Duplex Drama: What Went Wrong Just When Things Were Going Well

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Just when the duplex renovation seemed to be moving along, we hit an unexpected snag that led to an emergency trip to Cape Charles and a tense appearance before the Historic Review Board. Here we share the full story, an update on our month-long shopping ban (temptations, beware), and a practical discussion about transporting large … Read more

How to Buy Lumber and Build a Stylish Console Table

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First things first: thanks for being such good sports about our little April Fool’s Day prank (seen here). Sherry couldn’t stop giggling while she put together that over-the-top nautical doggie mood board (at one point Katie Bower called and I heard a laugh-snort as she described it). Every comment—whether people fell for it or recognized … Read more

Three Months In: What Changed and What I Learned

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We recently updated our House Tour page with new progress photos and realized we hadn’t posted a full update on the new house since Day One and Day Fifteen. So here’s a look at where we are after roughly three months (around Day 101). On moving day this was the original formal living room that … Read more

Beach House Renovation: The Unexpected Problems We Faced

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Renovating our beach house hasn’t been all rainbows and pink siding. This week we’re getting real about a few projects that have been particularly stressful, and we share one simple thing we did to slow down, calm our nerves, and remember why we started this renovation in the first place. We also sit down with … Read more

How to Resize a Dining Table to Create a Kids’ Table

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The walls in Clara’s “big girl” room are finally dry, and the few pieces of furniture we have—mainly a daybed, an old side table, and two small wooden thrift-store chairs—are back in place. Here’s how the room looks now: Not magazine-perfect yet, but it’s a dramatic improvement and we’re really excited about it. The new … Read more

9 Expert-Recommended Greige Paint Colors You’ll Love

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“Greige” describes the sweet spot between gray and beige — a neutral paint that feels both current and timeless. Although the name is relatively new, the aesthetic has been popular for years. Choosing the right greige can feel overwhelming because many neutral paints fit the description. To help, we examined dozens of expert roundups and … Read more

DIY Project Debate: Our Renovation Column Returns with New Tips

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If this magazine cover looks familiar, you might have already noticed that the second edition of our “He Said, She Said” column in Do It Yourself magazine is now on newsstands. Seeing the column in print again was just as exciting as the first time we tackled decorating disagreements from both sides of the gender … Read more

Oak Hardwood Flooring Guide: Costs, Types, and How to Choose

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Let’s talk about wood. As we mentioned on Tuesday, we chose solid oak hardwoods for the four upstairs bedrooms and the hallway because many rooms downstairs and the stairs already have a medium-toned oak that works well with daily life and pets—very similar to the hardwoods we had in our first house. We started by … Read more

House Items on Sale Right Now: What’s Discounted in Our Home

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There were tons of sales this weekend — nearly everything we still carry for the house was heavily discounted. I kept thinking it would be great to round up the best deals for anyone who’s been eyeing items from our home, but between spring break, Easter and family stuff, I didn’t manage to get it … Read more

Blue and White DIY Kitchen Remodel: Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

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It’s no surprise we’re feeling inspired to tackle kitchen makeovers right now — honestly, we’re always up for one. Erin and Zach’s do-it-yourself remodel of their 1950s kitchen is especially relatable and motivating as we begin our own kitchen transformation. Here’s their story: We wanted to share the redo of our 1951 kitchen (notice the … Read more