I put off writing this post for a while because I kept getting the same Instagram messages asking, “How did you lose so much weight?!” It’s a well-meaning question, but it often brings up complicated feelings for me. I want to be transparent about what worked, what didn’t, and why this journey is more than … Read more

DIY Nordic Sweater Mini Christmas Trees The holidays are my favorite time to break out the glue gun and get crafty with Olivia. I don’t do this much the rest of the year—give me thrift store furniture and a paintbrush any day—but come December, I’m all about small, cheerful decorations. These Nordic sweater mini trees … Read more

6 straightforward DIY tutorials showing how to hang outdoor string lights without trees — around a fire pit, pool, fence, porch, from siding, around a patio, or anywhere in your backyard. Ultimate Guide: How to Hang Outdoor String Lights Hanging outdoor string lights sounds simple, but it can get technical fast — especially when you … Read more

A step-by-step tutorial to build DIY built-in cabinets and a window seat using inexpensive stock kitchen cabinets. We survived the most intense project of the Carney rec room makeover: building custom-looking built-ins and a window seat from inexpensive stock kitchen cabinets. It was a challenging week of planning, measuring and installing — but the result … Read more

When I first began decorating my home, I scrolled Pinterest for inspiration and focused almost entirely on visuals. The images were beautiful, but they only engaged one sense: sight. Over the years I’ve shifted toward designing spaces that engage all five senses. That approach has transformed how my family and I experience our home—making it … Read more

3 teenage girl bedroom ideas with design styles to suit preppy, eclectic, boho, japandi, and cottage aesthetics. Today, Robert and I are starting the first of two teenage girl bedroom designs we’ll complete in the coming weeks. Last winter we refreshed a rec room for our neighbors, the Carney family. That project inspired these bedroom … Read more

Adding this to my list of favorite ways to bring soft, sentimental warmth to the walls. A little framed house portrait can instantly make a hallway feel personal and cozy. I’d wanted to try this project for a couple of years and finally did: turning photos of our current home and our previous home into … Read more

Autumn mountain landscape art printable with green and copper fall kitchen shelf vignette, plus 28 more free fall printables for the home. Even though it’s hot and humid outside, I’m ready to pretend it’s already fall. I keep bringing out pumpkins, copper accents, and warm textures, hoping the seasonal feeling will trick the house into … Read more

When we stripped our laundry room to the studs, hanging drywall felt like the default next step. But as we stood in that narrow space measuring for cabinets, it quickly became clear that drywall wasn’t the smartest choice for this particular renovation. In a tight laundry room every fraction of an inch matters. Standard drywall … Read more

A curated selection of beautiful marble coffee tables for every budget, plus our best Facebook Marketplace find yet. This discovery might be one for the record books. Over the years I’ve found many gems on Facebook Marketplace, but the latest additions to our living room—two tables—may have just taken the top spot. After recently cleaning … Read more