Home projects rarely go exactly as planned. We’re deep in a duplex renovation right now, so we wanted to share practical strategies we use to stay positive when a remodel starts to feel overwhelming, gets delayed, or runs into an unexpected snag. We’ll also highlight a few bathroom trends that caught our attention (one of them even surprised Sherry), and we’re announcing the start of our no-TV challenge.
You can listen to this conversation on your favorite podcast app (search for the “Young House Love” podcast).
What’s New
- If you missed our earlier fridge delivery saga, we shared the original story in Episode #126 and the follow-up about a dented door in Episode #127. The delivery drama has been a real test of patience, but also a reminder that persistence wins when coordinating big deliveries during a renovation.
- On our most recent trip, a delivery person pointed out a convincing scrape on the other fridge. It lined up with the handle screw and looked like a drill had nicked the finish—small damages like this can be surprisingly upsetting in the middle of a project.
- Finally, we have a sneak peek of the counters that were installed: Silestone quartz in Pearl Jasmine, the same surface we used on the beach house island. We’ll share wider kitchen shots once things settle (blog post coming soon).
- In last week’s newsletter we explained why we picked these counters (three separate reasons!). If you like behind-the-scenes decision-making and sneak peeks, subscribing to the newsletter delivers that extra context each week.
- We also briefly mentioned a no-TV challenge in a recent episode—more on that below.
2019 Bathroom Trend Quiz
House & Home published a list of bathroom trends to watch for 2019. Some highlights that we recognized in our own projects:
- Buttery brass finishes — warm hardware that adds a vintage or luxe note to faucets and fittings.
- Off-kilter tubs — asymmetrical or sculptural tubs that act as a focal point rather than disappearing into the background (Sherry had a strong reaction to this one, but it can be surprisingly elegant).
- Tile statement walls — bold tile installations that create an accent or feature plane in a bathroom. We used this approach a few years ago in our beach house hall bath.
We also installed a tile feature in our 2014 showhouse bathroom that still feels fresh, and at the beach house we used a frameless shower panel to create an “invisible” shower wall—no metal framing and a continuous floor help blend the shower into the room.
We also purchased bold “statement mirrors” for the duplex powder rooms. They’re large and dramatic—currently out of stock in some places—but we hope they return because they’ll make those small spaces feel special.
Listener Question
- If you want more practical ideas for fighting project fatigue, celebrating small wins, or lifting your mood during a renovation, go back to Episode #90 for a deeper dive. We talk through rituals and small celebrations that help maintain momentum when projects drag on.
We’re Digging
- HomeGoods inventory can be browsed online through the TJ Maxx site under the Home section. That’s especially handy when you need to find two of the same item but can’t locate duplicates in store.
- We’ve found lots of useful home items online—decor, storage pieces, small appliances and repeatable finds that make staging multiple rooms easier. When shopping remotely, look for the store’s Home or HomeGoods sections to narrow results.
- For outdoor lighting we bought an outdoor smart plug that was easy to set up and features two independently controlled outlets—handy for patio string lights that you want to run on schedules. If you install a plug outside, consider a weatherproof “in-use” cover to protect the outlet while keeping the smart plug connected.
- We’ve also shared many posts about our favorite smart home devices and how we use timers and sensors to automate lighting and other systems; these paired strategies save energy and make life easier in finished homes as well as renovation sites.
If you want to find an item we mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we keep a master list of items we’ve recommended across episodes as well as a page with every book we’ve discussed in the Book Club.
A quick thank you to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They offered a welcome gift pack that included some popular cleaning products and accessories—something to consider if you’re restocking household supplies during a renovation.
Thanks for following along and listening. If you’re in the thick of a remodel, remember: keep celebrating the small wins, build buffers into your schedule, and don’t be afraid to ask for help—projects go smoother when you pace yourself.
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