If you thought we’d already exhausted the topic on the podcast, think again — this episode takes it further. We explore Sherry’s ongoing dollhouse obsession (and whether she passed the universe’s test of it), reveal a surprisingly specific Ikea item that was sold in bulk only in the U.S. (we couldn’t stop laughing at that one), and share listener stories about how small space makeovers can change behavior in unexpected ways. We also discuss what someone learned after challenging themselves to wear only one color for a while, and dive into the emotional debate over textured walls. Buckle up for a lively episode.
You can also find this episode on your preferred podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- Below is a “before” photo of a dollhouse a friend offered us, even though we’d already accumulated quite a few around the holidays. You may recall some of the previous dollhouse stories from past episodes and blog posts.
- Does it look familiar? Maybe especially now that we’ve painted our brick white — the style feels like a tiny echo of our own house.
- Sherry and our daughter have already had fun fixing it up. We’ll share a follow-up with the finished look and all the tiny details soon. In the meantime, there’s a previous post about how they transformed our son’s dollhouse if you want inspiration for small-scale makeovers.
Updates
- We mentioned a playful game called Wheel of Goon (aka “Goon of Fortune”) in a recent episode where we talked about design norms from around the world. If you’re curious, there are videos online showing the game in action.
- Listener Jo pointed us to a couple of eye-opening Ikea articles: one about how Ikea tweaks its product designs for different countries, and another about how many of their catalog images are now computer-generated. Those reads help explain some of the regional differences we discussed on the show.
- Our discussion about the book Joyful originally appeared in Episode #130. If you’re interested in Sherry’s famously minimal, mostly-black wardrobe, there’s a closet tour post and an episode where she explains how she built that capsule-style closet. We also touched on her simple skincare routine in a separate write-up.
- We’ve talked before about using constraints to our advantage: a “No Spend Month” and deliberate TV-watching rules taught us a lot about self-imposed limits. If you enjoy setting small boundaries to change habits, those episodes are worth a listen.
- The ongoing debate about shoes on or off in the house generated almost 10,000 responses. The most notable trend: non-Americans were far more likely to always remove shoes in the home compared with Americans, while Americans were much more likely to say they “don’t really care.” That cultural split was fascinating to see in the responses.
Can We Just Talk About Textured Walls?
- The photo above—from our bonus room—illustrates the smooth walls we’ve had in every house we’ve owned. We’ve literally never had textured walls or ceilings in our homes.
- Texture on walls and ceilings seems both regional and era-dependent. In some regions and in homes built during certain periods, textured finishes are very common; in others, smooth surfaces dominate.
- We also invited listeners to weigh in with a poll about textured walls. The responses gave a clear picture of how personal and emotional this topic can be for homeowners.
We’re Digging
- One book many of you recommended and that exceeded expectations was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It’s a compelling read that blends biography, science, and ethical questions in a way that kept us completely engaged.
- On the game front, we’ve been enjoying the classic Ticket to Ride (the standard American edition) as a family. There are plenty of variations—Ticket to Ride: Europe, New York, First Journey for kids, and more—so you can pick an edition that fits your group.
- Other family games we’ve been playing with our kids (ages 4 and 8) include:
- Happy Salmon
- Clue Jr.
- The Game of Life Jr.
- Tenzi
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode but don’t remember which show notes to open, we keep a master list of everything we’ve covered in our “We’re Digging” series and a Book Club page with all the books we’ve recommended.
A quick thank-you to Rothy’s for sponsoring this episode. Use code YHL at checkout for free shipping with no minimum order.
Thanks for listening and reading — we love hearing your thoughts and stories. Keep sending them our way!
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