What’s it really like to downsize? We talk with House*Tweaking blogger Dana Miller about how moving to a smaller home (at a time they’re family was expanding!) helped them achieve their financial and family goals, and why it’s not always as easy as it may seem. Plus, our own pursuit to spend less money on things and more on experiences leads to a very strange morning together. Also, when should you buy vs. rent a new tool and Sherry’s favorite quick trick for dents and scratches in wood furnitur...
Jan 23, 2017•38 min
When a listener asked about the strange habits or odd things you might uncover in our house, we jumped at the chance to pull back the curtain and call each other out: from the unusual supply that John keeps in the office to the confounding items you might find sitting on our couch and in our kitchen drawers. Plus, a local realtor puts the kibosh on Sherry’s fantasy bathroom renovation and John shares a popular home robot that sadly didn’t live up to our expectations. Be sure to check out youngho...
Jan 16, 2017•34 min
We didn’t find love in a hopeless place, but we found a beach house color in a surprising one. Yes, several weeks, multiple test swatches, and 1,500 comments later, we’ve finally settled on a color for our beach house’s exterior - and the decision came from one of the most random places! Plus, we talk to blogger, designer, and Domino contributor Jenny Komenda about the challenges of running a design business and what decor trends she’s noticing in the new year. Plus, we’re digging some weird stu...
Jan 09, 2017•36 min
We asked you to call in with your house-related resolutions for 2017, and boy did you guys deliver! In this episode we play some of our favorite listener voicemails and share what home-related changes we’re hoping to implement in the coming year. Plus, we share why we were giving all of the presents under the tree some serious side eye on the night before Christmas, how we found something burning in our son’s bedroom, and we take a look at what trends Pinterest is projecting will be big in 2017....
Jan 02, 2017•36 min
When you’re hiring out renovation work in your home it can be exciting and awesome.. and sometimes it can be deflating and frustrating… which was the case recently for us. So we’re sharing some red flags to look out for and some tips to try to avoid that issue along with a few more ways that we’ve cut down on holiday stress (and gift excess). Plus we dive into our favorite design books, dig up John’s old journal, and enjoy some holiday tunes from a very special guest. Be sure to check out youngh...
Dec 19, 2016•37 min
Who has 7 kids, a gorgeous Brazilian vacation house, and is on this week’s podcast? The Novogratz, of course! This week Robert and Cortney talk to us about creating the perfect guest experience in your home, as well as designing around a big household with a wide range of kids. Plus, we are CRAZY STUMPED about an upcoming paint color choice. Like, 14 test swatches in… and still no decision. Also, we take a stand against an ongoing computer rebellion in our house, we look at our vacuuming shortco...
Dec 12, 2016•38 min
This week we talk about pacing yourself through your home renovations, so your eagerness to make changes doesn’t get you in deeper than your budget, time, or ability allows. We also list a few places to start, and how to redirect yourself if you’re pondering a project that might be better left for later. Plus, John shares one of his weirder DIY battle wounds to date (thanks to our new beach house) and Sherry talks about a few new twists on our holiday decor. We also share our favorite stocking s...
Dec 05, 2016•36 min
We’ve got something pretty major that we couldn’t wait to share with you on this week’s podcast (Sherry almost can’t contain herself). We’re also chatting with designer Brian Patrick Flynn, the man behind several of HGTV’s Dream Homes whose work has also graced the pages of Domino and Country Living. Plus, with holiday hosting around the corner, we’re taking a look at what house guests really notice when they stay with you - and we’re sharing our love for the world’s newest and most unlikely pow...
Nov 28, 2016•34 min
Christmas is around the corner, which means so is the fun (and the frenzied chaos) of the season. So this week we’re sharing how we decorate our house for the holidays - and the seasons in general. Plus, Sherry takes on a surprising decorating client, John lets go of the pursuit for the perfect family dinner, and we share a seemingly small feature in our kitchen that’s making a big impact. Also we talk about the invention of the broom. Prepare yourself to be riveted. Be sure to check out youngho...
Nov 21, 2016•35 min
Our friends from the blog Chris Loves Julia have renovated three kitchens in three years - and they’ve even redone a kitchen in under 6 days (!!!). So yeah, they have a ton of experience, advice, and hilarious stories to help anyone else out there who’s contemplating a kitchen remodel of their own. We’re also talking about John’s shed organizing progress, diving into some helpful decluttering revelations, and digging around to see what paint colors are statistically shown to help sellers get top...
