After testing our approach to “Cozy Minimalism” in our own home—and loving the results—we invited Myquillyn Smith, author of Cozy Minimalist Home, to talk about how she combines coziness and minimalism into a clear, step-by-step decorating method. In this conversation she explains how to stop buying the wrong accessories, why there is an effective order to decorating a room, and which common impulse purchases are worth avoiding. We also share practical tiling progress from the duplex (one technique made the job noticeably easier), and Sherry admits she’s finally leaning into autumn colors and finishes.
You can download the episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, or Spotify — or listen through your preferred podcast app. Use this page for links, show notes, and photos referenced in the episode.
What’s New
- We began tiling the duplex over a single weekend, and seeing our tile choices come to life was exciting. We still need to grout and install quarter round along baseboards, and we’ll share updated photos once that work is complete. The mudroom tile you see above installed quickly because each tile is large—nearly 1.5 feet by 3 feet—so covering the floor went fast.
- In one upstairs bathroom we ran short on tile. The pattern we used is trickier than it looks, so cutting and aligning pieces required extra attention to avoid mistakes. The additional tiles have arrived and will be installed soon, so that room should be finished shortly.
- If you want a closer look at the tile options we considered for each side of the duplex, we summarized our final selections and the reasoning behind them in a recent post. We ended up swapping a few choices during installation as the rooms came together, which is pretty common once you see materials in the actual space.
Myquillyn Smith – Cozy Minimalist Home
- If you missed our earlier conversation about Myquillyn’s approach, you can listen to our previous discussion in Episode #111 where Sherry tested Cozy Minimalist principles in our own home.
- Myquillyn’s book Cozy Minimalist Home is available now. It lays out practical steps for reducing clutter while keeping rooms warm and inviting—clear surfaces, fewer but larger accessories, and a focus on function and comfort are recurring themes.
- For more inspiration, Myquillyn shares additional ideas and free resources on her blog and Cozy Minimalist site. Her work emphasizes simple rules and an orderly process that make decorating feel manageable rather than overwhelming.
- One of the photos above is from the book and illustrates the principles she discusses: uncluttered counters, a small number of larger accents, and deliberate spacing that creates calm and cohesion. The book contains many more examples like this.
- We also cover the delicate topic of how to handle gifted items you don’t want to keep—a tricky, emotional issue—and discussed it in-depth in Episode #35 for anyone who needs more guidance.
We’re Digging
- Sherry’s easing into autumn with a set of nail colors that feel seasonal without being overly “pumpkin spice.” Her picks include soft neutrals and muted tones that complement cozy, minimal interiors:
- Worth A Pretty Penne
- Berlin There Done That
- Chicago Champagne Toast
- You Don’t Know Jacques
- We’ve been admiring the meticulous work of typography artist Becca Clason—her compositions with black beans, pennies, spices, and grains demonstrate incredible patience and craft. Her visual approach to materials is inspiring for anyone interested in texture, pattern, and slow-made work.
- Her work brings to mind other makers we enjoy who transform everyday materials into striking compositions, and it’s been a fun creative rabbit hole to explore.
If you’re searching for a recommendation or idea we discussed in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve featured in “We’re Digging,” plus a Book Club page with all the books we’ve recommended.
Finally, thanks to Revel Woods for sponsoring this episode. They offer hardwood samples and guidance for selecting floors; use their site to learn more and see their sample program. We appreciate sponsors who help make the show possible.
Thanks for listening and following along with our projects. We’ll keep sharing updates as the duplex progresses and as we continue testing design ideas that balance comfort with simplicity.
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