Tess Wilson

After many happy years living in tiny apartments in big cities, Tess has found herself in a little house on the prairie. For real.
12 Removable Wallpaper Companies to Know
Removable wallpapers are a godsend for commitment-phobes, renters, easily bored types, and anyone that lives in fear of a Lucy and Ethel paper hangers sort of disaster.
Feb 23, 2023
15 Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts (That Totally Still Feel Like You Tried)
And they'll arrive just in time!
Feb 6, 2023
The Best Place to Buy KALLAX Storage Cubes Isn’t IKEA
Think outside the Swedish retailer to outfit your KALLAX (or old EXPEDIT!) with some fun storage options.
Jan 17, 2023
7 Simple Ways to Keep Cats Off Your Kitchen Counters
A few ways to set up the kitty equivalent of a "keep off" sign.
Aug 11, 2022
11 Hanging Planters You Can Make Yourself
Because we know you want plants EVERYWHERE. (We do, too.)
Jun 15, 2021
Elevated Eating: 33 Kitchen Island Breakfast Bar Ideas
The breakfast bar may have started out as just a place to scarf your morning cereal, but as anyone who’s ever been in a home with one can attest, if there’s a kitchen island with seating, that’s where everyone will be hanging out, guaranteed. They’re great for people who love to cook too.
May 26, 2021
10 Best Bistro Tables for Chic Small-Space Dining
These tables bring big style to the tiniest of spaces.
Apr 2, 2021
Before and After: A Massive Dirt Pile Becomes a Dreamy Outdoor Escape
There's a lot of potential in this pile of dirt.
Aug 24, 2020
Before and After: This House Just Got Some Very Colorful Curb Appeal
On a day off, just for fun, the owner of this house transformed its plain white facade with a very colorful paint job. This is utterly delightful—playful and vibrant with a dreamy palette that must make passersby wish they could be invited in. Roxanne of @daintylibrarian frequently creates fun, colorful DIYs that are whimsical and unpredictable. This particular shade of pink is perfection: sophisticated and modern without a hint of saccharine.
Mar 2, 2019
Before and After: This Basement Living Room Was Lacking a Wow Factor
This garden-level space was the home’s entrance, office, guest room, and living room all in one, and though it was full of intriguing art, fantastic patterns, and great furniture, it needed a little something to make it as welcoming and cozy as possible. Removable wallpaper to the rescue!
Feb 28, 2019
Before and After: This Bathroom Answers the Question “Can You Paint Tile?”
While this bathroom would have been the absolute height of luxury and style a few short years ago—and it’s still extremely nice—it was basically the opposite of its owner’s style. After a creative, approachable DIY, this went from earth-toned bath to brightly colored… ball pit? Roxanne of @daintylibrarian is a visionary who saw a spa tub and thought, probably, “This could be a lot more fun.
Feb 27, 2019
Before and After: This Is Not a Minimalist, Monochromatic Bathroom Makeover
This master bathroom was perfectly fine, but certainly not in keeping with the rest of Studio DIY’s vibrantly playful, creative, fun, and always-intriguing design sensibility. This one is definitely not a minimalist, monochromatic makeover. Studio DIY turned an ordinary bathroom into something undeniably fabulous. The green tile on its own is utterly glorious, a lush color that would be the statement in many bathrooms.
Feb 26, 2019
Before and After: This KonMari-ed IKEA Closet Cost $1,700 and Is Basically a Boutique
It took two days to create this walk-in wonderland.
Feb 25, 2019
Before and After: A Major Twist on a Plain Jane Cube Shelving Unit
The ubiquitous white cube shelf unit is affordable, attractively minimalist, and endlessly useful, but occasionally it needs a bit of a twist to fit in with the rest of a home’s decor. This particular unit—similar to this one from Target or this one from IKEA—needed some real TLC: I had this six-cube shelving unit in the playroom. It has several scratches on top and stickers on the sides but it was still in good shape.
Feb 24, 2019
Before and After: This Small 720-Square-Foot House Was Once a Total Wreck
As if a plywood stairway weren’t enough, this San Francisco house boasted plywood ceilings, peeling floors, and plastic bathroom walls—all in all, a “really terrible looking” 720 square feet. After a major renovation, the home now looks bright and modern, no plywood required. Reader Stephanie Perry—@stoop_sf on Instagram—shares the love story behind this house—as well the challenges it posed: It was SO SMALL.
