The beach house is finally feeling like a real home. After more than a year of projects, we now have working appliances, a kitchen island, and even a functioning sink. The newly plumbed clawfoot tub didn’t give Sherry the serene experience she expected at first, but the plumber fixed it and she enjoyed a properly relaxing bath this past weekend. We also share practical advice for mixing wood tones so a room looks collected rather than chaotic, highlight this year’s favorite no-fuss Christmas decoration, and bring back a fan-favorite segment as our holiday gift to you.
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What’s New
- That photo above is the one Sherry sent while I was at the hardware store to brag about the relaxing bath she was about to take—before things went sideways. Fortunately the plumber resolved the issue, and she had a calm, enjoyable soak a few days later.
- We attended the Cape Charles Holiday Cookie Trail, a free local event where we toured B&Bs, private homes, and sampled cookies. Below are highlights, starting with a charming Bed & Breakfast that’s actually visible from our house.
- Before it became a B&B this home belonged to a family with 10 kids, so it’s remarkable that many original details—like this beautiful stair window—remain in great condition.
- Here’s one of the renovated bungalows we loved touring. Yes, we still love a pink house.
- This house wasn’t open for the public tour, but we often admire it on our walks. The kids were thrilled to see it all decked out for Christmas.
- Here’s the “rope railing” we mentioned on the podcast. Steel clips secured the rope under the rail, and the rope flowed up and down the stairs in an S-shaped pattern.
- At the top of the stairs we found a finished attic converted into a kids’ bunk room. There were four full beds tucked into little nooks—utterly charming.
Quick Tip
- For more on mixing metals you can listen to Episode #37 where we discuss brass and other finishes.
- The photo below illustrates how to mix wood tones successfully: lighter woods appear in the chair finishes and the small marble side table, mirrored by blinds, frames, and a wooden box. A medium, warmer wood tone shows up in the TV table and woven baskets, tying to the hardwood floors. The dark gray side tables aren’t wood, but having two of them creates balance and connects to the sofa’s gray and the rug’s deeper blue-gray tones. The goal is repetition and intentional contrast so everything feels cohesive rather than random.
We’re Digging
- We’ve loved these LED Streetside Brightness cordless window candles for two Christmas seasons and recently brought them to the beach house. They’re a major upgrade from plug-in candles—no cords and they run on autopilot after the initial setup, saving time when you’re getting ready for bed.
- We also noted that the podcast is available on Spotify and you can listen to the show there if you prefer that platform.
If you’re trying to find something we’ve mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we keep a master list of everything we’ve featured in previous episodes.
There’s no sponsor this week. We dedicated the episode to you—our listeners—because we’re so grateful you tune in. Enjoy the holidays and thanks for listening.
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