This Miami backyard — nestled right in the heart of the city — is a modern oasis with multiple seating areas, a fire pit, a pool, and lots of lush greenery, but it wasn’t always. Homeowners Anna Anisin and Mitchell Hesse fell in love with their home because of the huge yard, where they hoped to entertain friends and family and even host local industry dinners, but it was in need of updating.
This Miami backyard — nestled right in the heart of the city — is a modern oasis with multiple seating areas, a fire pit, a pool, and lots of lush greenery, but it wasn’t always. Homeowners Anna Anisin and Mitchell Hesse fell in love with their home because of the huge yard, where they hoped to entertain friends and family and even host local industry dinners, but it was in need of updating.
It was the land that first drew Erin and Nathan to this property and this week it’s time to landscape it to its full potential! While the mature gardens and a bonus tennis court were already in good shape, the pool area and cabana needed a refresh. Inside the home, we’re making over the family loun
For a recent bathroom project, we discovered that the very affordable denim blue ceramic tile we had picked out for the walls was no longer available due to the factory having recently closed in Spain. This set me off on the hunt for replacement tile that was on budget, available immediately, and hand-glazed. I crowd-sourced…Continue reading ➞ Affordable Ceramic Tile (That look expensive!)
Those of you who have been long-time followers are probably aware that this is the second time we’re refreshing our main floor bathroom. Let me take you through the journey of this bathroom. When we moved in, this bathroom was a buttery yellow and white scheme with black and white tile. One of our very…Continue reading ➞ The Main Floor Bathroom Renovation: Layout
If you’re new around here, three years ago my husband and I purchased our first house: a 1940’s Colonial located in a very cute coastal Connecticut town. We’ve been tackling remodeling the house room by room, where we’re always looking for ways to add equal parts function and character into our house. Don’t forget to…Continue reading ➞ One Room Challenge – Fall 2019 – The Kitchen Reveal
One of the defining features of our most recent bathroom renovation is the combination of beautiful handmade coloured ceramic tile from Fireclay paired with a complimentary wallpaper. It’s a timeless combination that brings a lot of drama and interest to a space, and also feels incredibly elevated. I dove into my assortment of Fireclay samples…Continue reading ➞ Wallpaper and tile combinations that pair beautifully for a bathroom
If you’re new around here, three years ago my husband and I purchased our first house: a 1940’s Colonial located in a very cute coastal Connecticut town. We’ve been tackling remodeling the house room by room, where we’re always looking for ways to add equal parts function and character into our house. Don’t forget to…Continue reading ➞ One Room Challenge – Fall 2019 – The Kitchen Reveal
This post has been a LOOOOOOONG time coming, as we finished this project in March, but then COVID/ pregnancy/ childbirth and, you get it, I just had not found the time to shoot it. I still haven’t (properly with a
We’re going to be tackling renovating our kitchen this summer, so I’m deep in the research phase right now and am trying to learn as much as possible about how to design a super functional, beautiful, and on-budget kitchen. A few weeks ago, I asked on Instagram about what you all had learned from past…Continue reading ➞ Kitchen Regrets
We’re going to be tackling renovating our kitchen this summer, so I’m deep in the research phase right now and am trying to learn as much as possible about how to design a super functional, beautiful, and on-budget kitchen. A few weeks ago, I asked on Instagram about what you all had learned from past…Continue reading ➞ Kitchen Regrets
2x8 Tile in leafy green Rosemary sets the stage for a tree-themed motif for designer Erin Kestenbaum’s Connecticut guest bathroom.
Want to embark on a renovation project but don't think you have the experience? Neither did Erin Hiemstra, founder of design website Apt 34. Now she's an interior design expert.
Blog for Carla Bast Design, an award-winning entrepreneur and interior designer that creates custom, livable spaces in Minneapolis
Solutions to Transform Your 90s oak-filled home. How to work with your honey oak cabinets and trim. Are you living in a sea of oak?
