December is here, and with it comes the show notes for Episode 27 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. This week’s episode focuses on pacing yourself through home renovations so that enthusiasm doesn’t push you past your budget, timeline, or skill level. We outline sensible starting points, ways to redirect when a project should wait, and tips for avoiding costly mistakes. John shares a rather unusual DIY battle wound from work at the beach house, and Sherry describes a few fresh twists on their holiday decorating. We also recommend stocking-stuffer ideas for DIYers and decor lovers and marvel at some of the stranger products that have come out of Shark Tank.
You can download the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it on your favorite podcast player. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos we referenced in the episode.
What’s New
- Above is a shot of the new tree up in the bonus room. We also shared a photo of Sherry’s “cage o’ presents.”
- Some ornaments we picked for the tree include a hot chocolate mug ornament, a winter bear, and a wooden bear.
- We’ll spare you a close-up of John’s poison ivy, but here’s a look at the old metal shed at the beach house that likely caused the rash. It sits awkwardly close to the neighbor’s house along the property line.
- We also pulled out a giant piece of brush that was likely the poison ivy culprit.
- And for reference, here’s what the inside of that shed looked like. Yowza.
Updates
- If you want the original conversation about stairs with white risers, check out Episode 23 to hear that discussion and many listener comments on Facebook and Instagram.
- We mentioned a book we’re really into called Overview; it’s a helpful resource for getting a broad perspective on home projects. We also shared another image from their Instagram account in the episode notes.
What’s Not
- John referenced a list of standout Shark Tank products during the show. A few of the ones we mentioned are:
- Squatty Potty (a toilet stool)
- HoodiePillow (a pillow with a hood)
- CittiKitty (toilet training for cats)
- Nerdwax (paste to keep glasses from sliding)
- SoapSox (bathtime puppets)
- EcoNuts (organic laundry soap)
- Unshrinkit (shrunken sweater restorer)
- PhoneSoap (UV light sanitizer for phones)
- EVP – Extreme Vehicle Protection (a weatherproof car bag)
- AFreSheet (disposable sheet layers)
- Pavlok (a wristband that uses small electric stimuli to help break habits)
- We highly recommend watching the EVP car bag demo — it’s essentially a giant bag for your car and is unexpectedly entertaining to see in action.
Listener Question
- We referenced our reasoning for favoring a “Phase 1” approach to decorating when answering Joy’s question. A Phase 1 helps you test the space and make low-cost adjustments before committing to larger investments.
- You can also view the wood divider Sherry removed in their first home’s living room photos for context on how small changes can open up a space.
- If you’d like to leave us a voicemail question, call 571-4-YHLHAP (571-494-5427).
We’re Digging
- Stocking ideas for a DIYer: safety goggles, work gloves, durable rags, carpenter pencils with a sharpener, a tape measure or pocket tape, a small work light or flashlight, sanding blocks, a short-handled paintbrush, and a sturdy bucket. These small tools are practical, affordable, and always appreciated.
- Finds for the decor enthusiast: 3M Command Velcro, OOK picture hangers, a reliable level, a nicely scented candle, an attractive frame, seasonal ornaments, a small plant (real or faux), a pretty dish towel, and a ceramic accent piece. These items are great for gifting and help refresh a space without a large investment.
Psst — Looking for something we’ve recommended in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check? We maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging from previous episodes to help you find past suggestions quickly.
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