Just when we thought the duplex renovation had settled into a steady rhythm, we were hit with an unexpected scramble: an emergency trip to Cape Charles and another nerve‑wracking meeting with the Historic Review Board. In this post we share the full story, give an update on our month‑long shopping ban (and how we resisted the many temptations), and explain how we transport large materials and furniture when we don’t own a pickup truck or oversized SUV. We DIY a lot, but we don’t have the stereotypical “DIY vehicle,” so we’ll explain the tricks we use to make things fit. Also: are millennials just especially resourceful? We muse about that, too.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it from the player on this page. Use this post to find the links, notes, and photos we mentioned. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to click through to the post to see the audio player.
What’s New
- The photo above was taken from the duplex’s backyard and shows the oddly warped chimney as it passes through the second floor. Our contractor removed the unstable section above the roofline, where the twist was even more pronounced. Since then we’ve installed temporary framing to stabilize the remaining structure while it’s reconstructed.
- Here’s a closer look at the chimney where it twists through the first‑floor ceiling. It’s a wild shape—Sherry says it reminds her of a mud‑built bird’s nest.
- This before photo shows that the odd chimney profile wasn’t visible from the street. It sits at the very back of the house, and the low roof pitch hid it from view. Because it wasn’t a street‑facing feature, the Historic Review Board approved removing the unstable portion above the roofline.
- We didn’t take photos during the meeting—those sessions feel so formal and tense that we were both sweating—but I did snap the building where the board meets. It’s a charming old church converted into the town’s Civic Center, just a block from our beach house. The echoey space made keeping our four‑year‑old quiet for three hours even more of a feat.
Updates
- If you missed our initial discussion, the idea of a “shopping ban” started in Episode #89, and we laid out the specific rules in Episode #93. The goal was to curb impulse buys and focus on what we actually need for the house projects.
- Readers shared great ideas in the comments on Instagram and Facebook. Those conversations are helpful if you’re thinking about trying your own shopping hiatus.
- We’ve also written before about the Richmond Craft Mafia’s Spring‑Bada‑Bing craft fair, which we mentioned on the show, and their Handmade Holiday event in December—both great local craft markets worth checking out if you like handmade goods.
Listener Question
- The image above shows the time we cut a long Ikea panel in the store parking lot so it would fit in the back of our Toyota Highlander. These were side panels for the kitchen island at the beach house; I made rough cuts with a cordless jigsaw to get them into the car, then refined the cuts precisely once we arrived. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
- I used the same approach years ago when I transported drywall for another project—once, I even hauled sheets in a Nissan Altima. The way you pack and trim materials matters more than the vehicle you drive.
- We switched to a 2014 Toyota Highlander just before our son was born because our Altima got cramped with two car seats and a dog crate. It’s not a truck, but it gives us extra cargo flexibility for most weekend projects.
- When a project requires more space than our Highlander offers, we rent inexpensive hourly trucks—from Home Depot or Lowe’s—or a U‑Haul for larger jobs. For example, we rented a truck to bring home materials for an irrigation system and used a U‑Haul to pick up a vintage pink stove. Renting is often cheaper and easier than owning a second vehicle we’d rarely use.
- We coined “hauling things with a tiny car” back in 2010 when we still had a Nissan Maxima. Looking back at those photos—Sherry squeezed into the backseat with a set of bi‑fold doors—reminds us that creativity goes a long way when you don’t have a dedicated utility vehicle.
We’re Digging
- We’ve been admiring the work of @kmsalvagedesign on Instagram. The artist creates layered, textured prints that look spectacular either on their own or as part of a large gallery wall. Prints are available through the artist’s site, and the process videos show how meticulous and deliberate each piece is.
- On the kid front, our children have been obsessed with Aquabeads. Our son received the Beginner’s Studio for his birthday, and our daughter will soon have the Deluxe Studio. Separate stations mean fewer fights over craft time, and we may grab a refill pack when supplies run low. These small activities have been a surprisingly calm, creative outlet during busy renovation weeks.
If you want a quick reference for items we’ve featured in past episodes, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been digging across the podcast archives.
Finally, thanks to Room & Board for sponsoring this episode. We love their furniture—especially the bunk bed that inspired the built‑in bunks at our beach house. Browse their collection at roomandboard.com/YHL and sign up for their free catalog if you want printed inspiration delivered to your door.
Thanks for listening and following along—your support means a lot to us!
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