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

I’m not going to lie: lately this is pretty much all I want to do (add Burger, Clara, and John and I get even more smitten). For everyone who asked for an updated Listy post, I finally finished it. We last shared our running to-do list in November, so this check-in was overdue — and … Read more

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

I know it sounds a little odd to add a small office area to a vacation rental, but when we were deciding what to do with the wall opposite the pantry, a number of people suggested a compact desk nook for checking email, writing, or quietly reading. We considered it, but ultimately used that space … Read more

We’re still sorting out the drywall for our new opening, but while we wait to take fresh photos this afternoon, here’s a kitchen makeover worth sharing to keep the inspiration flowing. We couldn’t help but smile when an email landed with the phrases “1948 ranch style house” and “kitchen renovation”—and then the before-and-after shots arrived. … Read more

We have two garage doors. I know, I know — cool story, bro. But stick with me: this actually gets better if you like practical tech or small conveniences. My partner Sherry tends to tune out when I start in on this stuff, so this one’s for anyone who loves remote-control convenience. Anyone? Each door … Read more

Today we’re sharing what it’s like for our family of four to share a single bathroom, and the plans we’re making to add another in the future. Naturally, this episode wanders into bathroom territory—again—and we explore America’s particular fascination with bathrooms, including why the number of bathrooms per person has roughly doubled in the last … Read more

So I finally finished outfitting the other half of my Instagram-inspired basement pegboard. I added a small makeshift shelf that I primed and painted, found a non-electrical music dock (yes, mysterious but brilliant), and hung a few kitchen items as wall art. Lots of you asked what we did with the cutting board we picked … Read more

The evening after we posted our mini-update plans for the master bathroom, Sherry had me in the car hunting for the blue light fixture from her mood board. It’s a Shades of Light pendant we hoped to find at a local outlet called The Decorating Outlet, which is where we’ve scored other fixtures before. To … Read more

Updated January 2022 Do your kitchen cabinets look unfinished or leave an awkward gap below the ceiling? We added crown molding to our upper cabinets for a quick DIY upgrade that transformed the look of the kitchen. It’s a simple project that can be completed in a few hours and gives cabinets a polished, finished … Read more