Clara has recently developed a fascination with money—not so much spending it, but counting it, stacking it, and tucking it into pockets and purses. I’ve been giving her quarters and small coins for play (she’s thankfully past the stage of putting things in her mouth), but they keep disappearing. So I have to ask: is … Read more

When one of our readers shared this elegant, timeless holiday idea, we had to pass it along. Here is RA’s note: After last Christmas I bought a set of ten silver, circular frame ornaments on sale from Red Envelope—about $15 for the lot. I planned to put black-and-white photos in them, but the frames sat … Read more

There’s something about being nearly a year into living here that makes it feel like we’ve accomplished a lot of evolution over the last 357 days (not that I’m counting). A single month in a house doesn’t leave much time for changes, but twelve months in a row is plenty of time to experiment, refine, … Read more

Rugs can feel intimidating. What size will fit your space? How should you place it? Will the color and texture match your furniture once it arrives? If you’ve wondered about any of that, this guide will help. We’ll focus on one particularly versatile rug that works with almost any sofa, wall color, or room, and … Read more

Woo-hoo — the bedroom horse art arrived, so here’s the full how-to on mounting prints to canvas. Spoiler: it took two tries to get it right. First I tried spray adhesive (a $4 can from JoAnn with a coupon). Back in art school it was our go-to—acid-free, labeled “all purpose” and “permanent,” and usually great … Read more

Just as planned, we held our first yard sale this weekend. It was a lot of work, but also a complete success: we cleared out almost everything and made exactly $425. Cha-ching. (I’m trying not to think about how much some of those items originally cost—though many were handed down or gifted, which softens the … Read more

Ready for the next chapter of our sandbox project? If you weren’t, there was one person who definitely was: a little girl whose name rhymes with “Clara.” Here’s where we left off: the box was built (more on that in Part 1) and waiting for sand, but the sandbox needed a proper cover first. We … Read more

Remember on Monday we said we were taking it easy and enjoying family time? Well, we actually spent a long weekend at John’s parents’ beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware. It was a relaxing escape full of long walks, seafood, thrift-store hunting, and a surprisingly warm day on the beach (it hit the mid-60s on Monday). … Read more

This art wall makes us so happy — and we didn’t overthink it. We considered a few alternate options and eliminated them for specific reasons: One giant piece on each side of the window felt too symmetrical and repetitive next to the large rectangular window in the middle. Open shelving would add too much shelving … Read more

When Holly Mathis of Holly Mathis Interiors shared her latest nursery makeover, we were excited to feature the beautiful transformation. Below is her note about the project: This time I wanted my second little boy’s nursery to feel less cottage-y while working with the room’s existing light, awnings, and basic furniture (though I did upgrade … Read more