Summer is the perfect season for tackling those light-but-lovely home projects that make daily life just a little more beautiful. One of our latest favorite refreshes? Updating the laundry room. It’s a space that often gets overlooked—but with just a few simple upgrades, it can become one of the most functional (and even fun-ish!) rooms in the house. Refresh your laundry room with our easy updates and beat the mid-day summer heat. Our recent laundry room update came together with a few well-chosen projects that made a big difference without requiring a major renovation. First, we gave the entire space a fresh coat of paint—walls, shelves, even the trim got a refresh. There’s something about crisp, fresh paint that immediately makes a space feel brighter and more open. Next, we installed fish scale peel-and-stick tile for a durable, good-looking backsplash behind the washer, dryer, and utility sink. This is a beautiful update that instantly elevates a room. Functionally, the backsplash helps protect the walls surrounding a sink and makes it easy to keep clean. There are so many peel-and-stick options available now, and installation is a breeze—no grout, no stress, and completely beginner-friendly. Our secret trick to make installation easy is to create a template for your wall(s) and use the template to lay out the tile before attaching to the wall. One of our favorite upgrades? A designated cabinet with a pretty marble top for our countertop ice maker. It’s a small luxury that we absolutely love, especially in the heat of summer. Whether we’re filling water bottles for a pool day or making iced coffee in the afternoon, that perfect pellet ice makes every sip better. Adding this cabinet to house all of our cocktail napkins, straws, plates, and accessories keeps the room tidy and makes it feel purposeful. We also rethought our storage and added new organization systems—baskets, hooks, and even hidden storage behind the door for ironing and drying clothes. And for a little dose of fun, we added a scalloped jute rug and made a custom light fixture using wooden clothespins. It’s charming, whimsical, and gives just the right amount of texture and warmth to this workroom. Projects like this are perfect for warm weather days when you want to stay cool indoors. And just like our recent bathroom refresh, it’s proof that you don’t have to do a full renovation to make a big impact. Of course, we’re all about pairing a project day with something simple and satisfying at mealtime. While you’re staying cool and productive indoors, whip up a market-fresh chopped salad with cilantro dressing (check out our latest farmers market meal planning post for ideas). Or grill outside to keep the kitchen cool and enjoy a breezy summer dinner al fresco. Small upgrades and small pleasures—that’s what summer living is all about. When we are not out on an adventure, we are working on small updates this summer.
Projects
Sweet Ways to Thank Teachers at the End of the School Year…
As the final school bell rings and summer begins to bloom, there’s no better time to pause and extend a heartfelt thank you to the remarkable teachers who’ve guided, supported, and inspired our children all year long. And as the school year draws to a close, we believe in marking the moment with a gesture that is both meaningful and memorable. At Shookhill, we love to celebrate life’s little details, and that includes giving thanks in simple, thoughtful ways. Whether your child is finishing up kindergarten or graduating from high school, showing gratitude to the educators who helped them along the way is a gesture worth making. This Year’s Favorite DIY Teacher Gift: Caramel Apples with a Twist One of our favorite ways to say thank you this year? A sweet, simple, and satisfying homemade caramel apple gift. It’s just the right mix of handmade and heartfelt—with a little touch of indulgence. We paired fresh, crisp apples with our own homemade caramel, tucked in a small gift card, and finished it all off with a custom thank you tag. It’s a gift that feels personal and seasonal—and it doesn’t take much time to assemble, which makes it perfect for multiple teachers or school staff. What you’ll need: 2 apples (we like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for a tart-sweet balance) Homemade caramel (our recipe or your favorite store-bought variety) Small jars or containers for the caramel (we used pint jars from Amazon) Gift card (coffee shop, bookstore, or Target are always appreciated) Custom thank you tag (we offer a wide variety of printables to cover most occasions) Cellophane bag, ribbon, and a gift tag to tie it all together Package the apple and caramel together with care, tuck in a gift card and one of our tags, and voilà—your end-of-year teacher gift is complete! This season of gratitude reminds us how much teachers do—often quietly, behind the scenes—to shape our children’s lives. Whether you go big or small, your acknowledgment makes a difference. Let’s close out the school year with a beautiful gesture, a little sunshine, and a lot of heart. And if you’re looking for more thoughtful gift ideas or printable thank you tags, we’ve got you covered. Wishing you and your family a restful and joyful start to summer!