Today we’ll walk through how we built a simple, affordable DIY deck gate to keep our dog, Burger, from escaping. He loves to nap in the sun on the deck, but would sometimes chase squirrels and wander off. With a newborn and a toddler at home, we also wanted something that would help keep the … Read more

Years ago we promised to share the DIY steps for this shiplap-style, horizontal paneled wall because it’s incredibly simple and very budget-friendly. In our case, the whole treatment cost just $31—less than two light bulbs or a fast-food dinner. The result is an easy-to-clean, durable surface that looks custom without a big investment. We mentioned … Read more

We’re excited to share this house-crashing tour of Lesley and Jeff’s current home. You may remember their previous house from about 4.5 years ago, but since then they’ve welcomed two boys and moved into a mid-century split-level in a lovely, wooded Richmond neighborhood. They’ve made the house distinctly their own, blending thrifted finds, thoughtful DIYs, … Read more

Just like we did in our first house, we’ve been hopping from project to project and room to room—tackling the living room, guest room, nursery, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, office, laundry room, patio, deck, and more. After two years of living here there were still several spaces untouched (or slowly filling with clutter, as documented … Read more

Our entry table from the old house naturally ended up next to the front door in the new house as well. It’s been there since day one without much thought — until recently. We moved it just for fun and discovered we liked the new location better. It wasn’t a dramatic relocation — the table … Read more

It feels like forever since our last book tour update — mainly because it has been. We took a short break over the holidays while bookstores focused on seasonal events, and last week’s stops in Texas and Florida were our first since finishing up in DC and Richmond in early December. We loved our northern-city … Read more

There’s a new personal shopping challenge happening at our house: Sherry has pledged to skip buying any clothing items from a broad category for an entire year. We also speak with simplicity expert Emily Ley about how she reduces “busyness” and creates more time and space in daily life. Emily shares practical tips, from managing … Read more

I’m working on the annual Black Friday deals post, but in the meantime I had to share this fantastic tile makeover sent in by a reader, Angela. She completely transformed an old, blotchy beige bathroom floor for under $75, and it’s still holding up after more than seven months of daily use in a wet … Read more

Our Richmond home is officially under contract — and it all came together in a way that felt different from any other house we’ve sold. Today we’re sharing how it happened, why signing felt unexpectedly emotional, and what the timeline looks like for our June move. We’ll also spotlight an unsung hero from our bathroom … Read more

On this week’s episode we discuss what to do when a sentimental hand-me-down simply doesn’t fit with the rest of your home. If you try and try but can’t learn to love it, do you keep it out of guilt and stare at it forever, or do you let it go and wrestle with feeling … Read more