Who’s ready for the big bathroom reveal? As mentioned in Monday’s post, most room makeovers follow three main stages—planning and prep, larger upgrades, and finishing touches. Some stages take weeks, others can be done in a furious few days. This bathroom blitz leaned into speed without sacrificing charm. Prep and planning: brainstorming color palettes, shopping, … Read more

Here it is — our 2012 family Christmas card, shared with all the merrymakers out there. This card riffs on the classic tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa, with a healthy dose of reality: food left unattended in our house rarely stays that way. By some miracle we captured this shot without any … Read more

…in his bedroom. Well, most of it. Below is Emma’s funny and heartfelt account of the makeover they created for their son’s room: We moved into this three-storey 1876 house three years ago — clarification: it isn’t actually made of brownstone nor is it in New York City — we’re in Ontario, Canada. Over the … Read more

They can be notoriously difficult to work with, but progress is visible. Yesterday was cabinet installation day two, and much like Monday, the day had its share of ups and downs. Starting with the positives: almost all the cabinets were installed, including my favorite addition—the built-in refrigerator. It instantly gives the kitchen a custom, high-end … Read more

Usually this scene makes me anxious — I’m heading to work on a Wednesday and see my neighbors’ empty blue trash cans lined up at the curb while ours sits forgotten in the garage, half full. I then spend the next week berating myself every time I squeeze another bag into the overflowing bin. But … Read more

Yesterday began like any other morning: John left for work, I published the daily post and started tackling a design problem, and Burger chased a few insects on the back patio. Then John called to tell me that we had just been featured on CNN. WHAAAAAT?! It turned out CNN had loved our bench makeover. … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** We’re revisiting a bit of YHL-era nostalgia: get ready to swoon. This week’s giveaway comes from our talented sponsor Jessica Rose of Vol. 25, whose shop is filled with charming, whimsical art. From playful prints to hand-drawn overlays, her pieces have a warm, handcrafted feel—perfect for gifting or … Read more

We don’t have a dedicated mudroom, and our garage door — the primary entry — opens directly into the kitchen. During our kitchen remodel we squeezed mudroom function into the layout by installing tall cabinets with doors next to the garage entry — they look like pretty lockers and hide all the clutter. If you … Read more

Got little bugs buzzing around your kitchen? You likely have fruit flies. These tiny pests are common, and the good news is they’re easy and inexpensive to eliminate using supplies you probably already have at home. After testing several approaches over a few days, here’s a clear, practical guide to the most effective ways to … Read more

Last year John’s younger sister Carrie moved to Philadelphia for work and ended up in a cute high-rise apartment that needed some affordable updates. For under $200 we hit Ikea, picked up art and accessories, and transformed her place in an afternoon (here’s that story). A year later she was transferred back to Northern Virginia … Read more