Happy Sunday, everyone. We’re writing this before Friday, so in case there is big news that isn’t discussed, that’s why. We hope that everyone used their voice in any way they could and stayed safe. Also, don’t stop! We love our diverse community here, and want everyone to feel good and seen. Ok, let’s get into these links.

This week’s house tour is not your average home! It’s more of a gallery or museum. You just have to see it.

From Emily: I am SO excited to recommend this thriller to you. The writer, Marisa Kashino, is a reader and design lover. And now her debut novel is KILLING IT (already a best seller and getting a series made on Hulu). Best Offer Wins is entertaining from page one (a couple dealing with 18 months of bidding wars) and then gets gripping really fast. The voice and tone are so easy to read, you don’t want to put it down, and the writer, Marisa Kashino, is clearly into design so there are a lot of references that I think you guys will love (I think she was a design and real estate editor before so her inside knowledge of that industry is clearly paying off here). I also just love a career risk and pivot like she’s taken – its totally inspiring. If you want a very entertaining, fast read full of juicy design bits mixed in, check out Best Offer Wins.

Also From Emily: Brian’s second post on our personal newsletter is how he made the decision to be the lead parent (yes, stay-at-home dad, but we are all done with that term for either gender). Now I know the story, I lived it, and while there are points in the process that we both want to forget, I knew how it all went down. And yet I was totally riveted, and I teared up 3 times (I’m very close to it, obviously). I’m just so proud of him for being so open and owning it (and not to mention being such an exceptional lead parent). I know that not everyone’s experience with men is as positive as mine, but man, this generation of men in our lives are such good, heavily involved dads. We have more lead parent dads in our lives than I would have predicted, and it’s pretty remarkable. Anyway, just wanted to flag it if you missed it yesterday or if this was the post you were waiting to read. It’s so vulnerable and still entertaining.

From Caitlin: This is not my normal recommendation – I am not a haute couture gal – but HOLY CRAP, these gowns from Georges Hobeika’s Spring 2026 collection are DIVINE. (Sending you to that website only because I can’t find coverage in any design publications!) The colors. The pleating. The draping. SO, SO, SO BEAUTIFUL. I’m drooling over dress #4 in image 2, dress #2 in image 3, and like…all of them in image 4. Just a little eye candy for you!

From Mallory: You might’ve seen my parents’ living room makeover earlier this week – it was SO fun to pull together, and we all had a blast doing it. I wanted to highlight a product from that shoot that I was super impressed with for the price – these crazy affordable curtains! High-quality custom curtains are a “nice to have”, but curtains can also look really lux without breaking the bank (just make sure they’re pinch pleat and you’re usually good!). I bought these for my parents last year and installed them as a surprise when they went away one weekend, and they turned out so cute. I was looking for a cream sheer curtain that was over 100 inches long and found these for $25 (for a pack of 2). I could not be more impressed with them, you guys. They made SUCH a big difference in warming up their space. I was looking to cover 3 windows, so I needed a few panels and an extra-long curtain rod, and didn’t want to break the bank because curtain panels, rods, and rings can seriously add up. So when I found this adjustable, affordable black rod, I immediately snagged it along with these curtain rings. I’m very impressed with the quality and how they’ve held up! Check out the post to see them in action if you missed it!

From Gretchen: I took a little weekend trip with my bestie to the mountain recently, and we had so much fun catching up over yummy homemade dinners and too many mimosas. We made our 2026 bingo cards (a fun way to reimagine and track your resolutions/goals for the year) and explored all the stunning nature right in our Airbnb’s backyard…but we also managed to clock some SOLID TV time. Sometimes the weekend just calls for it! I don’t even want to tell you how many shows and movies we were able to squeeze in over just a few days, but I will tell you that the movie Roofman is a MUST-WATCH. Based on a true story about an escaped, weirdly polite convict, played by Channing Tatum, the guy evades capture for SIX WHOLE MONTHS by hiding/living inside of a Toys R Us (RIP). The storyline was so bizarre (and closely follows the real deal), but the acting and storytelling were just too good. Also, if this is a news story that doesn’t ring a bell, you’ll have just as much fun deep diving the original news articles after watching, I promise. Funny, sweet, strange, and a little bit nostalgic. An easy weekend watch if you’re looking for one!

From Marlee: This weekend I was checking out a secondhand athletic store in Portland (Revive on SE Hawthorne, check it out – great assortment and prices) and found a pair of these Vuori leggings – it was super serendipitous because I already have a pair of these and they’re my FAVORITE – I was literally on their website earlier that week debating if I should buy another pair. I’m not the biggest fan of wearing leggings, but these are comfier than any other pair I’ve tried. I find that the waistband feels slightly looser than any other leggings I have, and you’re able to tighten them with the drawstring (which is a cute feature) rather than them cutting into your stomach. I also feel like these are more mid-rise than most other leggings I have – they hit right below my belly button rather than all the way to my ribcage, which I find more flattering. I’m 5’8” and wear a size small. I highly recommend these the next time you’re looking for a pair of leggings, especially if you’re sensitive to the waistband and like to avoid super high-rise leggings – and bonus points if you can find them used. They had multiple pairs at this store, and I also stopped by Crossroads, and they had so much great used athletic wear. Like, 40 pairs of Lululemon leggings for under $30 – if you have a Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange near you, check them out for athletic-wear!

From Jess: I finally reordered Fresh Peaches! What is Fresh Peaches, you say? It’s a gel that easily and effectively makes toilet paper a flushable wet wipe. I love this product so much, and it doesn’t add more waste. 10/10

From Arlyn: I have a new design crush: Mandy Cheng. I found the designer through a recent Arch Digest house tour, and my goodness, the details throughout are so interesting (just wait until you see the stained glass “transom” on the stair bannister upstairs). Some of the images of her home were immediately bookmarked into my folders for safe inspiration keeping, but then I found this 15-minute YouTube video with an in-depth tour. Seeing what the house looked like before—and an old craftsman in complete and utter disrepair—and hearing that she and her husband did a lot of the work themselves due to budget constraints is just utterly amazing to me. Like, seriously, wow. Take a break from doom scrolling tonight, and instead, watch this home tour. It’s worth it!

Thanks for spending time with us today, and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Mallory Wackerman | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: How Mallory Warmed Up A Living Room With Gray Vinyl Flooring