On this week’s podcast we sit down with Dana and Steve Miller of the blog House*Tweaking to talk honestly about downsizing — including the surprising benefits and the challenges — after they moved into a smaller home while their family was growing. They share how the decision helped them hit financial and family goals, and why it isn’t always an easy choice. We also recount a very unusual morning we spent together, debate when it makes sense to rent a tool instead of buying one, and hear Sherry’s quick trick for fixing dents and scratches in wood furniture.
You can download the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Use this page as a companion to find links, show notes, and photos we mentioned during the show.
What’s New
- Tools we’ve rented for specific projects (great when you only need a tool once or twice):
- Demolition hammer to remove a tile floor
- Auger for digging deck-footing holes (we rented one twice)
- Pressure washer to clean our home’s exterior
- Floor nailer for installing hardwoods in a bonus room
- Tools we own and recommend: our wet saw is one we depend on and plan to use for multiple future bathroom renovations.
- Curious about floating therapy (sensory isolation)? There’s a lot written about the practice and its potential benefits — and yes, the photos from our visit made the experience memorable.
Creepy selfie alert in 3…2…1… (yes, we got to wear purple ear plugs)
What’s Not
- Sherry mentioned an infographic about exterior upgrades that add resale value; below are some of our favorite curb-appeal projects you can tackle yourself:
- DIY landscape lighting
- Staining and sealing an old deck
- Adding window boxes
- Installing a pergola
- Painting the front door a fun color
- And plenty more curb appeal ideas in our outdoor projects archive.
Dana Miller
- Follow Dana and Steve at House*Tweaking for room tours, small-space strategies, and budget-minded design. Dana’s Instagram features many of their finished rooms and styling ideas.
- Read Dana’s reflections on downsizing and her approach to reaching financial goals. They also documented a before tour of a flip house they renovated.
- If you’re curious about some of their short-term rentals and Airbnbs, check out a few of their properties and trips:
- Nashville glamping house
- Toronto house with a kitchen swing
- Michigan City bunk-room house
- Modern Michigan lake house and space-saving ideas
- Asheville mountain house
We’re Digging
- For quick cosmetic fixes on wood floors and furniture, we’ve used stain markers for years. Two colors we keep on hand are Golden Oak and Ebony, and they’re available in many other shades to match different finishes.
- If you haven’t checked Groupon in a while, we were pleasantly surprised by the experience-based discounts available there — it’s worth a look if you’re planning a local activity or service.
Quick tip: For small dents and scratches in wood furniture, use a stain marker that closely matches the finish, then blend lightly with your finger or a soft cloth. For deeper damage, a filler plus matching stain often does the trick.
Looking for something from a past episode? We keep a master list of all the products, projects, and resources we’ve discussed on the podcast so you can find past recommendations and episode notes in one place.
For more how-to videos and five-step projects we’ve tackled, check out DIYZ and search for YHL in the app stores.
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