How to Install Indoor Uplighting for Your Home

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This is a little summer project we’d been meaning to share on Instagram, but it deserved more than a single photo — so here’s the full story. We first mentioned this in an update post and podcast, and finally got around to writing it up. We originally thought landscape lighting would be expensive and time-consuming, … Read more

Free Arhaus Delivery: How to Get Furniture Shipped Free to Your Home

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***This giveaway is now closed – see who won below!*** And our randomly selected winner is… Alyson (who says they use their sofa for “cuddling with our dog while watching tv or reading. My day doesn’t feel complete without cuddle time!”) — congrats! Relax and get comfortable: someone won a brand-new sofa this week, courtesy … Read more

How to Seal Cork Flooring: Step-by-Step Guide for Lasting Results

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When we last wrote about the kitchen floors, they seemed almost finished. But on closer inspection they still needed a few finishing touches: shoe molding to cover the intentional expansion gaps around the edges, and several coats of sealant to protect the seams and add durability. The short version of installing shoe molding goes like … Read more

Remove Overgrown Vines from Trees: Step-by-Step Guide

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(Punny alternate post title: Heard It Through The Giant Non-Grape Vine) Remember the enormous vine that had wrapped itself around the oak tree in our backyard — the one we mentioned last fall? It looked like a scene from Jumanji and had become an ugly, choking presence on the tree and around the upper patio. … Read more

Mailbox Landscaping Ideas to Boost Curb Appeal and Function

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Our little online diary covers both the big projects and the small moments, so here’s a quick update that’s short and sweet. Remember the petunia-filled mailbox bed? In June it looked full and cheerful… …by August it was still doing its thing… …and by October it had started to fade: Womp-womppp. The petunias were annuals, … Read more

Freebie Alert: Ultra-Handy Gadgets You Can Get Now

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How does a high-performance new tool and a $500 gift card sound? Dremel is offering both this week with the new Dremel Ultra-Saw, a versatile 3-in-1 tool that builds on the Saw-Max design with increased power and capability. Designed for flush and plunge cuts in a wide range of materials — wood, metal, plastic, tile … Read more

How a Home Appraisal Works When Refinancing Your Mortgage

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One part of our recent refinance that we haven’t yet explored in depth was the home appraisal required for the process. It was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Exciting because, for the first time since we bought the house in 2006, we would see exactly how much value our improvements added. Nerve-wracking because the housing market … Read more

Homemade Window Cleaner Recipe for Streak-Free Glass

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We started using a homemade window cleaner last year and immediately wondered why we hadn’t switched sooner. It’s far less expensive than store-bought glass cleaners, cleans better, and leaves fewer streaks. The basic formula uses just two ingredients, though you can customize it with optional additions. Grab an empty spray bottle and give it a … Read more