We used a few quick, simple upholstery tricks to add softness and texture to a store-bought bench in our family room. We finished it just in time for the holidays, and it immediately made the space feel cozier. ottomans | sofa | similar rug | similar mirror | similar bench | similar console | frame … Read more

After giving our floor stencils a full seven days to cure (it’s humid here), we finally moved the furniture back into the sunroom and took photos of the completed mini makeover. We split the work into three phases; earlier posts documented each step. To appreciate the change, it helps to remember how the room looked … Read more

After our chaotic week last August—when we experienced both an earthquake and a hurricane within days—we received many requests for a post about emergency preparedness. We hesitated because we’re not professionals in this area, but fortunately two knowledgeable readers stepped in to share practical, experience-based advice. They sent us clear, useful recommendations that boil down … Read more

Let’s talk about the three framed pieces above our bed. (Yes, I just made a “bed wetters” pun — forgive my fourth-grade sense of humor.) More importantly: people often ask, “What’s in those three frames above your bed?” The answer is simple: “J and S.” You can call it a monogram or, more practically, our … Read more

If this post had a moral, it would be: when something in your home just doesn’t feel right, do something about it — or let it die on its own and take that as a sign. Our living room light fixture is the protagonist of this little story. From the start there was something off … Read more

Our third annual Wedding Week is here as we approach our anniversary this Wednesday. It’s hard to believe another year has passed, especially since our DIY backyard wedding (held at Casa Petersik on 7.7.07) still feels like it happened yesterday. Many of you have already read about our wedding by clicking the tab under our … Read more

Since we’re halfway through the month, I wanted to share an update on my make-the-bed-every-day resolution. The good news: I haven’t missed a single day. Seriously. The not-so-good news: it rarely stays neat for long because of my main man, Burger. Can you blame him? If I were a dog, I wouldn’t pass up a … Read more

The end of 2009 also marked the close of our time on the True Value DIY Blog Squad, a short but productive three-month collaboration we happily announced earlier. While it’s bittersweet to wrap up, we’re grateful for everything that came from the partnership. True Value helped us make major progress as we prepared for new … Read more

If you caught last week’s post, you saw our excited reveal of the before-and-after photos from the first four rooms we completed at the duplex. We’re sharing projects as they finish and get photographed, and today we’re thrilled to report FOUR MORE SPACES ARE DONE. It’s exhilarating to be able to say that after more … Read more

Since many of you enjoyed our previous messy house tour videos (like this one from our last home in 2011), we figured it was time for another reality check: we are not perfectly folded towels and perfectly placed pillows around the clock. With our focus on the showhouse and some last-minute nursery details, several other … Read more