Updated 2018 If we had a dollar for every time someone asked, “Wait, you do all this DIY but don’t own a truck?” we’d probably be driving a very large truck by now. We prefer being a single-car household and for years drove a modest Nissan Altima (we now have a small SUV, a Toyota … Read more

Well, that can of worms is officially open. We’ve begun making changes in the kitchen. This isn’t entirely new— we removed the wallpaper a few weeks ago— but late last week we used that momentum to start a series of more meaningful updates. We still plan to live in this house for a long time … Read more

If we’re driving around at night and spot a house or yard covered in Christmas lights, there’s one guarantee: a tiny two-year-old voice from the back seat will shout, “It’s Christmastime!” It’s hilarious every single time—sometimes it happens fifteen times in a minute—and we still cheer and laugh. Christmas is officially here. I usually resist … Read more

There’s something especially sweet about decorating a home for your first holiday season in it. It ranks right up there with spotting the first spring blooms at a new place (I basically shout from the window like a game announcer: “Over on the left — A PATCH OF DAFFODILS!”). But back to the holiday house … Read more

We finally have after photos to share — and Eve’s dining room makeover is breathtaking. In February Eve reached out for decorating advice, asking for color recommendations and a few budget-friendly accessory ideas to help elevate her dining room. We suggested paint colors for the fireplace, walls, and trim, plus simple updates for the window … Read more

When we opened this reader email, our first thought was that someone had photoshopped our guest bathroom and simply shifted the yellow tiles to green. The layouts were that similar (our yellow guest bathroom is on our house tour page). But Susanne really did have a green-tiled bathroom of her own. Here’s her note. Hi … Read more

These days, anyone house hunting has probably come across foreclosures the way we have. We were conflicted about considering one. Buying from a willing seller feels straightforward, but taking a home from someone who lost it is unsettling—especially with recent stories about improper foreclosures. Still, we toured this property because the exterior had a lot … Read more

When we recently learned that some receipts can release far more BPA than many plastic bottles, we wanted to understand what that means for everyday life. While this topic isn’t strictly DIY, it matters for a safe, healthy home—especially around Earth Day. We’re also into simplifying life (it was even my 2010 resolution), and the … Read more

***This giveaway is now closed – see who won below! *** Clearly I’m not the only one who loves a good writing utensil (and a Target card) — this giveaway reached our 10,000 entry cap within 24 hours. Nice work, team! That means we get to crown a winner early. The lucky writer is… Heather … Read more

Before-and-after transformations never fail to delight, and when it comes to restoring century-old homes, the results are especially rewarding. Mandy and her husband Joe took on such a project in Charlottesville, VA, rescuing a 1901 house they affectionately named “Blanche.” The house had great bones but suffered years of neglect—what they uncovered behind the walls … Read more