When a neighbor shared historical documents about our 100-year-old beach house, we were shocked to uncover a 1936 story involving jealousy and even murder. This week we’re sharing what we learned about that event along with other surprising details from the house’s past. We also help a listener maximize the storage she already has and point out additional places to stash things (because no one ever says, “I have too much storage space”). Plus, we share a Christmas gift that’s been helping Sherry with insomnia and a small, inexpensive accessory that’s making John’s special eyes even more visible.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- Below is a peek at the pantry we worked on at the beach house over the holiday break. You can see more by watching our highlighted Stories on our Instagram page (open the IG app, go to our profile, and tap the circles above the photo grid to view those Stories).
- Below is a photo from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel official site that shows how massive the 23-mile bridge is that we cross to get to Cape Charles. You can also view it on Google Maps to appreciate the stretch of water between mainland Virginia and the Eastern Shore peninsula.
- As promised, here’s the “crab pot” the town hoisted by crane and dropped on New Year’s Eve in Cape Charles. It was charming and fun — the photos don’t fully capture how delightful it felt in person.
- In more unsettling news: below is an online clipping from a 1936 article about the old murder mystery connected to our house. There’s also a more recent local article that revisits the decades-old crime and its context.
Storage
- For more ideas on making storage both functional and attractive, listen to Episode #60, where we spoke with Clea and Joanna from The Home Edit. The storage tips start around the 14-minute mark.
- Here are links to storage and organizing projects we referenced:
- Coat closet turned toy closet in the foyer (pictured above)
- Built-ins in our living room
- Built-ins in our son’s room (three-part project)
- Built-ins in our bonus room, used for toys, games, and extra linens
- We also shared how we organized our kitchen, including a video where Sherry opens almost every drawer and cabinet to explain what’s stored where and why.
- In the powder room we replaced a large vanity with a compact console sink and added a decorative basket for toilet-paper storage.
Below are some storage pieces Sherry recommended for anyone seeking practical, attractive furniture to boost storage capacity:
- An upholstered bed with a lift-up frame for under-mattress storage, available in Twin through King sizes.
- A coffee table with a split, lift-top that reveals storage and provides a tray surface for working or dining.
- A classic wall cabinet that adds bathroom storage without overwhelming the room.
- Ready-made closet systems to optimize underused closets quickly and affordably.
- A “Hide ’N Seek” shelf that mixes open display with hidden compartments for tidier storage.
- Wall-mounted shelving systems to add vertical storage without using floor space.
- An upgraded laundry hamper that looks like furniture while hiding dirty clothes.
- A customizable back-of-door organizer to capitalize on otherwise wasted space.
- An under-bed basket that’s a nicer alternative to plastic bins for frequently accessed items.
- A storage ottoman with interior compartments designed to store shoes or other small items neatly.
We’re Digging
- That’s John above wearing his laser-enhancing safety goggles, which make laser lines easier to see when cutting wood. If you don’t have a pair with your saw, an inexpensive $8 DeWalt option works well.
- And here’s the weighted blanket John ordered for Sherry. He chose a 48 x 72″ size in a 12-pound weight with a Gray Rhombus cover (a general guideline is about 10% of your body weight). The blanket helps reduce nighttime restlessness and also doubles as sound-dampening padding in our podcast setup — surrounding ourselves with blankets and pillows reduces echo.
If you’re trying to remember a product or project we mentioned in a past episode, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve featured on the show.
Finally, many thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They offered a free $30 gift set (including a tin caddy and Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies) when you signed up and spent your first $20.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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