It’s almost unbelievable how different life felt just two weeks ago. We managed a brief family escape to Georgia right before everything changed, and we spent that weekend in a stunning Airbnb coastal house on Sea Island. The house felt like the perfect backdrop for slow mornings, long walks, and tiny adventures with the kids. … Read more

Dark, dated guest bedroom transformed into a cottage-style retreat in serene blues using Craigslist finds and budget-friendly updates Three months ago this guest bedroom felt tired and dated. A fresh coat of paint, thrifted furniture makeovers, and a few thoughtful updates turned it into a calm, cottage-inspired space that’s welcoming for guests and practical for … Read more

Last December we were knee-deep in finishing our media room makeover, so we didn’t fully decorate the whole house for Christmas. We put up one tree in the living room filled with the kids’ homemade school ornaments — which was still lovely — and left the rest intentionally simple. That pared-back approach taught us to … Read more

A round-up of the 16 most realistic Christmas trees for every budget and decorating style. If you’re hunting for a fake Christmas tree that actually looks like the real thing, consider this your research lab. I’ve tested, compared, and returned plenty of artificial trees so you don’t have to. This guide highlights realistic options across … Read more

Our home gym design mood board, plans, and demo in our pool shed to turn it into a workout room. We’ve officially started the transformation of our pool shed into a compact home gym—demolition is complete and the design process is underway. If you missed last week’s post, I shared a roundup of inspiring workout … Read more

DIY Faux Fireplace: How We Built a Custom Hearth on a Budget When we began choosing upgrades for our new suburban home, a fireplace was at the very top of my wish list. I didn’t even care if it was functional — I just wanted the look and the feeling of a mantel to hang … Read more

On October 4 at 11:53 a.m., Regan Emma Laine Shaver arrived, weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 18 1/4 inches long. (Photos by Alisha Rudd Photography) The moment I first saw her face I was overcome with love. It immediately took me back to meeting her sister six years earlier — they look so … Read more

You know those small projects that nag at you for months or years—kept on the back burner because they’re literally up above your head? That was our attic door during our first year in this house. Here’s how it looked before. (Ignore the painter’s tape in the after photos—we were still finishing the trim.) Now … Read more

A hands-on comparison of the best gold spray paints, ranked from best to worst and evaluated against real brass and gold hardware to help with your next painting project. When my reliable go-to gold spray paint became hard to find, I began testing alternatives to find the most convincing metallic finish for metal hardware—door knobs, … Read more

Nursery organization strategies to keep feeding, clothing, and diapering essentials easy to navigate and make baby care less stressful. If you’ve been following along with the nursery makeover, this is the practical, behind-the-scenes look at how I organized the space to make daily baby care simple and calm. There were so many DIY projects and … Read more