While we settle into our new house in Florida, here’s one last episode we recorded in Richmond. We took a moment as “Past John & Sherry” to make some predictions about our moving day and shared our hopes and fears for the first night in the new house. We also talk about temporary, affordable, and easy-to-change decor ideas that work well for renters and homeowners alike, featuring expert tips from Medina Grillo. She shared smart, practical solutions and debunked some common myths about renting. Plus: an Instagram account that cracks us up and the essentials we’re packing for our kids on the 12-hour drive to Florida.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, or Spotify.
What’s New
- These shownotes are scheduled to go live before we land in Florida. If you want real-time updates on whether our moving predictions came true, check our Instagram or Instagram Stories for the latest.
- As mentioned in the episode, we expect to spend a few nights sleeping on a mattress on the floor—similar to what we did in our second house—until we decide on a bed.
- Because Memorial Day falls next Monday, we’ll be back with a new episode on June 1st. We’re skipping our usual family celebrations so we can use that week to settle in and make sure our internet is ready to upload the podcast on June 1st.
Renter-Friendly Ideas From Medina Grillo
- Medina Grillo, of the blog Grillo Designs and author of Home Sweet Rented Home, joined us to share renter-friendly decorating strategies that look custom but remain temporary and budget-friendly.
- Many of Medina’s transformations feel highly personalized, yet most are temporary, affordable, and simple to reverse—perfect for renters or anyone wanting flexible decor.
- One idea Medina discussed is removing the doors from upper kitchen cabinets and storing them until move-out. This creates open shelving, which can be enhanced with removable wallpaper or contact paper applied to the backs of the cabinets for a cohesive, intentional look.
- She also shared a tutorial for using removable wallpaper on a floor—yes, wallpaper on a floor—in an entryway. With removable wallpaper, she got durable wear for over two years and was able to remove it cleanly when she updated the flooring later.
- We’ve grown fond of removable wallpaper too. We’ve used it in our beach house middle bedroom and in removable wallpaper murals for duplex sleeping nooks. It’s a fast, low-commitment way to add pattern and personality.
- Medina also runs a video series called #HowIRent, which showcases inspiring renter makeovers. She highlighted an episode with Zeena Shah who demonstrates a hole-free method for hanging a gallery wall, and another episode featuring creative contact paper techniques.
- If you want to take a trip down memory lane, we shared tours of our early apartments, including our first Richmond apartment together, Sherry’s NYC apartment in the Village, and my NYC apartment on the Upper West Side. Those tours show how our style evolved and capture years of DIY experimentation.
We’re Digging
- Our son (age 6) has been loving Paint By Sticker books for car trips. He received the Zoo Animals book for his birthday, and we picked up Original and Sea Creatures for the long drive. They’re inexpensive and perfect for keeping kids engaged.
- There are also Paint By Sticker editions for adults, including a vintage travel posters version that looks fun for grown-ups who enjoy a relaxed creative activity.
- We’ve been enjoying the Instagram account @subparparks. Illustrator Amber Shares pairs charming park drawings with real one-star reviews—an unexpectedly funny combination. She also offers posters and postcards if you want the art beyond the feed.
If you want to revisit items we’ve recommended in past episodes, check our master list of “We’re Digging” picks across previous shows. You can also browse all the books we’ve mentioned on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They’re offering 20% off across their site through June 30th with the code COMFORT20.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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