It’s no secret I enjoy experimenting with paint techniques—stenciling a pillow, two-toning a chair, painting patterns on baskets, or tracing raindrops right onto a wall. Recently I tried a simple freehand pattern on a thrift-store cradle for Clara, and I wanted to share the process and results. A few readers even spotted it in the … Read more

It felt like having my own personal Alcide—yes, a True Blood reference. I kept calling John “Alseed” the whole time he spread seed across our newly leveled backyard. I’m corny like that. He rolled his eyes, but I think he liked it. I tend to prefer tall, dorky, handsome men, so John is even better … Read more

Despite how much fun we had renting a pressure washer a few years back, we hesitated to buy one. We didn’t want another bulky tool to store, and it didn’t seem like something we’d use frequently. Still, signs kept piling up that we were missing out: a neighbor sang its praises, it showed up in … Read more

We enjoy touring a wide range of homes—old and new, large and small, traditional and modern, expensive and budget-friendly. This one leans glamorous and high-end, yet it’s overflowing with adaptable ideas you can apply even on a tight budget. Located in Charlotte, NC, this home offers plenty of inspiration, so here’s the tour. First, the … Read more

We’re excited to share more about our photoshoot for The Nest magazine. The shoot actually took place months earlier, and at the time we had to keep the project under wraps. Now we can finally reveal a handful of behind-the-scenes photos from that wild day of posing, puppy wrangling, and organized chaos. Unlike our earlier … Read more

We’re moving our work area into the new office/playroom/guest room, so I decided to give my old workspace one last hoorah with a four-part desk makeover—just for fun. I used only items I already owned, so the only rule was no spending a dime. The goal was to explore different looks and functions for my … Read more

Seeing your old houses changed by new owners can sting more than you expect. This week we talk about how we processed those feelings, found the silver lining when someone undoes your work, and moved forward. Back at our current home, we finally tackled a long-overdue change to make the driveway more kid-friendly — a … Read more

A quick garage makeover is surprisingly simple, especially when your doors are wood or metal and respond well to exterior paint. Our double garage has one large metal door, painted to resemble two separate panels. Two coats of black semi-gloss exterior latex paint transformed the look in almost no time and cost roughly $20 for … Read more

The sunny weather and hosting Clara’s outdoor party have us focused again on outdoor updates. Picture me in overalls and a striped hat, bleary-eyed from newborn nights, enjoying the fresh air while we make the most of the renovated sunroom. Over the past year we removed the old carpet, replaced broken doors, raised the ceiling, … Read more

Most guys don’t spend time rearranging their sister’s boyfriend’s bedroom. Then again, most guys don’t list “furniture placement” among their hobbies. When my little sister Carrie recruited us to help her boyfriend Robert with a cramped bedroom layout (after we refreshed her living room last fall), we were happy to step in. The budget: zero … Read more