Shop the house / The sourcebook
The starting points for paint, hardware, lighting, and the details that make a room. Buy for the project, not just the picture.
A note on these links. This opening sourcebook contains retailer research links, not a record of products already installed in the house. Affiliate tracking is not active.
How shopping works here5 sources
Garden & making
Purchased for Project 01: the Wonderjune Outdoor Library Box Kit with Planter Stand. Delivered; testing and a personal-use review are not yet documented. View the kit on Amazon
Purchase is not a performance recommendation. Check the current listing, actual assembly instructions, finish requirements, and placement before ordering. Melissa’s kit was delivered August 24, 2026.
Paint & finish
Paint samples for comparing color before committing to the whole room. Explore paint samples
Compare the actual sample in your own space. The color on a screen is not the decision.
Hardware
Cabinet hardware to explore for the details you touch every day. Explore cabinet hardware
Record hole spacing, thickness, clearance, and finish before ordering. A lovely handle still has to fit.
Hardware
Antique-style and restoration hardware to explore alongside what is already in the house. Explore restoration hardware
Identify the original hardware and its condition before replacing it. Ask about compatibility rather than buying by appearance alone.
Lighting
A starting point for exploring lamps and light fixtures. Explore lighting
Consider scale, placement, and how you use the room. Fixed electrical installation belongs with an appropriately qualified professional.
Try another word or browse the whole sourcebook.
The buying rule
A beautiful object still has to work in the room. Record the dimensions, compatibility, delivery, returns, and the unglamorous details before committing.
Start with a project brief
Now showing on YouTube
Big ideas. No plan. Lots of opinions. New episodes from a mid-1800s San Francisco studio-home.
Beautiful, eventually.
The learning stays in.
The decisions, the things worth keeping, and what the beautiful version actually takes.