What happens when you spend more than two months living in a smaller house in a quieter town? That’s exactly what we experienced this summer while staying at our beach house to manage the duplex rentals — and honestly, it was the best summer of our lives. The lessons we learned from living in a smaller home and a smaller community stuck with us after we returned to Richmond and inspired four immediate changes to how we live and use our space. Even if you’re not planning to downsize, there are a few ideas here you might want to try. We also share why we’re finally beginning a long-awaited renovation at our house, one simple change that kicked a costly habit while saving over $500 a year and reducing waste, and Sherry’s on-the-record predictions for the 2020 paint colors of the year.
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What’s New
- Looking through these photos has only made us more excited to get started on the bathroom renovation — not that standing in the space in person isn’t motivation enough!
- It’s hard to capture the odd layout of our current bathroom on camera because the space is so tight and closed off. I’ll try to create an overhead diagram for a future post (maybe while I relearn SketchUp or another 3-D planning tool).
- The view above is from our bedroom looking at the vanity we remodeled after we first moved in. Our closet is to the right. We removed both doors that were originally in those openings because they constantly banged into each other — door gymnastics no more. There’s also a linen closet door on the left fighting for space.
- Beside the linen closet is another doorway (this one still has a door) that leads to the shower and toilet area. We refreshed that space by removing the shower door, stripping the old wallpaper, and softening the blue tile with a ceiling paint treatment.
The changes we made when we bought the house — like removing the dark wallpaper — instantly expanded the space visually, but after living with it for a while we’re finally certain about the direction we want. We’ve had time to save up and weigh options, and now we can start renovating with the confidence that the result will be something we truly love.
2020 Color Of The Year Predictions
- We love reviewing paint brands’ Color of the Year picks. Behr already revealed its 2020 selection, “Back To Nature,” but before other brands announced their choices, I had Sherry make her predictions on the podcast.
- Below you’ll find our guesses alongside a recap of the past three years’ selections. I included the guesses I made on the show and one I added for Benjamin Moore after recording. We’ll update you later on how close — or off — we were.
- We also mentioned that Mandi at Vintage Revivals has been building a beautiful playhouse to help Sherwin-Williams announce their 2020 color. She’s shared the build in black-and-white photos, and one image hinted that the final color might be on the darker side.
Our Summer In A Smaller Town & A Smaller House
- As we discussed on the episode, living in a smaller town and a smaller house all summer was fantastic for the whole family. We soaked up the slower pace, left excited for future summers there, and returned with a fresh perspective on how to use our space and budget more intentionally.
- If you want more on Sherry’s minimal wardrobe approach, check Episode #115 and our closet tour post for details and tips.
- We shared one 3-drawer Malm dresser between us to organize all our clothes during our 2+ months in Cape Charles. We also turned it into a built-in look — you can read about our hack in an earlier post.
- The kids used four storage cubes (two each) for their clothes, pajamas, and swimsuits. Toward the end of the summer we made a couple updates to increase storage and organization for more books; we’ll photograph and share that update soon.
- Apart from stuffed animals and a few puzzles and craft supplies kept in the living room TV cabinet, most toys and games were stored in the three drawers of our entry table. Board games were the primary fill — one bingo set became a fast favorite.
- If you want to hear more about why we removed half the toys from our home a few years ago, check Episode #45, where we discuss the choice and how it changed family life.
We’re Digging
- Sherry’s current go-to is True Lemon packets. They’re inexpensive, portable, and eliminate the need for single-use cans or bottles. Just add a packet to a reusable water bottle or a glass of water (or tea) and shake. They’re convenient to keep in the car or a beach bag for on-the-go flavor without waste.
- On a different note, my Apple Watch stopped working this spring. I’d been happy with a Series 3 with cellular, and while I might consider another someday (especially as newer models push older prices down), I’ve managed just fine without one since March.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we keep a master list of everything we’ve recommended from past episodes, plus a Book Club page with all the books we’ve discussed.
Finally, a big thank you to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. You can sign up to try YNAB and get the first three months free.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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