“Refinance” always sounded like one of those big, formal words reserved for our parents. As first-time homeowners with just three years into our first mortgage, we were initially skeptical about all the chatter around low rates. But after talking with my dad, consulting our loan officer, and reading practical blogs, we decided to investigate refinancing … Read more

Why spend money or toss useful items when a little creativity can turn trash into treasure? We love repurposing, and a reader named Kenn recently sent this inspiring photo that sparked a bunch of simple, practical ideas. These old cans make excellent pencil cups after a quick coat of paint to unify mismatched containers. They … Read more

We fell in love the moment we saw Brooke’s stunning second-floor conversion. Read her note and see the before-and-after photos below: I’m a longtime reader and wanted to share the transformation of the second floor of our house. When we bought it, the house was divided into two apartments: the first floor and the second … Read more

It looked lovely when we finished it last year, especially if you ignored the fact that the landscaping behind it still needed work. Lately, though, it had slid into a much messier state: That was a lot of overgrowth and dead material to deal with. The patio itself still looked great (and stayed weed-free thanks … Read more

As our arms recover from the kitchen priming and painting marathon we shared earlier this morning, we figured we’d take it down a notch with a post about sinks. Think of it as a slow jam after an energetic dance number. One interesting part of owning our second home is comparing it to our first … Read more

Now that the clocks have fallen back for Daylight Saving Time (and if you have kids, they were up extra early—congrats?), here are the show notes for Episode #23 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. This episode was recorded from a hotel room in Baltimore. We answer three listener calls about home updates (from … Read more

When our reader Roeshel shared her bathroom makeover, we fell in love immediately. Here’s her note: I’m excited to submit my bathroom makeover for a reader redesign. The total project cost was just $512, and I’m thrilled with the result. I already had the ceiling paint, primer, and trim and door paint from previous projects, … Read more

Some readers have asked for an update on how I’m feeling and how this pregnancy is progressing, so I thought a quick Young House Life check-in would be nice. The short answer: I’m so excited about this little bun. John is thrilled, and Clara proudly tells anyone who will listen that she’s going to be … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** Random.org has selected two winners who will each receive a $100 IKEA gift card. They are Jennifer (who teaches and is also adopting a child from Ethiopia) and Ashley (who shared that she could use some improvements for herself). Congratulations to both! The … Read more

Sherry, Clara, Burger and I spent the past weekend on the road helping a few recently relocated family members in Northern Virginia with some much-needed home projects. Apparently moving season runs in the family — everyone seems to be settling into new places lately. First stop was my sister Carrie’s new rental apartment. We somehow … Read more