Remember the refrigerator argument from Episode #74? This time we found ourselves debating appliance placement again—two different kitchen layouts for the duplex sparked a lively form-versus-function conversation. In this episode we share both perspectives, the few days it took to cool off, and the compromise that finally satisfied both sides. We also talk about why this phase of the duplex renovation is particularly mind-bending, how we deal with hitting a design wall and getting past it, a simple fix for an age-old home office annoyance, an update on Sherry’s weighted blanket, and an easy upgrade to a money-saving printer solution we’ve started using. Oh, and we resolved that weird locked-out-of-Instagram issue!
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify. Note: if you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to click through to the post to access the episode player.
What’s New
- Over the weekend I managed to photograph some of the tile work in Cape Charles. A few rooms were messy while floors were prepped for refinishing, so we’ll share additional shots soon—look for a full tiling post that Sherry plans to publish.
- In the meantime, you can review all of our tile selections here to see the options we considered for the duplex.
Updates
- If you missed our earlier chat about Instagram hacking and the account problems we experienced, see Episode #118 for the full story.
- For more background on the weighted blanket Sherry mentions, check out Episode #79.
- We have the specific blanket we use linked in past posts—one option has a removable cover and the other is a more affordable version without the removable cover; both are 12 pounds and roughly 4′ x 6′.
Duplex Kitchen
- To help explain our kitchen layout debate, here’s a photo of the kitchen we took last month. The photo shows the RIGHT side of the duplex, but I flipped it in my renderings so everything aligns with the LEFT-side plans I drew. In the image I’m standing in the living room; the wood doors on the left lead to the mudroom/laundry, and the exposed brick chimney sits in the back right.
- Remember that the renderings are intentionally understated—the plan includes blue-green base cabinets paired with pink patterned tile on the LEFT side. The duplex will be a weekly rental, so we want the kitchen to feel lively and playful while still being functional.
- The original layout we were using placed an over-the-range microwave and included upper cabinets that would partially cover the exposed brick. That plan was created in Ikea’s Home Planner, which is handy for visualizing cabinet layouts if you’re using Ikea products.
- When we removed the upper cabinets and substituted a range hood, more of the chimney brick became visible from the main room viewpoint. That change prevented the counter from feeling like “a box of bricks” and opened the visual field considerably.
- From the mudroom/laundry-room perspective, the original plan with upper cabinets would have shown more of the chimney, where we imagined adding a few floating shelves or ledges. The new plan reduces cabinet coverage and creates a more open, cohesive look—still with room for color and patterned tile, and possibly a shiplap treatment along the stove wall.
- The adjacent mudroom will gain cabinetry to serve as an extended pantry. In the rendering you can see where the wide doorway used to have pocket doors; these new cabinets will sit just a few steps from the sink, making storage convenient. Ikea’s planner isn’t ideal for laundry scenes (so sometimes appliances show up as placeholders), but the concept is clear: upper cabinets in the mudroom will reach to the ceiling for maximum storage.
- As a reminder, upper kitchen and mudroom cabinets will be white, while the colorful base cabinets and patterned tile will bring personality to each side of the duplex. See our tile selection and mood boards for more details.
We’re Digging
- We recently replaced our old printer with a compact model that fits inside an IKEA storage cabinet we bought years ago. That cabinet (now discontinued) has held up well and even includes space inside the door for our kids’ artwork. The new printer stores paper in a bottom drawer so we no longer have to pull out a tray every time, and it also supports automatic two-sided printing.
- I picked up the printer at Target and we signed up for HP Instant Ink to save on replacement cartridges—an easy money-saving upgrade that has already reduced our printing costs.
- Sherry also has a new hair clipper she’s been using and liking. We’ve shared our DIY haircut approach in past posts, and there’s a video showing the method if you want to see the step-by-step.
If you want to revisit topics we’ve highlighted in past episodes, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been digging, and you can find all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
And a big thank-you to Universal Furniture for sponsoring this episode. Their new “Escape” collection in collaboration with Coastal Living captures a relaxed, beachy vibe—details are available through their site.
Thanks for listening!
*This post contains affiliate links*