those classic, time-honored choices that feel enduring and full of character. Both of our children were named after grandparents, one from J’s side and one from mine, and it always feels meaningful to carry family names forward. Recently I heard some of these names dismissed as “old … Read more

The boldest color we’ve used on any wall is Martha Stewart’s Plumage—an accent we covered the walls with in our guest room. We loved it from the moment we painted, so when Jackie sent photos of her dining room makeover featuring Plumage and vibrant teal and lime accents, we were excited to share it. Here’s … Read more

Me + a picture of our kitchen + Photoshop = this post. Back in December, when we bought our kitchen stools (from a school supply store for $32 each), we mentioned we were considering a few ways to tweak them down the line—painting, upholstering, or staining the seats—but we wanted to live with them for … Read more