We don’t always see eye to eye on purchases for our home, so this week we’re sharing strategies we’ve developed to help your partner understand your point of view—whether they’re the one itching to buy something or the one trying to rein it in. We also discovered an online shopping trick that has saved us more than $1,500 on items for our beach house so far. Plus: how we’re making good on our goal to get outside more, how cutting the cable cord inspired a new kid-friendly TV setup, and a cautionary tale about crafting while on the phone (it can lead to funny — and slightly disastrous — results).
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos we referenced. Note: if you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- For the beach house, we’re using Ikea cabinetry and counters. Our aim is a casual, unfussy kitchen that reads slightly lived-in even though we’re building it from scratch. Below is a quick mood board of selections we’ve made so far:
- Pink vintage stove found at a thrift shop
- Faucet for the island sink
- Stainless steel hood to complement the chrome on the stove
- Sconces for the walls
- Pendants over the island
- Orlando Soria’s kitchen inspired us; we ordered the Ikea butcher block countertop and are considering a simple white backsplash so the pink stove stays the focal point
- White flat-front cabinet doors we chose
- A modestly sized fridge we tested by referencing a similar kitchen—keeping appliances white so the pink stove remains the standout piece
- Below is a helpful (if imperfect) rendering from the Ikea kitchen planner so you can see how the layout will fit the space. We’ll add upper storage and finish the island sides ourselves, so consider this a rough preview rather than a final plan.
- And if you need a reminder, this is the space the kitchen will go into.
- Also, you can check for new blog posts each week or subscribe to have them delivered to your inbox.
That’s Embarrassing
- Above is the final version of the globe Sherry painted a few years ago. It’s not as ornate as some hand-painted globes by lettering pros, but we love its charm.
- Below is a map mislabeling that happened while she was on the phone. A little paint fixed the problem—sorry, South America!
What’s Not
- Here’s an infographic with 13 essential things to look for when viewing a home—a useful checklist for first-time buyers and anyone touring properties.
Main Segment
- Sherry’s Serena & Lily mirror obsession (sadly, no longer available) led us to hunt for similar inlay mirrors. We found several options that capture the same vibe, ranging from closer matches to smaller and rounder inlay styles.
We’re Digging
- We bought a traditional fabric hammock that lives in our backyard for the summer. It fits two adults comfortably, though it offers no protection from kids armed with inflatable balls.
- We also have a double camping hammock that a friend gave us. It fits between two trees in the front yard and gets tucked away when not in use—perfect for temporary lounging.
- There’s a third outdoor item we’re excited to add to the yard rotation, bringing more relaxed, kid-friendly outdoor time into our routine.
- We’ve been enjoying some classic OK Go videos with the kids. Our favorite is the gravity-free plane piece embedded below, but we also love the drone video, the forced perspective clip, the Rube Goldberg machine, and the original treadmill video.
- We’ve also been watching Pentatonix (favorite: Daft Punk medley), Walk Off The Earth (favorite mash-up), and Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies (favorite: Lego Marshmallow Pops).
If you’re looking for something we’ve mentioned in a past episode but don’t remember which show notes to click, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes.
Finally, a big thank-you to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode. Visit their site to shop bedding, furniture, rugs (including indoor/outdoor styles), and more. Use the code YHL15 to get 15% off any order.
Thanks for listening!
*This post contains affiliate links*