Many of us live with dual-purpose rooms — a mudroom that doubles as a laundry space, a breakfast nook that turns into a homework spot, or the classic guest-room-slash-office. Today we share practical tips for making a single room function well in multiple roles, so it feels balanced rather than like it does one thing much better than the other. We also talk about an attic-clutter revelation, John’s subtle negotiation technique, and the new tool he’s longed for. Sherry explores a few unconventional wellness accessories she’s curious about — items that claim to help with sleep, allergies, or mood.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it below. Use this page to check any links, notes, or photos we mentioned. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- If you missed our big news last week, catch up on episode #64 and see the “before tour” of our new duplex.
- You can hear about our failed yard sale from a few years back in Episode #56 and view this year’s yard-sale promo photo we shot the day before the sale.
- We haven’t installed the new Nest thermostats in the beach house yet, but we got the Nest Thermostat E. The white finish blends in more subtly, and while it lacks the full “learning” features of the standard Nest, we plan to program it and make any adjustments from our phones.
- Read more about why we love our Nest thermostats and how straightforward installation is. We’ve used a first-generation Nest for years with no complaints — it saves energy and money.
What’s Not
- There’s a helpful rundown of the cast for the Trading Spaces reboot, including bios of the new designers and carpenters.
- Below are some past podcast episodes that feature folks we mentioned:
- Sabrina Soto: Episode #2
- Vern Yip: Episode #15
- Genevieve Gorder: Episode #9
- Brian Patrick Flynn: Episode #26
- Jenni Pulos: Episode #12
- Also of note: Joanie Sprague, once an America’s Next Top Model runner-up, has hosted Run My Renovation on the DIY Network — a reminder to keep up with models-turned-carpenters!
Listener Question
- Above is a craft table we built along one wall of our guest room so the space serves a second function when it isn’t hosting overnight guests. The base drawers are two Ikea units (one found in their as-is section and a matching one later found on Craigslist) topped with a custom tiered plywood surface.
- Below is the guest side of the room. These photos are a bit older (from our second book) — when I went to snap a current shot I realized the room was full of beach-house stuff. Typically the desk only holds the sewing machine; we added extra items to prettify the book photo.
- Read about the multi-functional guest room/office/playroom we created in our first house, including the hardworking closet with a bonus shelf for extra bedding.
- From the first house, see the craft storage we installed on the back of a hallway closet (warning: those photos are from 2010 and reflect the era!).
- As suggested for craft supply organization, we recommended a plastic back-of-door shoe organizer — or a mesh version — which is perfect for corralling washi tape, tubes of acrylic paint, glue sticks, and similar small supplies.
We’re Digging
- That’s John and his dream cordless leaf blower — a Kobalt 40-Volt medium-duty blower. He bought it without a battery because he already had compatible batteries on hand.
- His corded blower, a TORO model, is still going strong after 11 years with no repairs needed.
- If you’re curious about salt lamps, Sherry bought a pair of large lamps for the living room and office, and we also picked up small salt lamp nightlights for the bedrooms and kitchen.
If you’re trying to find an item we mentioned in a past episode but can’t recall which show notes to open, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across earlier shows.
Finally, thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They offered a welcome discount for new customers and included a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Spray as a free gift with qualifying orders.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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