Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Our Backyard Renovation: How to Interview Pool Builders

You’ve seen every corner of my home, but there’s one space I’ve consciously hidden: our backyard. Defined by a sloped lawn we couldn't tame and a dream that felt out of reach, we finally decided 2026 was the year to change that. Here is exactly how we navigated the overwhelming search for a pool builder who could handle our 'un-buildable' lot.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

How I Repurposed a Bar into a Custom Island Extension

In the world of home decor, we're constantly bombarded with images of perfectly curated, custom-built kitchens. While I adore those spaces, my reality, like many of yours, involves working with what you have, and sometimes, that means getting creative! Today, I’m excited to share a project that not only solved a storage dilemma but also breathed new life into an old wedding gift: transforming an old bar cabinet into a stylish, functional extension of our kitchen island.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

The Power of Pattern: Our Entryway Wallpaper Makeover with Love vs. Design

I’ll be honest: I thought a fresh coat of paint was all this sterile transition zone needed, but after painting the ceiling Benjamin Moore's Antique Jade and the walls Behr's Palais White, the result was… well, boring. I knew it needed soul, but with two kids and a dog, I was terrified of choosing something that wouldn't last.

Click through to see how we used custom, water-activated wallpaper from Love vs. Design to finally give this high-traffic hallway the personality it deserved (and why I’ll never look at a sterile hallway the same way again!).

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

New Year, New Vision: Our 2026 Home Project Roadmap

Discover how we’re turning builder-grade basics into a custom sanctuary as we kick off our 2026 home goals! Whether you’re looking for kitchen refresh inspiration or creative storage solutions, join us as we tackle a new year of DIY transformations one room at a time.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

A Very Moody Traditional Christmas Home Tour

Step inside our 2025 Holiday Home Tour, where I’m embracing a moody traditional aesthetic with deep paint colors, vintage art, and cozy plaid textures. From the collected feel of the living room to the magic of the kids' personalized bedrooms, come see how we transformed our builder-grade home into a festive retreat for the season!

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

High-Impact, Low-Cost: Our Entryway Makeover Under $200

Who says a home makeover has to break the bank? We just gave our entryway a refresh and didn't spend a fortune! You really don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to make impactful home improvements that will stand the test of time. With a little creativity and a smart budget you can go a long way.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

A Living Room Refresh: Creating a Warm, Layered Look

After struggling for years to warm up a vast, open-concept living room with high ceilings, the breakthrough came from embracing the layout and using smart design instead of fighting it. The key was to visually lower the ceiling with a dark paint color, layer lighting for coziness, and define the living area with an area rug while using consistent materials and color palettes to keep it cohesive with the adjoining kitchen.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Fall Front Porch Refresh: Easy Updates for a Cozy Welcome

You know that feeling when you go into a store for one thing and leave with a cart full of possibilities? That’s exactly what happened on a recent trip to Walmart. I was blown away by their home decor selection and couldn't resist a few new finds. Before I knew it, I had a cart of gorgeous pieces that inspired a much-needed front porch refresh!

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

From Lanai to Family Hub: Designing a Playful and Functional Family Room Addition

Creating a dedicated family room has been a top priority for our growing family. When we first enclosed our lanai, I imagined a split layout: half home office for me, half playroom for our then three-year-old son. As our family grew, (we now have a nine-year-old son and six-year-old daughter!), the space quickly and happily evolved into a full-time family room/playroom. My dreams of a dedicated home office in that space were happily replaced with a fun, laughter-filled family for everyone to enjoy.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

2024 Spooky Halloween Home Tour

Decorating for Halloween doesn't always have to mean orange pumpkins! Tour my spooky home all dressed up for Halloween and learn my tips and tricks on how to incorporate Halloween into your home decor style!

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Olivia’s Bedroom Refresh

A bright and airy space that's both stylish and perfect for her growing personality! Read on to see how we achieved this look with a few budget-friendly tricks and DIY touches.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Creating a Sitting Area in our Primary Bedroom

As a homebody, my bedroom has always been the spot in our home that I gravitate towards when I just need some time alone or just need to cozy up and relax for a while.  Making this space feel cozy and inviting has always been my goal but with the daily activities of our family and just life in general, it was starting to feel like a forgotten space. So today I'm sharing how I've refreshed our bedroom with pieces that we already owned while getting rid of some that just didn't work for us. 

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Dining Room: Hiding an Unwanted Window

Our dining room has always been a space that I've struggled to decorate because of different height of the walls and window placement. Over the years, I've tried different floor plans and decorating styles to make this space feel like it belongs to the rest of our home. Recently, I came up with a crazy idea - what if I hide the window that gives me so much trouble with a mirror?!

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