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

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

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

Sherry and I are serious water drinkers. We refill our Klean Kanteens at least five times a day and usually skip other drinks at restaurants — I even gave up soda for 2009 — so staying well hydrated is a priority. Even though our area has decent tap water, we wanted a dedicated filtration solution … Read more

…because Petersik Pumpkin Farmer is the new guy in town. Well, Accidental Pumpkin Farmer I should say. Yep — I grew a pumpkin without even trying. Personally, I’m amused by the whole thing. Sherry’s a bit less enthusiastic about our surprise fruit. Here’s how it happened: Remember those pumpkins we painted last year? When they … Read more

These. We went thrifting again — no surprise there. These chairs were originally priced at $90 each ($180 total), reduced to $70 each ($140 total), and then an extra 50% off brought them down to just $35 apiece. That’s $70 for the pair. Considering similar metal versions from Ballard run around $199 each and some … Read more

Removing wall-to-wall carpeting — including all the layers underneath — is a surprisingly big job. We found that out this weekend when we finally tackled the bedrooms and hallway. The payoff: the house immediately smelled fresher and looked cleaner, even if we worked up a good sweat to get there. When we bought this house … Read more

I’m not going to lie — choosing finishes for an entire duplex at once has been overwhelming at times. Picking paint for walls, ceilings, trim and doors; selecting cabinets for two kitchens; and choosing tile for six bathrooms, two mudrooms/laundries, and two kitchen backsplashes requires a lot of decisions. Renovating one room can feel like … Read more

A while back we promised a primer on negotiating with contractors — so here it is. Negotiation isn’t hard to learn, and getting multiple estimates is a great way to practice your new skills while increasing the chances of landing a better deal. Below are straightforward, practical tips we’ve used when dealing with electricians, landscapers, … Read more

Alternate punny post title: Joist to the world. (I’ll pause while you golf clap) Good news — my dad returned from my grandma’s in West Virginia, so we could finally double up the girders and bolt them to the posts. I started to explain, “Okay, you’ll hold the board in the air while I drill … Read more