Nov 14, 2016•36 min
Coming at you from a hotel room in Baltimore, this week we answer three callers seeking home-related updates, from how things are holding up years later to whether it was a shock to move from a smaller ranch-style home to a larger two-story one. Sherry also celebrates *almost* predicting a 2017 color of the year, John gets emotional over another podcast, and we share why it’s especially nerve-wracking to do DIY on camera. Oh, and in honor of Election Day, our quiz takes a surprisingly political ...
Nov 07, 2016•37 min
You know when you just can’t seem to find your momentum on a certain home task? Well, today we fess up to one that’s had us stuck for months. We also get to talk to HGTV’s Nicole Curtis about rehabbing old houses, working in a “man’s world,” and why she thinks it’s hard (but important) to be an open book with her fans. John also spooks up a Halloween-inspired game, Sherry gleefully removes something from our new kitchen, and we drool over cake stands. Well, and cake. Mostly cake. Be sure to chec...
Oct 31, 2016•35 min
How the heck does any home improvement get done with kiddos in the mix? We’ve been asked this question countless times (and have wondered it ourselves in more than a few moments of desperation). So today we’re sharing four of our favorite tactics for juggling parenting and DIY duties, while fending off the frustration of feeling like nothing’s getting done. John also fesses up to his HUGE screw up during our kitchen reno and Sherry takes a stab at a guys vs. girls Pinterest guessing game. Plus, ...
Oct 24, 2016•36 min
We’ve all seen the ubiquitous white wall trend, but do bloggers and designers just choose them because they look good in photos? In person do they feel bright & cheery or cold & stark? We talk to two bloggers - one who loves ‘em and one who isn’t sold - and we weigh in with our own pros & cons on the subject. We’re also spilling the beans on a new outdoor project that we’re taking on, Sherry braces herself for an uncomfortable “renovation” of her own, and we continue our quest to cut...
Oct 17, 2016•34 min
When is it best to do something yourself and when should you hire it out? We faced that question a lot during our big kitchen remodel, and today we’re discussing how we made the call, including strategies for saving time and money. We also bust out our five favorite routines that keep household clutter in check (bonus: they’re all pretty easy!). Plus, we share some unconventional ways that we’ve discovered original artwork and we learn how to do some pretty weird stuff… like turning a bedroom in...
Oct 10, 2016•33 min
Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney shares what 12 years of design blogging has taught her about her style, the Internet, and why there’s no such thing as work-life balance. We also take you behind the scenes of our new coloring book, turn to a titillating source for some design advice, and talk about the curse that’s plaguing John this year. Plus, find out what we’re doing to cut down on unwanted clutter from the postman. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and phot...
Oct 03, 2016•32 min
We’ve been working on a HUGE project at home and we’re excited to be spilling the beans about it here first! Also on this week’s episode, we help a listener who’s looking for fast & cheap ways to fill her empty walls - including some of our favorite sources and easy tricks for affordable art. We also share a tech upgrade that’s allowing us to be lazier in the bedroom, gear up for a well-hydrated October, and mull over the 2017 paint color of the year. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/...
Sep 26, 2016•30 min
In this episode, we chat with furniture designer and tool ninja Ana White about how she found the courage to dive into building everything from beds and bookcases to tiny houses and forever homes. We also go behind-the-scenes of our recent teachers lounge makeover (you’ll never guess what item threw us the biggest curveball) and discuss Gwyneth Paltrow’s recently listed house… using words we never imagined. Plus it turns out we’re both kinda on the fence about a particular design trend in the ba...
Sep 19, 2016•35 min
Thanks to some college students catching national attention with their extravagant dorm decor, we share where we fall in this debate and open up about our own experiences with college housing. We also get some great design advice from HGTV’s Vern Yip, and spill our first impressions of meeting Emily Henderson for the first time. We also nerd out over a smart home we visited, and learn a hard lesson about why rice is sometimes not your friend. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for n...
Sep 12, 2016•34 min
In this special episode, you’ll hear what we learned from taking nearly 12 months off from blogging thanks to the closing talk that we gave (and taped!) at the Haven Conference last month in Atlanta. It covers the 5 important lessons that are completely clear to us in hindsight, and more details about why we stopped, what we would’ve done differently, and what new challenges we all face in this hyper-connected Internet world. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and ...
