Moving Forward: Our Florida Chapter Begins & Essential Decor Wisdom

As the moving trucks have finally settled into their new Floridian landscape, we’re thrilled to bring you one final, jam-packed episode recorded during our last days in Richmond. This episode serves as a unique time capsule, capturing “Past John & Sherry” making lighthearted yet earnest predictions about the chaotic realities of moving day and sharing our hopes—and yes, a few underlying fears—for that pivotal first night in our brand-new home. It’s a raw, honest look at the emotional rollercoaster of relocation, offering a relatable glimpse into the challenges and excitements of starting fresh.

Beyond our personal journey, this episode is a treasure trove of practical advice, thanks to our enlightening conversation with the incredibly talented Medina Grillo. As an authority on temporary, affordable, and effortlessly changeable decor, Medina shares revolutionary ideas perfect for renters and homeowners alike. Her philosophy empowers everyone to personalize their spaces without commitment or breaking the bank. She not only provides smart, actionable solutions but also courageously busts common myths surrounding renter stigma, proving that temporary doesn’t mean less stylish or impactful. Prepare to be inspired by her innovative approach to home personalization. Plus, we’re sharing the Instagram account that has us in stitches and our must-have sanity savers for keeping our kids entertained during our epic 12-hour drive to Florida.

Don’t miss a beat of our journey and Medina’s incredible insights! You can easily find and subscribe to this episode on your favorite podcast listening app. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an update on our new adventures and home transformations!

What’s New: Unpacking Our Florida Dreams & Podcast Updates

The journey from Richmond to Florida has been an adventure in itself, filled with both excitement and the inevitable logistical hurdles that come with a cross-state move. We recorded this episode with a keen awareness that by the time it aired, we’d be deep in the throes of settling into our new life. Since we scheduled these show notes to go live before we had even truly landed in Florida (and let’s be honest, counting on smooth internet setup in a new house is always a gamble), the most immediate way to get real-time updates on our progress and to see if any of our moving predictions came true is to check our Instagram or Instagram Stories. We love sharing the raw, unedited moments of our home journey there, from the triumphs to the unexpected challenges.

• Our social media channels will be brimming with snapshots and videos detailing our initial steps in Florida. Follow along to see how we’re transforming our new space, the immediate projects we’re tackling, and perhaps a few “oops” moments that inevitably happen when you’re settling into an unfamiliar environment. We’re eager to share the full narrative of this exciting new chapter with our dedicated community.
• As we humorously predicted in the episode, our initial nights in the new house were indeed spent much like our early days in our second Richmond home: sleeping on a mattress on the floor. This temporary setup is not just a quirky tradition but a practical approach, allowing us to live in the space, understand its flow, and thoughtfully decide on furniture placement and bed choices before committing. It’s a testament to embracing the journey and finding comfort in simplicity, even amidst unpacked boxes. Read more about our “day one” experiences in past homes for a dose of nostalgia!
• Looking ahead, please note that next Monday marks Memorial Day, a time for reflection and family. Consequently, we’ll be taking a brief hiatus, with a brand new episode slated to return on June 1st. This week-long break isn’t just for celebration; it provides us with invaluable extra time to truly settle into our new Florida house, ensure all our systems (especially the internet!) are up and running smoothly, and meticulously prepare fresh, inspiring content for you. We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to share our next chapter with you, fully connected and creatively charged.

Transforming Spaces: Innovative Renter-Friendly Ideas from Medina Grillo

One of the true highlights of this episode is our interview with Medina Grillo, the brilliant mind behind the popular blog Grillo Designs and author of the inspiring book Home Sweet Rented Home. Medina is a true pioneer in the world of temporary home transformations, demonstrating how anyone can infuse personality and style into their living spaces, regardless of whether they own or rent. Her approach is a breath of fresh air for those who feel constrained by leases or budget, proving that high style doesn’t require permanent changes or a hefty investment. If you’re looking to support local businesses, you can also order her fantastic book here.

• As we enthusiastically discussed on the podcast, Medina’s spaces consistently boast an astonishing level of customization and polish. What makes her work truly remarkable is that so many of these stunning transformations are achieved through temporary and incredibly affordable methods. She champions creativity over permanence, showing how clever solutions can yield jaw-dropping results that are entirely reversible. Her designs defy the common misconception that rented homes must remain bland or uninspired.
• Medina shared several game-changing projects during our conversation, including her bold approach to removing the doors to upper kitchen cabinets. This simple, yet impactful, alteration instantly creates an open shelving aesthetic, making a kitchen feel more spacious and modern. The genius lies in its complete reversibility: simply store the cabinet doors safely, and reinstall them with ease before your rental agreement concludes. To elevate this look further, Medina suggests lining the back of the cabinets with removable wallpaper or contact paper, adding a pop of color or pattern that’s also commitment-free.
• Another truly innovative idea Medina shared was her tutorial for wallpapering the floor in her entryway. Yes, you read that right – wallpaper on the floor! Using durable, removable wallpaper, she created a striking focal point that completely transformed her entryway. This ingenious solution held up beautifully for over two years, enduring daily foot traffic, and was removed cleanly once she had saved up the funds (and secured her landlord’s blessing) for a permanent flooring upgrade. It’s a testament to the versatility and durability of modern removable products.
• Like Medina, we’ve wholeheartedly fallen in love with the transformative power of removable wallpaper. Its ease of application, endless design possibilities, and non-committal nature make it a go-to for adding instant style. If you’re curious to see how we’ve incorporated it into our own projects, check out the vibrant wallpaper we installed in our beach house middle bedroom. This post also includes a detailed video packed with our best tips for hanging peel-and-stick wallpaper like a pro! Additionally, don’t miss the dramatic impact of the removable wallpaper murals (seen below) that we meticulously installed in the cozy sleeping nooks of our duplex. These projects underscore the incredible potential of temporary decor to create truly personalized and stunning spaces.

