Welcome to the show notes for Episode #15 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we discuss college students whose over-the-top dorm rooms are making headlines, share where we land in that conversation, and reflect on our own college-housing memories. We also get design tips from HGTV’s Vern Yip, describe our first impressions of meeting Emily Henderson, geek out over a smart home tour, and recount a frustrating vase-and-rice mishap that taught us a lesson.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it from the embedded player below. This page collects the links, notes, and photos we mentioned during the episode.
What’s New
- Above is the photo we snapped with Emily Henderson after HGTV’s Blogger Block Party in NYC. It’s a little rough compared with hers, but it captures the moment and our excitement at meeting her.
- We mentioned a few smart-home items our friends use: a video doorbell and smart color-changing bulbs (also available in white). These products make home monitoring and mood lighting easy to add.
What’s Not
- Sherry recommended the Novogratz book Downtown Chic, which we enjoyed. They’ve also published Home By Novogratz and have a new book coming out called Beachside Bohemian that we preordered. Their portfolio is also viewable on their official site.
- We reminisced about meeting Bob and Courtney Novogratz at our very first book signing in Cincinnati back in 2012 — a fun reminder of how far things have come.
Vern Yip Voicemail
- Vern Yip’s new book, Design Wise, is out and packed with beautiful examples and practical design advice.
- He also offers a line of fabrics and resources through his website for anyone looking to incorporate his aesthetic into their home.
Fancy Dorm Rooms
- We discussed the viral Ole Miss dorm room and other extravagant student rooms that have been circulating online. Those images sparked a national conversation about whether dorm decor has become its own competitive, aspirational niche.
- We shared a few other notable examples of over-the-top dorm setups and reflected on our own dorm and early-house experiences — including a collage photo of John’s former room, which used to be a kitchen. It’s a nostalgic look back to pre-smartphone panoramic-camera days.
- We also hoped to find a photo of Sherry’s denim-blanket-and-goldfish-shower-curtain dorm, and promised to add it here if it ever turns up.
We’re Digging
- Sherry shared some bookend styles she’s into, including sculptural and classic metal options. The metal versions are practical and can be hidden within the last book for a cleaner look, with a small vase or light object added for decoration.
- John recommended Mary Roach’s Grunt, which he’s currently reading. Other favorites by Roach we’ve referenced include Stiff, Gulp, and Bonk — engaging nonfiction that mixes curiosity with humor.
- We also showed the aftermath of a tipped vase that released a cascade of rice across the floor — a messy reminder to secure decorative fillers.
Psst — Looking for something we mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check? There’s a master list of everything we’ve featured from past episodes in our “We’re Digging” archive.
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