A shift in pace, a return to living

April feels like movement.

Not the rushed kind, but the kind that builds. The kind that comes from finally being able to see what’s ahead. Windows open. Light lingers longer. Spaces start to feel lived in again.

If March was about stirring things awake, April is where things begin to take shape.

In design, this is the moment we start layering back in—texture, color, personality.

Continue reading Between Seasons: The April Edit

St. Patty’s Day always has a way of putting Ireland on my mind—but this year it stuck a little longer.

I’ve never been, but it’s one of those places I’ve always imagined in a very specific way. Rolling green landscapes, stone cottages tucked into the hills, the coast just slightly rugged and windswept.

So, I started pulling together what that could look like through our lens. In a cliffside cottage in Galway type of vibe—something that feels rooted in the architecture and history, but still refined enough to live in today.

Continue reading If I Could Design a Cottage in Ireland

There’s something about a deadline that makes decisions happen.

My parents are coming to visit in April, and suddenly these upstairs bedrooms that have been sitting in limbo feel … urgent. Not in a stressful way, but in that motivating, okay let’s finally finish this kind of way.

So, here we are: painting the upstairs floors.

I know, I know. Everyone says: “Don’t paint wood floors.”

And, I get it — in theory, I agree.

Continue reading A Case for Painted Wood Floors

Tetherow Timber House | Bend, Oregon

Overview

Not every kitchen needs to be gutted to feel brand new.

At our Tetherow Timber House project in Bend, Oregon, our clients (who use this as their vacation home) loved the layout, the bones, and the overall architecture of the space. What wasn’t working? The heaviness.

The original cabinetry was a very dark mahogany with large knots throughout.

Continue reading How We Updated This Kitchen Without Replacing Cabinets

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! It feels impossible to ignore green in March.

Everywhere you look right now it’s shamrocks, clovers, emerald everything. Even if you’re not fully leaning into the festivities, there’s something fun about letting the season influence you a little. I’m actually writing this on St. Patrick’s Day, so it felt like the perfect excuse to treat today as a small creative exercise: a study in green.

Why Green Always Hits This Time of Year

Green feels especially good in March because we’re all craving it.

Continue reading A Study in Green

en The Fireplace: Before & After
When the Plan Changes … And It’s Better Because of It

This fireplace was never supposed to be the star of the room.

In fact, when we first started renovating 6th Street, our plan was simple: update the surface, modernize the surround, move on. But, as with most old homes, the second you start peeling back layers … you realize the house has its own opinion.

Continue reading What We Learned When Restoring Our Original Brick Fireplace

A Closer Look at Designer for a Day

If you’re feeling overwhelmed … this post is for you.

You’re the one with 27 tabs open. The one who ordered samples and now somehow likes none of them. The one whose contractor is asking questions you thought you’d have figured out by now.

You don’t necessarily need full-service design. But, you also don’t want to make a decision you’ll regret (and pay for twice).

Continue reading Are You Stuck in Decision Fatigue? If so, “Designer for a Day” is For You

There was a time when this stretch of the year meant full spring break mode — coordinating school calendars, trying to pack up the kids, and trying to squeeze in a little rest somewhere between it all. Those were the years of busy suitcases and even busier itineraries.

Now, as empty nesters, it usually looks a little different. Most often it’s just Derrick and me, and honestly, we’ve grown to love our staycations.

Continue reading The Vacation Trends We’d Pack Right Now

How’d February Go?

February always feels like a blink. Short, moody, a little sleepy — and that’s the mindset — at least for us. I feel like we were just easing into the year and suddenly we’re staring at March!

So, I have to ask: how did February actually go for you? With Lunar New Year marking the transition from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse, there’s something symbolic about shedding old patterns and stepping into momentum.

Continue reading The March Edit: A Mindset

The One Downside of The Sixth Street Bungalow …

So, one downside of this house is the way it sits on the lot.

We’re on a corner (which I usually love) but this one sits really close to the actual “corner” portion of the lot. That means we get more traffic noise along one side than we’d prefer.

But, here’s the silver lining …

Because the house sits close to that side of the lot, we have a very large side yard.

Continue reading Framing Your Home: Fence & Garden Design Ideas