What began as a temporary two-month stay in our charming, smaller beach house in a quaint, smaller town blossomed into the most transformative summer of our lives. This enriching experience, a deep dive into minimalist living and community immersion, left an indelible mark on us. The profound lessons learned from embracing a simpler existence have since inspired four significant changes to our lifestyle and habits back in bustling Richmond. Even if a move or downsizing isn’t on your horizon, these insights offer valuable experiments you might consider for your own life. We’re thrilled to share why we are finally embarking on a long-anticipated home renovation, a direct result of these fresh perspectives. We’ll also reveal how we’re ditching a wasteful habit, saving over $500 annually, and significantly reducing our environmental footprint. Plus, Sherry goes on the record with her highly anticipated predictions for the 2020 Colors of the Year, offering a glimpse into the future of home aesthetics.
You can delve deeper into these stories and discussions by tuning into our latest episode on your preferred podcast listening app. Discover us on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Unveiling Our Transformative Bathroom Renovation Project
The lessons gleaned from our summer of simplified living have fueled our long-held desire for a truly functional and aesthetically pleasing master bathroom. Gazing at these photos, we’re filled with an even greater surge of excitement to finally begin our bathroom renovation – as if standing in its current, somewhat challenging state wasn’t motivation enough! This isn’t just about cosmetic updates; it’s about reimagining a vital space to better serve our family’s needs, inspired by the efficiency and intentionality we discovered in our smaller beach house.
- Capturing the true essence of our current bathroom’s idiosyncratic layout proves nearly impossible through photographs due to its incredibly tight and enclosed nature. The angles, the doors, the sheer lack of space make it a photographic nightmare. To truly convey the scope of our plans, I’m committing to creating an overhead view for a future post. This will likely involve a renewed effort to master SketchUp or another advanced 3-D planning software, allowing us to illustrate the spatial improvements we envision.
- The image above offers a glimpse from our bedroom directly into the area where we once meticulously reimagined our vanity shortly after moving into this house. Our primary closet is positioned to the right of this view. A key decision we made early on, and one we still stand by, was the removal of both original doors in these openings. This move was prompted by an exasperating daily “door gymnastics” routine, where doors constantly collided, creating an inefficient and frustrating bottleneck. You can’t even spot the linen closet door on the left side of this frame, yet it too was a constant contender in the battle for precious floor space, adding to the cramped feel.
- Adjacent to the linen closet and vanity area lies another doorway, notably still equipped with its original door, which ushers you into the combined shower and toilet zone. This specific section also received a refreshing update from us, albeit a lighter one. Our efforts here included the bold decision of removing the shower door to create a more open feel, diligently stripping the outdated wallpaper, and applying a unique ceiling paint treatment to soften the inherent coolness of the blue tiling. These earlier refreshes certainly made the space feel more inviting and less dated than its initial condition when we first bought the house – the removal of that dark, oppressive wallpaper alone provided an instant sense of expansion. However, we’re now at a point where we have a crystal-clear vision for a complete overhaul. The time spent saving up and meticulously weighing all our options means we can finally embark on this significant renovation with absolute confidence, knowing it will result in a space we genuinely adore and that perfectly aligns with our evolved lifestyle.
Forecasting the Hottest Hues: Sherry’s 2020 Color Of The Year Predictions
As avid followers of interior design and home aesthetics, our fascination with the various paint brands’ annual Color Of The Year selections is no secret. These predictions often set the tone for design trends across the globe, influencing everything from furniture to fashion. Behr has already unveiled its highly anticipated 2020 pick, a serene and grounding shade they’ve named “Back To Nature,” a clear nod to the growing desire for tranquility and connection with the natural world in our living spaces. But before the rest of the industry giants reveal their chosen hues, I couldn’t resist putting Sherry on the spot, challenging her to go on record with her expert guesses for the other major players in this exciting annual game. Her process involves a blend of intuition, trend analysis, and a keen eye for subtle shifts in consumer preferences.
- You can explore all of Sherry’s predictions detailed below, thoughtfully juxtaposed with a concise recap of the past three years’ selections from various brands. This historical context allows us to observe patterns and potential influences on upcoming choices. I’ve included the bold guesses I ventured during our podcast recording, along with an additional prediction I confidently added for Benjamin Moore after the microphones were off. It will be incredibly entertaining to revisit these predictions once the official announcements roll in, confirming just how on or, more likely, delightfully off the mark we were. Our past track record often leans towards the latter, adding to the fun and anticipation!
- We also made a point to highlight the incredible project undertaken by Mandi at Vintage Revivals, who has been meticulously constructing an immaculate playhouse. This stunning creation is not just a work of art but is designed to help Sherwin-Williams make their grand announcement for their 2020 color (which, as of writing, might be happening today!). Mandi has been teasing her progress by sharing captivating photos, all rendered in striking black-and-white. However, a particular photo she posted gave me a distinct clue, leading me to speculate that the chosen color might lean towards a darker shade. Of course, the lighting could also be deceiving, making a light color appear dark… the suspense is truly building!
Embracing Simplicity: Our Summer of Discovery in a Smaller Town & House
As recounted in detail during our podcast episode, our summer expedition into the heart of a smaller town and the comforting confines of a smaller house proved to be an unparalleled experience, profoundly beneficial for our entire family. We wholeheartedly embraced every moment, soaking up the unique rhythm of life, the close-knit community, and the unparalleled sense of peace. The positive impact was so significant that we departed with eager anticipation for our return in the next summer season. More than just a vacation, this immersive period offered us a fresh and invaluable perspective on how we could thoughtfully re-evaluate our spatial needs and financial expenditures moving forward, influencing our choices back in our primary residence.
