Marble Fireplace Renovation: How We Transformed Ours for $200

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We can officially call this one finished. Sherry ceremonially stuck an oversized faux clam shell on top, but the important part is the fireplace makeover is done. To recap: we planned the refacing, added marble subway tile, and built out a tailored surround. Reminder: fireplace code varies by location and by whether a fireplace is … Read more

Craft Room Organization: Smart Storage & Layout Ideas

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Other than this older post about creating a wrapping paper station in our third bedroom, we haven’t talked much about organizing the countless supplies that accumulate in a craft room. The approach below is written with craft rooms in mind, but the method works for any organizing project in your home—from a linen closet to … Read more

New Year 2013 Resolutions to Transform Your Year

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Thank you so much for the amazing response to our little announcement this morning — we truly appreciate you all. We won’t make 2,013 resolutions, but here are five goals we’re announcing for the year. Every year we share our resolutions publicly to help keep ourselves accountable (you can see past years if you’re curious). … Read more

Kitchen Remodel Reveal: Before and After Photos

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Want a full tour of our newly renovated kitchen in 4,390 words or less? Pull up a chair and grab a sparkling water—here’s the story, with plenty of after photos and the reasoning behind our material choices. First, a few before-and-after shots. This was the view from the living room before, when the kitchen was … Read more

Are Open Floor Plans Going Out of Style?

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This week we’re responding to an article arguing that open floor plans are outdated. We’ve removed walls and widened doorways in each of our three homes to create better flow and a more open feel, but there are valid reasons why an open plan isn’t always the best choice. Below we outline the pros and … Read more

10 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Home Using Paint Swatches

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John and I were both staring at a stack of Martha Stewart paint swatches when the same idea hit us: why not use them to freshen up the postcard wall in our office? That wall is one of our favorite features because it’s so easy to change—art and accents can be swapped out whenever we … Read more

Home Tour: A Video Walkthrough of Our Cozy Nest

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Forget the old, grainy house tour videos we shot years ago with our longtime, YouTube-shy camcorder. Instead, visit The Nest’s TV On Demand page to watch a new, professionally produced video tour of our home. This updated tour leaves those earlier clips far behind. The team from The Nest spent an entire afternoon filming, and … Read more

Simplifying Our Home: Living Better with Less Clutter

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It’s easy to want less: less to buy, less to clean, less to store, fewer choices, and less to throw away. We get a little thrill from consolidating—turning two products into one or freeing up space in a drawer or closet by eliminating duplicates. Why buy ten bottles for ten different tasks when one product … Read more

How to Prime a Bright Wall for Perfect Paint Coverage

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Remember when our living room was salmon? Well, not anymore… That layer you see is just primer. We’ll be back on Monday with a full reveal: the color we chose, why it was the right pick, step-by-step prep notes, in-progress photos, and the final after shots. Today wraps up our Florida road trip, so we’re … Read more