Can you believe that September has already come and gone? This time of year is my absolute favorite and we've been busy finishing up house projects (the mudroom is officially checked off the 2024 project list!) and launching two new product lines! It was such a surreal moment to see our wallpaper designs on the shelves at Lowes […]
I recently got a question from a commenter who asked me how I entertain at home to make guests feel at ease. This question came at a great time since fall can be a natural hosting season from watch parties (there's football...or The Bach) to Thanksgiving. The truth is — Chris and I really *enjoy* […]
This year has been the (slightly unexpected) year of our exterior renovation! And, honestly, the house has never felt more us. All the renovations we've done to our "Modern Colonial" North Carolina home feel like they represent the elements that I loved so much about our last house in Idaho. There's this moody exterior with […]
I'm even more excited to share today's recipe with you because it's more than just a dessert—it inspired a lip balm flavor! That's right, we just launched a collaboration with our friends at Poppy & Pout based on three fall desserts that I developed just for you. We love Poppy & Pout because they're just […]
Everyone gets excited to decorate for fall (same!) but an often overlooked element of decorating is how a home smells. Scent is such a powerful tool in making your home feel warm, welcoming, and seasonal. When I think about fall scents I definitely want some spicy or woodsy notes in there like cardamom, amber and […]
For the past few years we've had a set of vintage chairs in our dining room and I really do love them... at least I love how they look. But to be honest, they are really uncomfortable to sit in for long periods of time. We love to host dinner parties and game nights and […]
Shop The CLJ x Poppy & Pout Trio Today is the day!! You can shop our limited edition collaboration of lip balms with Poppy & Pout! Each set, comes with three 100% natural, clear balms inspired by where you live AND actual Chris Cooks recipes developed for each!! Every detail is dripping with the signature […]
Our mudroom renovation has been quite the journey... a year-long journey to be exact! One of the factors making this a more complex (and lengthy) project was that it involved significant changes to both the interior and the exterior of the space (if you remember, this was a laundry room before!). After adding an exterior […]
I'm straying a bit from our typical gluten and dairy-free theme this week, sharing one of the things I make my two daughters who don't have food restrictions. Everyone loves a good mac and cheese, but something I struggle with the number of commonplace foods that are just differently shaped combinations of grain and dairy. […]
The lady jacket isn't exactly a new concept (think Jackie O.) but it's certainly having a moment this fall! Lady jackets come in all different styles (see below!) but typically they have a crew neckline, a slightly cropped length, and focal point buttons. Some are heavier like an actual jacket and some are more lighter-weight […]
Buying a house or moving into a rental is a really big life event that can have a lot of stress surrounding it. It's also a really big accomplishment. It can sometimes be months if not longer before you feel settled enough to have people over. But even before they're ready for guests, I think […]
This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. If there are rainy seasons in North Carolina, it's usually the summer and winter. Summer is drenching thunderstorms and winter is just a steady drizzle on and off every other week. A coir, fabric or jute doormat is great if you want to show […]
We're finalizing the exterior hardscaping around the mudroom and one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was the meter box. It's that pale grey color and against the red brick, it was just too loud. So I decided to spray-paint it, and the payoff was immediate! There's really only one portion that you […]
Bowls (similar) | Platter | Copper Candlestick (similar) | Taper Candles | Wooden Serving Utensils | Plaid Tablecloth (similar) Late summer hits, and it's like the world collectively moves on to fall. But there is still an abundance of tomatoes and bright greens at the market. And it's actually the perfect time of year to […]
There are two types of boots I'm seeing everywhere this season that create two very different silhouettes for your favorite outfits. One is a very slender boot, often with a pointed toe. Because jeans are getting wider (hello to my new favorite pair), it's great to have a slim boot that you can zip up […]
I tend to go for a traditional, elegant, and spooky approach to Halloween decor rather than a cutesy vibe. I want it to feel like my house is really abandoned!! Imagine if my home had been left untouched for 150 years...that's the look I'm going for. We're talking cobwebs, spiders, bats, ugly pumpkins with warts, […]
Every year, I love to revisit my favorite fall candles—I keep a lot in storage if we haven't burned through them yet. Bringing out those tried-and-true candles always evokes scent memories. Like a game night we had with some dear friends last year. Or the backdrop to an amazing fall dinner that Chris whipped up […]
Faux Oak Branch | Vase | Serving Bowl | Candle | Dining Table | Chairs (vintage) (similar) | Wallpaper | Gallery Wall | Edie Two-Tier Chandelier After the busyness of summer, fall feels like a chance to really return to my roots of being a homebody. And yet, that doesn't mean I'm home alone just with my family! I love to have people over as well! There are […]
Well fam, we made it. We're finally here! The mudroom is officially done. I looked back at the very first post about transforming this space, and it was one year ago, almost to the day. On the one hand, I feel a little deflated that it took us a year. And on the other hand, […]
I love ordering crab cakes out—they're such a treat. But if I want to make crab cakes at home, they need to cater to our food restrictions. That means they have to be delicious AND have no eggs, dairy, wheat, gluten or grains. Well these knock it out of the park, thanks to some secret […]
Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations