May 02

Samantha's Guide to Growing an Herb Garden

Every meal tastes ten times better with fresh herbs, but they’re expensive to buy every week at the grocery store. The easy solution (and I do mean easy): grow them yourself! Stop making excuses and give your own herb garden a try this summer—I promise you won’t regret it. When planning your herb garden, you can do as much or as little as you like. If you’re interested in something super easy and less time consuming (or yard space is out of the question), consider planting a container garden on a porch, patio, or veranda.

Apr 26

Spring Cleaning, the JP&CO Way

When we have clients who decide to move out of their home during their remodel, I like to encourage them to use the transition as an opportunity to inventory their belongings and part with unnecessary stuff. I’m going to give my readers the exact same advice for their spring cleaning this year. Begin to go through your drawers, bins, and closets and organize your things into four piles: Toss, Sell, Donate, and Keep. It may be painful at first, but if you’re honest with yourself about what you actually use, the payoff will be big. This process has been one of the best ways to kick start new and exciting remodeling projects, and it just may be a great way for you to kick start your new project this spring, whatever it may be.

Apr 19

8 Tips for a Cleaner Kitchen Sink

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and part of this time is often spent in front of the sink. We all know the dread of a dirty dish mound, clogged drain, or smelly sponge. I’m here to help make the time you spend in front of the sink a little easier. Read on to learn how to make sure your sink is in tip top shape now and in the future.

Mar 27

Opening Night Event Catered by CRAVE | all are invited!

JP&CO's Opening Night Event is not to be missed, with catering by CRAVE and a tour of the full-home remodel lead by the Designer. All are welcome to join on Friday, March 30th from 5 pm to 7 pm at R19 in Edina.

Mar 27

Have You Taken a Sneak Peek at R10 Yet?

We're revealing two completely remodeled homes to the public during the Spring Remodeler's Showcase, this FRIDAY, SATURDAY, and SUNDAY! I can't wait to show the world how awesome these projects are, and how...

Mar 21

How to Declutter your Bathroom

Even though it may not seem like it at first, your bathroom can be one of the easiest rooms in the house to de-clutter, and here’s why: Unlike other rooms in your home, everything you store in your bathroom is specifically used in the bathroom. Therefore, it’s easy to identify items that don’t belong, and relocate these items or toss them.

Mar 14

Adding Color to Your Kitchen for Beginners

Sometimes all it takes is a small change to add a little cheer to your favorite room, and your routine. I figured we could all use a few easy, quick, and inexpensive ideas for adding a little happiness to one of the most popular rooms, the kitchen. And what’s the best way to add a little surprise and cheer? Small, unexpected bursts of color, of course!

Mar 07

10 Essential Toy-Control Tips

Many of our clients have kids (very adorable) and this plays a large role in the renovation we make to their home. But not even the most amazing design can necessarily tackle one of parents’ greatest at-home enemies: toy clutter and chaos. In many of the homes we transform, I see the eternal struggle to keep children’s toys, books, clothes, and other items at bay and off of tables, floors, stairs, and everywhere else imaginable (not so adorable!).

Mar 05

Sneak Peek of My Apartment

Great news: JP&CO has just updated some preliminary Before and After renovation pictures of my condo in St. Paul. Very cool. Very exclusive. My condo is nestled in a traditional, 1920s-built, Chicago-style brownstone with a beautiful courtyard. Because of my love of modern architecture, I took it as a challenge to tastefully blend both ultramodern and more traditional design in my home. I emphasized the traditional through classic 1 1/4" hardwood floors and classic fireplace trim details. Design elements such as sleek, simplistic lighting (an homage to the John Hancock building) and monochromatic color schemes were used to instill a modern feel.

