We recently realized that storage baskets can both help and hinder our home organization efforts (yes, that pun was intended). The duplex also reached a major renovation milestone: the floors were refinished. Although we had one plan in mind, an unexpected last-minute twist forced us to change course at the final hour. We’ll also share a thoughtful counterpoint to one of our “must-have” home features based on listener feedback, plus simple ways to use decor to make your home feel calmer.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to the player below. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- The photo above shows just how rough the duplex floors were when we bought the place last year—carpet padding glued to the hardwoods and several dark water-stained areas.
- We’ll share lots of before-and-after photos in a blog post later this week, but trust us: the finished floors look worlds better.
- The image below shows sticky tile that had been installed over the wood floors; when it was peeled up in one bedroom it left a gooey film that would actually pull at your shoes when you walked across it.
- While we finalize the before-and-after post, you can see another dramatic example of floor refinishing in our pink beach house post to get an idea of how transformative the process can be.
- We also refinished the downstairs floors of our Richmond house during the kitchen renovation and documented what to expect when having hardwood floors refinished.
Updates
- These updates are from last week’s Episode #122, so check that episode if you missed it.
- We shared an Instagram post where more than 250 people weighed in on their “must-have” house features—reading those comments gave us lots of great perspectives and ideas.
- One listener-suggested solution to a common bathroom gripe was a Jack-and-Jill layout with a separate enclosed toilet area. We actually designed a similar “private toilet” concept in our showhouse years ago—the toilet (and tub) were behind a single locking door, which solved the locked-door problem many people mentioned.
What’s Not
- If you want more ideas for making a home feel less stressful, House Beautiful offers practical decorating tips for people who struggle with anxiety.
- They also published a helpful list of common design elements that might be quietly stressing you out in your home.
- And for a lighter take, they have a feature on decorating with effortless French-chic style if you’re curious about that aesthetic.
Can We Just Talk About: Baskets
- The image above shows some of the large storage baskets we’ve used over the years. That particular basket still holds Sherry’s weighted blanket.
- By contrast, many of the large baskets we once relied on are no longer in use since our kids moved from oversized Duplo blocks and toys to smaller Legos, figurines, and dolls. Those smaller items are now stored in compact bins and drawers in their rooms instead of in huge floor baskets throughout the house.
- Below is a snapshot of Sherry’s collection of baskets in the attic—many of the large baskets contain smaller baskets nested inside them for extra organization.
We’re Digging
- I picked up an Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular on Black Friday for a great price. I’m using the included black sports band and have enjoyed the built-in Breathe app for short guided breathing sessions.
- The Breathe app is simple and effective; it uses a subtle on-screen animation to guide breathing and short mindfulness breaks. There are also third-party apps we like for meditation and mindfulness, such as Headspace and 10% Happier.
- We recently binged The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix and loved it—its atmosphere and storytelling stuck with us for days after finishing the series.
If you’re trying to track down something we’ve mentioned before, we keep a master list of everything we’ve recommended on past episodes. We also list all the books we’ve suggested on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They offered a seasonal free gift bundle that included a trio of Mrs. Meyer’s cleaners, walnut scrubber sponges, and a limited-edition cleaning caddy for listeners who signed up.
Thanks for listening!
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