Lifestyle
3 Practices That Grew My Social Media Following to 1M!
Lifestyle
May 2, 2023
3 Practices That Grew My Social Media Following to 1M!
When I started Chris Loves Julia 14 years ago, Instagram wasn't around. There wasn't a social media handbook, and the term "influencer" was still in its infancy. Yet, here we are, 1 million Instagram followers later, and we've been able to turn our love of DIY and renovating into a full-time business with a team […]
May 2, 2023
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Decor
Every Front Entryway Needs a Mirror
Decor
May 1, 2023
Every Front Entryway Needs a Mirror
Now that we narrowed the opening into the study, we had enough wall space to hang a full-length mirror in the entry! It took four people to secure it safely, and we had to be extremely cautious about not disturbing the pocket door within the wall. Alas, we placed it perfectly, and now I'm questioning […]
May 1, 2023
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Chris Cooks
Grilled Lemongrass Beef | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
April 30, 2023
Grilled Lemongrass Beef | Chris Cooks
I continue to work on my southeast Asian cooking, and the process has me very quickly falling in love with lemongrass. The flavor is so vibrant and it works so well with every type of meat out there. But right now, beef is my favorite and specifically skirt steak. Skirt steak, cut into strips against […]
April 30, 2023
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Best Of
A Recap Of April 2023
Best Of
April 28, 2023
A Recap Of April 2023
My brain is struggling to comprehend the blur of events that took place in April because WOW–what a month. We revealed the high gloss built-ins in the study (spoiler alert, the whole room needs repainting now), featured my two sisters, Andi and Victoria, on the blog, conducted a very important test, threw a baby shower […]
April 28, 2023
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DIY
How many light sources do I need?
DIY
April 27, 2023
How many light sources do I need?
With the recent launch of our lighting collection with Shades of Light, we've been getting so much love and kind words, so thank you all for your continued support. After all, we designed the collection with you in mind, so it brings us joy to know that you're just as excited as we are! I […]
April 27, 2023
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product lines
Say Hello to the Chris Loves Julia x Shades of Light Collection!
product lines
April 24, 2023
Say Hello to the Chris Loves Julia x Shades of Light Collection!
I've been teasing this secret product partnership we've been referring to as "Project Kelvin," and it's time I spill the beans. We're so proud to announce our collaboration with Shades of Light and the release of a collection of light fixtures, including three lines! I'm a big advocator for layering lighting throughout your home, so this was an easy […]
April 24, 2023
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Chris Cooks
Grain-Free Lemon Basil Granola | Chris Cooks
Chris Cooks
April 23, 2023
Grain-Free Lemon Basil Granola | Chris Cooks
Something that surprised me when Julia cut out grains was how much "crunch" we lost. That texture experience took a big back seat and I missed it. Of course there are a lot of options being made now, but 8 years ago we had no croutons, no cereal, no crackers. I was desperate for that […]
April 23, 2023
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Gift Guides!
16 Mother's Day Gift Ideas
Gift Guides!
April 21, 2023
16 Mother's Day Gift Ideas
I've been a Mother for 13 years, and it wasn't until I became a mother that I realized all of the mushy gushy ways that Mothers feel about their children. It's also when I realized that my mom knew absolutely everything I tried to get away with. The motherly instinct is real! As a kid, […]
April 21, 2023
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Entertaining
How to Throw a Simple Baby Shower + The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
Entertaining
April 20, 2023
How to Throw a Simple Baby Shower + The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
Over the weekend, I threw a baby shower for Brooke, our longest-held employee who's more like family than anything. It's been years since I've attended a baby shower, and much to my excitement, this was the first shower I've ever personally thrown!–Couldn't think of anybody else I'd rather throw my "first" shower for than Brooke. If you're someone […]
April 20, 2023
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Other Makeovers
Maximizing the Layout of a Small Deck in 5 Steps!
Other Makeovers
April 19, 2023
Maximizing the Layout of a Small Deck in 5 Steps!
This post is sponsored by Article and was written by my lovely sister and brand manager, Victoria. Okay, I have to tell you something: Last year, I bought a dapper dining table on Facebook Marketplace and appointed it on my deck with promises of al fresco suppers, season after season. I weatherproofed it (obviously)(or so […]
April 19, 2023
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Decor
Testing 15 Brass Cabinet Knobs to Find The Best!
