As if the blue and mauve trim inside the house weren’t enough, the exterior trim needed attention too. When we bought this house we knew there were four major issues to address: the roof and furnace, several damaged trees, and significant rot in the siding and trim that required replacement and a full repaint. We … Read more

Even though spring is still a few months away, Sara’s before-and-after photos brought a burst of sunshine. Here’s the letter she sent in: I’ve been following your blog for years, and I have a big Reader Redesign to share. My fiancé and I bought our house last summer and have been fixing it up gradually. … Read more

Anyone living in a smaller home knows how transformative smart storage can be when it’s done well — and how frustrating it is when it isn’t. No matter your square footage, easy access and sensible placement are the goals. After downsizing from a 3,150 sq. ft. house to a 1,400 sq. ft. home, we had … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!*** We reached our comment limit and have closed entries at 10,000. Random.org selected the winner: Nicole is STL, who’s looking forward to relaxing with family and friends over the holidays. Congratulations to Nicole! After the positive response to last week’s $500 giveaway, we … Read more

For the past few weeks we’ve eaten, slept, and breathed everything showhouse-related. We knew it would be a lot of work, but I’ll admit we seriously underestimated how much time, effort, and shopping it would take to turn a 3,500-square-foot blank canvas into a lived-in-looking home—especially in just two weeks. So yes, we’ve basically been … Read more

“Can we make it like the Home Alone house?” Clara asked when we started planning outdoor Christmas decorations. She adores “Kevin and Bros” (yes, Buzz = Bros to her) and noticed their house resembles ours—only much bigger and fancier. After a family brainstorming session (mostly listening to Clara’s ideas), we settled on a plan: Wreaths … Read more

Lately I’ve had a few moments that made me think, “this is not ideal.” We like to share the good, the bad, and the ugly here, so here are three recent oops-worthy situations—two small mishaps and one more serious concern. The first started when I spotted a page in Domino magazine that mixed black and … Read more

Remember when I shared my first-of-the-year flowers a little while back as a sweet monthly gift from the hubs? Those blooms had a touch of New Year’s sparkle thanks to a cake stand full of gleaming silver ornaments, and a few weeks later I remixed them with a less-holiday look since January was already underway. … Read more

When Jennifer sent us before-and-after photos of her nearly unrecognizable kitchen, we had to share the transformation. Here’s her note: I’m so excited about my kitchen transformation that I had to send it your way since so much of it was inspired by YHL! Two of my favorite features in my new space (an under-cabinet … Read more

Back in July 2007, we couldn’t imagine celebrating our wedding any other way than we did: a small, intimate ceremony in our own backyard. Ten years later, there are a few things we’d change in hindsight. In this post we revisit those choices, share how we marked our 10th anniversary (some traditions never die), and … Read more