As the crisp autumn air settles in and we adjust to the shift in time with Daylight Savings – perhaps with a slightly earlier wake-up call for those with little ones – it’s the perfect moment to dive deep into the show notes for Episode #23 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. This particular episode finds us broadcasting directly from the cozy confines of a hotel room in Baltimore, bringing a unique, on-the-road charm to our usual home design discussions. In this captivating installment, we tackle three insightful questions from our callers, covering a range of home-related topics. From evaluating how our DIY projects and design choices stand the test of time over several years, to navigating the significant transition of moving from a quaint ranch-style home to a spacious two-story abode, we offer candid advice and personal anecdotes. Sherry also shares a moment of triumph, *almost* pinpointing the precise 2017 color of the year, while John finds himself unexpectedly moved by another podcast that truly resonated with him. We also pull back the curtain on the added pressures and hilarity of attempting DIY projects when a camera is rolling, sharing why it can be an especially nerve-wracking experience. And in a nod to Election Day, our weekly quiz takes an delightfully unexpected, surprisingly political turn, promising both entertainment and a dash of civic engagement.
For your convenience, you can download this engaging episode across all your favorite podcast platforms, including iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. Alternatively, for instant listening, simply use the embedded player provided below. After you’ve enjoyed the episode, we invite you to explore this very page, which serves as your comprehensive guide to all the links, detailed notes, and illustrative photos that were referenced throughout our discussion. It’s your one-stop resource to visually complement and further enrich your podcast experience, connecting you directly to the inspiration and practical details we shared.
What’s New: Capturing Inspiration and Crafting Comfort
In this segment, we bring you up to speed on our latest adventures and ingenious solutions that have recently caught our attention. From breathtaking architectural marvels to creative podcasting setups, “What’s New” is all about sharing the fresh discoveries and innovative ideas that are currently inspiring us in the world of home and design.
- Above, you’ll find a captivating shot from our recent architectural exploration in Chicago. This image beautifully captures the magnificent Chicago Cultural Center, an absolute gem of the city, renowned for its colossal Tiffany glass dome. It’s a breathtaking example of intricate design and historical grandeur, and as you can see, it captivated not just us but also a few fellow heart-eyed bloggers, eagerly snapping away to capture its splendor. The sheer scale and delicate artistry of the Tiffany dome are truly something to behold, offering endless inspiration for those who appreciate detailed craftsmanship and timeless aesthetics in their own homes.
- Below, Sherry provides a glimpse into our surprisingly sweet and resourceful recording setup in our Baltimore hotel room. Necessity truly is the mother of invention, and we had to get creative to ensure optimal sound quality for our listeners. Notice the wonderfully fancy, yet entirely practical, sound-deadening layer on the table – a humble bathmat doing a professional-grade job! And for our high-tech computer stand, we leveraged the ultimate in comfort and convenience: the hotel bed. This resourceful arrangement not only adds a touch of humor but also underscores our dedication to bringing you quality content, no matter where our travels take us. It’s a testament to how simple, everyday items can be repurposed in clever ways to achieve fantastic results, even when you’re on the go.
Update: Revisiting Predictions and Design Trends
Our “Update” section is where we circle back to previous discussions, follow up on predictions, and delve deeper into topics that continue to evolve in the world of home design and DIY. This week, we’re particularly excited to revisit our musings about the highly anticipated Color of the Year and share the actual reveal, showcasing how close (or far!) we were to hitting the mark.
- If you’re keen to take a trip down memory lane and hear our initial thoughts, you can tune back into our “What’s Not” quiz from Episode 17. In that episode, we had a lively debate and shared our predictions for what Benjamin Moore might unveil as their prestigious Color of the Year for 2017. It’s always fascinating to speculate on these industry trends, as they often shape the palettes and moods of interior design for the coming year. We explored various possibilities, considering emerging styles and classic preferences, making for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion about color psychology and its impact on our living spaces.
- And now for the exciting reveal! Here’s where you can read more about Benjamin Moore’s actual pick for 2017: Shadow. This rich, smoky amethyst shade proved to be a sophisticated and evocative choice, reflecting a desire for depth, complexity, and a sense of grounding in our homes. “Shadow” is a color that plays beautifully with light, shifting from a deep plum to a soft grey depending on the intensity. We discuss how this versatile hue can be incorporated into various design schemes, from creating a cozy, intimate bedroom to adding an elegant accent in a living area. Understanding the “Color of the Year” helps us track broader trends in home decor, guiding choices in paint, textiles, and accessories, and inspiring homeowners to experiment with bolder, more nuanced palettes.
What’s Not: Unexpected Resources and Quirky Knowledge
Sometimes, our conversations take delightful detours, leading to references that might seem a little out of the box for a home design podcast. “What’s Not” highlights these fascinating tangents, providing you with the resources to explore them further. This week, we bridge the gap between home furnishings and political history, proving that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places, even during an Election Day themed quiz!
- Well, if our discussions have sparked an interest in furnishing your living spaces, or if you simply enjoy browsing, we’ve got you covered with an extensive collection. You can browse all of Pottery Barn’s sofas, which range from classic farmhouse styles to modern minimalist designs. Exploring their offerings can provide fantastic inspiration for your own living room, helping you visualize different layouts, fabric choices, and comfort levels. From sectionals perfect for family gatherings to elegant two-seaters for more intimate settings, Pottery Barn’s selection caters to a wide array of aesthetic preferences and functional needs. Finding the right sofa is a cornerstone of interior design, influencing both the comfort and the overall look of your main living areas.
