In this episode we talk frankly about what living as a family of four with a single bathroom looks like, how we’re planning to expand that in the future, and why bathrooms have become so central to American homes. We also celebrate finally having real beds after weeks of mattresses on the floor — and explain how each bed serves a practical role in our smaller house. Along the way we explore which decor styles are trending by state and bring highlights from our Instagram conversations about Black makers and voices to the podcast.
What’s New
- We finally moved our mattress onto a simple wood platform bed so our room feels finished. It’s a basic, real-wood frame that gives us storage space underneath for frames and art we’re saving for a future guest house or shed. We like that it can accept a headboard later (we’re considering building or upholstering one) and that the wood can be stained if we want a different tone.
- For the kids we ordered two solid options that maximize storage. One bed (available at Target and Overstock) gives our daughter three sides of under-bed shelving for books and games. The bed we chose for our son has two extra-large drawers that corral toys and out-of-season clothes, which is a huge help in a small room.
Top Trending Design Styles By State
- We reviewed an Instagram-based deep dive from Angie’s List that maps the most popular interior design styles in each state. The study highlights clear regional preferences, and it’s a useful snapshot for anyone tracking décor trends or planning a regional aesthetic. (Note: there are a couple of labeling quirks for CT and NJ in the original article.)
- That same research also analyzed which states post the most interior photos on Instagram; interestingly, just three states account for roughly 40% of interior-design posts in their data set.
America’s Bathroom Obsession
- We dug into an article from The Atlantic that traces how bathrooms went from being the smallest, least valued room in the home to one of the most prized spaces for buyers. The piece provides a thoughtful history of changing priorities in house design and why bathrooms now get so much attention.
- On our end, we’re already planning where to add an ensuite off our bedroom: the kids’ current space sits where we’d like the addition. We love the kitchen window behind that spot, so we’re leaning toward using only half the porch for the new bath to preserve that double window.
- If you missed our previous bathroom projects, we linked to both a full master-bath overhaul and a smaller demo-free hall-bath refresh. Both projects show different ways to update a bath with either a major renovation or more budget-friendly tweaks.
We’re Digging
- Check our Instagram profile to see the Make Change highlight circles — they’re full of links and features for Black-owned businesses we admire. We’ve expanded those highlights since we recorded the episode, and they’re now a deep, regularly updated resource.
- We’re compiling a growing catalog of 300+ Black-owned shops and small businesses. The list will continue to expand and we plan to curate gift guides and seasonal spotlights throughout the year so this work isn’t just a one-week effort.
- On a personal note, if you haven’t read Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, we recommend it — it’s moving, sharp, and often very funny.
- We also shared podcast recommendations featuring Black hosts and stories. A few worth sampling include NPR’s Code Switch, Best Friends With Nicole Byer & Sasheer Zamata, 74 Seconds, Journeys In Greenery With Hilton Carter, The Read, The Nicole Walters Podcast, Still Processing from The New York Times, Design Perspectives with Gail M. Davis, Black, Married & Debt Free, and Slow Burn (Season 3).
If you want to find resources we’ve discussed in past episodes, we’ve created a master list of everything we’ve been digging that gathers links and notes from all shows. We also keep a Book Club page with every book we’ve recommended on the podcast.
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