You haven’t heard much about the duplex we bought three months ago, but progress is happening behind the scenes. We’re quietly working on three major items that are moving us toward demo day. In this update we share those details, plus an insider look at what it takes to produce a home magazine feature with HGTV Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Peterson. We also cover inexpensive, low-tech ways we’ve automated parts of our home (without adding more smart devices) and offer practical tips to help your candles burn longer and stronger.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or TuneIn Radio — or play it directly from the embedded player on this page. Below you’ll find links, notes, and images referenced in the episode. If you’re viewing this in a feed reader you may need to open the post to access the player.
What’s New
- If you missed the announcement about our duplex purchase, hear the full story in Episode #64 and see a complete tour (including a video walk-through) in the original blog post about the property.
- Our layout plans have evolved quite a bit since that initial walk-through. We’re waiting for final approvals before confirming the design with our contractor — more on that as soon as it’s locked in.
- For more details about a local tax credit program that helped make this purchase possible, we discussed it at length in Episode #34.
- A small upgrade we installed: a $9 dusk-to-dawn photocell sensor on each outdoor garage light. Although the package said “replacement,” I was adding the sensor for the first time. Installation required drilling a tiny hole in the top of the fixture and a bit of wiring, but it was straightforward and nearly invisible when finished.
- Even easier to use were replacement outdoor bulbs with built-in dusk-to-dawn sensors. For fixtures with standard sockets we swapped in $9 Philips LED bulbs that handle the sensing internally. In fixtures with nonstandard sockets I added the separate photocell sensor mentioned above.
Simple Home Hacks & Candle Care
- Looking to make candles last longer? We shared seven practical tips from House Beautiful that improve burn time and scent throw.
- I mentioned a couple of soy candles scented with essential oils that I especially like — those favorites were highlighted in the episode.
Sara Peterson, HGTV Magazine Editor-in-Chief
- A big thank-you to Sara Peterson of HGTV Magazine for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how a home magazine is produced — the planning, the chaos, and the meticulous styling that makes a feature shine.
- You can read about our experience when our previous home was photographed for the magazine in the related post, which includes a few fun memories from the shoot.
We’re Digging
- One organizing tool we’ve found indispensable is a divided turntable for under-sink supplies; it makes accessing cleaning items much easier and encourages paring down the contents.
- Another helpful item is a cabinet lazy Susan used to store everyday morning items — vitamins and small bottles become simple to reach and keep tidy on the rotating shelf.
- For podcast listeners who like storytelling with humor and heart, the episode recommended the podcast Heavyweight, with suggested episodes that make great starting points.
If you want to revisit topics we’ve discussed in past episodes but aren’t sure where to look, we provided a master list of every “We’re Digging” item featured across our shows to help you find the episode notes quickly.
Finally, thanks to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode. Use code YHL15 to get 15% off at AnnieSelke.com/YHL on bedding, furniture, rugs, and more.
Thanks for listening and following along — we’ll share more duplex updates as plans progress.
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