Young House Love Has A Podcast

We’re dropping this random pop-in episode to share one of the most embarrassing tales Sherry has ever told on this podcast. Of course it had to happen in the nicest house we've ever been in (in front of one of Sherry's personal heroes). We’re also listing what's left on our to-do list, and answering the much-asked question: what’s your next big project? Plus, we break down what feels different to us about this house compared to our last one (and the varied impressions you might get about us if you walked in without us being there). Lastly, we each share some recent home-related purchases and the books & tv shows that are keeping us laughing (or biting our nails, but in a good way). Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-183 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

So much has happened since we last picked up the podcast mic, so we have a jam-packed show to catch you up on all the things. We're talking house updates, embarrassing stories, renovation plans, and we even worked in some bad metaphorical diagrams (because describing graphs and charts you can't see always goes over well in an audio format). We’re also diving into how house projects have slowed down around here, the remaining projects on our list, and how our attitude towards having less on our to-do list has changed pretty dramatically over the years. Plus an impromptu musical exercise that captured our family's contentment for living in a smaller home, and why Sherry can never show her face in one Florida city again. Also, a fun holiday game and the TV show we’ve been dying to tell you about. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-182 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

There were two houses in our neighborhood that we seriously considered, and today we’re sharing a truly random occurrence that involves the house we didn’t buy. We’re also sharing what we learned from our astrocartography readings. What did the stars say about our move to Florida? Were our readings dead-on or completely off? And what random sentence about a certain mammal made Sherry extremely excited? Plus the tale of a simple outdoor project that took months longer than it should have and the purchase that made us change our tune about outdoor furniture. Also, Sherry did something embarrassing again. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-181 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

The sudden boom of video conferencing in all of our lives is giving us a new window through which to view our homes (and the homes of others - from coworkers to celebrities and news correspondents). So what does your Zoom background say about you? And what lengths will we go to when it comes to altering them to make sure nothing weird gets seen by everyone else on the call? We also realized in hindsight that a family trip earlier this year had a pretty major effect on our decision to move to Florida. Plus we explain the big shiny object on our kitchen counter - and Sherry divulges an embarrassing story from her NYC days that she might never live down. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-180 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

The perks of downsizing continue to show themselves, including a recent realization we had while shopping for curtains and blinds. It was a pretty dramatic contrast of how shopping for this house is different than our previous ones, and it highlighted some exciting freedoms that come along with that. We also take a look at how pandemics of the past have shaped the way our homes look today, including the origin of things like powder rooms, white kitchens, and higher bed frames. Plus, what we really think of our fancy new Frame TV - and can your birthday really help you pick the right plants? Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-179/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’ve been in our new house for one whole month, and there are definitely some things that are shaping up differently than we had pictured. So today we’re sharing why some house projects have been easier than expected, but getting settled in a few other ways took some turns we didn’t anticipate. We’re also diving into the history of three popular and persistent design trends - like the true origins of subway tile and why the fiddle-leaf fig isn’t a recent phenomenon. Plus, a curtain hack that Sherry secretly tested out for an entire year, and what happens when Alexa commands get lost in translation. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-178 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Today we're talking about how it has been as a family of four who is sharing one bathroom, and what plans we have for adding onto that number down the line. And while we're on the subject (this podcast always seems to turn to bathroom-related things...) we look into the uniquely American obsession with bathrooms and learn why the heck in the past 50 years the number of them per American has DOUBLED. We also finally have real beds in our house after weeks of sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and it feels good! So we’re sharing how they each serve different functional purposes in our smaller house. Plus, we learn what decor styles are the most popular in each state and we bring our Instagram conversations around Black makers & voices to the podcast. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-177 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’re in Florida (!!!) and we’ve got LOTS to tell you about all that went down on our moving day and throughout our first couple of weeks in our new home. We’re covering a lot of ground, like how we made the 13-hour drive feel faster, which of our moving predictions from our last episode came true, and what we really thought about using those travel pee bags. Plus, getting unpacked and settled into a smaller home has presented some challenges that we didn’t anticipate, so we’re sharing what those were, and why they’re giving us a whole new appreciation for this part of the downsizing process. We’re also recapping what items we overpacked (even after leaving around 50% of our belongings behind when we moved!) and why those “extra” things aren’t working in our new house. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-176/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

While we’re getting settled in our new house in Florida, we’ve got one last episode for you that we recorded in Richmond. In fact, we took a moment as “Past John & Sherry” to make some predictions for what our moving day might look like, along with our hopes-slash-fears for our first night in our new home. We’re also talking about temporary, affordable, and easy-to-change decor ideas that are great for renters and homeowners alike, thanks to interviewing an expert on the subject named Medina Grillo. She was full of smart solutions and also took the opportunity to bust some myths about being a renter. Plus, the Instagram account that has us in stitches, and what we’re bringing for our kids on our 12-hour drive to Florida. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-175 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

