Back Porch Mercantile: Save the Date

Back Porch Mercantile: Save the Date

This week, Taryn stopped by one of our favorite local shops to get the scoop on their holiday collection. Jenny and her team at the Back Porch Mercantile have created an intentional and magical winter wonderland in the shop. The classic sentiment, “I’ll be home for Christmas” has never been more true. With less events and travel this year, people are focusing on creating a cozy and intentional place for family in their own homes.

Let's Talk Countertops

Let's Talk Countertops

Some people prefer to have a collection of daily use items, decor or appliances on their kitchen surfaces, while others enjoy a completely clear counter top. Which group of people do you find yourself in? There is no right or wrong way, but rather an approach that fits your specific season. We’ll share a few thoughts on both options…

Making "Home": a 500 sq ft London Flat

Making "Home": a 500 sq ft London Flat

Welcome to London! I wish so badly I could invite you in for a real life tour & give you a hug, but sadly that is not the case currently. So I’ll do my best to virtually welcome you into our “home” in this beautiful city. I’d offer you a cup of coffee (or tea) if you were visiting- so make yourself a “cuppa” and settle in.

Organizing Book Reviews

Organizing Book Reviews

One of the most interesting parts of our job is being invited into peoples homes to help them make sense of their belongings and their homes. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been working with folks who have such a hard time with clutter and yet own just about every home organizing book that has come out in the past 5 years, a vast array of bins and baskets in every size, shape, and color, and have a thing for planners. It’s tempting to think that the next book or tv show or podcast will offer you a piece of advice that will change everything, but it’s just not the case— we’ve rounded up a few of the top selling organizing books that have come out in the past few years and given an honest review of them here for you.

Good, Better & Best Rug Placement

Good, Better & Best Rug Placement

There is really no wrong way to incorporate a rug into your space. It is truly up to the you & what fits your lifestyle and look. But, if you need a little help getting started, one of HYD's former team members put together this quick guide and some helpful tips. So don't worry, we've got you and your floor... covered.

Revisiting Home Tours

Revisiting Home Tours

While we’re all still at home a majority of our time, so we thought it could be fun to take a walk down memory lane and recap some of our favorite past home tours. We’ve been so honored to get to know the story of many Knoxvillian’s and their homes over the past 5 years. Enjoy a few memories from home tours throughout the years…

Outdoor Gear Revival

Outdoor Gear Revival

I was so excited when I heard that Knoxville has a new second hand outdoor gear shop! Outdoor Gear Revival is in Bearden in an unassuming shopping center near Sonic. How had I passed this countless times without knowing it was there? This kind of shop was one of my favorite places to visit when I lived briefly in Asheville, and when I worked for two summers in Vermont leading crews of young people building hiking and mountain biking trails.

Learning at Home

Learning at Home

As this season of constant unknown continues, we’re faced with the challenge to adapt rather frequently. We’ve spoken to many parents, teachers & students who are asking questions about how to adjust to the new learning environments we find ourselves in. Here are a few suggestions to help you create healthy learning environments in your home.

How to Better Use Your Photos

How to Better Use Your Photos

We live in the age of smart phones, which puts an incredibly powerful camera in our hands at any moment. This allows us to snap a photo or video at any time. This is wonderful because we are capturing memories with such ease. You may be the type to forget to take photos or you may have a zillion photos and videos hogging the storage on your phone. Wherever you are on the photo taking spectrum, we’ve got some ideas on how to use better enjoy those photos…

COVID Clean-out Guide

COVID Clean-out Guide

We’ve all spent more time at home these past few months than we may have planned or intended to. While we don’t have many places to go or activities outside our homes to attend, it’s a great time to tackle the clutter in our homes. You can do it & we can help. Many of our clients, friends and followers have reached out with questions about where to donate or get rid of household items they are ready to purge.