Kitchen Renovation Costs: What We Spent and Why

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After our big kitchen reveal yesterday, the question everyone asks is: how much did it cost? It wasn’t millions — and it came in well below the national average for a major kitchen remodel, which realtor.org estimates at $44,000. We went back through every invoice and estimate to calculate the real cost from start to … Read more

Free Art Giveaway: Claim Your Original Digital Prints Today

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With more than 6,000 original artworks to explore and $500 to spend, UGallery is offering one lucky person the chance to refresh their walls in a meaningful way this week. The site makes it simple to find the perfect piece by allowing visitors to filter by medium, price, color, size, and style. Every purchase ships … Read more

How to Install Under-Cabinet Lighting Step by Step

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We’ve installed very few upper cabinets in recent kitchen projects, so under-cabinet lighting hasn’t been part of our last few renovations. That said, we did add under-cabinet lighting in our laundry room back in 2014, and I recently found photos of the install that I never shared. The process is straightforward, making this an easy … Read more

4 Smart Tips to Paint a Room Faster and Cleaner

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Q: Is there any way you can do a basic room-painting tutorial? Y’all seem to get such good results in just a few hours, but most internet tutorials would have me believe I need to put in a whole weekend for good results. I’ve noticed y’all don’t cover the floors and don’t prime–I’d love to … Read more

Handmade Holiday Craft Market: Unique Gifts & Local Artisans

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Two Sundays ago we visited the Richmond Craft Mafia’s Handmade Holiday craft show. As one friend quipped, it was like Etsy—only in real life. We love supporting and meeting local artisans, so we went expecting to see some interesting work, run into a few people we knew, and maybe pick up a gift or two. … Read more

Better Housing Coalition in Richmond, Virginia: Affordable Homes & Support

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A couple of weeks ago Sherry and I spent an afternoon house hunting in some of Richmond’s lower-income neighborhoods. We weren’t searching for a perfect fixer-upper, but were trying to spot the work of Richmond’s Better Housing Coalition. The results were obvious—and encouraging. The Better Housing Coalition has been creating quality, affordable homes in Richmond … Read more

DIY Wall-Mounted Bookshelves for a Nursery: Step-by-Step Guide

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Last week we shared our DIY flower mobiles but intentionally didn’t show the entire wall because it looked a little unbalanced. To refresh your memory, here’s how that wall looked before the mobile project: it was, in a word, dull. We always planned to hang a mobile above the changing pad, which would leave the … Read more

Saying Goodbye to Clara’s Room: Moving On and Letting Go

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Before we left our second house for the final time, we took this picture of Clara in the room where she woke up on each of her first three birthdays. This contrasts strongly with the photo we took on the day we moved in back in 2010. How quickly they grow up.

Round Mirror Above Our Desk: Stylish Home Office Decor Ideas

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I’ve been obsessed with round mirrors lately. With so many rectangles and squares in a typical room — windows, doors, beams, beds, cribs, fireplaces — adding a curved shape feels like a refreshing contrast that softens all those right angles. We picked this one up at Hobby Lobby during a sale — 50% off all … Read more

Love Is Blind: Free Giveaway and Fan Picks

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*** This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – scroll down to see who won!*** We all dream of windows that open onto spectacular scenery, but the reality is often less glamorous: a view of a neighbor’s fence, harsh glare, or an awkward glimpse into someone’s apartment. That’s when quality window coverings make all the … Read more