Sep 05, 2016•34 min
Is there a “right” order when it comes to decorating or renovating a home? What comes first, the paint or the furniture? The big renovations or the small updates? In this episode, we answer a listener voicemail with our best tips for tackling even the most daunting of house to-do lists. We also share a new weekly tradition in our kitchen, ponder what it looks like when reality stars flip houses, and impart a free tech tip that might even save you some cash. Plus, listeners share their embarrassi...
Aug 29, 2016•32 min
If your relationship with area rugs is best described as “it’s complicated”, well, this is the episode for you. We’re sharing five simple rug rules to help you choose the right size, style, and figure out what to do in adjoining rooms. Plus we talk to Flipping Out’s Jenni Pulos, who has survived years of stressful renovations and reality TV drama, all while helping Jeff Lewis keep his head on straight. She’s full of great advice and she even busts a rhyme with Sherry. We also share what tool Joh...
Aug 22, 2016•36 min
What happens when you and your partner have different design aesthetics? In this episode, we share what works in our household and some ways that other couples can meet in the middle when it comes to decorating their home. We also dive into what drives professional organizers crazy and outline what organizing efforts might actually be counterproductive. Plus, we find out what it’s like to live in a home that was featured on Trading Spaces, who’s giving us pool envy, and why there’s a glass bowl ...
Aug 15, 2016•30 min
In this episode, we share a trio of recent mishaps, from a yard project that went awry and an anniversary gift that got away from us to the random event that nearly broke Sherry’s finger. We also tap the owner of a fabric and upholstery business to get the inside scoop on curtain mistakes to avoid, ways to save money, and what’s trending in the textile world. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and photos from this episode....
Aug 08, 2016•29 min
One of the O.G.s of design TV, Genevieve Gorder, offers up a slew of solutions to common design challenges, like mixing patterns, making small spaces feel bigger, and stretching your decorating dollars. Plus, we share a jealousy-inducing update that the current owners made to our old house, relive a blush-worthy moment from our honeymoon, and contemplate what As Seen On TV products might add some wow to our shower. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and photos from...
Aug 01, 2016•34 min
In this special episode, we have a candid talk about sponsored posts with Emily Henderson (Style By Emily Henderson), Justina Blakeney (The Jungalow), and Nicole Balch (Making It Lovely). Paid content is a big part of the blogging world these days, both for blog writers and blog readers. So these three professional design bloggers are clearing up misconceptions by peeling back the curtain on topics like negative feedback, transparency, and yes, even how much money there is to be made. Be sure to...
Jul 25, 2016•35 min
Is there a magical age when your house starts feeling more grown-up? In this episode we discuss what three well-known design sites think should (and shouldn't!) be found in your home when you hit the big 3-0. We also share some of our go-to housewarming gifts, spill a few of our favorite tricks for hanging stuff on the wall, and look at what real estate features are mentioned most when it comes to selling homes in different states. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links...
Jul 18, 2016•33 min
We talk with Tiffani Thiessen about designing her kitchen, cooking for celebs on her show Dinner at Tiffani’s , and serve up a Saved By The Bell inspired decorating quiz. We also dive into a big construction project that John’s working on, share an embarrassing realtor blunder, and explain exactly how Nate Berkus has inspired Sherry in the bathroom. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and photos from this episode....
Jul 11, 2016•26 min
Designer and fellow ceramic animal enthusiast Jonathan Adler gives us a call and imparts his decorating wisdom, we share how a simple bed swap led to a major rug revelation, and John challenges Sherry to share her favorite curtain tips in under 60 seconds. Plus we talk about how a landscaping plan and the use of a certain social network is helping us upgrade our exterior. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and photos from this episode....
Jul 04, 2016•27 min
Interior designer Orlando Soria gives smart advice for navigating common decorating challenges like finding your style, mixing patterns, and figuring out where the heck to start. We also share how our building projects have gotten a little faster, what whole-house upgrade brightens our day, and why our garage needs some serious help. Plus, we explore some titillating paint color names along with the work of one of Trading Spaces’ most memorable designers. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/...
Jun 27, 2016•30 min
