When a neighbor shared historic documents about our 100-year-old beach house, we were stunned to learn about a story from 1936 involving jealousy and even murder. This week we share what we discovered, alongside other surprising facts about our home’s past. We also help a listener find creative ways to maximize storage and uncover hidden spots to stash things (“I have too much storage space,” said no one ever). Plus: a Christmas gift that’s helping Sherry manage insomnia and an inexpensive accessory that makes John’s special eyes even more special.
You can download this podcast episode from platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen through your preferred podcast player. Use this page to review the links, notes, and photos we referenced in the show. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might have to click through to the post to see the audio player.
What’s New
- Below is a peek at the pantry we refreshed at the beach house over the holiday break. You can see more of it in our Instagram Stories highlighted on our profile page (viewable in the Instagram app by tapping the circles above the photo grid).
- Here’s a photo that gives a sense of how massive the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is — the crossing we use to reach Cape Charles. It’s an impressive stretch of water between mainland Virginia and the Eastern Shore peninsula.
- As promised, here’s the crab pot that the town hoisted by crane and dropped to mark New Year’s Eve in Cape Charles. It was charming and uniquely local — a must-see if you visit.
- On a darker note, below is an online clipping from a 1936 newspaper article about the murder mystery tied to our home’s past. We also referenced a more recent article from the North Carolina town where the dentist involved in the story lived, which revisits the decades-old crime.
Storage
- We discuss making storage both beautiful and functional in Episode #60 of the podcast, when we talked with Clea and Joanna from The Home Edit. Their tips are full of practical tricks for everyday organizing.
- Here are some of the storage and organizing projects we referenced in the episode:
- Our coat closet turned toy closet in the foyer (pictured above).
- Built-in bookshelves we added around a doorway in the living room.
- The built-ins in our son’s room — a multi-part project we documented across several posts.
- Built-ins in our bonus room that store toys, games, and overflow linens.
- We also shared how we organized our kitchen, including a video walkthrough where Sherry opens nearly every drawer and cabinet to show what’s where and why.
- In the powder room we replaced a bulky vanity with a slim console sink and added a pretty basket to stow extra toilet paper — a small change with great impact.
Sherry rounded up several storage pieces that are useful when you need hardworking furniture that hides clutter and boosts function. Highlights include beds with under-mattress storage, coffee tables with lift-and-store tops, classic wall cabinets for bathrooms, ready-made closet systems, mixed display-and-hidden shelves, wall-mounted shelving systems, upgraded laundry hampers with a furniture-like look, back-of-door organizers, stylish under-bed baskets, and storage ottomans designed to hold shoes and other items in organized compartments.
We’re Digging
- Above: me wearing laser-enhancing safety goggles that make laser guide lines much clearer when cutting wood. They dramatically improve accuracy and are a low-cost safety upgrade for any workshop.
- We also mentioned the weighted blanket I bought for Sherry. I chose a 48 x 72″ size in a 12-pound weight (roughly 10% of body weight is a common guideline). It’s been a helpful tool for promoting calm and more restful sleep for people who find that gentle pressure helps them relax. We keep the blanket handy in our podcasting area to help reduce echo by softening the sound in the room.
If you’re trying to find a product or idea we mentioned in a past episode but aren’t sure which show notes to check, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve highlighted across previous shows — a handy reference for organizing, decorating, and practical home projects.
Finally, a thank-you to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. New members can receive a free gift set with qualifying first orders, which includes a tin caddy and popular cleaning products we like. We’re grateful for the support that helps keep this podcast going.
Thanks for listening, and for following along as we uncover the curious history of our century-old beach house and continue to hunt for smart, livable storage solutions.
*This post contains affiliate links*