Decor
April 17, 2023
Testing 15 Brass Cabinet Knobs to Find The Best!
I've been dying to do this test for quite some time now! Out of my own curiosity sure, but also to give some answers to all of the home renovators and DIYers out there wondering, "Which brass cabinet knob is the best?" I'll tell you right now that while on this hunt to find the […]
April 17, 2023
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DIY
8-Layer Salad - No Grain, Dairy, Pork, or Egg
DIY
April 16, 2023
8-Layer Salad - No Grain, Dairy, Pork, or Egg
I grew up eating 7-layer salad most Sundays in the Spring and Summer. It's crisp, full of flavor, and stays fresh even when made the day before (just hold off on the dressing). Unfortunately, the version I had as a child had cheese, bacon, and Miracle Whip (eggs) as the base. Not friendly to dietary […]
April 16, 2023
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Fashion
The 16 Cutest Sneakers For Women This Spring (or Year-Round)
Fashion
April 14, 2023
The 16 Cutest Sneakers For Women This Spring (or Year-Round)
Here's the thing. Ever since I can remember, my daily uniform consists of jeans and sneakers. Generally, I mix them with simple T-shirts, but almost every day, you can find me wearing jeans and sneakers. I realized years ago that if I'm getting a bunch of things done around the house without the proper foot […]
April 14, 2023
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DIY
How to Choose the Wrong Paint Color
DIY
April 13, 2023
How to Choose the Wrong Paint Color
So happy to have my sister Andrea Ahedo and our Visual Media Producer/Head Photographer share her recent paint color debacle with us! One of my toxic traits is buying a gallon of paint without sampling it on the wall and thinking that it’s a flex to do so. I confidently strut into the house with […]
April 13, 2023
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Design
Elevating Our Team Kitchen With simplehuman
Design
April 12, 2023
Elevating Our Team Kitchen With simplehuman
This post is sponsored by simplehuman. Every time I get to share a peek at our new CLJ office space, I get a whirl of excitement because it's been in the works behind the scenes for so long. I practically pinch myself whenever I come to work because it's sort of a dream come true. […]
April 12, 2023
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Renovations
When to Install Pocket Doors (and All The Times We've Done It)
Renovations
April 10, 2023
When to Install Pocket Doors (and All The Times We've Done It)
This certainly isn't our first time having pocket doors installed, and it won't be our last because they solve so many design problems! After pivoting from our initial plans to source some antique French doors to lead into the study, we realized we could add just as much charm with pocket doors. And it turns […]
April 10, 2023
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Best Of
A Recap of March 2023
Best Of
April 7, 2023
A Recap of March 2023
Unlike February, this month has flown by, and we're already well into April, but I wanted to highlight some of the best moments and products from a memorable March. Things are budding and coming to life here in North Carolina, but that won't ever stop me from buying fake plants, and I may or may […]
April 7, 2023
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Cleaning & Organization
3 Kitchen Organization Tips
Cleaning & Organization
April 6, 2023
3 Kitchen Organization Tips
A few weeks ago, I went full ham in the kitchen, tackling some much-needed organization in a few desperate areas. Shortly after moving in, we had professional organizers come and give us a jump start in a season of overwhelm. But as you know, as life goes on, cupboards and drawers need consistent maintenance and […]
April 6, 2023
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Design
Creating a Cohesive Color Palette With Paint
Design
April 5, 2023
Creating a Cohesive Color Palette With Paint
Designing an office space for our team was somewhat of a challenge because we had never designed a commercial space before! Something about me: I love a challenge. And picking a cohesive color palette is a great starting point before making other big major design decisions. And so, I grabbed my trusty paint deck and […]
April 5, 2023
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Renovations
Revealing the High Gloss, Custom Built-in Cabinetry in the Study
Renovations
April 3, 2023
Revealing the High Gloss, Custom Built-in Cabinetry in the Study
Deciding to add these built-ins was 100% a necessity for the study. When we moved in, this was somewhat of a formal sitting room. Really it was just a box of a room with no character beyond the crown molding. At first, we pictured this room as a music room, but once we decided it […]
April 3, 2023
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