How to Paint an Old Wood Desk Antique White

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Jen’s desk makeover stopped us in our tracks — at first glance we barely recognized the piece. Here’s the note she sent: I love your blog and get so much inspiration from it. I saw you recently featured a beautifully made-over dresser so I thought I’d send you my made-over desk. Who doesn’t love a … Read more

Match New Paint to an Existing Paint Job: Expert Tips and Tricks

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Let’s talk about that buffet again — the one we scored for a steal on Craigslist and tucked into our entryway. Here’s a reminder of what it looked like (sidenote: I will forever say “jog” like “yog” because “yogging” makes me laugh). It was beautiful, but it had a few bumps and bruises that needed … Read more

Free Fishing Gear Giveaway: How to Claim Your Free Bait and Tackle

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***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** Our two lucky winners as selected by random.org are… Susie (who doesn’t like fish, despite her former employment at Red Lobster) and Sarah (who especially loves Maryland crab, shrimp, salmon, and freshly caught smoked trout). Congrats to both winners! When I lived in … Read more

Our First House vs. Our Current Home: What Changed and Why

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Last Friday onthis postwe received a comment that sparked a fun idea: “I love your videos and it’s crazy to see the difference in YHL style from the first house to this house! If you wanted to do a side-by-side of rooms past and present, I wouldn’t hate it :)” – Sarah We thought it … Read more

Modern Fireplace Mantel Ideas: Step-by-Step Build Guide

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We mentioned in this year’s holiday decorating post that we wanted to add a fireplace mantel this month — and we actually finished it! art | frame for art | rug | ottoman | chairs | crystal fireplace logs | storage cabinets | curtains | rods | large light blue vase Setting a goal to … Read more

Free Radio Giveaway: The Killer Radio Star Collector’s Item

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***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – read below to see who won!*** After a lively giveaway (and more NPR fans than we expected), random.org picked our winner: Kathy. She says music is therapeutic and that songs on the radio help lift her mood on bad days. Congratulations, Kathy! We’re thrilled to have given … Read more

Why Buying Less Made Me Laugh — The Unexpected Perk

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The perks of downsizing keep revealing themselves — most recently while we were shopping for curtains and blinds. The contrast between outfitting this house and our previous homes was striking, and it underscored some of the freedoms that come with a smaller, more intentional space. We also explore how past pandemics influenced the way homes … Read more

Create a Floor Plan Using Graph Paper: Step-by-Step Guide

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We recently shared how we waterproofed the entire basement with Drylok (days of heavy rain have proved that the seal works—there’s not a trace of moisture down there) and painted the floor a rich chocolate brown. Now for the fun part: planning the floor layout and choosing the right storage. We still have a few … Read more

What’s New at The Duplex: Latest Updates and Events

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Big news — major progress is happening at the duplex and we couldn’t be more excited. We last shared an update about a month ago when the duplex had been drywalled, and since then the project has taken some huge, planned steps forward. I’m Sherry Petersik and I’ll admit I’m a little “messy” with excitement … Read more

How to Paint Your Living Room in Edgecomb Gray for a Cozy Look

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We’re back from our week at the beach and excited to jump back into projects. The weather was great, we squeezed in some window shopping and a thrift-store stop, and otherwise we were total beach and pool bums soaking up the sun. To be honest, with three little kids under four there were meltdowns and … Read more