As the chill of the season settles in, there’s no cozier way to spend your time than by snuggling up and diving into some inspiring content. We’re thrilled to present the comprehensive show notes for Episode #28 of Young House Love Has A Podcast, an episode brimming with design wisdom, practical home tips, and our own ongoing home improvement adventures. This week, we had the immense pleasure of hosting none other than the iconic design duo, Robert and Cortney Novogratz! Known for their distinctive style, incredible talent, and yes, their bustling household of seven children, the Novogratz shared invaluable insights that every homeowner, renter, or design enthusiast will appreciate.
In this captivating episode, Robert and Cortney delve into the art of crafting the perfect guest experience within your own home, transforming a simple stay into a memorable retreat. They also offer a unique perspective on designing and decorating a home that not only accommodates but thrives with a large family and children of varying ages. Beyond this incredible interview, we open up about our own domestic dilemmas, including a particularly frustrating paint color conundrum that has us utterly stumped after sampling no less than fourteen different swatches! We also tackle an ongoing “computer rebellion” in our house, reflect candidly on our vacuuming shortcomings, and John enthusiastically shares his newfound love for organizing the smallest yet most crucial household items.
You can easily download this information-packed episode from all your favorite podcast platforms, including iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. For your convenience, you can also listen to the episode directly below. After tuning in, be sure to use this page as your ultimate guide to explore all the links, detailed notes, and supplementary photos that we referenced throughout our conversation. Whether you’re looking for a specific product, a design inspiration, or just a deeper dive into our discussions, everything you need is right here at your fingertips, making your listening experience even more enriching.
What’s New in Our Home Adventures
Our journey of home renovation and decorating is an ongoing saga, and this episode brings you up to speed on some of our latest endeavors. One of our most pressing current challenges involves selecting the perfect exterior colors for our beach house. As you can see from the image above, showcasing the front of the house adorned with numerous test swatches, we are truly “all over the place” with our decision-making process. The quest for the ideal palette is both exciting and incredibly daunting, especially when considering the coastal environment and the overall aesthetic we aim to achieve. We promise to break down all the beach house color considerations, our thought process, and hopefully, reveal our final decision in an upcoming dedicated blog post. Stay tuned as we navigate this colorful dilemma together!
Beyond aesthetics, we’ve also recently upgraded our home office technology to boost productivity and creativity. John has invested in a new iMac, a powerful machine that has already made a significant difference in our daily workflow. Meanwhile, Sherry is enjoying her new MacBook Pro, which offers enhanced portability and performance for her on-the-go tasks. So far, these tech additions have been a huge hit, making our lives a bit smoother and our work more efficient. We’re definitely giving them a big “likey” for their performance and contribution to our home-based operations.
Updates from Previous Discussions
We love to keep you informed about topics we’ve covered in past episodes and provide opportunities for continued engagement. If you recall our discussion on decluttering and its transformative power, you’ll be happy to know there’s more to explore. You can still see and participate in the ongoing poll regarding the “Decluttering Epiphanies” article. This poll, originally featured in the show notes for Episode #24 with Chris Loves Julia, offers a chance to share your own insights and experiences with decluttering, contributing to a collective understanding of its joys and challenges. Your input helps us foster a community of mindful home enthusiasts, so please take a moment to weigh in!
What’s Not So Great (And How to Fix It!)
Every home has its challenges, and sometimes, even the most basic chores can be done incorrectly. We tackle one such common household oversight in this episode: vacuuming. It might seem straightforward, but there are nuances that can significantly impact the cleanliness of your home and the longevity of your vacuum cleaner. To shed light on this, we’re sharing a fantastic resource: HouseBeautiful’s roundup, via Elle Decor, of the 7 Mistakes You Make Vacuuming. This article provides actionable tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your cleaning efforts, avoiding common pitfalls that can leave dirt behind or even damage your machine. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to optimize their cleaning routine and maintain a pristine living space.
