We recently noticed that storage baskets can both help and hinder our home organization efforts (yes, hampering was intended). Also, the duplex reached a big renovation milestone: the floors have been refinished. Although we had a plan, an unexpected last-minute change forced us to pivot in the final hour. We also share a thoughtful counterpoint to one of our “must-have” home features—thanks to your feedback from the last episode—and offer simple, practical tips for using décor to make your home feel calmer.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. 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
- The photo above shows how rough the duplex floors were when we bought it last year—carpet padding glued to the hardwoods and dark water-stained areas.
- We’ll share a full before-and-after post later this week, but it already looks worlds better.
- Another photo below shows sticky tile that had been laid over the wood floors. It was peeled back in one bedroom, leaving a gooey film that would practically rip your shoes off if you walked through it.
- While you wait for our before-and-after post, you can see the dramatic effect floor refinishing had at the pink beach house—it’s a great example of how much a space can change.
- We also refinished the downstairs floors in our Richmond house during a kitchen renovation; if you’re planning a refinish, we’ve shared what to expect when you have your floors refinished.
Updates
- Most of these updates come from last week’s Episode #122, so check that out if you missed it.
- We posted an Instagram thread where hundreds of people shared their “must-have” house features—so many great ideas if you’re searching for inspiration while house hunting or building.
- One design we mentioned—a Jack-and-Jill bathroom from our showhouse—had a “private pooper” solution: a small, lockable toilet room with the tub in the main bathroom. It’s a practical way to avoid the locked-door issue some people mentioned.
What’s Not
- If you want ways to de-stress your home, House Beautiful has a thoughtful list titled “10 Ways To Decorate Your House If You Have Anxiety” with practical décor strategies to help calm a space.
- They also published “6 Things In Your Home That Are Secretly Stressing You Out,” which points out common stressors and easy fixes.
- For a lighter, style-focused read, their piece “10 Ways To Decorate Like An Impossibly Chic French Woman” offers design tips that can refresh a room without overwhelming it.
Can We Just Talk About: Baskets
- The photo above shows some large storage baskets we’ve used over the years. That particular basket now holds Sherry’s weighted blanket.
- Other large baskets around the house have been retired as the kids transitioned from Duplo and oversized toys to smaller LEGOs, figurines, and dolls, which are now stored in smaller bins and drawers in their room instead of scattered in big baskets.
- Below is a snapshot of Sherry’s Baskets In The Attic™—note that many smaller baskets are nested inside these larger ones for compact storage.
We’re Digging
- I picked up an Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular on Black Friday at a great price—it’s been a solid, budget-friendly option that covers the basics and includes the pre-installed Breathe app, which I’ve been enjoying for short guided breathing sessions.
- The Breathe app visualizes a calming animation to guide breathing and short meditations. There are also other apps like Headspace and 10% Happier that work well on phones and watches for daily practice.
- We recently binged The Haunting Of Hill House on Netflix and loved it—it’s the kind of series that sticks with you after you finish it.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode, here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from previous shows. You can also see all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They offered a free holiday gift pack that included a trio of Mrs. Meyers cleaners, walnut scrubber sponges, and a special edition red tin cleaning caddy.
Thanks for listening!
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