Maria Lorena Maria Lorena

Ceiling Jewelry: Say Goodbye to Your Boob Light!

If you're still living with generic overhead lighting, trust me, you're not alone. But today, we're going to break up with those boring fixtures and usher in a new era of style. I've curated a list of 14 flush mount and semi-flush mount lights that are anything but basic. These are the pieces that add character, texture, and that add that collected over time feel to even the newest of homes.

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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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Maria Lorena Maria Lorena

Choosing the Perfect Wallpaper with Love vs. Design

Join me for an entryway makeover at House by the Preserve! I’m sharing my Love vs. Design wallpaper moodboard and a review of their incredible custom color tools and room visualizer technology. See which of the 9 samples made the final cut!

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Organization & Cleaning Maria Lorena Organization & Cleaning Maria Lorena

From Clutter to Custom: Our $0 Garage Mudroom Makeover

We don’t have a mudroom inside, so our garage entry was always a chaotic wall of hooks and shoe piles. I dreamed of a professional renovation, but instead, I challenged myself to a $0 makeover using only what I already had. From scrubbing the walls to stealing a bookcase from my son's room and saving a bench from Facebook Marketplace, the results prove you don't need a budget to create a functional, beautiful home.

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Roundup Maria Lorena Roundup Maria Lorena

The 2026 Spring Home Refresh: Living by the Preserve Filter

Like clockwork, every year that post-holiday itch settles in. You’ve cleared all the holiday decor, and all of a sudden, the house feels a little too quiet. You suddenly find yourself checking out your favorite home decor store’s new arrivals section. But if you’ve been following along here at House by the Preserve, you know we don't do fast decor. We do intentional, collected, and most importantly, timeless.

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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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Organization Maria Lorena Organization Maria Lorena

The Ultimate Amazon Holiday Decor Storage Guide

Ready to trade the post-holiday chaos for a perfectly organized home? I’ve rounded up my top 10 Amazon storage essentials, from rolling tree bags to tangle-free light wraps, to keep your favorite decor protected and pristine. See how we’re making "un-decorating" just as magical as the setup!

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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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Inspiration Maria Lorena Inspiration Maria Lorena

The 3 Rules We Follow to Keep Our Holiday Decor Budget In Check

The holiday season is magical, but the price tag? Not so much. In this post, I’m sharing the three non-negotiable rules we follow to transform our builder-grade home into a cozy, intentional winter haven without breaking the bank. Discover how we achieve a high-impact, layered look while keeping our savings account intact—featuring my favorite trick for "shopping your own home" and the secret to lush greenery on a budget!

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