Spotlight on The Novogratz: Design Icons & Family Life
This week’s main event features our incredible guests, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, whose approach to design is as vibrant and eclectic as their family life. With seven children, they truly understand the dynamics of a busy household and how to create spaces that are both stylish and functional. They joined us to share their profound expertise, particularly on designing a home that perfectly accommodates a large family and excelling at creating an inviting atmosphere for guests. Their insights are invaluable, whether you’re planning for a single visitor or a whole crowd.
One of the highlights of our conversation touched upon their stunning Brazilian vacation home, a testament to their unique design philosophy. You can get an exclusive peek into this beautiful property and gather loads of inspiration for your own travels or entertaining needs by snagging their latest book, Beachside Bohemian. This book is a treasure trove of ideas for creating relaxed, chic, and welcoming environments, perfectly embodying their signature style.
And for those who have followed us for a while, you know we’re enormous admirers of their first book, Downtown Chic. We’ve mentioned it countless times on the podcast, and for good reason! It remains a foundational text for anyone looking to infuse their home with a blend of modern sophistication and approachable comfort, showcasing their ability to transform urban spaces into personal sanctuaries.
Beyond their published works, the Novogratz are also innovating in the digital realm. You can test your own design sensibilities by taking their new interactive design quiz at GratziDesign.com. For the best experience, be sure to access it from your mobile device. This fun and insightful quiz helps you discover your personal style, guided by the Novogratz’s expert eye.
To stay continually inspired by their work and keep up with their latest projects, you can always connect with them through various channels. Visit their official website for their portfolio and latest news, follow their captivating daily updates on Instagram, and even shop their curated collection of home furnishings and decor items on their e-commerce site. These resources offer a fantastic way to bring a piece of their renowned style into your own home, making their design philosophy accessible to everyone.
We’re Digging: Our Latest Favorite Finds
In this segment, we share some of the things that have recently caught our eye and made a positive impact on our daily lives and home projects. First up is John’s absolute obsession with small compartment organizers. As any DIY enthusiast or organized homeowner knows, keeping track of tiny odds and ends can be a monumental challenge. Above, you’ll see a selection of the types of organizers John is currently “digging” for their incredible ability to compartmentalize and store items like nails, screws, washers, anchors, picture hangers, and wire caps. These seemingly simple containers are game-changers for maintaining order in a workshop, garage, or even a craft room. Their clear lids allow for quick identification of contents, saving precious time and preventing the frustration of searching for that one specific screw. The specific models we’re loving include options like this versatile organizer: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6. Investing in good organization for small parts truly pays off in efficiency and reduced stress.
But it’s not all about home improvement; sometimes, it’s about personal comfort and style, especially when you’re constantly moving around during DIY projects. Sherry is absolutely raving about her favorite new jeans, which offer the perfect blend of comfort and style, and best of all, require no hemming – a huge win for anyone tired of tailoring! John, on the other hand, can’t stop talking about his stretchy dreamboat pants. These pants are designed for maximum flexibility and comfort, making them ideal for everything from tackling a renovation project to simply relaxing at home. They’re a testament to how practical clothing can still be incredibly comfortable and stylish.
Psst- Looking for something we’ve dug in a past episode, but can’t quite remember which show notes to click into? We’ve got you covered! We understand that keeping track of all our favorite finds can be tricky, which is why we’ve compiled a comprehensive master list. Here’s a master list of everything we’ve been digging from all past episodes. It’s your go-to resource for discovering all our recommendations, from tools and decor to lifestyle hacks and much more. Bookmark it for easy access!
This episode of Young House Love Has A Podcast is proudly brought to you by DIYZ.com, the ultimate digital companion for all your home improvement projects. DIYZ is an innovative platform designed to empower homeowners and DIY enthusiasts with step-by-step guidance, expert advice, and all the resources needed to tackle projects big and small. Visit DIYZ.com/YHL to learn more about how this incredible app can transform your DIY experience or download it today directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you’re in the app, be sure to search for YHL to discover some exclusive videos featuring a few 5-step projects that we personally put together, offering practical, achievable tasks to enhance your home.
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