What’s all that stomping you hear? It’s just us doing the happy dance. We’re thrilled to share the second installment of our home makeover featured in Do It Yourself magazine. The team photographed our house last October (we even shared a behind-the-scenes look) and invited us to write a three-part series about transforming our modest … Read more

I’ve shared many real-time renovation updates on Instagram Stories, but here’s a longer catch-up post for anyone who prefers reading. We’re about seven weeks into our biggest renovation in over five years, and it’s delightfully chaotic. Walls are open, ceilings are being reworked, and new rooms are framed. There’s been a lot of progress — … Read more

We tackled a few projects recently, including some updates for the children’s hospital, but a lot of you noticed the foyer ceiling change in the background of yesterday’s post, so here are the details. We actually finished the ceiling before our big kitchen paint day, but that post jumped the queue because it was way … Read more

Slowly but surely, we’re making real progress on the beach house. Over the next few weeks we expect major advances: a complete electrical rewire, upgraded plumbing, and a fully functioning HVAC system—perfect timing for hot summer days. We’re relieved to finally say goodbye to knob-and-tube wiring, to a furnace “accessorized” with cardboard and bedsheets, and … Read more

We received many requests for a Christmas gift roundup for kids, so here are a number of items we love. Most picks are under $25, some under $12, and none exceed $49—affordable, thoughtful options for the young ones on your list. 1. Clara loves painting and bright colors. A colorful watercolor print from Etsy ($25) … Read more

Last week we shared all the details about the exterior of our duplex renovation, but today we’re shifting focus to a major interior milestone: drywall. Drywall is one of those moments in a renovation that suddenly makes everything feel real. Rooms go from being undefined spaces to actual rooms. The floor plan starts to read … Read more

There’s something new and cheerful happening in our sunroom. No, not the fireflies Clara insists on trying to catch and keep (she told me she wants one to live in her room forever). Call it befriending or imprisoning—semantics. Our sunroom—veranda if you prefer the fancier term—now has real lighting, all thanks to new fixtures mounted … Read more

I’m clearly not alone in my love for white ceramic animals. I recently opened my new copy of Thom Filicia Style (highly recommended—it’s full of inspiration) and noticed a clear theme: Thom has a fondness for ceramic creatures. There’s a white ceramic eagle used as a console table base, a large faux gazelle head mounted … Read more

The office ceiling and walls are freshly painted, and with just 48 hours until this room is scheduled for its final setup, it already feels like progress. The trim is a pure white (the same shade as the desk in the center of the room); it appears slightly cream in photos, likely due to the … Read more

John and I recently had the privilege of designing three new bedrooms for local children currently undergoing cancer treatment. We’ve shared a few sneak peeks on Instagram and our podcast, but here’s the full photo-packed post with details on each room. We’re excited to show you what we created. Here’s some background: Biringer Builders reached … Read more