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

Who’s ready for the coming-of-age story of a room finding its own way in this big, beautiful world? Growing, changing, and living with a lot of heart—cue the romantic-comedy music. Honestly, Reese Witherspoon should play the room. Recent updates to our daughter’s room made us pause and appreciate how much it has evolved since we … Read more

During our book tour stop in Palo Alto someone gave us a gift that made us laugh out loud. It wasn’t a ceramic animal, cupcakes, or stickers for Clara. It was a thin stapled booklet of kids’ writing that looked like this: Inside was this note: “Dear Sherry & John (And Clara & Burger), I … Read more

*** This giveaway is now closed – see who won below! *** And our randomly selected winner of $500 to FinnStyle is… Erika (who just finished with all four of her kids having the stomach flu and is praying it never comes back). Congratulations on your prize! FinnStyle (yes, with two Ns) features sleek, colorful … Read more

Ding dong — the bare spot above the TV is finally fixed. For a while it looked like this: Then we upgraded to a larger TV and spent nearly a year hunting for the perfect media cabinet. Eventually we scored a $59 cabinet at a thrift store and things started coming together. Whew. It’s NNM … Read more

We painted our house—well, we painted a few small test swatches. The creamy color that’s currently on the siding isn’t terrible, but we admired several nearby homes with gray hardboard siding and brick and wanted to see how a more neutral, mid-tone gray would look on our ranch. The current light cream blends the siding … Read more

Choosing the ideal white paint can feel overwhelming. After testing many options, our top pick is Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005). It delivers a crisp, clean white without common drawbacks like appearing too bright, gray, or yellow. Pure White is versatile enough for walls, trim, doors, ceilings, and cabinets, making it a reliable choice for … Read more

This week’s first project for my self-imposed “Dude Get On That Already” challenge is small, and — surprise — not animal-related. It started with a fifty-cent wooden box I found at Goodwill a few months ago and then tucked into the playroom, where it promptly vanished. I did take one early photo when I briefly … Read more

We recently picked up a recycled glass soap pump at Target for $9 and couldn’t be more pleased with the look and quality. The design feels both industrial and classic, giving an understated, Restoration Hardware–inspired touch to our sink area. Beyond the aesthetic, the pump is refillable and made from recycled glass, which makes it … Read more