We’re sharing a short pop-in episode to tell one of Sherry’s most embarrassing stories from the podcast — naturally it happened in the nicest house we’ve ever been in and in front of one of her design heroes. We also cover what remains on our to-do list, answer the frequently asked question about our next big project, and talk about what feels different in this house compared to our last one (including the different impressions the houses might give if you walked in without us there). Finally, we each highlight recent home purchases and the books and TV shows that have been making us laugh—or keeping us on the edge of our seats in a good way.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We mentioned three “big” projects in our last podcast episode from 20 months ago. Here are the blog posts that show how they turned out (and, in the case of the bathroom, why we changed course):
- Our Small But Mighty Kitchen Is Done!
- Finally! Real Walkways & A Legitimate Parking Spot For Two
- 4 People + 1 Bathroom: How & Why It Works For Us
- We’re writing a follow-up post about updating the cabinets in our utility closet. Meanwhile, you can revisit the original utility closet makeover that used a cube organizer—we lived with that solution for about a year to test it out.
- Here’s our improvised “podcasting cocoon” where we recorded this episode. There really is a microphone behind those pillows—we stacked them to help with sound, and also used a blanket on the table and closed curtains to dampen echo.
- If you’re curious about other recording setups we used in the old house, check Episode #160’s show notes and the original “baby chair” setup in Episode #29’s notes.
Well That’s Embarrassing
- Our friendship with Vern Yip began when he called into our podcast in 2016 and we officially met in 2017 at his book signing. Over the years we connected on Instagram and try to meet when he’s nearby. Penny was absolutely star struck.
- We know you want to see the reenactment photo Sherry took after her ordeal—note the visible hinges on the open door in the powder room selfie.
- We couldn’t dig up the older episode with Sherry’s Kevin Bacon story, but you got the gist in this episode—if you find it in the archives, feel free to let Sherry know.
Which House Feels The Most Like “Us”?
- It’s a subjective feeling that’s hard to put into words, but comparing photos can help. Below is a photo of the ensuite bathroom in our last house (one of three) followed by a photo of our current shared bathroom to show the contrast.
- Compare our current home’s exterior to the last one and you can see what we mean by one feeling quirkier and more casual, while the previous house felt more stately and traditional.
- Sherry pointed out the contrast between kitchens as well: one with a massive 10′ island and thick quartz, and the other with a casual dining table centered in a smaller room.
- Another comparison is the closet experience: our previous house had a walk-in closet, while the current bedroom uses Ikea wardrobes placed along the wall. Photos help show how different those setups feel to us.
- None of these photos perfectly capture how the contrast feels in person, since it’s an emotional and subjective reaction, but hopefully they illustrate the general idea we tried to explain in the episode.
We’re Digging
- Here are the books we mentioned and a few favorites Sherry has been enthusiastic about:
- The Light Pirate
- The Measure
- The Only One Left
- We also talked about several TV shows; here are the titles we referenced:
- Only Murders In The Building (currently on season 3)
- Based On A True Story (one season)
- Barry (series concluded, four seasons)
- Home finds we mentioned:
- Acrylic purse dividers Sherry uses to keep small purses and clutches organized (sold in a two-pack).
- The clear nail polish caddy that helped Sherry organize and display her nail polish collection more clearly.
- I picked up a refurbished Echo Show 5 for the kitchen and got a great deal during a sale. The tropical plant clock face that won Sherry over is one of the standard display options, so we didn’t do anything custom to get it.
- We also mentioned that Amazon sells certified refurbished versions of the larger Echo Show 15 if you’re curious about that display.
- If you want to find past items we’ve recommended but don’t remember which episode mentioned them, there’s a master list of things we’ve been digging from previous episodes, and our Book Club page lists all the books we’ve recommended.
Finally, thanks to ShopTherapedic for sponsoring this episode. They had a Labor Day mattress promotion and continue to offer discounts; check their site or retailers to see current deals.
Thanks for listening!
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