Now that our major brick house painting project is complete, we’re sharing the full behind-the-scenes story from the past week—the surprises, setbacks, and the moments that made this big job feel even bigger. Large projects like this can quickly go off course, and ours did a few times. We’ll explain how the outcome ultimately exceeded our expectations, what remains on the to-do list, and a few other updates: John wants gadget advice, and we have more details about our upcoming furniture collection launch.
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Project Highlights: Painting Our Brick House White
- If you missed last week’s full project post with all the step-by-step details and photos of painting the house white, be sure to read that article to get the complete picture and the full before-and-after gallery.
- We discussed this plan on several earlier podcast episodes where we debated whether to proceed and addressed the pros and cons, including our listener feedback and our biggest concerns right before the project began. Those conversations helped shape our final decisions.
- Several siding sections needed to be repainted with a matching Benjamin Moore formula. Seeing those areas finished really illustrates how incomplete the exterior would have looked if they’d remained the original gray-brown tone.
- One of our most chaotic days—nicknamed the “Wednesday Marathon of Insanity” (which also happened to be Halloween)—found us rushing to rebuild the porch before trick-or-treaters arrived. The photo below was taken early that morning while we were framing the new door and porch area. Those two large brick openings beside the new doorframe ultimately became perfect spots for the new lanterns we installed to light the stoop.
- A few hours later the electricians arrived to wire the new fixtures. We mounted each light on a white composite backing to cover the brick openings—this rot-proof backing provides a durable base, hides the holes, and made installation cleaner and longer-lasting.
- One tricky wiring challenge looked like it would require drywall access inside the house, but the crew instead snaked wiring through the crawl space and up the opposite wall, avoiding interior damage. That required coordinated effort and some half-hour shouting through the floor between two crew members—one even joked about hearing scratching in the crawl space that might be a mouse. Small miracles like that saved the interior from extra repairs.
- It truly was a photo finish. On the final Friday the painter, Lance, climbed into the lift to capture some portfolio-worthy “after” shots. Our neighbors were more entertained and supportive than ever—many stopped by multiple times a day to cheer us on, which was incredibly touching and emotional for Sherry.
- If you like Lance’s style, he shares before-and-after photos on his Instagram page and lists contact details there for hiring inquiries. He also works on limewash and antique finishes using specialty masonry products for that distinct aged look.
- After trimming and shaping the landscaping—what Sherry jokingly calls our “Target ball” pruning—the front yard looks much tidier and better showcases the refreshed house exterior.
We’re Digging: New Furniture Collection Preview
- If you haven’t previewed our new furniture collection yet, it’s available to browse on the Young House Love Furniture site. We’ll announce the exact launch date for purchases on Wayfair and Wayfair Canada in the coming weeks. We’re thrilled to finally share these pieces with you.
- Highlights from the preview include navy X-back dining chairs and a mixed-finish Cinch Table with a metal base and glossy white top. Several dresser designs feature white dentil molding that echoes the detailing on our house.
- The Noble Dresser in the collection was inspired by a vintage dresser that has sentimental value in our bedroom—a hand-me-down that connects to family memories. Seeing that influence translated into a new piece was a meaningful moment.
- We’d love to hear your thoughts. John is debating whether to spend birthday money on an Apple Watch—if you’ve used one, please send your honest opinions and whether it’s worth the investment for fitness, notifications, or everyday convenience.
For a complete list of products, books, and items we’ve recommended on past shows, see our master list of “We’re Digging” picks and the Book Club page for all recommended reading—both are linked in the episode notes. These resources collect all the items we’ve discussed across episodes to make them easy to find.
Finally, a special thanks to Annie Selke for sponsoring this episode. Their Cyber Sale begins Monday, November 19th, with a discount on many items sitewide—check their site for details and timing.
Thanks for following along and for listening—your support makes projects like this possible.
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