When John’s younger sister Carrie asked us to refresh her new Philadelphia apartment on a tight budget, we were excited to help. A little furniture rearrangement and thoughtful accessorizing can do wonders for a large, blank room. Here’s how we completed a fast and fabulous four-hour makeover for $200. Carrie’s large white room functions as … Read more

With everything happening right now, home-related topics may feel minor, but we’re keeping our podcast going as a light escape for anyone tuning in (it’s definitely a welcome distraction for us). This week we answer the most common question we’ve received in recent days: how the coronavirus is affecting our Florida move and our house … Read more

There’s been an impostor on our wall. A placeholder silhouette of a little girl has been staring back at us from Clara’s frame display since before she was born. It’s finally time for that fake profile to come down so Clara’s real profile—well, a rendering of it—can take its place. After taking Clara’s weekly photo … Read more

It’s still picturesque here at Casa Petersik, exactly one day after waking up to eight inches of snow. Since this was the first measurable accumulation in the three years we’ve lived here, we couldn’t resist sharing a few more photos of the beautiful white blanket that Mother Nature laid across our home. Now that the … Read more

I take pride in some odd skills: cartwheeling into a pool, singing every word to old commercial jingles and 90s rap, and the delightful surprise that both of our kids are left-handed despite John and I being righties. I’m also short—5’2″—so having tall kids always feels like a small miracle. One area I don’t often … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** This week’s giveaway is truly magnifique: a beautiful textile from Paris. Home Addict designs luxurious home textiles using pure silk, time-honored weaving methods and fair-trade practices. Each piece is designed in Paris and handwoven in Southeast Asia over several days using the intricate ikat technique, producing items like … Read more

When Jessica sent us before-and-after photos of her kitchen, we were amazed at how far she and her husband stretched a $400 budget. Here’s her note: I’m always inspired by what I see featured here. My husband Josh and I recently tackled a budget kitchen makeover and discovered that $400 can dramatically update an 80s-style … Read more

Let’s all join hands and sing “Raindrops & Rose Paint.” Yes, that’s a terrible Sound of Music pun — forgive me, Julie Andrews — but you have to admit Clara’s room looks delightfully cheerful now that we painted bright raindrops on the wall and gave the closet door a bold watermelon-pink makeover. Remember when the … Read more

We’re back with the third installment of practical, cash-conscious ideas—time to save some money! If you missed the earlier posts, check out Save It: Part 1 and Save It: Part 2 for even more ways we keep our budgets under control. After sharing so many tips already, we’re still finding new small changes that add … Read more

We spent nearly a year reimagining our pool area to create a larger, more versatile outdoor living space. Two years ago we shared a behind-the-scenes look at installing our pool and a number of before-and-after shots. We love the pool and the surrounding area quickly became our favorite outdoor hangout. In spring 2022 we realized … Read more