Today we’re talking about two recent “treat yourself” moments at home that didn’t go as planned and what they taught us about when to splurge and when to let go. One involves a bathroom feature we’ve dreamed about for years but are now questioning in practice (great in theory, not so much in reality). We also share surprising results from our “Side Of The Bed” survey, which received nearly 11,000 responses and revealed interesting patterns about where people sleep. Plus there’s a new update in the Color of the Year conversation and a look at the unexpected silver lining from a personal event that shook us up.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, or Spotify.
What’s New
- The photo above shows a preview of the wallpaper and board & batten treatment we’re installing in the middle bedroom of our beach house. If you missed it, we explained our room planning process in a recent post.
- We’ll publish a how-to post soon with details on installing the wall treatment and wallpaper — both projects are beginner-friendly. In the meantime, the wallpaper is sold at several retailers online. We found the best price at JoAnn during a 25% sale, but it’s worth comparing stores to find the best deal.
- Part of our inspiration came from a Real Simple room that used Serena & Lily wallpaper; that space added a lot of texture and interest and helped push us toward using wallpaper in this house.
- Sherry tried an at-home sore throat remedy experiment the night before recording. The setup may look a little over-the-top, but she lost her voice and woke up able to record the podcast again — so something in that mix helped.
- Her remedies included familiar fixes — peanut butter, cough drops, warm salt gargles, and lemon in tea — and a few standouts. She liked Throat Coat Tea with slippery elm and also found relief from a Starbucks “medicine ball” tea. Those two, combined with the basics, seemed to do the trick.
Updates
- Sherry gets a little victory lap: she predicted a soft blush tone for Color of the Year, and Benjamin Moore selected First Light as their 2020 Color of the Year — a gentle, muted blush that matches her hunch.
- HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams also chose a similar shade called Romance for 2020, which aligns with the same trend toward soft, warm neutrals.
- We also published the results of our Side Of The Bed survey in which nearly 11,000 people shared where they prefer to sleep. The breakdown revealed some fun trends that we discuss on the show.
Splurging On Heated Floors
- We considered a heated floor system for our bathroom and found a kit that costs about $1,125. It was recommended by pros and commonly paired with Schluter underlayment, which we plan to use. Similar installations we’ve seen, including a featured project that listed $3,600 with labor, suggest a DIY install might cost us around $1,500–$1,800 plus an electrician to add a dedicated circuit.
- We would likely buy materials a la carte to match our bathroom and closet footprint (roughly 140 sq ft) and to place heating coil only where feet will land. Those additional costs don’t include the electrician or specialized tools pros recommend for safe installation — for example, a continuity tester that confirms wire integrity before it’s tiled over.
- Sherry keeps eyeing a floor mirror with an arched top and brass finish that she imagines flanked by built-in closets. The mirror’s soft silhouette could help balance the room and add warmth.
We’re Digging
- Quick note on a minor car accident we had last week: everyone is okay, and we’re grateful. If you see us around Richmond in a rental, it’s because our Highlander is in for rear-end repairs.
- Our family has been enjoying Songland, the songwriting competition on NBC and Hulu. It’s a fun show that highlights the songwriting process; one recent winner even recorded a final version that’s getting radio play.
- You can also find the final song, “Shadow,” which has reached radio, to get a sense of the kind of work the show produces.
If you’re trying to track down a recommendation from a past episode, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging, and we also keep a Book Club page with every book we’ve recommended.
Finally, thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They’re running a giveaway for a complete sleep suite valued up to $2,480, which includes pillows, sheets, and a hybrid mattress. They’re also offering a discount code for $200 off a hybrid mattress purchase.
*This post contains affiliate links*