Settle in — this is a deep dive. A long, honest reflection in the spirit of old-school blogging. If you’ve got a cup of coffee, come along as we unpack: Lessons we’ve learned about downsizing over the past few years Which pieces from our larger house made the cut and why they’ve worked Thoughts on … Read more

And now for a little chair-related riddle: What’s worse than buying eight chairs on Craigslist only to discover they don’t work after a year and a half? A: Buying eight chairs on Craigslist and then chronicling the whole failed experiment online. We like to keep it real, so here’s the condensed lesson learned after many … Read more

During our recent bathroom renovation we discovered that the wallpaper wasn’t the only problem awaiting repair. Over the last few weeks we dealt with a plumbing issue that finally wrapped up a few days ago — and it wasn’t pleasant. We’ll spare you the graphic photos, but here’s the full story of what went wrong … Read more

Yup — that’s the best way to describe our new living room rug. We’ve officially got a case of happy feet. It’s even plusher and more luxurious than we expected. Before we dive into rug photos, though, we want to thank you. The support, kindness, and humor you bring — not just on this morning’s … Read more

I have officially hatched my egg-chair plan (mwah‑hah‑hah). Forgive the ovum pun. The $30 thrift-store egg chair I mentioned last week got a good cleaning with a liquid deglosser, then a coat of spray primer and spray paint. Ten minutes after I took that grody before photo with the old cushion in our sunroom… …I … Read more

The past year has felt like a buffet of side projects — a coloring book, a teacher’s lounge makeover, a podcast, new lighting designs, and a big beach house renovation. Behind the scenes, though, the Petersiks have been quietly developing one more idea that tops the list of “random projects.” We’re finally ready to share … Read more

We’re back with part two of our virtual gift-shopping roundup (see part one here) and this time we headed into Pottery Barn to see what caught our eye. Below are the items we loved and why they make great gifts. This charming rubber stamp kit, priced at $12.50, is an adorable, versatile gift. It’s great … Read more

My goal was simple: walk onto the plane with only a duffel and a purse for seven days spent in two regions of France (with a stop in Germany). Standing at the airport after John dropped me off, I’m proud to say I did it — just a purse and this duffel, with room to … Read more

I’ve got one hand in my pocket door… and the other is prying off trim. We’re far from expert renovators — more like determined amateurs who learn by doing. Most of our projects start with a vague plan, a few Google searches, and a willingness to get our hands dirty. That approach has surprisingly worked … Read more

Major renovations are thrilling, but they can also be a significant source of stress—especially long, costly projects like kitchens or bathrooms. Budgets can balloon, timelines slip, things break, and dust seems to find its way into every corner. After renovating seven houses over 17 years, we’ve learned a lot about preparing for and minimizing renovation … Read more