• Medina’s dedication to inspiring others extends beyond her blog and book with her captivating video series called #HowIRent. In this series, she features inspiring house tours from other renters who have masterfully transformed their spaces using creative, temporary solutions. She specifically highlighted Episode #3, featuring Zeena Shah (video below), who demonstrated an impressively ingenious method for hanging a gallery wall without putting a single hole in the wall. Another standout mentioned was this Episode with Maisie Violet Rees, whose maximalist apartment showcases an incredibly creative and impactful use of contact paper to add vibrant patterns and textures throughout her home. These tours are fantastic for discovering innovative hacks and drawing inspiration from a diverse range of styles.

• For a nostalgic trip down memory lane, we also took a moment to reflect on our own past apartments. It’s fascinating to look back at our decorating evolution, especially in those early rental days. You can glimpse our early styles and the spaces we called home in our first Richmond apartment together, Sherry’s charming NYC apartment in the Village, and John’s NYC apartment on the Upper West Side. Sherry’s famously featured birds and a green stripe, while John’s boasted a mural inspired by a classic The Shins album cover. It’s truly amazing to think that we documented all of these early spaces in video form years before we even started blogging! These tours serve as a reminder that every home, rented or owned, offers a unique canvas for personal expression.

We’re Digging: Our Latest Finds & Must-Haves

Beyond home decor, we’re always on the lookout for products, ideas, and entertainment that make life a little bit better, easier, or more enjoyable. This episode, we’re sharing some of our current obsessions, from road trip saviors to delightful Instagram accounts.

• For keeping little hands busy and minds engaged during long journeys, we’ve found a true winner: Paint By Sticker books. Our six-year-old son absolutely adores them! He received the Zoo Animals edition for his birthday, and seeing how much he enjoyed it, we promptly stocked up on the Original and Sea Creatures versions for our epic drive to Florida. These books are fantastic for fostering concentration and creativity, and at around $7 each, they’re an affordable solution for screen-free entertainment on the go.
• But these aren’t just for kids! They also make wonderful adult versions of Paint By Sticker books. The idea of piecing together intricate designs with stickers can be incredibly meditative and a perfect way to unwind. The vintage travel posters collection, in particular, sounds like a wonderfully fun and relaxing activity for anyone looking for a creative escape.
• Speaking of travel and unique aesthetics, we can’t stop raving about the hilarious and brilliantly creative Instagram account, @subparparks. Illustrator Amber Shares pairs charming, minimalist drawings of various U.S. national parks with actual, comically negative 1-star reviews from park visitors. The juxtaposition of beautiful art and absurd complaints is simply brilliant and never fails to make us laugh. It’s a fresh, humorous take on appreciating—or perhaps, unappreciating—the natural wonders of our country.
• If you find yourself falling in love with Amber’s unique perspective and art, you’re in luck! She also sells a range of products, including beautiful posters and postcards, allowing you to enjoy her witty creations beyond the Instagram feed and bring a piece of that quirky charm into your own home. Supporting independent artists like Amber is a wonderful way to add character to your space while celebrating creativity.

If you’re ever looking for something specific we’ve ‘dug’ in a past episode but can’t quite remember which show notes to click into, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes, a comprehensive resource for all our recommendations. You can also explore all the books we’ve enthusiastically recommended on our dedicated Book Club page, perfect for finding your next great read.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Agility Bed

Finally, we extend a huge thank you to Agility Bed for their generous sponsorship of this episode. We firmly believe that quality sleep is an absolutely crucial component of both physical and mental well-being, especially during the often-stressful periods of moving and settling into a new home. Agility Bed understands this commitment to restorative sleep, and to help you achieve it, they are offering an even higher discount than usual! Now through June 30th, you can enjoy a remarkable 20% off EVERYTHING on their website. Transform your sleep experience by visiting AgilityBed.com/YHL and simply use the code COMFORT20 at checkout to redeem this fantastic offer. Invest in your sleep, invest in your health!

Thanks for listening, guys! We’re so excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to share more with you.

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