Welcome to The Grit & Polish

Practical renovation advice for creating a warm, timeless home that feels truly yours.

Latest Posts Catch up on projects, ideas & everyday life Our Homes Tour the farmhouse and past projects Sources Paint, hardware & our favorite finds About Us Get to know The Grit & Polish Garrett’s Favorite Tools Tried-and-true tools for your next project Hardware Favorites From brass knobs to historic pulls

Explore the Site

From paint and hardware, to budgets and planning, we are here to show you how to get your project done.

  • Rethinking a Kitchen Layout

    Make room for the way you live

    See how we rethought our farmhouse kitchen floor plan, weighing storage, flow, and everyday function while keeping the home’s original character.

    EXPLORE THE LAYOUT

  • Our Go-To Paint Colors

    Choose colors with confidence

    Explore the paint colors we turn to again and again, with real-room examples to help you find the right shade for your own home.

    Explore Paint

  • Real Bathroom Budgets

    See how far a small budget can go

    Three bathroom remodels, each completed for under $3,000. Explore the before-and-afters, budget breakdowns, and choices that helped keep costs down.

    SEE THE BREAKDOWNS

Favorite Sources for Old Homes

The hardworking pieces we use, love, and recommend

Renovating an old home is all about the details. These are some of our most used and most asked about sources, from timeless lighting and unlacquered brass to rugs, textiles, and furniture that bring warmth and character to a room.

All Sources
All Sources

  • Unlacquered Brass Door Handle

    A classic brass handle that only gets better with age.

    get door handle

  • Reclaimed Pine Dining Table

    A warm, character-filled table made in the USA.

    Click Here

  • Café Curtain Clips

    see source

  • IKEA Jute Rug

    An affordable natural rug we use again and again.

    get the rug

  • Swing-Arm Wall Lamp

    Adjustable lighting with a timeless, old-house feel.

    Get Lamp

  • Clover Flush-Mount Light

    A charming flush mount for rooms with low ceilings.

    Get Flush Mount

  • Lightweight Linen Box Quilt

    A soft, simple layer for every season.

    Get the Quilt

  • Unlacquered Brass Drawer Pull

    A timeless cabinet pull with a living brass finish.

    Get Brass Pull

  • Fireclay Farmhouse Sink

    A roomy, timeless sink made for a hardworking kitchen.

    Get the Sink

There’s More to Explore

What Are You Working On?

Whether you’re planning a full remodel or looking for one good weekend project, explore practical advice from more than a decade of renovating old homes.

Links & Musings The Hill House Bathroom Renovations Design & Decorating House Keeping & Maintenance Hardware & Lighting Remodels

Read This Next

It Started With a Fixer-Upper and a Willingness to Try Anything

We bought our first fixer-upper in 2008 with no idea what we were doing. More than a decade and many old houses later, we’re still learning, renovating, and sharing it all here.

Read Our Story

Explore Our Homes & Favorite Rooms

Every house has taught us something new. Tour our three most recent homes, explore our most-loved kitchens and bathrooms, and find the projects, sources, and lessons behind each space.

our homes
our homes