Haven, House Crashing, and the Joy of Weirdness

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Ready for a post full of awkward photos (of me and Katie B), adorable pictures of Clara and Will, and a few sneak peeks at house-crashing and shopping on the road? Let’s go. This recap of our four days in Atlanta contains over 40 photos, but it’s just a snapshot of the whole road trip. … Read more

Airbnb Laundry & Mudroom Makeovers: Before and After Transformations

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Two more duplex rooms are complete and photographed—and these two took a bit of elbow grease. We added tall built-in storage cabinets beside the stacked washer/dryers and installed two hook rails in each room (you can never have too many hooks at the beach). One of my favorite design moves in the whole house is … Read more

How I Got a Free Dishwasher: Step-by-Step Guide

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If you remember, we finished our previous post by mentioning that we eventually planned to buy a new washer and dryer to fit our more open laundry nook. We couldn’t resist “just looking,” though — and a quick look turned into a purchase once we saw the deals available. We focused on the Whirlpool Duet … Read more

DIY Dog Food and Water Station: Build a Practical Pet Feeder

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A few readers noticed a small white object on the floor at the left side of the photo in our post about our new salt lamp and asked what it was: It’s actually Burger’s compact food-and-water station. We tuck it behind the media stand so it stays out of the way for people but remains … Read more

Rooms You Don’t Miss After Downsizing: What to Leave Behind

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Sherry’s post a few months ago about what furniture & decor we still own after downsizing prompted me to look back through photos of our previous house for the first time in a while. It was a fun stroll down memory lane — can you believe it’s been 2.5 years since we moved? It also … Read more

Teddy’s Birth Story: A Heartfelt Newborn Journey

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To everyone who’s been asking about Teddy’s birth story, thank you for your patience. I usually let these stories sit for a bit before writing—Clara’s took almost a year because of all the mixed emotions—but Teddy’s birth felt more straightforward and far less frightening. After a traumatic first birth, the idea of a routine, scheduled … Read more

Remove Grout Haze from Tile: A Step-by-Step Cleaning Guide

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Bet you thought our grouting post was the last word on installing our tile? Not quite. After the grout seemed to have settled, we still had a few less-glamorous but necessary finishing steps: de-hazing, sealing, and caulking. A lot of readers asked for details on those, so here’s a clear, practical rundown of what we … Read more

How to Replace a Door Knocker and Doorbell Quickly

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How about a post on hunting for door knockers? Not the other kind—this is the follow-up we promised yesterday about updating our door knocker and doorbell. Here’s the situation we started with: a nice but clearly aged knocker whose main flaw was the previous owner’s last name etched into it (I blurred it slightly out … Read more

How to Install Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Adding peel-and-stick wallpaper to the middle bedroom in our beach house took only a few hours and cost under $100. It delivered a big visual impact for very little time, money, or skill, and because the product is fully removable, swapping it out later is simple—much easier than tackling traditional wallpaper removal. Below we’ll walk … Read more

Charming Red, White & Teal Bunkroom Designed for Four Girls

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Projects like Shannon’s almost make you wish you had four daughters running around. I say “almost” — but once you see what she tackled, you’ll understand why the idea sounds pretty appealing (and that’s coming from someone who grew up with three sisters). Hey guys! It’s so funny reading your blog. We were and are … Read more