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The Farmhouse The Poplar Cottage The Dexter House Holiday Shop
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The Grit and Polish
About UsOur Homes Shop Sources The Farmhouse The Poplar Cottage The Dexter House Holiday Shop Work with Us
FEATURED POSTS:
Hill House Bathroom Reno Progress: Paint, Lighting, Countertops & all the Decisions That are Making it Work
Feb 4, 2026
Hill House Bathroom Reno Progress: Paint, Lighting, Countertops & all the Decisions That are Making it Work
Feb 4, 2026
Feb 4, 2026
Are Your Old Hardwood Floors Worth Saving? Here’s How to Tell...
Dec 3, 2025
Are Your Old Hardwood Floors Worth Saving? Here’s How to Tell...
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025
How We Made our Charming Café Curtains on a Budget
Oct 15, 2025
How We Made our Charming Café Curtains on a Budget
Oct 15, 2025
Oct 15, 2025
The Poplar Cottage Upstairs Bathroom Reveal
Sep 17, 2025
The Poplar Cottage Upstairs Bathroom Reveal
Sep 17, 2025
Sep 17, 2025
A Cute Cedar Fence for Our Cute Cottage
Aug 27, 2025
A Cute Cedar Fence for Our Cute Cottage
Aug 27, 2025
Aug 27, 2025
We Found the Prettiest Unlaquered brass Door Knobs!
Mar 12, 2024
We Found the Prettiest Unlaquered brass Door Knobs!
Mar 12, 2024
Mar 12, 2024
Our Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal!
Dec 12, 2019
Our Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal!
Dec 12, 2019
Dec 12, 2019




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Found! The Best Hardwood Floor Finish for Old Houses
Found! The Best Hardwood Floor Finish for Old Houses

Plus a look at the newly-refinished Hill House floors

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The Hill House, Remodels, DIYsCathyJanuary 6, 2026 Comments
2025: a year of living in the middle
2025: a year of living in the middle

our favorite moments, posts, and projects from the year

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HolidaysCathyDecember 22, 2025 Comments
Happy Friday 12/19/25
Happy Friday 12/19/25

links and musings from the week…

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Links & MusingsCathyDecember 19, 2025 Comments
Books I’ve Loved Lately: A Cozy Fall & Winter Reading List
Books I’ve Loved Lately: A Cozy Fall & Winter Reading List

what have you been reading lately?

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BooksCathyDecember 18, 2025 Comments
Christmas Around the Poplar Cottage, 2025
Christmas Around the Poplar Cottage, 2025

a holiday home tour ✨

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Holidays, The Poplar CottageCathyDecember 15, 2025 Comments
Happy Friday 12/12/25
Happy Friday 12/12/25

links and musings from the week…

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Links & MusingsCathyDecember 12, 2025 Comments
Our Cozy, Classic Poplar Cottage Kitchen Reveal
Our Cozy, Classic Poplar Cottage Kitchen Reveal

A warm, vintage-inspired cottage kitchen five years in the making

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The Poplar Cottage, Kitchens, Room RevealsCathyDecember 10, 20252025 wrap up - Poplar Comments
Happy Friday 12/5/25
Happy Friday 12/5/25

links and musings from the week…

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Links & MusingsCathyDecember 5, 2025 Comments
Are Your Old Hardwood Floors Worth Saving? Here’s How to Tell...
Are Your Old Hardwood Floors Worth Saving? Here’s How to Tell...

plus what we uncovered below the Hill House carpets…

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DIYs, The Hill HouseCathyDecember 3, 20252025 wrap up - Hill Comments
DIY Gift Guide – Best Tools & Practical Gifts for Renovators & Old-House Lovers
DIY Gift Guide – Best Tools & Practical Gifts for Renovators & Old-House Lovers

Thoughtful, hardworking gifts for the fixer, maker, or old-home enthusiast in your life

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HolidaysCathyDecember 1, 2025Comment
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KEEP UP TO DATE @THEGRITANDPOLISH

And here is the bathroom all painted! 

We ended up picking F&B Off White (matched by SW) from the 12+ samples we shared in our last post. It’s a warm neutral with some yellow, maybe a hint of green, and it’s a lovely compliment to th
By popular request, here are the color samples we’ve tried for the Hill House. 

Some people do color so effortlessly… but I am not one of those people 😆 Every color I pick involves 15 color samples on the wall and days (or weeks!) of d
Bathroom progress at the Hill House! 

It’s been two steps forward, and one step back 🙃 We’ve been making great progress on paneling, caulking, building the vanity, picking a paint color, finding a previously-loved countertop - but ran i
When we pulled up the old carpets upstairs at the Hill House, we crossed our fingers that something worth saving was hiding underneath. Thankfully, it was! 🤍

The original fir floors were still there - scuffed, painted, and full of old carpet staple
Christmas around the cottage ✨ including slushy snow, our first fake tree (in a very tight corner) and just enough decor to make the cottage feel festive without veering into cluttered. Small houses, you know 😉

Garlands and trees on deck kindly gif
The Poplar Cottage kitchen is finally finished! 🤍

What began as a “quick refresh” grew into 5 years of work - a house lift, a new foundation, a second story, countless decisions, and plenty of pauses along the way. But the vision never
 

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