Just when we thought the sandbox saga was finished, there was still one more chapter. We covered building the base of the box here and the lid with a locking system that secures to the fence here, but the project wasn’t completely over. That’s the funny thing about DIY: some jobs stretch into many posts, … Read more

So why start a blog 16 months after buying the house, especially after already making many changes? Because the kitchen is next. Now that we’ve completed our other big project this year—getting married—we’re ready for project number two: a full kitchen remodel. You may have already seen the first transformation we did: 1970s Lumberjack’s Paradise: … Read more

I was in a slightly rebellious mood and decided to tea-stain two pillow covers I already owned (they originally came from an Etsy shop). I figured it was a free, low-risk project and an easy way to soften two stark-white covers into a warmer, creamier tone so they’d blend better with the other off-white, cream, … Read more

Today marks our fifth anniversary of living in Richmond. On this date in 2006, Sherry and I woke up on an air mattress in my Upper West Side apartment — she had already emptied her Soho studio and turned in the keys — to greet my dad, who had driven up in the minivan that … Read more

Q: You really should consider posting about how you two budget and save for your purchases and DIY. I’m constantly amazed at how you seem to never charge anything and how you consistently mention saving up for things. Now just tell us how you do it!! What about making the decision to replace something that … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – scroll down to see who won!*** Thanks to the devilish randomization of random.org, our two winners are… Steph (who was just talking to a colleague about the two tattoos she has… for now) and Alason (who says her small butterfly tattoo on her back makes people assume … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** Thanks to random.org, our trio of winners are…Kristen (who just signed up for Pinterest and is already enjoying it), Victoria DeVaugh-Geiss (who recently signed up for a gym with her husband) and Robyn (who recently signed up for unemployment after being laid off). … Read more

Last Monday a surprise snowstorm — unexpected in such a mild winter — transformed the view from our living room window into this: Clara went outside and had a blast with the snow: About a week later our view had completely changed and looked more like this: And Clara had swapped her winter clothes for … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** Random.org selected two winners to kick off the new year: KC (who recently moved to a smaller place and wants to pare her home down to the essentials) and Katie (who needs help organizing computer files she can’t find). Congratulations to both winners! … Read more

Tons of readers asked for a clear, step-by-step guide to painting wood paneling, so here’s a concise, easy-to-follow version that will help you transform a room quickly and affordably. Painting paneling is one of the fastest ways to refresh a space in a single afternoon. It doesn’t require special skills — just the right prep, … Read more