When we look back at past home updates, there are plenty of design choices we wish we could undo. In this post we break down five things we’d change if we could go back in time. First up: the deck is gone. We tore that huge structure off the back of the house and the yard already feels so much more open. Removing it solved some problems but also revealed more projects (you know, the classic “one thing leads to another” renovation story). We also revisit Sherry’s track record on color picks and John explains why he refuses to stick with a single tool brand.
You can download the full conversation on popular podcast platforms — Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn — or listen to the episode on the player in the original post. Use this page to follow the notes and photos we mentioned in the show. Note: if you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to open the post to access the audio.
What’s New
- The podcast episode that explains why we wanted to remove the deck is Episode #51; we talk through the reasons and the timeline in detail.
- The photo above shows the view from the kitchen now that the deck railing no longer blocks the yard. Sherry is thrilled to finally see the grass from that window.
- We don’t have an exact “before” photo from that same angle, but the additional photo below — shot by Sherry during demo from the other kitchen window — makes the deck’s dominance obvious: it felt like a big cage dropped in the middle of the yard.
- After the deck was removed the back of the house looks much more original and open. That said, we labeled a few problem areas that immediately stood out as next projects.
- From the other side you can see the massive stump that remained and the original brick steps that we’re happy to have preserved.
- Here’s a flashback to 2012, before we moved in, showing the tree that once stood where the stump is now. That tree was so large and close to the house that both the inspector and our arborist advised removing it right away — so we did, and the stump ended up under the deck.
- We’ve checked off a few items on the to-do list: the air conditioning unit was moved, an electrician tidied loose wires, and the stump was ground down. That work made the backyard feel much cleaner and more open.
- It’s still a major work in progress (those photos are a reminder that the brick could use a powerwash), but the openness is already a boost compared to when we bought the house.
What’s Not
- We also discuss Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year and how similar tones recently showed up on projects like our refinished clawfoot tub.
- If you’re curious about other Color of the Year announcements we’ve reacted to in past episodes, we referenced Behr’s 2018 pick in Episode #61 and Benjamin Moore’s 2017 pick in Episode #23.
Design Regrets
- One of our earliest regrets was the P-shaped opening in the kitchen/dining area of our second home. It created awkward sightlines and disrupted flow.
- That photo also shows other choices we’d change now: a jarring floor transition and two tall cabinets placed on opposite sides of the kitchen instead of grouped together for better function.
- We couldn’t find a high-resolution version of this image, but it still illustrates why Sherry calls that layout “P-shaped.”
- Another holiday photo we love also highlights inconsistent flooring — hardwood in the foreground, cork in the kitchen, and parquet in the adjacent hall and living room — which created a visually cluttered experience.
- Beyond that shot there were additional floor changes: wide-plank pine in the master bedroom and tile in the sunroom, both off the parquet living room, which contributed to an inconsistent flow throughout the house.
- We also think the fireplace would have been more useful if it had been double-sided so both the kitchen and living room could enjoy it. We renovated the kitchen-facing side later and loved the result — imagine having that warmth on both sides of the wall.
- We were thrilled with the kitchen fireplace makeover after the update, and retrofitting a double-sided fireplace is one of those renovation ideas we’d recommend considering early in a remodel.
- A photo from our first house — taken the day we moved out — shows how much that kitchen could’ve benefited from a backsplash. It’s a relatively small update that delivers major visual payoff.
- We’ve documented DIY-friendly backsplash installs and multiple hardwood-flooring approaches across our posts, and those resources are a great place to learn whether to glue-down, nail-down, or refinish in place.
- You can also revisit our house tours to see before-and-after examples from our first home, second home, and our current home to spot patterns and lessons learned.
We’re Digging
- One affordable tool we’ve enjoyed is a cordless hybrid trimmer/edger that can run on battery or plug in when the charge runs out — handy for beach houses and regular yard maintenance alike.
- If you want a light binge-watch recommendation, start with Season 1 of The Good Place before moving on to Season 2; watching in order makes the story far more satisfying.
If you’re looking for a summary of things we’ve recommended in past episodes, we keep a running master list of favorites and finds from previous shows that’s useful when you want to revisit what we’ve been digging.
Finally, thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Universal Furniture, and a reminder that they offered a dining room furniture sweepstakes in the original post.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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