I used to think my garden needed a complete makeover before it could look inviting. New furniture, expensive planters, pretty lighting… the whole list. Then one weekend I moved a few old pots around, hung some little lights along the fence, and painted a couple of tired-looking containers. It was such a small change, but … Read more
I used to think a small kitchen was mostly a problem of not having enough space. Then I spent more time actually using one, and I realized the real issue was usually how the space was being used. A counter that disappears under appliances. One awkward cabinet where nothing seems to fit properly. A drawer … Read more
I used to think a driveway was one of those parts of a house you simply had to live with. It got you from the street to the garage, gave the car somewhere to sit, and that was about it. Then I started paying attention to the entrances of homes I passed on walks and … Read more
There’s something about fall that makes me want to make everything around me feel a little cosier. Even my phone. A few years ago, I remember changing my wallpaper on a random October evening because my usual bright background suddenly felt completely wrong. I wanted something warmer. Something that looked like chunky sweaters, cinnamon, old … Read more
Every year, I tell myself I’m going to keep fall decorating simple. And every year, I somehow end up standing on my porch with a basket of faux pumpkins, a bundle of dried leaves, two different wreaths, and absolutely no idea where I’m going to put everything. There’s just something about decorating the front door … Read more
The first year I decorated my window boxes for fall, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I remember standing outside with a couple of tired-looking mums, a few mini pumpkins, and a bag of potting soil, wondering how people managed to make their window boxes look so effortlessly beautiful. Mine looked more … Read more
Every year, I tell myself I’m going to keep my fall porch simple. Then I see a basket of mums. Then a few tiny pumpkins. Then some dried leaves at the garden center that I absolutely did not need. And somehow, a quick trip for “just one plant” turns into me standing on the porch … Read more
Every year, I tell myself I’ll keep my fall decorating simple. And every year, I end up standing outside with a cup of coffee, moving pumpkins around for the hundredth time and wondering why one side of the porch suddenly looks heavier than the other. That’s the funny thing about fall decorating. A few mums, … Read more
The first time I really understood the importance of privacy around a hot tub, I was sitting in one on a perfectly quiet evening, trying very hard to relax. The water was warm, there were a few little lights glowing around the patio, and everything should have felt peaceful. Then I looked up and realized … Read more
I used to think growing herbs required a proper garden. You know, a little patch of sunny soil, a few nice terracotta pots, and enough room to walk around without knocking something over. Then I started growing herbs on a tiny balcony. It wasn’t exactly a garden. There was one narrow railing, a couple of … Read more