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

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

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

It’s time for the winter Pinterest Challenge — a fun, unofficial seasonal tradition dreamed up by Katie Bower to get us off the endless pinning treadmill and actually make something. The idea is simple: choose a project inspired by something you’ve pinned and put your own spin on it. The point isn’t perfection; it’s to … Read more

Amid the chaos of moving, we’re still taking our monthly moment to thank the sponsors who make our content possible. Below are some of the items that caught our eye this month, followed by our usual roundup of discounts at the end of the post. Great finds on discount site Fab.com, like the Bongo side … Read more

The deed is done. Behold our freshly painted foyer: The new color makes the space feel at least a foot taller and a couple of feet wider. That’s the power of paint. This photo captures the color well. It’s a soft neutral that shifts throughout the day—part sand, part greige—neither too cool nor too warm. … Read more

You could call these tumblers titillating. That’s right — titillating. Small glass tumblers are incredibly versatile: they work as votive candle holders, casual drinking glasses, or candy dishes clustered on a coffee table. I’d been curious about glass paint that’s applied with a pen and baked on in the oven, so I decided to try … Read more

Removing the wall and wrapping up the contractor’s work was thrilling, but we still have plenty to do before the space feels finished. Unless your idea of a beautiful dining room is raw studs and exposed plaster: Speaking of the contractor, several neighbors asked for Steve’s contact info after seeing the work. We only share … Read more

After finishing a porch chair makeover, I realized that as frequent DIYers, John and I probably expose ourselves to a lot of chemicals. When I felt woozy and nauseous after just ten minutes of spray painting, I wondered how harmful those substances really were. Were the effects only temporary, or could we be risking long-term … Read more

After more than a year without one, another bedroom finally has a ceiling light fixture — this time it’s Teddy’s room. It might sound dramatic, but having a proper ceiling light is surprisingly convenient when you’ve moved into a house that only had fixtures in the bathrooms. I first noticed this stick lamp on Joss … Read more