- For those intrigued by Sherry’s approach to curating a truly “minimal” wardrobe, a concept that significantly streamlined our packing and daily routines during our smaller-space living, we’ve dedicated discussions to this topic. You can gain further insight by listening to Episode #115 of our podcast, where we dive into the philosophy and practicalities behind it. Additionally, a detailed visual and written exploration of her streamlined clothing collection can be found in this comprehensive closet tour post. This wasn’t about deprivation, but about intentional selection and realizing how little we truly needed to feel well-dressed and prepared.
- The photograph below showcases the unassuming yet incredibly efficient 3-drawer Malm dresser that Sherry and I collaboratively utilized to manage and organize all of our clothing for the entirety of our two-plus month stay in Cape Charles. Its compact design and smart storage capacity were critical in maintaining order in our limited bedroom space. For those interested in replicating this clever solution, you can explore the detailed process of how we ingeniously transformed it to appear built-in here, maximizing both its functionality and aesthetic integration within the room.
- Our children, ever adaptable, each utilized two of these practical storage cubes to neatly contain all of their personal belongings. These versatile cubes held everything from their everyday clothes and pajamas to their swimsuits and various small essentials. This simple, yet effective, system ensured their room remained tidy and functional despite the smaller footprint. Towards the conclusion of our summer stay, we implemented a couple of minor but impactful updates to this room, primarily to enhance their overall storage capacity and organization, specifically to accommodate a growing collection of books. We look forward to photographing these updated solutions and sharing them in a forthcoming post, showcasing how small adjustments can make a big difference in a compact space.
- Beyond the cherished stuffed animals they kept in their respective rooms and a select few puzzles, paper, and craft supplies neatly stowed away in the living room TV cabinet, the vast majority of our children’s other toys and games found their organized home within the three drawers of our entry table. This centralized, yet discreet, storage method was a revelation. It predominantly housed various board games, with this particular bingo game emerging as their undisputed favorite, providing countless hours of entertainment. This intentional approach to toy storage not only maintained order but also encouraged more focused play, as options were curated rather than overwhelming.
- For those interested in the philosophy and practical steps behind our decision to significantly reduce our children’s toy collection by half a few years ago, a move that fundamentally influenced our ability to live comfortably in smaller spaces, you can gain further insights in Episode #45 of our podcast. This episode explores the benefits, challenges, and lasting impact of decluttering toys, fostering more imaginative play and a less cluttered home environment.
Currently Loving: Sustainable Habits & Smart Choices
Our journey towards more intentional living extends beyond just our physical spaces; it deeply influences our daily habits and consumer choices. We’re always on the lookout for practical, sustainable solutions that save money, reduce waste, and simplify life. This “We’re Digging” section highlights a couple of recent discoveries that have made a real difference in our everyday.
- Sherry has recently adopted a brilliant new habit, embracing these ingenious paper True Lemon packets to consciously break her reliance on store-bought La Croix and Hint flavored waters. This simple switch is not only incredibly cost-effective, coming in at a mere 6 cents per packet, but it also dramatically reduces waste by eliminating the need for countless plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The process is effortlessly simple: just pour a packet into a reusable water bottle (this particular one is Sherry’s absolute favorite due to its practical rubber bottom), or any glass of water, tea, or beverage of choice, give it a quick shake, and you’re good to go. We particularly appreciate how easy it is to keep a stash in the car or tucked into our beach bag, ensuring refreshing, naturally flavored water is always at hand, reducing impulsive purchases and supporting our eco-friendly goals. This small change alone is projected to save us over $500 a year, proving that sustainable habits can also be financially rewarding.
- And now, a moment of silence and perhaps a ceremonial pour-one-out for my dearly departed Apple Watch. This device, which I openly dreamed about acquiring in Episode #119 and later expressed my deep affection for in subsequent discussions on Episode #123 and Episode #128, finally succumbed. I owned a Series 3 model with cellular capabilities, and for my needs, it was more than sufficient – a reliable companion for fitness tracking, notifications, and staying connected on the go. While I wouldn’t rule out owning another in the future, especially now that the Series 5 has been released and older models are likely to see price adjustments, I’ve also come to a significant realization. I’ve managed perfectly fine without it since March, highlighting an unexpected adaptability and a subtle shift in perspective on what I truly consider essential. This experience reinforces our broader theme of intentional consumption, reminding us that sometimes, less truly is more.
Should you find yourself searching for something we’ve enthusiastically recommended in a previous episode but can’t quite recall which show notes to delve into, fret not! We’ve compiled a comprehensive master list of everything we’ve been digging from all of our past episodes, making it easy to rediscover our favorite finds. Furthermore, for all the bookworms out there, every single book we’ve had the pleasure of recommending is neatly organized and accessible on our dedicated Book Club page.
And finally, we extend our sincerest gratitude to You Need A Budget (YNAB) for their generous sponsorship of this insightful episode. YNAB has been an invaluable tool in managing our finances and aligning our spending with our values, echoing the lessons of intentionality we learned this summer. We highly recommend exploring their platform. You can sign up today at YNAB.com/YHL to claim your exclusive offer of your first three months absolutely free!
Thanks for tuning in and connecting with us, guys!
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