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The Weekender: Do Big Risks = Big Payoff?

Featured image of Jean Stoffer Design’s Ada Modern Classic Home, photographed by Stoffer Photography.

left: @ispydiy | right: @carpendaughter

Bigger Risk, Bigger Payoff?

In Stories this week, I talked about taking risks. Specifically, the bigger the risk, the bigger the payoff, right? Scott and I have started the process of choosing interior paint colors(!), and we quickly realized that we had different-ish ideas for what we’d been envisioning all along. While we both know we want to do contrast trim (Jenni and Whitney, above, have been a big source of inspiration!), I had a thought. What if we did a softer, neutral trim color throughout all of Unit 1, but then we do something totally different for the dining room?

The dining room is arguably the heart of Unit 1 – it’s centrally located, full of charm (my hutch!) and can be seen from the living room and kitchen – and isn’t that an opportunity for something a little… unexpected? Some drama?

dining room, looking into living room (pre-millwork)

We want to add a wall paneling treatment to the dining room, similar to our pink bathroom (just… not pink, haha). So while the rest of the home may have greige baseboards and door moldings, what if the dining room paneling (including baseboards, door + window trim and hutch) has something with oomph! Oh, and wallpaper. I’m all about wallpaper above the paneling.

dining room, view from kitchen (millwork installed)

A risk, for sure. But a good one with an even bigger payoff, I think. What do you think? Are you Team Risk?

Other Things This Week:

After going through a free sample in a few days and immediately experiencing withdrawals, I treated myself to a full-sized bottle of this perfume. It’s absolutely dreamy. Happy early Mother’s Day to me!

Nordstrom is having a massive 50% off sale, and I fell down a rabbit hole of home goods. Here are the things that caught my eye:


As the weather (tries) to warm up, we’re turning our attention towards our outdoor gardens and making a mental note of what we’d like to add and what’s not doing so well. We’ve noticed a spike in outdoor DIYs, greenery and planter round-ups, so I’m sharing a few of our favorites below! Click on the image to take you to the full post.

Greenery + Outdoors


An organized workshop using Gladiator GearWall from Lowe's | via Yellow Brick Home

And because so many of us are in the do-it-yourself spirit lately, here’s our tried and true list of 53 tools to build your DIY library! We believe in buying quality tools the first time, so we’ve created a 3 stage system to set you up for success – whether you rent or own. (#38 is basically an extension of our right hand, and I can no longer imagine a life without a set of #43. It’s strange how often I’m reaching for them!)

The moment Lucy goes to bed, Scott and I become kids again. Oh, the nostalgia! (Dr. Mario forever.)

Obsessed with this toy shop. A mini New York! Build your own home! Chop your own veggies!

Fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra joined forces with Etsy, and my brain exploded. You can see the full collection right here (run!), but I think my favorite items are this dog bed and these candlesticks. (Almost all of the stoneware has completely sold out!)

Weekend Sales!

Have a great weekend! We’ll be finalizing the Two Flat’s color scheme, because exterior painting begins on Monday. Monday! As in, 3 days from now. As in, oh my gosh, this will be the most drastic change our Two Flat has ever seen. Thank you for all of your input yesterday, love you all!

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  • Susan5.1.20 - 8:59 AM

    If the 2 flat was going to be your home, I’d say go for it with dining room. If it’s a rental, you may narrow the field of who would love it.  They may say, great spot great house, I guess I can just live with a dining room I don’t love. Or they may say, this is the BOMB we need to rent it right now. Or some middle response. But while I love wall paper and even dramatic rooms, I’d have to know my things and my taste could live with someone else’s specific choices. Unless you can charge more rent for the well designed  space, not sure what the pay off is? Selfishly I do want to see it though! :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim5.1.20 - 10:44 AM

      Haha, all those thoughts have gone through our heads too! In the end, we decided that a well designed space is a diamond in a sea of ‘same old’, and we think people appreciate that. It’s funny, because we were so sure no one would rent our condo because of the bold paint colors and wallpaper… but in reality, we had more applications than we knew what to do with! We felt very lucky. Time will tell.ReplyCancel

      • Susan5.3.20 - 9:45 AM

        It helps that you 2 have impeccable taste. In the hands of the average person, it would not be the same outcome. And I agree whole heartedly that a sea of sameness when trying to find a rental can be super discouraging.ReplyCancel

        • Kim5.3.20 - 12:49 PM

          So sweet, Susan, thank you for the encouragement!ReplyCancel

  • Hannah Gokie5.1.20 - 9:54 AM

    Team risk!!! I’m drooling thinking of that dining room with a bold color and wallpaper. Would 100% make it stand out. ReplyCancel

  • Halle5.1.20 - 1:40 PM

    Ooh, I think I’m team risk-averse. We did a chest-high white board and batten treatment with hunter green paint above in a powder room and I LOVE it, but I don’t think I would like it in a larger space. I’m also pretty anti-wallpaper since having to strip so much of it in our renovation. Either way, you guys will make it look beautiful!ReplyCancel

    • Kim5.1.20 - 1:58 PM

      Interesting to see the other side! Thanks for chiming in. ☺️ReplyCancel

  • Kara5.1.20 - 3:53 PM

    I’m *almost* always Team Risk!!  We redid our kitchen last year and made some safer choices. Now I love cooking in a new kitchen but I absolutely regret not going for it 100%ReplyCancel

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