Our Favorite Four-Legged Family Member: Pet Stories & Tips

featured 19289

Our eight-pound Chihuahua has proudly held the title of our favorite (and only) child for more than three years. Even though Burger is about to face some competition in May, there’s no doubt he’s deeply loved — in a slightly eccentric way. He already appears in three separate portraits on the photo wall of the … Read more

How to Hang Bikes on a Basement Wall: Step-by-Step Guide

featured 19052

We’re back with our weekly basement update — here’s where we left off — and this time we tackled the bare-bulb ceiling fixture by dressing it up with a polished linen shade. We also picked up a vertical bike rack (on sale) since our cinder block walls make drilling for heavy hooks impractical, and received … Read more

Hallway Frame Gallery Wall: Step-by-Step Guide to Create One

featured 34995

Isn’t it funny how you can start a project — in this case the gallery of frames we wanted to “wallpaper” our hallway with — and then leave the other half of it undone for a month. Not weeks. Literally a month. What happened? It’s not like we weren’t thrilled with the first half of … Read more

Free Art Giveaway: Original Works Straight From the Artist

featured 13312

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** This week’s giveaway is sponsored by a site full of carefully selected work from professional makers: Artful Home. The site showcases thousands of original pieces—wall art, sculpture, furniture, and accessories—created by artists chosen by a panel of adjudicators. With over 12,000 items on display, Artful Home offers a … Read more

To Brass or Not to Brass? Expert Guide for Guitarists

featured 81340

In this episode we discuss the things people say women “should” or “shouldn’t” keep around the house (Sherry admits she’s guilty of at least one). We also take a deep dive into metal finishes: should finishes match within a room, throughout a house, or is mixing metals perfectly acceptable? Is the brass trend finished or … Read more

Walk a Mile in My Shoes: Stories of Empathy and Understanding

featured 10709

Ever wonder what my average day looks like? You might imagine lazy mornings, a long bubble bath, writing a post or two, and sipping Earl Grey in the sunroom. I wish that were the case — I dream about that life. The reality is quite different, and I only realized how far from that fantasy … Read more

48 Hours in St. Petersburg, Florida: Family-Friendly Kid Activities

featured 110408

Instead of taking one long vacation this summer, we chose several short trips to explore more places. We started with a three-night stay in Charleston, SC, visited my parents in the Georgia mountains in July, and finished the season with a family getaway to St. Petersburg, Florida. Sherry and I had only briefly visited St. … Read more

15 Must-Have Home and DIY Tools for Every Project

featured 15894

We’re often asked for a list of essential tools, and while we may be leaving a few out, here’s a concise rundown of the tools we reach for most often. Many of these live in the kitchen cabinet to the left of the stove — yes, we know that’s an unusual spot, but it works. … Read more

Prep and Plan: Essential Steps Before Starting a Home Project

featured 15312

Q: I would like to know your guys’ thought process BEFORE you start a big project (like your kitchen, living room, bathroom, a nursery, etc). Could you delve into how you ‘read’ a BEFORE and how to consider function along with style? Where/what do you research? How do you decide which projects to do when? … Read more

How to Add a Cozy Daybed to Your Guest Room for Extra Space

featured 315

The third bedroom, which doubles as our second guest room, is finally coming together—just in time for a house full of visitors this Friday. This space started life as our dining room; we converted it into a bedroom by closing the doorway that led to the kitchen. We didn’t miss the original dining area because … Read more