Home and Haven

Preparing Our Long-Term Rental for the Next Tenants

Those of you who might not know this—I rent out a townhome here in Charlotte. It’s actually the first home I ever bought, back in 2011, when I was single and still fairly new to the city. It was my first big purchase, and I loved that house. I lived there from 2011 until 2023,……
Backyard Makeover: 10 Months of Progress and Still Going!

This backyard has truly been a labor of love—nearly 10 months in the making! After finishing our major interior renovation, we declared 2024 the year of the backyard. Little did we know just how much time (and effort) it would take. While we’re not 100% done, I’m so proud of how far we’ve come. What……
What I’d Do Differently: Reflections Two Years After Our Renovation

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since we wrapped up the major renovation of our 1980s American Colonial. Overall, I’m still so happy with how everything turned out—but now that we’ve lived in the space for a while, a few things stand out that I’d probably do differently if I had the……
DIY Pleated Fabric Lampshade: A Simple Way to Add Color and Pattern to Any Room

I’ve been wanting to bring more color and personality into my kitchen, but I wasn’t quite sure how. A fun new light fixture crossed my mind—but instead of buying something new, I decided to get creative with what I already had. With a little fabric, some hot glue, and a dash of creativity, I transformed……
DIY Painted Checkered Porch Floor: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let me start by saying—this project takes a lot of patience. But trust me, it is so worth it. I’m completely in love with how it turned out! Originally, I dreamed of adding checkered pavers to our back patio, but with the size of that space, it just wasn’t in the budget. So, when it……
DIY Planter Light Post – A Charming Patio Upgrade

Ever since we put in the new patio I’ve been dreaming of hanging string lights to give it that cozy, magical vibe. But once I measured the space (a full 30 feet wide!), I realized it wasn’t going to work without adding multiple support posts. Rather than overcomplicating things, we decided to pivot — and……