Something unexpected happened recently. Here’s a hint: It all began one night when John and I were in bed brainstorming ways to make the sunroom more functional and inviting. Right now it’s stuffed with secret book projects, but once fall arrives we plan to clear it out for a charity auction and finally treat it … Read more

You may have seen some of our duplex exterior progress on social media, so here’s a deeper look on the blog to answer the many questions we’ve been getting. We’ll cover shutters, steps, metal awnings, the diamond door situation, and other exterior updates. As a quick refresher, this is what the house looked like before. … Read more

Jaw-dropping is not a phrase I use lightly, but this kitchen makeover truly earns it. Emily sent a detailed account of the renovation, so I’ll let her tell the story in her own words: We bought this house as a foreclosure a little over two years ago. The price was so good that it made … Read more

Can you believe it’s been three weeks since our last tour update? Even though we haven’t posted much, we’ve been traveling a lot. Nearing the end of our book tour, we finally made it across the country to the West Coast. Here’s a recap of our stops in all three west coast states. We began … Read more

Cindy enjoyed designing a room for her daughter Sarah, but midway through the plan she had to adapt quickly. She used a mood board to stay focused and hunted for pieces she loved until she found great deals. Here’s her note: Hello John & Sherry! I want to share the latest update in our home. … Read more

We mentioned some recent bedroom changes on this week’s podcast, so we wanted to follow up with a photo-filled post for anyone curious about how the room looks now. Most of the furniture in our bedroom was purchased back when we lived in our previous house, and after moving here in 2013 things mostly landed … Read more

After many requests, we’re sharing how we made our planter-turned-side table, DIY dog food & water station, and puppy-friendly floor pillows when we refreshed our porch for Better Homes & Gardens’ 48-Hour Challenge using only items from Home Depot. One rule of the challenge was to use materials available at Home Depot. They don’t sell … Read more

We try to feature a wide variety of homes, from the big and beautiful to the cozy and quaint. This time we toured a New Jersey townhouse that feels so inviting it stands out among its identical neighbors. Decorating a space that shares a floor plan with every other house on the block can be … Read more

Other potential titles for this post: Holy Schnikies I (Almost) See The Light The Sweetest Sound = A Power Saw Best Day Ever!!!! This update is a quick peek at progress — part tease, part status report. A lot of readers have been asking what’s happening here, and since a picture truly does say a … Read more

The Homearama showhouse project is charging toward its deadline — the show opens May 1 — and with a baby due a few weeks before that we’re hustling to finish. There’s so much to update you on that this post might feel a little scattered, but here’s where things stand and what we’ve been up … Read more