If you’re new around here, three years ago my husband and I purchased our first house: a 1940’s Colonial located in a very cute coastal Connecticut town. We’ve been tackling remodeling the house room by room, where we’re always looking for ways to add equal parts function and character into our house. Don’t forget to…Continue reading ➞ One Room Challenge – Fall 2019 – The Kitchen Reveal
Over the course of six months, we managed to tackle two complete bathroom remodels from the studs up, and I wanted to share some of our biggest learnings, since these were our first two bathroom renos ever and we learned a lot. These lessons apply if you’re tackling the work yourself, or if you’re hiring it…Continue reading ➞ 20 lessons from renovating two bathrooms in six months
Here are some tips and tricks for how to tell if wood furniture is real or fake.
Ben and Erin Napier's friend Kendall decided to leave her home in the country, and move to Laurel, Mississippi after the tragic death of her husband, where she could be closer to friends and family. The Napiers helped Kendall find the perfect 1940s Craftsman home, and restored to its former glory.
I’ve never had a more requested blog topic before. Like many of you, I wasn’t totally sure how much a kitchen renovation would cost before we 100% wrapped this one up, so I understand the curiosity. My husband and I were chatting about this recently, and I think we figured out why there’s so little…Continue reading ➞ How much did our kitchen cost?
The master bathroom renovation has been a journey to say the least. Demo began on June 28and the bathroom interior was complete yesterday, October 9, when the shower glass was installed, though that hasn’t stopped us from loving using it since the day the plumbing fixtures went in a couple weeks ago. We’ve wanted a separate tub and walk-in shower for so long, I guess since Ben destroyed his ankle...
I’m pretty proud of this little project! I have no idea if we did it the perfect way, but it seemed to turn out rather well! As usual, I’m not claiming to be any kind of expert. Just pr…
Only have 24 hours to spend in Laurel and Jones County, Mississippi? Here's your guide for a day trip in the New State of Jones.
Way back in May I wrote the last blog post about our main floor bathroom reno. Like all things in 2020, this project took far longer than we anticipated, but, good things are worth waiting for, right?? So, let’s talk through the project and get into those satisfying after photos. To bring you up to…Continue reading ➞ The Main Floor Bathroom Reveal
Here’s what she would use instead.
At long last, Erin has the kitchen of her dreams — and she’s bringing us on a walk-through of what it took to get there.
Australia's most fabulous renovators reveal their secrets! The Three Birds are best friends and busy mums who ditched their corporate careers to renovate houses, now with massive instagram and youtube followings for their design and reno techniques. Holy reno inspo! Before & aftersStyling how-to'sMoney-saving reno tips'Australia's most fabulous renovators' Real Living magazineWhen best friends Erin, Bonnie and Lana ditched their corporate careers to start Three Birds Renovations, they were rookie renovators with big ideas. Today, with many incredible house transformations under their toolbelt, they're a power trio turning neighbourhood ugly ducklings into swans.If you lust over images of beautiful homes but feel stuck when it comes to your own space, these 'birds' have your back. The book is packed with gorgeous details from their projects, friendly words of encouragement and more than 400 reno tips to help you avoid budget blow-outs, manage trades and timelines, and style without stress. Whether you're starting small or going all-in with a whole-home reno, this is destined to become one of the most useful books you own.Turn your reno dreams into reality!
If you’re new around here, three years ago my husband and I purchased our first house: a 1940’s Colonial located in a very cute coastal Connecticut town. We’ve been tackling remodeling the house room by room, where we’re always looking for ways to add equal parts function and character into our house. Don’t forget to…Continue reading ➞ One Room Challenge – Fall 2019 – The Kitchen Reveal
This is a quick and very easy rust solution that will take metal from shiny and new, to old rusty and beautiful within minutes.
Explore our collection of brochures for tips and trends to inspire your next home improvement project, or to read listings of our products.
See how Ben and Erin Napier transformed a $165,000 heritage home, and made it a place where her family can gather for many more years to come.
I can’t believe that week three is already here, this challenge is flying by! If you’ve just hopped over from the One Room Challenge Website, welcome! I’m so glad you are here! You can catch up on our One Room Challenge project here: Week1 /Week 2 This Week’s Progress This week was all about the
If you’re new around here, three years ago my husband and I purchased our first house: a 1940’s Colonial located in a very cute coastal Connecticut town. We’ve been tackling remodeling the house room by room, where we’re always looking for ways to add equal parts function and character into our house. Don’t forget to…Continue reading ➞ One Room Challenge – Fall 2019 – The Kitchen Reveal