We’re back with the full front-yard landscaping reveal. Those 50+ year-old shrubs around our home were long overdue for a refresh: they were overgrown, overcrowded, and completely swallowed our short, stout rancher. We were a little embarrassed, but we knew how to make the most of it. We listed several azaleas and holly bushes for … Read more

We knew we wouldn’t want the range hood exposed for long, so we set out to build a custom cover. For height, we followed the manufacturer’s recommendations and installed the hood 34″ above the counter, right in the middle of the suggested range. To decide on the final look, I mocked up two Photoshop options. … Read more

We’ve been hard at work in the yard, and while my arms are definitely sore, the progress is already worth it. This is one of those projects that will take years, not a single “before-and-after” post, but focusing on one small area at a time keeps things manageable. Last year we limbed the magnolia, removed … Read more

This giveaway is no longer accepting entries Now that I’ve been a father for one month (happy one-month birthday, Clara!), I’m especially excited for this Sunday—my first Father’s Day. Our friends at Lowe’s helped put together a Father’s Day gift guide and provided a prize package perfect for dads who like to work with their … Read more

While we waited for our freshly primed and painted open shelves to dry (hanging day was scheduled for tomorrow), we realized it had been far too long since our last budget blooms post. We used to share them every month, but life and projects got in the way. A few readers asked for more budget-blooms … Read more

Update: Aaaand less than 12 hours later we’re back with an update at the bottom of the post for you. Smooth, right? Hey there — long time no see. The break has been wonderful. It felt a little strange at first, but mostly it was refreshing and revitalizing. We’re incredibly grateful for your support, kind … Read more

In case all that turkey and stuffing made you forget, here’s a reminder of how our kitchen looked after the upper cabinets came down: With the new countertops scheduled to arrive in about two weeks, we needed to prep the walls for the backsplash. We won’t install the tile before the counters — fitting the … Read more

Restoring a vintage stove isn’t always sunshine and cupcakes. This week we’re sharing the unseen quirks, mistakes, and missed opportunities from our beach house renovation. Which tile choice would we change? Where did the exterior fall short? How do we plan to fix these things moving forward? And yes — we’re spending money to make … Read more

Islands are a common feature in many contemporary kitchens, but this week we discuss why they aren’t ideal for everyone — including a downside we discovered in our own kitchen. We also share lessons from tiling a beach house backsplash: preparation, patience, and accepting a little imperfection. John offers a new technique for choosing paint … Read more

Remember when we scored our parsons-style chairs on Craigslist for about $25 each? We always pictured them in a cheerful apple green. After a failed attempt at painting, we accepted that slipcovers or reupholstering were the realistic options. After weighing the pros and cons, we decided slipcovers made the most sense—mainly because we like the … Read more