About four years ago I was pretty organized. Then Clara arrived, and everything changed. Notes migrated to scattered notebooks, my phone, Post-it notes, and every spare square inch of my day planner. With so many competing lists, I rarely knew what to do next. When John and I started planning our home office, the solution … Read more

I just received updated photos of Janis’s living room and the transformation is incredible. To remind you of where she started, here’s the before picture she originally submitted along with her design dilemma: Below are snapshots of the refreshed space after she followed the mood board makeover we provided: Here’s the note Janis sent us: … Read more

We’re considering a move away from the soft, beachy whole-house palette we’ve used so far and toward something moodier, more sophisticated, and a little riskier in the new house. Fingers crossed it works—we’re the first to admit we sometimes repaint after living with a color for a while. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll coat … Read more

We’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster hunting down diamond-paned doors for our duplex renovation. What started as a frustrating low turned into a surprising high, so we wanted to share the whole saga with you. Also, we’ve been hearing from readers about frustrating experiences with home-improvement pros — missed calls, missed appointments, and … Read more

Nancy’s room designed for her son Owen shows how a nursery or child’s bedroom can feel sophisticated and grown-up while still being playful and fun. Best of all, the whole makeover cost only $305. Since readers often ask for kids’ room ideas, we’re happy to share Nancy’s photos and her note below. Hi everyone! I’ve … Read more

We’re excited to share that the Petersik family is growing again — someone is going to be a big sister, and she couldn’t be more thrilled. The new arrival is due in April, and we’re overjoyed to be expanding our family. (I plan to gain a few sympathy pounds — the least I can do.) … Read more

Back to the room that didn’t exist a few weeks ago. Excuse the all-caps excitement, but this project has been one of the most thrilling things happening here lately. (Side note: I had a dream about a newspaper column called Shellac This! devoted to shellacking a different piece of furniture every day. In the dream … Read more

Q: Do you guys have any tips for photographing your rooms? I’m actually listing my house for sale and thinking of snapping some photos (for memories and also to help with the flier) but I want them to look great. Any and all tricks, tips and suggestions are appreciated! – Leslie A: We totally understand. … Read more

Every office needs good file storage—even if a lava lamp would be fun. After upgrading our storage with a hacked Ikea bookcase, our DIY desk still lacked a convenient place for papers and files. Thrift stores didn’t yield the right fit, so we grabbed a pair of simple embossed gray file boxes from Target for … Read more

The excitement began yesterday when we visited the stone yard to see our granite slabs, and it continued when we laid eyes on a massive piece of Blanc Noir. The small white sample with gray and black flecks that had captured our hearts months ago looked completely different when enlarged — a heavy, gray, polka-dotted … Read more