This spoils the suspense a bit, but I had to lead with the after photo — it shows the finished look best. This is a very affordable, surprisingly simple thrift-store table makeover. Don’t let it intimidate you — it’s doable. And yes, if you tell me you can’t do it, I’ll still believe you can. … Read more

When we received this lovely note and some striking before-and-after photographs, we had to share them. Below is Sarah’s letter: My husband and I bought our first house in May 2007 and immediately set about repainting every single room — the previous owners had four girls and the walls were painted in various shades of … Read more

Quick update: Tonight we’re cozying up in Boston at West Elm on 160 Brookline Avenue for cookies, cocoa, and a book signing at 6pm. We’d love to see you there! We teased this House Crashing visit in our Cincinnati post and finally sorted through the 200+ photos we took. Ready to let ourselves in? See … Read more

Surprise! We painted the guest bathroom this weekend — walls, trim, and even the ceiling — and chose a clean fresh white (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore). It feels bright and crisp compared to the dingy paint that was there before. Why white? Rather than gutting the room or replacing the original 1960s yellow tile, … Read more

When we recently painted our kitchen cabinets mauve, we also replaced the old surface-mount hinges with modern concealed hinges. It was a small change that cost about $40, but it instantly updated this dated kitchen while we wait for a full renovation. Best of all, these concealed hinges mounted to the surface so we didn’t … Read more

We love touring well-designed spaces to gather inspiration and steal a few smart ideas. Homes aren’t the only places that inspire great decor—shops can be full of clever, doable concepts for your own space. Meet Clover, a charming kids’ consignment shop that recently opened in Richmond’s Carytown district. Clover is a fresh, playful consignment store … Read more

We couldn’t let the holiday season pass without trying a few simple and festive decorating projects. These are quick, easy ideas you can complete in minutes using everyday items you likely already have at home. For this set of looks we only bought a bag of moss from Michael’s for under $5 and a small … Read more

We’ve been eager to share this delightful before-and-after makeover, and it’s finally complete. This cheerful pink transformation was created for an eight-year-old girl named Olivia. While we often work on adult spaces, kid’s rooms are especially fun to design. Best of all, we reinvented thrift-store finds and shopped Ikea to complete the room on a … Read more

They say inspiration can come from anywhere, and Sheena’s story definitely made us smile. Here’s her letter: Hey John and Sherry (and Clara and Burger too!) I just wanted to write to thank you for some unintended inspiration you gave me recently. After reading about Clara’s dollhouse, I fell in love with the pattern on … Read more

Vanessa shared her kitchen makeover with us — a transformation that cost just over one hundred dollars — and we couldn’t help smiling. Here’s her story in her own words: After 11 years of marriage and seven different cities (sometimes multiple moves within a single city), my husband and I have learned how to make … Read more