Feb 23, 2019
Before and After: We Did Not See This Kitchen Paint Job Coming
But we're so glad it happened.
Feb 22, 2019
Before and After: This Pantry Porn Comes Courtesy of IKEA and the Dollar Store
In case you've ever wondered what $100 worth of jars looks like.
Feb 21, 2019
Before and After: This Living Room Got a Dramatically Different New Look
This is how this living room looked when it was listed by a realtor: a cozy mix of cool aqua and warm brown tones and the ubiquitous builder-grade ceiling fan. The room was bright and inviting, but its new owners were ready for a fresh look. Alison Elefante of @rubyandpeach and @rubyandpeachphoto cleverly created a black-and-white base on which to layer colors and textures.
Feb 20, 2019
Before and After: A $1300 Pottery Barn Desk Now Has a $60 Doppelgänger
A talented DIYer bought this old desk for $11.25 and managed to transform it into a dead-on knockoff of a $1,299 Pottery Barn desk while adding a clever upgrade in the process. Our intrepid DIYer needed a new desk, but wanted to spend less than $100: I picked up this desk for $11.25 at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Feb 19, 2019
Before and After: This Kitchen Has a Budget Solution For Dated Cabinet Doors
This kitchen had tons of storage space, a generously proportioned island with a breakfast bar, plenty of lighting, and a nice-sized window. But as its owner explained, “It’s actually a great space and it could be way worse but it’s definitely not my style.” Time for a budget-friendly upgrade! Bre Bertolini—@brepurposed on Instagram—transformed this kitchen, mostly thanks to paint.
Feb 18, 2019
Before and After: This New Kitchen Has a Very Unique Tile Backsplash
This kitchen had a ton of pros—stainless steel appliances, wood flooring, tasteful paint colors, granite countertops, a window—but its cons were difficult to work with. The owner called it, “poorly lit, claustrophobic, and tight.” With the help of some professionals and the removal of a wall, the kitchen is now light, bright, and feels much more roomy. Jenn Hair of Jenn Hair Photography is the proud owner of this jewel of a kitchen.
Feb 17, 2019
Before and After: This Formerly Dated Kitchen Now Belongs in the Current Decade
While this floral fabric is definitely fabulous, the table has tons of rustic charm, and the kitchen as a whole has enviable amounts of both storage and daylight, it was ready for a change. Enter honeycomb tiles, a tulip table, and a whole new look. Tiffany Kalloor—@tiff_kalloor on Instagram—breathed life into this kitchen by going back to the classics: a black-and-white palette, subway and honeycomb tiles, a tulip table and shell chairs, and a simplified ceiling and cabinetry.
Feb 16, 2019
Before and After: This Living Room’s Beauty Now Knows No Bounds
This Victorian home had so many enviable features—fireplace, hardwood floor, glorious windows—but it needed a bit of love, especially when it came to the fireplace and its “ugly brown tiles.” The fireplace and the room as a whole are now both modern and Victorian, thanks to thoughtful design choices and one brave DIY.
Feb 15, 2019
Before and After: This Painted Bathroom Became Fantastically Unique After One Just Week
This bathroom definitely had a look going on: lots of wood, plenty of lace, and baroque lights hung from chain swags. But after one week of hard work, the room is now a pink powerhouse packed full of handmade touches. Racheal Jackson—@banyanbridges on Instagram—did every single bit of this outstanding renovation, laying tile, installing a new sink and faucet, painting, creating a concrete countertop, and refacing the vanity doors and drawers.
Feb 14, 2019
Before and After: $800 Went a Very Long Way in This Newly Redone Kitchen
Take this warm-toned kitchen, add one or two gallons of paint and some well-priced accessories then subtract one wall and the textured vinyl floor, and suddenly there’s a brand-new kitchen, full of life, light, and color. And all for only $800. Kelsey Sigars—@kelseylenesigars on Instagram—made smart, thrifty choices that have transformed this kitchen.
