In this long-overdue update on our beach house renovation, we share progress: some walls are going up while others come down, and we’ve revised the floor plan again. We also revisit the bathroom renovation, which is still in progress. This episode features a conversation with Joy Cho of Oh Joy! about growing a blog into a lifestyle brand and persevering through rejection. Plus, we cover a simple upgrade that streamlined our hall bathroom and an easy sticky fix that solved an annoying cord problem in the house. And happy Valentine’s Day!
You can download the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio, or listen with the player below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos we mentioned. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to click through to see the player.
What’s New
- We’re preparing a large, detailed post with updated photos and floor plans for the beach house. In the meantime, here are a few current glimpses, including the newly constructed side shown above and several before-and-progress photos below.
Also, Sherry is Kung Fu Panda*
Updates
- If you missed our earlier discussion about Roomba quirks or want to join the Roomba poll, check Episode #32 for details and listener feedback.
- Episode #32 also tells the story about a realtor friend who recommended keeping our closet footprint rather than sacrificing it for a tub—worth listening to if you’re following our floor plan decisions.
What’s Not
- If you want more fun Valentine’s Day facts about roses, you can find several roundups and articles that cover rose trivia and the traditional meanings of rose colors.
Joy Cho of Oh Joy!
- Joy Cho’s work and product collections are showcased on her site and social channels, where you can see her playful designs and collaborations.
- She’s authored books that include colorful projects and practical advice for creative entrepreneurs and bloggers.
- Joy’s collaborations include accessible collections and everyday items—everything from lifestyle products to practical accessories mentioned in the episode.
We’re Digging
- The outlet with a built-in nightlight that we installed in the kids’ bathroom has been a simple, effective upgrade. It turns on and off automatically and adds convenience during nighttime trips.
- We repaired a frequently used charging cord with Sugru, which provided a durable, flexible fix that feels much stronger than tape. We used the classic primary color pack, but other color options are available.
Psst—if you’re looking for something we featured in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check, we maintain a master list of all items we’ve been digging across episodes.
To see the Smartstuff nursery makeover and the viral video that started it all, visit the Smartstuff site referenced in the episode notes.
*This post contains affiliate links*