Has your patio seen better days? The weather can be brutal on our outdoor spaces, and my sister Elizabeth’s patio was in need of a little decorating magic. So, I’m sharing some easy decorating ideas for creating beachy blue vibes along with before and after photos of her patio refresh. … Continue Reading →
William made me this birthday card. Which room is the happiest? Here I am, dressed for my Birthday dinner: The two Snowflowering trees in my backyard are so special because they ALWAYS bloom on my birthday and the blooms are very short. Two weeks and it’s over! They started blooming… Continue Reading →
When budgeting for a home improvement project, hiring an experienced designer or trade will simply help you do it right the first time and save you so much money in the end. Here’s how we are trying to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish with my Mom’s sunroom project…. Continue Reading →
An all white flower garden is a perfect way to brighten up any garden or yard space. I planted over 500 white tulips and they are now in full bloom. See how I coordinate other white blooms in my garden design. One of the biggest reasons why we live over… Continue Reading →
When you’re stuck at home, spending time outdoors can be like a mini retreat. Before all this, you may have taken your patio for granted… and now that Spring has arrived, you may be finding ways to enjoy it a little more this season. This year I couldn’t wait to… Continue Reading →
I didn’t always know how to wear colour. Find out why I no longer wear beige and what I’ve learned from hiring fashion stylists. In the beginning of March, I was feeling tired, at a loss for ideas for the blog. I left town THE DAY BEFORE self isolation was… Continue Reading →
About 10 days ago, literally the day all the social distancing was announced, my Mom and I were on a plane to Cancun where for 7 days we were an a (warm) bubble while we watched everything go down from the beach. We were on one of the last planes… Continue Reading →
elearning industry In the recent mastermind group Terreeia and I joined, we learned that all education in the future will be online. I think it’s a stretch but suppose it makes sense given everything seems to be going that way. I met someone recently who teaches a university course and… Continue Reading →
My sister Elizabeth and her family have lived in their current house for almost 10 years. The first update in the kitchen happened in 2012. We replaced the Travertine backsplash with cream subway tile (below). That made a big difference! Then, two years ago (at the same time I was… Continue Reading →
Maria Killam, Lea Junttila, Elizabeth Jacobs My sister Elizabeth, Lea and I are slightly obsessed with coats. This season it got so out of control I had to share it with you! In my defense, we live in a mild but yet chilly climate (same as Seattle weather), so I’m always… Continue Reading →
Last year I bought a fake green tree so I could decorate in November instead of waiting until the beginning of December for a real one. The previous three years I had real flocked trees and last year I really missed the white tree because I love how it highlights… Continue Reading →
Maria Killam in 2008 (at a paint store where my system began) Eleven years ago on Halloween 2008 I started writing this blog. I’m always a little annoyed that my anniversary is on a date that is far from my favourite. I have no stomach for horror movies or anything… Continue Reading →
Can you see the happy smile in the cobwebs? (I don’t like horror at all so I’m not surprised I would accidentally create a happy face, haha) My nephew Markus’ 10th birthday is in October. This year he decided he wanted a Halloween themed birthday party and since I was… Continue Reading →
During my 2 1/2 week visit to Finland with my Mom, we visited a lot of friends and relatives and saw a lot of kitchens during that time. Not a single kitchen had an island. Every single one had a friendly dining room right in the middle of the kitchen…. Continue Reading →
Maria and Elizabeth It’s my sister Elizabeth’s birthday today (July 3)! You’ll know her well if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, because not only is she one of my best friends so she gets mentioned a lot, but we’re always working on decorating projects around her house…. Continue Reading →
This photo was taken at 10:00 pm in Finland by my mom who’s already there. Last summer and now again this summer we have ended up on an epic trip to Europe. Last year we had a three week trip to the Amalfi Coast planned and then Terreeia generously invited… Continue Reading →
