Yes, that opening is a nod to SNL. Before I jump in, I have to say thank you — your kind words this morning lifted my spirits on an otherwise soggy, sad day. You all are amazing.

Now for the post many of you requested: photos and a run-down of what I put on our new craigslist buffet. I tried to choose a mix of items that are functional, meaningful, and just plain pretty. Here’s what the entryway looks like now.

It’s fun to compare that to the same corner when we first saw the house back in late 2010. I love seeing how different people style the same space. I’m always curious about other homes — if I could pick a superhero power, invisibility would let me do a lot of harmless house snooping.

Choosing what to put on new-to-us furniture is one of my favorite little projects. I enjoyed the thirty minutes during Clara’s nap when I played with pieces we already owned. The items I used were:

• Glass lamps that first lived in our old living room and then our bedroom. They were from Target and have been with us since our wedding registry.
• A large yellow urn we found at HomeGoods a few months ago.
• A stack of decorating books pulled from under the dining room built-ins and from the hallway ottomans.
• A scalloped bowl from the kitchen that I repurposed for something sentimental.
• A white resin pineapple from HomeGoods — a small, welcoming symbol near the door.
• A bright red faux coral piece I bought about six months ago for a pop of color.
• A thrift-store leaf dish (50 cents) to hold spare change and small bits.

My buffet styling process was simple trial and error: move things around, step back, adjust, and repeat. It felt a bit like dressing the furniture — balancing meaning, function, and beauty. I believe form and function are important, but adding personal meaning makes a display especially satisfying. I like to be able to change the arrangement seasonally or for holidays, so I kept things flexible.

Here’s how the objects break down by purpose:

Functional:

• Two lamps to provide needed light in a room with minimal overhead lighting.
• A dish for loose change, buttons, and small items that tend to collect on entryway surfaces.
• The yellow urn, which offers discreet, easy-to-access storage for extras like a spare dog leash.

Meaningful:

• The pineapple near the door as a subtle symbol of welcome.
• A change dish where I tucked in 43 cents — our little lucky number — just for fun.
• Vacation postcards we’ve sent to ourselves over the years; they act as tiny reminders of trips and memories.

Just Plain Pretty:

• A stack of colorful hardcover books that provide height, color, and inspiration when I flip through them.
• A bright red faux coral piece to add a modern, fresh contrast against the older furniture.

My favorite element is the scalloped serving bowl I borrowed from the kitchen to hold our postcards. I love having those reminders of adventures on display, and I can rotate which postcard faces forward whenever the mood strikes. Right now, a postcard from Hawaii is front and center because I can’t stop looking at that photo.

You might notice the pop of yellow from the urn matches our yellow front door — I like small echoes of color that tie a space together. And Clara? She’s usually right in the middle of things when we’re photographing the house, doing something hilarious like kneeling at the front door and waving at the school bus. Kids do their own thing, and it’s part of the charm.

So that’s our new (but actually very old) buffet, styled with items that serve a purpose, hold meaning, or simply look lovely. Nothing is stored inside yet, but I’m already planning to use the interior for formal dining essentials like cloth napkins, runners, large vases, and serving pieces. And the big blank wall above it? It definitely needs something — we’ll share updates as we go.

P.S. We announced this week’s giveaway winner on the blog.