Feb 13, 2019
Before and After: IKEA Brings Some Drama to This Newly Remodeled Kitchen
A Michigan couple took this kitchen down to the studs, rearranging plumbing, moving electricity, installing drywall, painting, tiling, and so much more. With the help of professionals to install countertops and cabinets, they now have a bright black-and-white kitchen that’s meant to be lived in. Clare Conklin—@conklinhouse on Instagram—and husband completely transformed this room, creating a bright new space that looks like a joy to cook, feast, and chat in.
Feb 12, 2019
Before and After: Prepare Yourself for a Brand New, Totally Fabulous Bathroom
Thanks to some low-commitment wallpaper, a few thrifty purchases from eBay and the hardware store, and an ultra-clever DIY, this mustard powder room is now bright, glamorous, and utterly fabulous. Natalie Ensor—@takethecannoli_ on Instagram—went big and bold in this bathroom, taking an ordinary space and transforming it with vibrant colors, gleaming accessories, and so many flowers you can practically smell them.
Feb 11, 2019
Before and After: This Unique Bathroom Bucks All the Recent Design Trends
For everyone who has ever mourned the loss of a colorful retro toilet or sink in a bathroom renovation, this project is for you. The cream and white fixtures were replaced with far more charming versions, leading the installation team to clarify, “So you want to put this IN?” Minty vintage perfection! Marley of Bug & Bean—@bugandbeanstitching on Instagram—took this standard and heavily beige bathroom back in time to create a room full of color and retro delights.
Feb 10, 2019
Before and After: This Converted Sprinter Van Even Has an Actual Bathroom
The owners of the impressive and inviting converted Sprinter van we featured recently made a conscious decision not to install a bathroom. But, the owners of this van decided a bathroom was a must, and somehow manages to squeeze in a toilet and a shower. Rob and Emily of The Road is our Home—@theroadisourhome on Instagram—transformed an LWB Mercedes Sprinter into a rolling home.
Feb 9, 2019
Before and After: This Bathroom Just Got a Mind-Bending Paint Job
This bathroom was pretty nice, with a pleasantly neutral palette, big windows, and all the fixtures and finishes appearing to be in fine shape. But now, thanks to a mind-bending paint job, it is bright, poppy, bold, and fantastically fun. The tile, toilet, and tub are the same (at least so far), but the wall and floor have a dramatically different look.
Feb 8, 2019
Before and After: $500 Later, It’s Really Hard to Believe This Is the Same Kitchen
Three cheers for lenient landlords.
Feb 7, 2019
Before and After: We Wouldn’t Change a Thing About This IKEA Living Room Hack
This simple white storage bench, designed by the Swedish powerhouse, IKEA, has found a new home and a totally new look in a Victorian in London. IKEA’s PLATSA storage bench—not currently available in the U.S. so the STUVA might be the best alternative—fits perfectly into this living room nook, with just a little bit of wiggle room. It looked just fine in the white space, but the room now has a completely different look—and, therefore, so does the PLATSA.
Feb 6, 2019
Before and After: Someone Found a Way to Make a White Wall Interesting
This unassuming bit of wall doesn’t necessarily scream office built for two, but two desk chairs, eight shelves, and countless colors later, it is now a bright cheerful office suitable for two professional adults—and Rainbow Brite. Here’s a bit of background about what was needed, and what the limitations were: My boyfriend and I moved to Brooklyn last year and needed a solution to the problem of having two computers but no designated room for an office.
Feb 5, 2019
Before and After: This Newly Reconfigured IKEA Kitchen Has a Bit of a Twist
An interior designer helped update this San Diego kitchen for her parents, who requested “a fresh, modern yet classic style” with a generally black-and-white palette. To keep the budget under control, the family turned to inexpensive IKEA cabinets, then gave them a boost with Semihandmade doors. Beth of 1111 Light Lane did a fantastic job giving the kitchen an update that definitely feels fresh and classic. The Shaker cabinetry is a great balance between modern and traditional.
Feb 4, 2019
Before and After: This Mid-Century Ranch Home Just Got Some Major Curb Appeal
It was in serious need of a spruce up.
Feb 3, 2019
Before and After: $6,000 Restored This Bathroom to Its Original Vintage Glory
The fixtures and finishes in this bathroom were, perhaps, a bit builder standard, and its owners were less charmed. They set out to create a bathroom that fit into their 107-year-old home—and one that had a shower, please.
Feb 2, 2019