We’ve all noticed it: renovations on TV and online keep getting bigger and more dramatic. Where did the budget decorating shows and “use-what-you-have” makeovers go? Once a blog post could be simply “I ordered some new art.” Now it’s often an exhaustive before-and-after kitchen gut job. Our own projects have escalated over the years too, so this week we discuss how we arrived here, whether we’ve hit a tipping point, the growing urge to simplify, and how bloggers and design TV help drive the trend. We also cover some surprising uses for a tool most of us already own, and share how we finally found momentum on our beach house backyard work. Hint: it rhymes with schmot mub.
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WHAT’S NEW
- Our hot tub is installed, even though the beach house backyard still looks very unfinished. This is the Jacuzzi we chose and we talk more about why and where in Episode #104.
- Before delivery we had electrical run and a 4″ concrete pad poured for the hot tub (which will eventually sit within a paver patio). Below is the view from our back door. You can see the stack of pavers the contractor dropped off; we laid a temporary path to keep things from getting muddy.
- For context, here’s the general layout we’re aiming for in the backyard. It’s not perfectly to scale — we placed the hot tub closer to the back corner to leave room between it and the shed for a seating area.
- The outdoor shower sits next to the back steps in the corner. We’re still waiting on a privacy surround, but the shower kit is up and functional for now.
- The hot tub base was built with treated lumber, bricks and sand for stability, pea gravel for drainage, and topped with Azek planks for a durable, comfortable surface. Azek is a composite decking material that won’t rot. We’ll stain the wood surround to match the back steps and use the same Azek color for hot tub steps and planter boxes so the area reads cohesively.
- I mentioned getting a bad case of poison ivy during early backyard demo after we bought the place — you can hear that story in Episode #27.
- And here’s a “hot tub after dark” photo showing the garden string lights we hung. They’re temporarily strung in the trees for ambiance; we’ll drape them off the shed once it’s built. Even in this temporary state they add a lot of charm.
Take Five: 5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Tape Measure
- The tape measure shown is a Stanley FatMax 25′ tape measure, which has been reliable for us.
- We used to have a “self-centering” tape measure. While I couldn’t find the exact older model, this updated version clearly marks the half measurement under each number (for example, it lists 1″ under the 2″ mark), which makes finding the center of a measurement quick and easy. It’s especially handy when your brain is tired and you need a fast, accurate midpoint.
Big Renovation Fatigue
- We discussed the trend we call “big renovation fatigue.” A few pieces we referenced include Curbed’s “We Need A New Kind Of HGTV” and Apartment Therapy’s “America, You’ve Lost Your Freaking Mind Over Renovations.”
- We also linked to our own small guest bathroom makeover — “Our $51 Bathroom Makeover” — which cost far less than the larger projects that dominate online content.
- For more on small, staged work we often do, see our write-up about the “Phase 1” approach to renovations.
- We also highlighted bloggers who take on second properties as fixer-uppers for vacation rentals or rentals: Elsie’s Nashville Airbnb, Chris & Julia’s A-Frame cabin projects, Emily Henderson’s Mountain House and Portland projects, Katie Bower’s Monroe House, and Yellow Brick Home’s Tree House — all great examples of varied approaches to second-property renovations.
- Design firms and Instagram-based design stars doing full house renovations and thoughtful decorating include Amber Interiors and Studio McGee; they set a high bar for comprehensive makeovers.
- Finally, if you want a laugh about early blogging priorities: posts about ordering a duvet cover and then the cover arriving are classic throwbacks to how our content used to be.
We’re Digging
- Check out our new Book Club page where we’ve collected all the books we’ve recommended on the podcast over the last two years, not just the darker thrillers.
- This week I enjoyed Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson, from the author of The Kind Worth Killing. It’s a gripping read with a real-estate-tinged setup that kickstarts the mystery.
- If you need something lighter, watch Nailed It! on Netflix for a good laugh and to feel better about your own baking attempts.
If you want to find something we’ve recommended in past episodes but can’t remember which show notes to open, see our master list of everything we’ve been digging from past shows.
Special thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. Use code YHL150 to get $150 off your hybrid mattress order at AgilityBed.com. They offer free shipping and a 100-night return policy if you’re not satisfied.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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