I’m back with more baby-name inspiration because I can’t get enough of them. One-syllable girl names have been rising in popularity as longer names like Olivia, Charlotte, and Isabella feel more common. In the latest Social Security Administration data, only one single-syllable girl name—Grace—made the Top 50. That makes one-syllable choices an appealing way to … Read more

Thanks to a few strategically placed nails, we finally got our small guest-bedroom gallery up on that previously blank wall. We were pleased with the initial result: But as soon as the last frame went up, we knew it needed more. So, as you might expect, we made a quick trip to Target and picked … Read more

Psst—We just learned about another great way to support the Sandy Hook relief fund: generous Etsy artists are donating their earnings from shops this week to the cause. We’re finishing Clara’s handmade Christmas present and will share photos and details tomorrow, but in the meantime many readers asked what we would do differently if we … Read more

While most of America seems to embrace hoarding and clutter, John and I are the opposite — we’re minimalists. But there’s a fine line between clean, uncluttered spaces and rooms that feel cold or stark. It can be hard to judge that balance on your own. To get a clearer perspective, I photographed every room … Read more

What do you do when you’re unsure whether your current house will be your long-term home? And if it isn’t, how do you decide when to stop investing time and money in improvements? In this post we tackle those two big questions and share how our own answers shaped recent renovation choices. Shortly after we … Read more

Sherry’s junk drawer switcheroo was only the kickoff to our kitchen refresh—specifically the start of a multi-step Phase 1 makeover. With the six-month “live-with-it” trial period almost up, we finally began acting on plans last week. We like to live in a space for a while before making big changes so we can be sure … Read more

We flipped the script and asked dozens of contractors — including our own — what they wish clients would do differently. Their answers revealed common homeowner missteps (some of which we’re guilty of!) and offered practical tips to help renovations run more smoothly, finish faster, and sometimes cost less. We also share how we repurposed … Read more

When Karen sent us photos of the DIY headboard she made, we were excited to share her beautiful result. Here’s what she wrote: I used your tutorial to make a headboard for our bed. The only difference was that I used 1 x 2’s cut to size from my home improvement store (I attached them … Read more

Do you know Lesli? She lives in the country near Greenwood, Virginia, and she’s an incredibly talented painter and a longtime friend. You might recall our giveaway with her, and she also runs a lovely blog about her old house. Her home is full of original 100+-year-old details, soaring ceilings, and relaxed, lived-in style that … Read more

After seeing ribbon chandeliers in baby stores, catalogs, magazines and on Pinterest, I decided to make one for Clara’s closet. The closet is large enough that it could become a cozy reading nook when she’s older—I imagine a beanbag on the floor and a stack of picture books. The existing light was a plain bare … Read more