Feb 29

How to Refresh Your Kitchen on a Budget

According to the National Association of the Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, a kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, including cabinets, counters, appliances, and floors. In order to avoid skyrocketing kitchen renovation prices, we here at JP&CO have always been extremely careful about seeking out ways to improve the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Feb 23

The Case for Indoor Plants

When you can’t find the greenery you crave outside, it’s time to turn inward for your plant fix. Although maintaining an indoor plant (or twelve) can mean a little extra repotting and watering from time to time, I just wouldn’t survive the cold months without a boost of green life inside. Not only do plants make us happier, but they also have the ability to make use healthier. Many plants have been attributing with benefiting everything from our nightly sleep to fighting colds, improving humidity, and reducing dust.

Feb 21

Sneak a Peek Inside JP&CO’s Spring Showcase

If you haven’t already heard the great news, allow me to announce that JP&CO is revealing our most impressive work yet to the public in the Spring Parade of Homes Remodeler’s Showcase! Come and see two unique whole-home remodels, one in Edina and one in Minneapolis. Doors are open on Friday from 12pm - 7pm and Saturday & Sunday from 12pm - 6pm.

Feb 15

How to Make a Better Entrance

I’ve begun to feel like we might not be giving the entryway enough credit. When you think about it, your entryway is like the first interview—since it’s the first impression you make, it’s important to dress up and establish some basic organization, planning, and personality all in one shebang. The important aspects of the first encounter with a new person can be applied to this smaller room in the front or back of our home. In addition to looks and organization, our entryway is also responsible for making a guest feel comfortable from the very beginning of their visit. It doesn’t always take a huge revamp or a lot of money to improve your entryway. Read on for my easy tips!

Feb 08

JP&CO Featured on HOUZZ.COM!!

Great news everyone--JP&CO is featured in this week's edition of houzz.com as the headliner for an article titled "Make a Space Special with Glass". We are so proud of the work we do, and so happy to make a homeowner's vision a reality. It's great to see it all come together, and even more fantastic to find out that our work is serving as the inspiration for others.

Feb 01

How to Have a Calming Home

The crazier my life gets, the more I realize the importance of making my home an organized and, above all, calming place. Sometimes keeping my calm is as easy as putting a few piles of stuff in their rightful places. Other times, the interior chaos has required some more permanent changes. Although it is sometimes tough at first to simplify, I find that it always pays off in the end. Read on for my top 5 tips for creating a calming home.

Jan 25

Simple Winter Organization

To put it nicely, winter weather is a little more challenging than spring, summer, and fall. Because of this, our outerwear gets bulkier, we wear more accessories, and we go through more clothing. In order to combat the mess that the cold season can often create, I’ve discovered 6 simple tips for keeping things neat and easy.

Jan 18

JP&CO Winter Heat Saving Checklist

During the winter as a kid I was always looking for ways to stay warm and avoid the cold. As an adult in Minnesota, my attention has shifted to the search for ways to stay warm while keeping my cold season electric bill in check. Read on to learn some of my top tips for keeping your toes toasty and your bills under control.

Jan 12

How to Fake a Clean Home

In an ideal world I would have enough time do it all. But, as it often stands, I only have enough time to do what is necessary. Despite my best intentions, there have been times when I find myself faced with a houseful of guests (such as my holiday party this last month) and a list full of party-prepping tasks. I go over my list and feel like I’ve got it all under control—until I glance up at the room around me and realize that my home is bursting at the seams with the workweek’s disarray.

Dec 28

Painless Ways to Use Less Paper at Home

We’re all familiar with the benefits of using less paper around the house. Paper products eat up our forests, fatten landfills, and become a substantial waste of our hard-earned money. Making simple, easy, and often FREE changes to the way you clean, manage, and organize your home life can greatly reduce the amount of paper you use. Read on for some essential and painless and sustainable ideas for using less paper in your home.

Dec 20

Creating the Perfect Guest Room

Although hosting overnight guests occurs throughout the year, I think it’s safe to say that the winter holiday is often the “busy season” for house guests. One of the most rewarding parts of having a house guest is succeeding in making them feel at home. Hopefully you have already experienced a stay with a friend or family that was cozy and welcoming. Likewise, you have probably also experienced a less than perfect stay. As a host, there are many things you can do to make your guests feel more at home.