A few years ago we started a design project with a local builder that had us excited — but it unexpectedly fell apart, which still bothers us. This week we share that story, plus the surprising way Sherry scored a terrific secondhand find for the beach house. We also respond to your feedback about houses that feel too big, including differing opinions on children and large homes. Additionally, we explain how we hosted a stress-free game night and give details about our new collaboration with A Beautiful Mess.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it on this page. Use the notes below to find any links, references, or photos we mentioned. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to open the post to see the player.
What’s New
- Those metal outdoor chairs Sherry mentioned were a Facebook Marketplace find. They’re surprisingly comfortable and only need a fresh coat of paint to be ready for the beach house.
- I even convinced Sherry to model some of the shorts she liked on the episode (we also mentioned the shirt she paired with them).
- For context, we included a screenshot of the listing where Sherry first spotted the chairs. She has an uncanny knack for finding furniture.
- Sherry also referenced other Facebook Marketplace finds, like the marble-topped dresser in the beach house foyer and the inlay dresser in one of the bedrooms — which she repaired herself.
- If you want to host a game night, we loosely followed the rules for Mafia. We also referenced a round-up of low-key game night ideas for more inspiration. Thanks to Chris Loves Julia for the suggestion.
Podcast E-Course
- We created a Launch A Podcast e-course with A Beautiful Mess. It’s self-paced and combines written lessons with photos, audio, and video. The course includes a Q&A board where you can interact with other students and instructors.
- The curriculum covers audio recording and editing, choosing a format and brand, publishing to directories, audience growth, and approaching advertisers. There’s also additional information on A Beautiful Mess about the course.
- Use code YHL15 for 15% off the course.
- For anyone curious about blogging, we linked to our written series on starting, growing, and monetizing a blog.
Too Big Houses, Part 2
- If you missed our first discussion about realizing we don’t need as much space, listen to Episode #95. That episode includes polls and a lot of thoughtful reader feedback about downsizing and priorities when house hunting.
- We highlighted interesting comments from Instagram and Facebook that added a range of perspectives to the conversation.
- The navy house in the foreground of the photo shows a Homearama showhouse we designed in 2014. We also linked to the rooms we decorated for charity that year.
- We mentioned a giant couch we saw in another showhouse that Sherry joked about rolling around on — a “Sherry For Scale” photo would have been perfect for that moment.
We’re Digging
- Sherry recently picked up clothes from Old Navy, including a few non-black items. We listed the pieces she liked.
- Below is a photo of Sherry wearing the dress she chose for a graduation party we attended over the weekend.
- We’re enjoying the kid-friendly podcast Story Pirates, which also appeals to adults. You can find it on podcast platforms. We embedded a YouTube video of one of their songs so you can get a feel for the show.
If you want to find something we mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past episodes.
Thanks to Room & Board for sponsoring this episode. You can browse their furniture and new vanities, and request a free catalog for inspiration delivered to your mailbox.
Thanks for listening!
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