Our beach house has surprised us with a lot of challenges, but frozen pipes was one of the scarier unexpected ones. Fortunately the situation had a mostly happy ending — aside from one foolish move in the final minutes that taught us a lesson. We also dig into whether premium, high-end paints are worth the price or if you’re better off with paint from the local hardware store. The conclusion may surprise you. Plus: how Sherry is fighting visual clutter with larger-scale accessories and how John is dealing with social media FOMO.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify, or listen on the podcast player on the original post. Use this page to explore the links, photos, and notes we referenced during the show. If you’re in a feed reader, click through to the full post to see the player.
What’s New
- The photo above is what our neighbor sent of the beach house during the recent “bomb cyclone” that brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures. That storm put our plumbing at serious risk and nearly led to frozen pipes.
- I wish I had photographed the weird duplex toilet we described on the episode — at the time I was more preoccupied with larger problems — but here’s an exterior shot of the house blanketed in snow instead.
- If you need guidance on preventing or handling frozen pipes, check the American Red Cross for practical steps and safety tips.
- My resolution word for the year, which I discussed in an earlier episode, is explained in Episode #78 if you want more context about that decision.
- Also: I’m debating whether to buy a particular t-shirt mentioned on the show — still on the fence!
- Our 2017 Family Yearbook from Blurb is scheduled to arrive this week. We ordered the “Standard Landscape” photo book and used a 30% off coupon received after registering. We’ll share photos and impressions when it arrives. In the meantime, you can browse past yearbooks and album peeks for inspiration.
Can We Just Talk About?
- We based part of our conversation on a Washington Post piece asking, “Are expensive, trendy paint brands really worth it?” That article sparked a lively debate about whether to splurge on premium paints or stick with affordable options.
- To see examples of paint we’ve used over the years: our first house features several Glidden colors and a full house tour, while our second home includes largely Benjamin Moore choices and a complete color palette overview.
- Across both homes we’ve used many different paint brands, so we compared durability, coverage, finish, and overall value when weighing expensive versus budget-friendly products.
- Architectural Digest published an opinion piece supporting high-end paints like Farrow & Ball and outlined reasons those brands carry higher price tags — better pigments, richer finish, and more refined color depth among them. We discuss those points and when they might justify the splurge versus a more economical choice for everyday rooms.
We’re Digging
- Sherry mentioned a large-scale faux fern that solved a cluttered-looking console in our dining room; the oversized plant adds scale and reduces visual noise from many small accessories.
- She’s been favoring more substantial accessories instead of a collection of tiny knick-knacks. Below are several large-scale items she likes for simplifying and elevating shelf and console styling: options 1 through 8 in the original product list.
- One book recommendation we brought up is This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving Where You Live — a thoughtful read about how to make any home feel right for you.
image source
If you want to revisit items we’ve highlighted on past episodes, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across previous shows that you can browse for ideas and references.
Finally, thanks to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode. Use the code YHL15 to get 15% off orders at AnnieSelke.com/YHL — cushions, bedding, rugs, and more were featured during today’s episode.
Thanks for listening and reading — we appreciate your support and can’t wait to share more stories, tips, and product finds in the next episode.
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