Renovations are rarely calm. They can quickly become overwhelming—especially when budgets break, timelines stretch, and decisions pile up. In this update we share three strategies we’re using to stay sane during our bathroom renovation, how we avoid second-guessing design choices, and one surprising part of the project we’re actually most excited about. We’ll also pass along holiday life-hack ideas submitted by listeners, and explain why a bit of Sherry’s childhood has resurfaced here at home (in a sweet way).
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, or Spotify.
What’s New
- You might recall our closet from last year’s post about Sherry’s minimal wardrobe. The photo above is Sherry’s side and the next image shows my side—both looked like this before demo. Also: hi, Burger!
- Right now the space is empty and without a finished floor while we prep for the new system.
- Below is a rendering from Ikea’s Pax Wardrobe planner showing how the new setup will roughly look. We designed most of it at home and fine-tuned the layout in store before ordering, so the final install may differ slightly. We’ll share many photos once it’s complete.
- We chose one 29″ wardrobe in the center flanked by two 19″ wardrobes with doors. Ikea doesn’t sell doors for the 29″ unit, and we like that the center will be open—half of it is drawers, which are easier to use without doors.
- The exposed sections on each side will match, but the interiors of the doored 19″ units are customized for our individual needs. We’ll detail organization ideas after installation.
- We last used Ikea Pax wardrobes in our first home’s main bedroom, where we added two wardrobes beside the bed. It’s wild to think that was almost eleven years ago.
- For comparison, we’ve linked to a previous closet we installed in our second house—it feels familiar to what this closet used to be.
Updates: Holiday Life Hacks
- Below are holiday gift themes we’ve used with extended family—easy prompts that make gift-giving more fun and focused:
- Hey Hot Stuff! – spicy foods, warm accessories, or items related to hot destinations.
- Book It – books, reading accessories, or travel-planning gifts.
- Travel Junk – souvenirs or finds from trips.
- Say Cheese – photo-related or cheese-themed gifts (we once gifted a Wisconsin-shaped cutting board).
- The Good Ol’ Days – vintage-style items like retro board games.
- On The Road – travel-friendly gifts, such as art kits for long drives.
- The Year of Granny – gifts that honor a loved one’s memory or quirks.
- Be A Good Sport – sports memorabilia or games to enjoy together.
- Feeling Green – eco-friendly or green-colored items.
- Across State Lines – locally made gifts from the giver’s hometown.
- You can also hear more listener-submitted life hacks in Episode #153 of our podcast.
Managing Renovation Stress
- To catch up on our bathroom renovation—before photos, floor plans, and our tile and fixture choices—see our detailed progress post. (It includes Sherry’s beloved tub selection.)
- Last week we finished most of the tile prep work, so we hope to begin tiling the shower floor, shower walls, and the full bathroom and closet floors after Thanksgiving. The progress so far has been encouraging.
- We referenced a conversation with Miranda Anderson about enjoying the renovation process, not just focusing on the end result. You can listen to our discussion in Episode #152 and find Miranda’s deeper dive in episode #36 of her Live Free Creative podcast.
- We also discussed quartz countertops in our kitchen. The matte finish we chose shows faint outlines of water spots, which can be removed by buffing but requires constant attention. By contrast, the polished quartz on our island hides those marks and is much lower maintenance. If we could do it again, we’d choose a polished finish.
- We still appreciate the durability and appearance of our countertops, but the finish choice is something we’d change in hindsight. See more kitchen photos in our kitchen remodel post.
We’re Digging
- Our daughter received vintage troll dolls from a friend—nostalgic toys that connect generations. You can find similar lots on auction sites if you want throwback toys to share with kids. (Yes, some are a little creepy—particularly the one with a birthday hat.)
- Other retro toy ideas we love: Vintage Beanie Babies, classic Lego bricks (not tied to a movie), old action figures like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or He-Man, retro board games such as Clue, Guess Who?, and Battleship, or collectible cards like Garbage Pail Kids and Pogs.
- Sherry also mentioned the “Save – Spend – Share” piggy banks that listeners frequently ask about; they’re a simple tool for teaching kids basic money habits.
- On the practical side, I shared my favorite “stretchy” jeans that I wear nearly every day. The slim fit works best for me; I avoid extremely skinny cuts. They’re currently a great value, so I picked up a backup pair.
If you want to find something we’ve mentioned on past episodes but don’t remember which show notes to check, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been digging, plus a Book Club page that lists all the books we’ve recommended.
Finally, thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. Their Cyber Sale includes $200 off any size hybrid mattress plus your choice of a free Cool Foam Pillow or a free sateen sheet set through December 6th.
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