On this week’s podcast we talk with Dana and Steve Miller of the blog House*Tweaking about what it’s really like to downsize. They made the move to a smaller home even as their family grew, and they share how the change helped them reach financial and family goals — while also being honest about the challenges. We also describe a very strange morning we spent together, discuss when it makes sense to buy a tool versus renting one, and Sherry shares a quick trick for fixing dents and scratches in wood furniture.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it below. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos mentioned during the show. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- Projects where we relied on rented tools:
- Renting a demolition hammer to remove a tile floor
- Renting an auger — twice — to dig holes for deck footings
- Renting a pressure washer to clean our home’s exterior
- Renting a floor nailer to install hardwoods in our bonus room
- We also own and recommend a wet saw we’ve used for multiple bathroom renovations.
- If you’re curious about “floating,” there are resources and benefit pages from places that offer the experience, and of course we included photos from our visit.
Creepy selfie alert in 3…2…1… (yes, we got to wear purple ear plugs)
What’s Not
- Sherry referenced an infographic for top value-adding exterior upgrades. Here are some of our favorite curb appeal projects we’ve completed ourselves:
- Adding DIY landscape lighting
- Staining and sealing an old deck
- Adding window boxes
- Building a pergola
- Painting the front door a bright color
- …and many more exterior projects
Dana Miller
- Follow Dana and Steve at House*Tweaking and see their stylish Instagram feed for more photos and ideas.
- Read Dana’s posts on downsizing and reaching financial goals, and see their flip-house tour for context on their design process.
- If you’re interested in their short-term rental projects, they’ve shared several stays and space-saving ideas, including:
- Nashville glamping house
- Toronto house with a kitchen swing
- Michigan City bunk room house
- Modern Michigan lake house with space-saving ideas
- Asheville mountain house
We’re Digging
- We’ve used stain markers for years to hide floor and furniture scratches. Golden Oak and Ebony are two staples we reach for, and they’re available in many other colors.
- Also worth noting: Groupon still offers experience-based discounts that can be handy for outings and activities.
Psst — Looking for something we’ve featured in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open? We put together a master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes to help you find it quickly.
Visit DIYZ.com/YHL to learn more or download the app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, and search for “YHL” to find video walkthroughs of several five-step projects we completed.
*This post contains affiliate links*