On the cusp of our big Florida move, we take one last look at how downsizing and living for three weeks without almost all of our worldly possessions has changed our view of our “stuff” - including what we miss the most, and why it’s not what we expected. Plus experts predict how the pandemic may change the way people renovate and build homes moving forward. From floor plan changes to smart technology, it's interesting to see what they think might carry on for years to come. We also stumble into a very random discussion about astrology, pet psychics, and whether the stars can tell us where in the world we really should be living. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-174 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

If you’ve wondered about the money side of selling three houses and downsizing to one smaller home, today we’re answering some of your most asked questions. We're also sharing the weird renovation hiccups that have delayed our move in date (including a series of weird toilet-related follies that we never saw coming). Plus the surprising reaction we had to our own house tour video and why everyone is crying over one particular part of homeownership. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-173 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Our entire approach to renovating our new house from afar has changed pretty dramatically since February when we first started house hunting, including a period in which we didn’t think we’d be tackling any major projects at all. And lots of you have been asking for a rundown of what we’re doing now, what’s left, and how long we think this house reno might be. So today we’re taking you down that rabbit hole and sharing how our plans shifted quite a few times - and where we ended up. Plus, why packing all of our belongings was a more intense process than we expected, and an update on our move date. Oh, and what really makes for an “adult” kitchen? Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-172 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We recently hit a long-awaited milestone that we’ve been working towards for months, and we couldn't be more grateful!! We're sharing all the details today - plus we're diving deeper into a question that seems to keep popping up: "How can you tell if downsizing is right for you? What if you majorly regret it?!" There are actually four ways that you can take smaller space living for a spin before pulling the ripcord - which is a huge advantage, and a great way to answer that question for yourself. We also explore how the reality TV show that you’d want to be on the most (or the least!) can reveal a lot about your personality. Plus a moving tip that’s helping us pare down even more - and why we like watching TV, but don’t actually want to be on it. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-171 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

This week we’re taking a deep dive into the two methods that we used to find our Florida house, including how we prioritized our wants versus needs, sifted through hundreds of real estate listings, and used technology to overcome the fact that we were 800 miles away. We’re also sharing how a bad news call from our contractor ended up saving us from a huge future headache (that may or may not have involved having zero functioning bathrooms in our new house). Plus, Sherry’s unique way with words comes back to haunt her. And John takes spreadsheeting to a whole new level. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-170/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

As we prepare to move into a house that’s less than half the size of our current one, we’re taking a long hard look at our belongings to figure out what should come and what we no longer need, love, or have a use for. And today we’re outlining the systematic criteria that we’re using to evaluate what to bring and what to leave behind (yes, we actually have four questions that we consider for every last object). Plus we’re sharing how we’re getting rid of the things we don’t need, including different ways to donate (and some great causes to consider), along with a recent technique that we tried (and it worked!) for selling a whole lot of things in one fell swoop. We’ve also got a big update on how coronavirus has impacted our moving plans and the answer to that “whatever happened to the shutters you were putting on your house?” question that we get every time we share an exterior photo. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-169/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We knew our new house in Florida would involve some big repairs, but we didn’t anticipate a certain plumbing curveball to get lobbed our way (although given our past plumbing luck, maybe we should have seen this coming). So this week we’re sharing how it popped up, why it cost thousands of dollars, and what we’re doing to resolve it. And with so many people suddenly working from home, we’re sharing our top tips for being productive in a home office (even a temporary one) - including what has and hasn’t worked for us over the last decade. Plus, the app that’s blowing our minds and the binge-worthy show that we still can’t believe. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-168/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

With everything that's going on right now, we're the first to admit that house stuff feels trivial, but this week we’re answering the most common question we’ve gotten in the last few days: how the coronavirus is impacting our Florida move and our house sales (spoiler alert: one contract has fallen through). We’re also having a strangely thorough discussion about high-tech toilets and bidets. Plus, we’re sharing two things that are helping us make the most of being home with kids 24/7. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-167/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Our Richmond home is officially under contract (!!!) and it all came together unlike any other house we’ve sold before. So today we’re breaking down how it all happened, why it was surprisingly emotional, and what it means for our move in June. We’re also highlighting an unsung hero in our master bathroom renovation and exploring whether we’re all doing bathroom storage totally wrong. Plus, the app that may be bumping Instagram out of the top spot in Sherry’s heart. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-166 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’re fessing up to an extremely poorly timed project that made our house look WORSE right before it hit the market. Whoops. Plus we share the smorgasbord of ways we’re selling our houses. All three are being sold differently (including some with and some without the help of a real estate agent). So we’re breaking down how and why we chose each route, including why we paid to have a “pre-inspection” done for our Richmond home and how that changed our preparations for listing the house. Plus Sherry talks about an unconventional (and completely accidental) way she decluttered her digital life. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-165/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

With our big move only a few months away, what do we need to do to get our house ready to sell? This week we’re outlining some of the projects we’re taking on - both big and small - including the fast-tracked makeover of our hall bathroom. John also outlines a shopping challenge of his very own for 2020 that’ll push us to look more locally when we seek certain items. Plus, can a simple pen and paper save you money? We’re looking into an ancient budgeting method that promises to do so. Oh, and there's an unintended rant about The Bachelor. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-164 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.