Warning: the following project may seem deceptively simple but is highly satisfying. Reader discretion is advised. We’ve made two large DIY hook rails so far, and both were low effort with high payoff. They get used constantly. The first lives in our garage (featured in our second book, Lovable Livable Home), and the second is … Read more

Paint has been a continual learning experience at Casa Petersik. From painting all our trim with flat paint when we first moved in (definitely a mistake — semi-gloss is the better choice) to choosing a different color for every room (not the way to create flow in a small house), we’ve tried almost everything. Over … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** Who doesn’t love candlelight? The warm glow, the romantic atmosphere—and without the risk of an open flame, thanks to Smart Candle’s flameless designs. These rechargeable LED candles recreate the look of real candles while eliminating wax drips, smoke and fire hazards, making them ideal for dinners, quiet nights … Read more

We’ve been holding onto a fun secret: a little road trip and a real-life meet-up with a favorite blogger. Now that the secret’s out, we’re excited to share the highlights from our visit and a peek into Katie Bower’s cheerful, well-organized home. That’s Katie Bower from All Bower Power. After months of commenting and emailing, … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** The headline isn’t meant to be provocative — it’s simply the clearest way to identify the DuPont giveaway that has been appearing on several of our favorite blogs. Now it’s here on YHL. We’re excited to announce: the DuPont iPod Touch giveaway. DuPont is giving one lucky reader … Read more

I’ve never been more excited to share before-and-after photos than I am today. Last month marked the two-year anniversary of buying the beach house, and while we never call a home completely “done,” this place has come so far that it felt like the right moment to look back and document what’s been finished — … Read more

The deck is finally finished — cue the celebratory cowbells. I wrapped up the project on Friday and spent the next few days nervously waiting for the county inspection before I let myself celebrate. Yesterday afternoon the inspector came by and we passed. The relief was immediate and well-earned after all the sweat poured into … Read more

Painting our brick house white was just the beginning of our exterior refresh. This week we’re sharing more of the plans — including one project that’s proving far more complex than we expected. We also have an exciting announcement about a color collaboration we’ve been developing, plus another round of one of everyone’s favorite segments: … Read more

Remember when we mentioned that HGTV stopped by to film us for their show Rate My Space? Our episode is finally scheduled to air this week. Mark your calendar for Thursday, Dec 18th at 9pm e/p — couch date or DVR recommended — to catch us on TV. HGTV’s Rate My Space is based on … Read more

This week we celebrated our one-year anniversary of moving into this house. To mark the milestone — and while we finish an office update to share on Monday — we put together a set of infographics highlighting fun facts and figures from the last year. As a nod to our original “before” post, these graphics … Read more