It’s late Sunday night as I write this after a whirlwind weekend in Northern Virginia. We helped John’s sister Carrie give her bedroom a grown-up upgrade and squeezed in a little nursery shopping while we were there. Below are ten things we helped her shop for, hang, and install to give the room a more … Read more

***This giveaway has reached its cap and is now closed – see who won below!*** You all shut this down with 10,000 entries in less than a day. Wow! We’ve already selected our random winner. She is… Rhonda (who says she’s going to ask for a juicer to go with her Christmas blender). Congrats! Tomorrow … Read more

I promised more details about our visit with Katie Bower on Wednesday when we awkwardly revealed that Katie and I had been together in a string of photos that were, honestly, a little cringe-worthy. We love doing a good “Bower visit breakdown” — sharing what we did, what we ate, and all the little moments … Read more

The stain on our kitchen cabinets felt too orange and dated. We loved the wood grain but wanted a darker, more contemporary tone without the hassle of stripping or heavy sanding. Fortunately, we found a product that allowed us to skip those messy, time-consuming steps while still delivering the look we wanted. Below you can … Read more

Ready for the next stage of the fireplace makeover? There’s been a lot of progress. Previously we tiled the hearth and part of the surround with marble subway tile. That tiling was the straightforward part. The next step — building out the rest of the frame — required more materials and a bit more planning. … Read more

Last year is officially behind us, but before we say goodbye, here’s one of our favorite yearly traditions: We’re feeling nostalgic thanks to the arrival of the 2012 Petersik Family Yearbook. Every January we create a photobook that captures our favorite moments from the prior year. We first ordered one from MyPublisher in 2010 and … Read more

Since many of you asked for more detail about the layout changes and paint colors we’re considering, we wanted to share a full update on the ideas floating around right now. These plans will certainly evolve, but here’s a clear look at what we’re imagining so far—lots of descriptions, diagrams, and photos to help explain … Read more

Whahoo! DIY magazine is coming to photograph our home for a multi-magazine feature, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. While we can’t share any of their polaroids yet, here’s a glimpse of what our kitchen looked like when the flowers arrived. I’m absolutely delighted.

What’s the point of upgrading every inch of your home if you don’t also protect it from theft, accidents, and natural hazards? There are plenty of straightforward, affordable steps you can take to keep your house and family safe. Here’s how we protect our home and the practical choices we recommend. 1. Use a safe … Read more

A while back we bought this light for $29 at the Pottery Barn outlet. We originally planned to hang it over the sink “someday when we redid the kitchen,” but after installing oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights over the peninsula, the silver and mercury glass fixture felt out of place. We love mixed metals, but the … Read more