7 Beach House Updates That Transformed These Spaces

featured 92998

I love reading honest “what worked and what didn’t” posts where someone looks back at decisions, explains what fell short, and shares practical fixes that improved comfort, function, or style for their family. Since we furnished this house over two years ago (yes — fall of 2017!), I thought it would be helpful to recap … Read more

Custom Sofa Design: Affordable Couches & Budget-Friendly Styles

featured 25346

We recently came across a feature about designer-inspired sofas from Custom Sofa Design on Little Green Notebook and were surprised by both the styles and the prices. These sofas closely resemble high-end pieces from retailers like Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Room & Board and Anthropologie, yet many options begin around $599, with a number … Read more

Removing a Kitchen Sink and Replacing Old Granite Countertops

featured 42473

In the words of Carla from Top Chef: hootie hoo! Our counters are finally ordered (we explain our choices and reasoning in a separate post). They came in at $38 per square foot from Home Depot with no hidden fees, which added up to roughly $1,700. We checked prices at Lowe’s and several local suppliers … Read more

Crisp and Classic House Tour: Timeless Home Design Ideas

featured 34276

This Northern Virginia house crash had us swooning over materials and finishes, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s a stunning place to come home to. Let’s meet Melissa, the homeowner, and go inside. The house dates to 1940, but Melissa and her husband Jim added a beautiful rear addition in 2009 that included a … Read more

How We’re Installing Board and Batten on Our Home

featured 56090

It’s Wednesday the 27th, which means it’s time to share this season’s unofficial Pinterest Challenge project (not sponsored — just Katie’s idea to get us to stop pinning and start doing). Huzzah! This season’s challenge was our biggest yet: we added character to a previously bare hallway with simple board and batten. A week later … Read more

Thrifted Dresser Transformed into a Stylish Media Cabinet

featured 54603

We’d been searching for a new media console for our living room for as long as we’ve lived here—mostly by popping into thrift stores whenever something caught our eye. After months of looking, we were close to giving up. Then Sherry sent me a text. Sherry had found the piece at Diversity Thrift while I … Read more

5-Year Blogiversary: How I Revived My Goals and Grew My Site

img 51282 1

It’s time for our annual goal-setting—nothing motivates like a public declaration. Let’s get to it. Goal #1: Embrace the Crazy (Be Flexible): After five years of blogging and more than two years doing it full time, we’ve learned that no two days are alike. The coming year will be busier than ever: a book release … Read more

Finding More Life With Less Stuff: Declutter for Joy and Freedom

featured 90070

Minimalism can still seem like an unconventional lifestyle, so this week we invited Joshua Becker to explain how a few simple changes can produce big benefits at home and in life. He discusses how to prevent the gradual buildup of household clutter, what minimizing can teach children, and how embracing less can help you reach … Read more

Turn an Old Cabinet Into a Realistic Play Refrigerator for Kids

featured 54393

Remember when we DIYed a play kitchen for Clara last Christmas? It was such a hit then—and still is—that we immediately wanted to expand it. More kitchen = more fun, right? We decided the perfect addition would be a refrigerator. Luckily, we had an extra cabinet from a kitchen remodel sitting in the basement for … Read more

Create a DIY Chalkboard Wall Calendar for Organized Living

featured 22112

You may remember Carla from when we helped her transform her kitchen with a fresh coat of paint and a few simple updates. When she sent over her charming DIY chalkboard wall calendar, we knew we had to share it. Here’s her note: I had to pass along our latest update – we made a … Read more