I’m back to share this month’s bouquet — a super sweet Christmas present from my husband. Like last month’s arrangement, these flowers didn’t come from the grocery store. Instead of buying a $3–$5 bouquet, we spent nothing and clipped a bunch of fuchsia and coral roses from our backyard. These roses were planted by the … Read more

You’ve patiently waited for the big nursery reveal while we spent weeks tackling paint, mirrors, art, lighting, storage and a custom crib skirt. Now the room is finished — just in time, since John’s sister Emily is due in two weeks. First, a reminder of the blank slate we started with: We barely remember that … Read more

When Phuong and her husband Jeff sent over their Design Dilemma after photos, we were excited to share the transformation. Many of you love seeing how our mood boards translate into real rooms, and this makeover was no exception. You might remember that we created a custom mood board for Phuong and Jeff to help … Read more

This week I’m admitting to a kitchen design choice at our beach house that, in hindsight, wasn’t our best idea. Thankfully it’s an easy fix, so we’re sharing why we changed our minds and how we corrected it. We also weigh in on a divisive design trend that seems to provoke strong reactions, plus tips … Read more

It’s been far too long since our last window-shopping stroll. As some of you know, these mini excursions aren’t sponsored — we simply wander a store with a camera and capture anything that sparks inspiration. This post is a few months late, but now that the photos are uploaded and I’ve settled in to write, … Read more

Remember our friends Carey and Jordan? Earlier this year we “house crashed” their home and I still swoon over their mudroom. This time we visited another one of their projects: a freshly renovated, furnished rental in the Richmond area. It’s full of style, smart budget choices, and plenty of ideas you can steal for your … Read more

Want a chance to win $3,000 to spend on hardwood floors this weekend? Look in the mirror — it could be you. Impressions Hardwood Collection is awarding one lucky person three grand this week, so now is a great time to consider upgrading your floors. Their selection includes wide hand-scraped styles and classic 3 1/4″ … Read more

I’m back with an easy thrift-store makeover. John and I picked up this well-worn brass candlestick at Goodwill for $1.99. I convinced him that a bright, modern color would refresh the traditional shape and give it a clean, updated look in about five minutes. I gave it a few light coats of glossy yellow spray … Read more

Ready for another outdoor update? This time we turned a handful of volunteer hostas from the backyard into a quick front-yard refresh. Our backyard planting bed is a bit of a disaster still, but those extra hostas were doing nothing back there, so we dug up about five and put them to better use. First … Read more

Can you believe December has already flown by and it’s almost 2012? Before the month slips away, here’s a quick look back at what we accomplished, all in one place. We tackled a lot of kitchen projects, refreshed a few other rooms, squeezed in holiday fun, and even shared some new stuff you hadn’t seen … Read more