How to use one household item to distress plastic, glass, metal, and wood for a weathered Tuscan look in minutes — no sanding required When this blog was brand new (five years ago feels like a bazillion projects ago), one of my first posts introduced a simple distressing trick I’d discovered. At the time I … Read more

We’re nearly finished with this hallway bathroom makeover and the difference is already striking. This post is more of a progress update than a step-by-step tutorial — I’ve shared detailed cabinet-painting tutorials before, so here I’m focusing on what we changed and why it worked for this space. Before we started, the vanity and cabinets … Read more

DIY Typography Signs from Cast-Off Art (Trash to Treasure Tuesday) I didn’t mean to, but I accidentally revisited an old decorating phase for this month’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday project. Each month I team up with four creative blogger friends to upcycle thrifted or yard-sale finds. This time, instead of hunting other people’s cast-offs, I … Read more

A curated collection of cozy winter home decor ideas to refresh rooms in January and keep your space warm and inviting after the holidays. Full disclosure: Robert and I just took our Christmas trees down. Some people prefer to keep holiday decor up through much of January, but for us, taking down Christmas by early … Read more

14 DIY projects and budget decorating ideas to achieve Parisian chic in your home without breaking the bank. Parisian style is more than a place—it’s a mood. It pairs timeless elegance with relaxed simplicity, creating rooms that feel curated yet effortless. Although our home isn’t in France, we’ve introduced Parisian touches across many rooms using … Read more

Hey friends—big news: this year we finally have a real dining room to use for Christmas Eve dinner. It might not sound dramatic, but after a long stretch of projects and unpacking, having a proper place to gather feels like a small miracle. It’s also a reminder to keep perspective—having food and a table to … Read more

All the best road trip essentials for traveling with kids, organizing the car, streamlining packing, plus the ultimate packing checklist. After a tense few weeks (really, it’s been a challenging year for many of us), getting out on the road this summer feels like a breath of fresh air. My husband Robert, the kids, and … Read more

I’ve lost track of how many small updates we’ve made to our living room over the years. It’s been a gradual process—more like adjusting a dimmer than flipping a switch—and that slow evolution has felt right for this house. On the day we moved in eight years ago, we started by repainting the yellow walls … Read more

A DIY pergola assembled in two days and styled like an affordable Serena & Lily–inspired backyard cabana to add shade by the pool. If you’ve ever wanted South Beach–style vibes at your own pool, this DIY poolside cabana is a simple, high-impact way to create that look and function. Technically, we installed a pergola kit … Read more

Have you ever had one of those moments when you thought, “My mom would totally laugh at me for this”? I had one recently. Growing up I was quirky — sketching first-day-of-school outfits, rearranging my room on a whim, and insisting the food on my plate not touch. Those little odd habits stuck with me, … Read more