We’ve been in our new house for a month now, and some things have unfolded differently than we imagined. Today we’re sharing what home projects were easier than expected, which parts of settling in took surprising turns, and a few design-history nuggets — like the real origins of subway tile and why fiddle‑leaf figs have been popular long before they became trendy again. We’ll also reveal a curtain rod hack Sherry quietly tested for a year and a funny moment when Alexa commands got lost in translation.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how quickly furniture and everyday items have fallen into place. You can see some of this in our recent post about the downstairs kitchen area. We’re planning a follow‑up showing how the upstairs living room is shaping up this week.
Updates
- We reposted the map from Episode #175 to remind everyone that we now live in the Central Time Zone. We still receive messages every week asking if we’re really in Central Time or how Florida can be in Central when it’s on the East Coast. The panhandle extends into Central Time — we’re certain of it.
- There was a funny recent TV moment where Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen debated a Florida vs. Virginia question on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. We shared the clip in the show notes for a laugh.
The Story Behind Some Popular Design Trends
- We discussed a great article that inspired our conversation about “persistent” design elements like subway tile, fiddle‑leaf figs, and rattan, and the cultural cycles that keep them popular. The article also touches on the rise of kitchen islands, string lights, and macramé.
- We referenced additional pieces that dive deeper into the history of fiddle‑leaf figs and subway tile to give more context about where these trends started and why they’ve endured.
- We also revisited last year’s episode with Carmeon Hamilton, “The Episode That Turned Me Into A Plant Lady,” which was a turning point for Sherry’s plant collection and full of practical plant‑care tips.
We’re Digging
- The photo above shows our curtain rods after we removed the finials. You can spot similar rods in our final furnished video tour.
- For comparison, we included how the rods looked with the ball finials attached before we moved. The change is subtle in pictures but noticeably modernized the rods in person when removed.
- We listed the curtain rods we purchased for the new house, plus a few minimalist options that come in several finishes — all great if you want low‑profile finials or a cleaner look.
- We also highlighted a fun gift idea: a small candy‑filled piñata you can send through the mail. It arrives ready to enjoy, and it made both my mom and godmother smile.
If you want to revisit any item we’ve covered in past episodes but don’t remember which show notes to open, we created a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past shows. You can also find all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
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