The beach house is finally feeling like a real home. After more than a year of work, it now has functioning appliances, a kitchen island, and a working sink. Even the newly plumbed clawfoot tub made an appearance—though Sherry’s first attempt at a relaxing soak didn’t go quite as planned. Thankfully the plumber fixed the issue and she enjoyed a calm, peaceful bath over the weekend. In this post we also share tips for mixing wood tones so a room feels curated instead of chaotic, highlight an easy automatic Christmas decoration we’re loving this season, and bring back a fan-favorite segment as our holiday gift to you.
You can download the episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it using the player below. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might need to open the post to see the player.
What’s New
- That photo was the calm-before-the-storm shot Sherry sent while I was at the hardware store, showing the relaxing bath she was about to enjoy. Fortunately, the plumber resolved the issue and she was able to relax in the tub the following weekend.
- We recently attended the Cape Charles Holiday Cookie Trail, where we toured bed & breakfasts and private homes, and sampled lots of cookies. Below are photos from the event, including a beautiful B&B that we can actually see from our house.
- Before becoming a B&B, this house belonged to a family with ten children, according to the owner. It felt like a small miracle that so many original details—like the gorgeous stair window—have been preserved in such excellent condition.
- One of the renovated bungalows charmed us on the tour. You know we have a soft spot for a pink house.
- This house wasn’t part of the official tour, but we’ve admired it on our walks for a long time. Seeing it dressed up for the holidays was a treat for the kids and gave us a sense of the town’s architectural variety.
- Here’s the “rope railing” we mentioned on the podcast. Steel clips held the rope in place and it snaked up the stairs in a pleasing S-pattern.
- At the top of the stairs was a finished attic converted into a kids’ bunk room. Four full beds were tucked into cozy nooks—an insanely charming use of space.
Quick Tip
- We discuss more tips on mixing metals in Episode #37 of the podcast.
- Below is a photo that illustrates mixing wood tones successfully. The chairs feature a lighter wood finish that is echoed in a marble-topped side table, the blinds, and small accessories like picture frames and a wooden box by the lamp. The medium wood tone of the TV console matches the woven baskets and the hardwood floors, creating cohesion across the room. Dark gray side tables aren’t wood, but their color repeats elsewhere—the couch and darker tones in the rug—so they still feel intentional and balanced.
We’re Digging
- We’ve been using LED streetside cordless window candles for two holiday seasons and they’ve become a favorite. They’re a major upgrade from plug-in versions because they’re cordless and, once set up, they run on an automatic schedule. That makes bedtime quicker and less frantic—no running around the house to switch lights off.
- If you want to listen to the episode on Spotify, the show is available there as well.
If you’re trying to find an item we’ve mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, check our master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes.
There’s no sponsor this week—we dedicated the episode to you. As we enjoy the food, family, and festivities of the season, we want to say thank you for listening. We truly appreciate your support.
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