Raised Washer and Dryer: The Genius Hack No One Tells You About!

Today we're sharing all about our clever raised washer and dryer setup! Remember this old laundry room? With the worst washer and dryer layout ever? You're all, "How could I forget? It's burned into my memory now, Jess." Well, prepare to breathe a sigh of sweet relief with me, because that old laundry passage is no more. Our finished mudroom is functional and beautiful. Just the way I like it! Look at it now! It's…

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Summer Living in Austria! (a.k.a. I Blame Too Much Sound of Music)

"I could live here!" That's younger Jess talking circa 2006 while driving through Tyrol (western Austria) with Matt. But let's back up... My first trip through Austria was in 2001 with a friend from Oxford (we're still good friends to this day! she and her husband even visited us while we lived in New Zealand). I then took another friend back to Austria the following year after we visited her friends in Munich (if you're…

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Under Sink Trash: Avoid This Everywhere From Kitchen Drawers to Bathroom Cabinets!

Wondering if you should have the traditional under sink trash can—or upgrade to a placement that saves you time, money and pain? We’re helping you figure it out today! Putting your trash can under your sink is like peanut butter and jelly to some people. If you have one, you have to have the other! For years, garbage cans under the sink have bugged me, wigging out my Ergonomic-o-Meter.😆 Why? Let’s look at the answers…

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A Breath of Fresh Air: Why We Designed Our Kitchen Island WITHOUT Pendant Lighting!

Wondering if a kitchen island WITHOUT pendant lighting is for you? Or will it look "weird"? See what we did + several of our client kitchens designed WITHOUT pendant lights too! :) One of the most unorthodox moves we made in our kitchen renovation was (aside from our double islands, which all contractors assured me was "weird" but we all can see who's laughing now and her name starts with a J) to do our…

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Blast! Northern Italy Lures Us Back Into Its Web of Wine, Warmth and Watercraft! :)

Blast it all, Italy. Just when we thought we were too "mature" and "well-traveled" to find you at all interesting anymore... ...you raised an eyebrow and showed us why you’ve still got it!😆 Having traveled through Italy three or four times, I figured we were “over it.” This 5th was supposed to only be because we had to pick up our car lease in Milan. (Much less expensive than renting a car for several months,…

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Backyard Kitchen: 5 Genius Must-haves You’ll Kick Yourself for Forgetting!

Don't let yourself get distracted by all the fancy ideas you can include in a backyard kitchen! Focus on these 5 basics first—and then you can add on with the bonus options if you can! Today we're sharing the 5 must-have elements for all outdoor kitchens, plus 5 bonus elements! When we did a total overhaul of our backyard, adding a backyard kitchen was on The List! But did we really need one? And we…

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What Is a Drop Zone In a House? (15+ Genius Tips for Your Home Entry & Exit!)

Wondering what is a drop zone in a house, whether you need one and how to create it? You're in the right place! :) Matt and I specialize in designing drop zones of ALL kinds! Everyone needs a designated drop zone!  Yes, EVERYONE! Why? Because we all go into our homes (and leave it) carrying ITEMS! Items we bring in. Items we need to take out with us. Items we forget we need to take…

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Murphy Bed Cabinet: The Genius Space-saving Hack for Your Guest Room!

Today we're sharing how and why we utilized a queen murphy bed cabinet in our multi-purpose room, how it works, & how it gives us a 3-in-1 "guest room"! Our house has four bedrooms—three upstairs (plus one large bonus room we've often toyed with remodeling into another bedroom or two) and one downstairs. The prior owners used this downstairs bedroom as an office. We've also seen neighbors with the same layout use this room as…

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Living in the Scottish Highlands for 3 Months (Almost Unintentionally)!

How’d we end up living in the Scottish Highlands for 3 months? Long story short: we needed to be in the UK for 3 months, so... ...we considered splitting it 1 month in England, 1 month in Scotland, 1 month in Ireland...or something like that. However, there’s something to be said for picking one country and really enjoying it! (Also, especially while you're working full-time remotely AND you're living with kids, not having to move…

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Seville, Spain: Here’s the #1 (Only) Thing You Need to Do!

Before I got married and had kids and became the pillar of maturity I am today…😉 (mwahaha) …living in Sevilla was one of my favorite life experiences! Note: I used the English name “Seville” in the title so English-speakers searching online will find it. However—just like when you have a good friend who introduced himself as “Juan”, you wouldn’t start calling him “John”—the rest of the time I will be referring to my friend Sevilla…

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