We’re working on a few projects this morning, but in the meantime we thought we’d share a quick, make-the-most-of-what-you-have idea. Several people have asked where the armless loveseat in our living room came from. It isn’t a single piece of furniture but two of our old, inexpensive Dolce chairs pushed together, with two Ikea faux … Read more

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