Painting our brick house white was just the beginning of our exterior refresh. This week we’re sharing more of the plans — including one project that’s proving far more complex than we expected. We also have an exciting announcement about a color collaboration we’ve been developing, plus another round of one of everyone’s favorite segments: design norms from around the world. Expect topics like bomb shelters, frost lines, and even quirky features such as “witch windows.” On top of that, we tried an unusual subscription box that made us feel a little like detectives on a TV crime show.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- Spring has arrived, so here’s an updated photo of our house after we painted the brick white last fall, complete with the dogwood blooming in the front yard.
- Below is an image of the awning we’re planning to order from the UK. It has a gentle swoop that we had trouble matching locally, which is why we went to extra lengths to source it overseas.
- If you haven’t seen the full details about our masonry paint color collection with Romabio, check out the full blog post for in-depth information. We chose this paint after doing lots of research and testing it on our own house, and the post explains why we love it and how we selected the colors.
- There’s a special landing page with all the colors in the collection and tips for choosing shades that work with your existing roof and trim, plus door color inspiration. You can also order the paint directly through the usual retailers.
Updates
- If you missed our original episode on “design norms” from around the world, listen to Episode #133 — it’s one of our favorites. We followed up with updates in Episode #135, and the initial “shoes off” discussion was in Episode #132.
- One listener sent a great photo from a hotel in Copenhagen showing how two twin duvets can be arranged on a larger bed — a neat example of a regional bedding norm.
- We also mentioned the Vermont “witch window.” A Vermont Public Radio story covers the lore and history behind these angled windows, and it’s a neat piece of architectural folklore.
- If you’re curious about Singapore’s requirement for bomb shelter spaces in new apartments, there are feature stories that include photos and interviews with residents living with these built-in shelters. It’s a striking example of how local regulations shape design.
We’re Digging
- We tried the Hunt A Killer subscription boxes and have received two so far. The experience is immersive: each box contains evidence, clues, and story elements that make you feel like you’re solving a case. Below is a photo of some of the items we’ve gotten so far (some elements are intentionally blurred to avoid spoilers).
- We couldn’t locate the specific coupon that gave us a free first box, but the code FRIEND30 currently provides 30% off the first box.
- If you want something more family-friendly, we’ve been playing the SET card game. It’s deceptively simple once you get the hang of it, and there’s also a SET Junior version aimed at younger players.
- The top example shows three cards where most attributes match (color, shape, and shading) and only the number differs — that counts as a set.
- The middle example keeps the same shape and number but varies color and shading — also a set.
- The bottom example has no shared attributes across the cards (different number, color, shape, and shading), which still qualifies as a set under the rules.
- SET Junior is available for younger players and simplifies the concepts for early learners.
If you ever want to revisit things we’ve recommended in past episodes, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve covered on the “We’re Digging” page, plus a Book Club page with all the books we’ve recommended.
Finally, a note of thanks to Social Print Studio for sponsoring this episode. Use code YHL15 for 15% off your next order.
Thanks for listening and following along!
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