Welcome to Week 1 of the One Room Challenge! The one room challenge this spring lasts for 8 weeks this time - it’s usually 6 weeks, but it has been delayed and concessions made to lengthen it because of the current pandemic crisis. If you are…
Read MoreMother's Day Gift Ideas
It is only a week until Mother’s Day…wow! That kind of snuck up on us didn’t it! And it’s a challenge this year with the added difficulty of shopping while sheltering in place. So, here are some perfect solutions you can order right from your armchair!
Read MoreOne Room Challenge Spring 2020 Kickoff!
Welcome to the Spring 2020 One Room Challenge! Today marks the official beginning of this biannual challenge and we are ready to take it on!…
Read MoreHearty Vegetable Soup Recipe
Spring in New England can be damp and grey, perfect weather for a vegetable soup. This recipe is also incredibly healthy, which is a desirable thing when summer clothing weather is on the horizon - no more hiding under the layers of winter.
Read MoreHow to Plan a Kitchen Remodel: A case study Part 1
We’ve all been spending WAY more time at home than we planned. Undoubtedly, like me, you have been frustrated by some aspect of your home…and unless you have remodeled or built it recently, that aspect is probably your kitchen…you know, the room from which ALL the members of your household are trying to extract 3 meals a day and satisfy an assortment of eating binges? The place where your freshly sanitized and hard-won groceries are disappearing at an alarming rate? Right. THAT room.
Read MoreSimple Joys: Tea or Coffee from a China Cup
I am beginning a new regular series today called Simple Joys all about incorporating simple things to elevate the everyday. The art of living well is not about having endless money or access to the best of the best. It is about living with intention and attention to the details of life. It is about taking the ordinary things of life and making them into something more extraordinary - something that brings joy. And this, I believe, is the essence of living graciously…
Read MoreSmall Decor Changes with BIG Impact
The most satisfying home projects are ones that can be accomplished relatively quickly and that make a big difference when they are done! In the face of uncertainty and change, especially, creating a home that is a safe and welcoming haven is SO important! Here are some ideas for small changes with big impact to create a welcoming feel…
Read MoreThe Spring One Room Challenge Bedroom Makeover
Hi All! Just a quick update on the Spring One Room Challenge…which was supposed to begin at the start of April. Given the unprecedented state of the world, the Nation-wide One Room Challenge (ORC for short) has been rescheduled tentatively for a May 7th start date. And while that means official blog posts won’t begin until then, all the participants got an email saying to go ahead and start at any time and work on it at whatever pace worked for you…
Read MorePaint Project Ideas
Painting is a relatively achievable DIY project, and a very rewarding one since paint can make a big impact for a relatively small investment when you are doing the painting yourself. If you are at home and looking for ways to spend some unexpected spare time productively, here are a few project ideas using novelty paint products that might be worth considering…
Read MoreWorking From Home
Working from home isn’t easy if you have a houseful and especially if are not set up with a private office…yet. You might be working from the sofa or the dining table, or an emergency setup in your bedroom….Having a few things that streamline the essentials is key to making this temporary solution work…
Read MoreMuesli Cereal Recipe
For a healthier, tastier, prettier (?!), option for breakfast, try making your own custom brew…of cereal that is! Muesli lends itself to this and could even be a fun recipe activity for the whole family! Today, my daughter Jenna (AKA The Diva) is guest posting about her favorite “breakfast of champions”…
Read MoreDesigning a Room with a Fireplace AND a TV
A really common design dilemma is what to do with the TV in a room that also has a fireplace. There are usually only two options: 1. Over the fireplace or 2. Somewhere else!
This question was posed in a recent virtual email mini consultation we did for a reader. Here is the backstory for what she was debating…
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