Bazinga. These are the show notes for Episode #19 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we explore the decision of when to tackle a project yourself and when it makes more sense to hire a pro. We share the approach we used during our major kitchen renovation, including practical ways we weighed time versus cost and the strategies that helped us save both. We also reveal five simple routines that keep household clutter under control, plus a few unexpected sources for original artwork. And yes, we even dig into some delightfully odd projects — including how to turn a bedroom into a vampire den. You read that correctly.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio — or listen on your preferred podcast player. Use the notes below to find links, references and photos we mentioned during the show.
What’s New
- Read the full account of our kitchen renovation, including layout choices, lessons learned and lots of photos. This deep dive explains how we chose which tasks to do ourselves and which to hire out, and includes cost-saving ideas that worked for our project.
- We also shared photos of a new still-life painting of the Paymaster that we purchased from Vita (Instagram artist), plus a pink painting we found at the ski house where we stayed. Both pieces felt like the right additions to our collection and sparked a conversation about finding original art affordably.
What’s Not
- We had a lot of fun poking through some of the stranger how-to articles online. A few notable examples included instructions for transforming a room into a vampire den, tips for arranging your house when a visiting relative arrives, and surprisingly creative guides like changing sheets in an occupied bed or how to handle a neighbor who wants to install a new fence.
- For a laugh, we mentioned a round-up of more unusual how-to guides and listicles that highlight the weirdest entries from crowd-sourced instruction sites. Those unexpected gems are great for a quick chuckle and a reminder that online creativity has no limits.
Take Five
- We referenced an older post where one of us committed to making the bed every day. That small habit stuck, and it’s a simple example of how tiny routines can lead to a tidier home and a clearer mind.
- Over the years we’ve published many posts about keeping a house organized and running smoothly. Topics include living with less and still saving money, practical ways we corral kids’ clutter, streamlining a closet to save time, quick clean-up strategies for busy days, and over 30 all-natural homemade cleaning products we’ve tried. Those posts break down easy systems you can adopt to reduce clutter and save time.
- We also mentioned a couple of laundry hampers we use in our closet — practical pieces that make daily habits easier — and a few stair-basket options that help keep living areas tidy while still looking intentional. Small, well-chosen storage items can have an outsized impact on household flow.
We’re Digging
- One of the finds we were excited about was a set of gold frames from a popular retailer. They offered a polished look at a friendly price, and we ended up using several sizes to create a layered gallery feel on the wall. Cheap frames with a great finish are an easy way to elevate prints and original pieces without breaking the bank.
- We also mentioned the tool bag one of us uses and a couple of alternative bags that look like solid options. Having a reliable, well-organized tool bag makes DIY work smoother and encourages tackling smaller projects instead of immediately calling a contractor.
Psst — If you’re trying to remember something we recommended on a past episode, we have a master list compiling everything we’ve been digging across multiple shows. It’s a handy reference when you want to revisit a product, project or idea.
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