Our recent Chicago meet-up with fellow bloggers Chris Loves Julia, Yellow Brick Home, and Making It Lovely was equal parts heartwarming and indulgent. Beyond the meals and laughter, seeing one of their homes in person shifted our thinking about a long-held “design rule” we’d even defended on the podcast. We also share what surprised us most about the final phase of preparing our duplex for renters, a quick update on Sherry’s latest staging assignment, and a lively alternative to the usual framed picture on a wall.
This episode is available on popular podcast platforms if you prefer to listen rather than read.
What’s New
- We spent a few days in Chicago catching up with friends and fellow creators. From left to right in the photo: me, Nicole Balch (Making It Lovely), Sherry, Julia Marcum (Chris Loves Julia), Kim and Scott Vargo (Yellow Brick Home), and Chris Marcum. It was a great chance to swap stories and see each other’s homes and creative processes firsthand.
- If you want a quick visual recap of the trip, check our Instagram highlights for a short roundup—there are circles labeled for Chicago that collect the best moments.
- Highlights of what we saw and where we ate in Chicago: Lula Cafe, Lost Lake, Garfield Park Conservatory, Dove’s Luncheonette, Toni’s Patisserie, the Modern Wing of the Art Institute, Revival Food Hall, the Chicago Athletic Association (including bocce), Lonesome Rose, Cafe Marie-Jeanne, Same Day Cafe, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Summer House, and Little Goat Diner. Every stop offered inspiration, whether for food, architecture, or interior details.
- We’ve talked before about our hesitation to fill the walls with family photos. Touring Kim and Scott’s Chicago home changed our minds a little: the way they curated smaller snapshots—framed Polaroids displayed in shadowbox arrangements—proved you don’t need large-scale art to achieve a strong personal statement. The scale, repetition, and thoughtful framing gave those tiny photos real presence.
- Kim even documented how she DIYed the framing of those instant photos, which was a neat reminder that simple, inexpensive framing techniques can dramatically elevate small images.
Update
- For the full before-and-after and the story behind Sherry’s recent staging project, you can find the episode and notes from last week. The staging experiments continue to inform how we approach rental-ready design and practical styling choices.
Finishing the Duplex
- We first talked about the duplex kitchen progress over the holidays, and I optimistically hoped we’d finish furnishing in time for summer. I wildly underestimated the furniture, accessory, and logistics demands. The furnishing phase proved far more time-consuming than the construction.
- Over the last four months we made 16 separate trips to Cape Charles. Each trip was often a 5–6 hour round-trip, and many were single-day blitzes. Seeing that on a calendar made it obvious how much effort went into unpacking, assembling furniture, and making lists for the next trip.
- Most early visits were all about boxes, tools, and instructions—lots of furniture assembly and small adjustments. We slowly checked off the to-dos and refined what each rental unit needed.
- Although it took longer than expected, we’re now very close to the finish line. There are still a few kitchen items to stock and minor outdoor projects to wrap up, but the duplex is essentially complete—about 98% done after nearly two years of work.
- When we listed both sides of the duplex for summer, every available week filled within 24 hours. We were shocked and relieved by the immediate demand. As of this update, one week on the right side (late August) became available again due to a cancellation, so there may be short-notice availability for that specific week.
- We plan to release fall off-season dates later in the summer that won’t require week-long stays. Reservations for the summer season of 2020 will open after this season wraps up. We’re pacing availability intentionally, releasing dates one season at a time as we gain experience hosting.
We’re Digging
- One small but effective styling move was hanging a mobile in a duplex bedroom to animate an otherwise quiet corner. That mobile was originally from Pottery Barn and had previously hung in our bonus room. We borrowed it for the duplex because it adds movement and a sculptural touch without overwhelming the space.
- Since we reused that mobile, Sherry is now looking for a similar replacement for our home. She’s tracking a few current options and watching sales; simple moving elements like mobiles can be an unexpected way to make a room feel finished and thoughtful.
- We also surfaced a highly recommended compact car battery jump starter while preparing for long drives and late-night returns. We haven’t had to use it yet, but having it on hand feels like sensible preparedness after a couple of battery issues in the past year.
If you’re looking for something we’ve covered in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been “digging” across episodes, plus a Book Club page that gathers all the books we’ve recommended.
Finally, a big thank-you to Rothy’s for sponsoring this episode. We appreciate their support and wanted to acknowledge their contribution.
Thanks for following along and listening to our updates. We’re excited to share more progress as we move from finishing touches into full-time hosting and continued creative projects.
*This post contains affiliate links*