- And, in a distinctly different vein, to truly master the political turn our quiz took in honor of Election Day, you might want to brush up on your Vice Presidents of the United States via Wikipedia. This is a wonderfully unexpected resource that showcases the breadth of our interests and the fun, engaging spirit of our podcast. Who knew that a deep dive into home decor could lead to an educational moment about U.S. political history? It’s a testament to the fact that learning and inspiration can come from anywhere, and sometimes, the most memorable quizzes are the ones that challenge your knowledge in surprising and delightful ways.
Listener Calls: Your Home Questions Answered and Our Home Journey Explored
This is where the heart of our community lies! In our “Listener Calls” segment, we open the floor to our audience, addressing your pressing home-related questions, sharing practical advice, and revisiting some of our most beloved DIY projects. This episode, we delve into popular inquiries about long-term project durability, making significant home transitions, and showcasing beloved elements from our own homes.
- The photo above beautifully illustrates the dramatic before & after transformation of our very own stair runner. This project significantly enhanced both the aesthetics and functionality of our staircase, adding warmth, reducing noise, and providing crucial traction. It’s a change that truly elevates the entire entryway of a home. For those inspired to tackle a similar project, here’s a direct link to the rug itself, allowing you to source the exact style we used. Beyond just the product, we also encourage you to revisit our original post about how we installed it, offering a step-by-step guide filled with tips and tricks to ensure your own stair runner installation is a success. This detailed tutorial covers everything from measuring and cutting to securing the runner, making it an achievable DIY for many homeowners looking to add comfort and style to their stairs.
- If you’re new to our journey or simply wish to reacquaint yourself with our past and present homes, you can embark on a comprehensive tour of each one. Discover our very First House, where our DIY adventures truly began, showcasing our initial attempts at transforming a space on a budget. Then, explore our Second House, representing a significant step up in scale and complexity, as we tackled larger renovations and explored new design aesthetics. Finally, delve into our Current House, which reflects our evolved style, a deeper understanding of sustainable living, and a commitment to creating spaces that truly resonate with our family’s needs. Each home tells a unique story of growth, learning, and the ever-evolving process of making a house a home.
- For those who love to visualize space and understand the bones of a home, you can also view rough floor plans of each of our residences in these dedicated posts: First House Floor Plan, offering a blueprint of our humble beginnings; Second House Floor Plan, detailing the layout of our more expansive project; and Current House Floor Plan, showcasing the thoughtful design and flow of our present abode. Analyzing floor plans is an invaluable tool for understanding spatial relationships, identifying potential for redesign, and even just appreciating how different layouts can impact daily living. It’s a peek into the architectural strategy behind our decorative choices.
- And below, feast your eyes on a shot of our beloved kitchen runner. We are, to put it mildly, pretty crazy about this piece! Its charm extends beyond its aesthetic appeal; its incredible “egg tolerance” (a testament to its durability and easy cleanability in a high-traffic, spill-prone area) has only deepened our affection. This runner, sourced from Ballard Designs, adds a much-needed layer of comfort underfoot, a pop of color, and protection for our floors, proving that functional items can also be incredibly stylish. Choosing the right kitchen runner can dramatically improve the comfort and visual appeal of one of the busiest rooms in the house, making daily tasks more pleasant and adding a touch of personality.
We’re Digging: Discoveries and Inspirations
In our “We’re Digging” segment, we share the latest products, media, and experiences that have truly captured our interest and brought us joy. From innovative tools for organization to captivating podcasts, this is where we spotlight our current obsessions and invite you to explore them with us. This week features some truly inspiring finds!
- Here’s the Daily Calendar from Social Print Studio that we’re both absolutely super digging. It’s more than just a way to track dates; it’s a beautifully designed, interactive piece that brings daily inspiration and a touch of aesthetic pleasure to any workspace or home. We love its customizable features and the quality of the prints, making it a functional art piece that evolves with each passing day. It’s a wonderful way to integrate personal photos and memories into your daily routine, transforming a simple calendar into a vibrant, ever-changing display of life’s precious moments, or a source of daily quotes and imagery to brighten your day.
- And you definitely must check out the incredibly compelling Reply All podcast. This show delves into stories about the internet, often exploring strange and wonderful corners of online life, human behavior, and technology. It’s known for its incredibly engaging storytelling and ability to make complex digital topics accessible and emotionally resonant. The two specific episodes that John mentioned, which profoundly moved him, were #79 Boy in Photo and Psst- Looking for something truly specific that we’ve dug in a past episode, but can’t quite remember which show notes page to click into? Fret not! We’ve meticulously compileda master list of everything we’ve ever been diggingfrom all our past episodes. This comprehensive resource is your ultimate guide to all our favorite recommendations, making it incredibly easy to find that specific product, book, podcast, or service that sparked your interest. Happy digging!This episode of Young House Love Has A Podcast is proudly brought to you by West Elm. Discover their commitment to ethical sourcing and beautiful design by visitingwestelm.com/yhlto learn more about their inspiring Design to Impact program. This initiative highlights their dedication to partnering with artisans and supporting sustainable practices around the globe, ensuring that your home decor choices also make a positive difference. As a special thank you to our listeners, enter codeYHL15at checkout to receive an exclusive 15% off your next purchase of their stylish and consciously crafted home goods. Additionally, we encourage you to view the heartwarming video we watched during this week’s episode, which showcases the incredible skill and artistry ofbasket weavers in the Philippines. This powerful short film perfectly illustrates the human stories and craftsmanship behind many of West Elm’s beautiful products, reinforcing their commitment to global artisans and fair trade.*This post contains affiliate links*