We’re sharing how our bathroom renovation went from zero to fifty percent (you’ll see why that phrasing makes sense once you read what we tackled) and what we learned about the best layout and ideal sizes for the vanity, shower, tub, and other fixtures. We also dug into the houseplant struggle and interviewed plant expert Carmeon Hamilton to get real, practical guidance on keeping indoor greenery alive and thriving. She recommended easy starter plants, explained when to water, repot, and fertilize, and gave pest-control tips we were surprised to learn. Plus, we’re highlighting a versatile tool we loved so much we bought two, and there was an unexpected twist in our color-of-the-year predictions that even surprised us.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- If you missed our post a couple of weeks ago about partially gutting the bathroom, check out the before tour to see how much the view has already improved and why the new layout felt worth committing to.
- We love classic tile choices used in fresh patterns—timeless materials can feel modern when you change the lay pattern or orientation.
- Once the layout became clear, we felt comfortable ordering the major pieces: a tub, a toilet, and a large double vanity that will fit perfectly. We’re leaning toward painting the vanity a muted gray-brown to match our inspiration photo.
- The toilet we chose is the same model we’ve used in our downstairs powder room for years. It feels appropriately stately and reliable, and it’s satisfying to upgrade another bathroom in the house.
Colors of the Year
- We guessed a few colors for Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year on an earlier episode, but the actual pick was a dark navy called Naval. It was a surprise compared with our guesses.
- Sherry’s earlier guess about a soft “blush” or “peachy” pink—lighter than Millennial Pink—ended up resembling HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year, Romance.
- One of us is now predicting a muddy, clay-like green-gray as Benjamin Moore’s possible pick; it’s a texture-forward, earthy hue that’s gaining traction in design circles.
Carmeon Hamilton’s Plant Parenting Tips
- Carmeon has a helpful book called Nubi’s Guide to Plant Parenting with practical advice for new plant owners. It’s an affordable resource if you want more than just the quick tips below.
- Her top three beginner-friendly plants that tolerate a range of light conditions are pothos, snake plant, and ZZ plant. Note: many popular indoor plants can be toxic to pets, so check pet safety if you have animals that nibble on leaves.
- Carmeon prefers monsteras over fiddle leaf figs for their forgiving nature and sculptural leaves. There are many size and price options available, from starter plants to larger statement specimens, so you can choose based on space and budget.
- She offers propagation guides for pothos and monstera on her blog, which are great for growing your plant collection affordably and learning basic propagation techniques.
- For pest control, she recommends a simple spray made from water with a few capfuls of apple cider vinegar or a small amount of neem oil, plus a couple drops of dish soap. Spray the affected plant outside, wipe the leaves, and return it indoors after a few hours once it’s dry.
- Carmeon also recommends a balanced liquid fertilizer for houseplants; using a gentle, regular feed helps indoor plants grow healthier between repottings.
We’re Digging
- We’re loving the Ryobi inflator. It’s compact and versatile: great for bike tires, sports balls, floats at the beach, and other inflatables. It’s an inexpensive, multipurpose tool that’s proved useful enough that we bought two.
- On a lighter note, Sherry has started adding photos and little emojis to contacts in her phone, which makes everyday texts feel more fun—like when I text her about bread and she gets an exaggeratedly sentimental reaction.
If you’re trying to remember a recommendation we mentioned in a past episode, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across all episodes. We also keep a Book Club page listing every book we’ve recommended on the show.
Finally, thanks to Annie Selke for sponsoring this episode. Their seasonal collection includes new rug patterns that we love. Use the promotional code YHL15 for 15% off select orders.
Thanks for reading and listening!
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