I try not to let decorative items like candles, plants, and books sit unchanged for too long at Casa Petersik. Living and working in the same space makes me crave visual variety, and I often prefer reworking what I already own over buying new pieces. It’s not a weekly ritual, and sometimes laziness wins, but … Read more

Yeaaaaaah, baby — it’s nursery time! The last time we shared a photo of this room it looked much more newborn-ready. Since then, the space has been waiting for a fresh plan and some thoughtful updates. We began planning Clara’s nursery back in February before she was born in May, and now that the new … Read more

We’ve painted kitchen cabinets before and installed Ikea kitchens before, but painting Ikea cabinets was a new combination for us. Even though we worried about painting over laminate and factory finishes — would it bond? would it be durable? — the result exceeded our expectations. It was surprisingly straightforward and didn’t require a paint sprayer … Read more

This kids’ room underwent a dramatic transformation — the before-and-after photos are almost unbelievable. Below is Kelly’s note describing the makeover: When we first moved in, the kids’ room felt drab, dark, and gloomy. I wanted a brighter, more cheerful space for my children. Now it’s finished! I created an asymmetrical collage of paintings I … Read more

You know how we tucked a secret note into our first house hoping someone would discover it years from now? Well, we found one in our new house too. It doesn’t look especially old, so it’s probably from the previous owners — who lived here for 22 years — which still feels pretty special. Where … Read more

I don’t know if it was the crisp autumn air or the pumpkin overload on Pinterest, but a few days ago I woke up with an urge to make a fall wreath. Some people crave chocolate; I crave crafts. (Okay, I also crave chocolate—maybe someone should study that correlation.) Several readers have been asking for … Read more

After promising updated photos of our new grass-filled backyard following that Craigslist success story, the lawn has finally grown in enough to share. Instead of waiting any longer, here are the latest pictures and a quick update. Here’s the “before” shot — it worked perfectly for our backyard wedding but was far too time-consuming to … Read more

Today we’re considering an expert theory that your childhood passions—especially those from around fifth grade—might point to what you’ll enjoy most as an adult. It was interesting to look back and see whether this idea rings true for us. We also admit a hiring mistake we made for a recent house project and explain what … Read more

When Evelyn sent us photos of her kitchen makeover, we were excited to share them. Here’s the letter she sent describing the transformation: I read your blog every day — your enthusiasm for decorating and finding great deals is contagious. I love Target, Ikea and West Elm too, and I once had an outdoor wedding … Read more

Installing a toilet was one of our first DIY projects after buying a house in 2006. Nearly two decades later we’ve installed and reinstalled toilets so many times the process feels routine. You’ll see photos from several bathrooms throughout this guide. While installing a toilet can seem daunting or unpleasant, it’s a straightforward project most … Read more