Welcome to the show notes for Episode #15 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we talk about college students whose over-the-top dorm rooms have gone viral, and we share where we stand on the debate. We also open up about our own college housing memories. HGTV designer Vern Yip calls in with solid design advice, and we share our first impressions of meeting Emily Henderson in person. Plus we geek out over a smart home visit and recount a messy lesson about why rice and vases sometimes don’t mix.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it on your preferred podcast platform. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos we mentioned in the episode.
What’s New
- Above is the snapshot we took with Emily Henderson after HGTV’s Blogger Block Party in New York City. It’s a candid, playful photo that captures the moment—Emily’s version turned out a bit more polished, but we love this one for the memory.
- We also referenced a few smart-home products our friends use: a video doorbell and smart color-changing bulbs (they also use simple white bulbs when color isn’t needed). These gadgets made the smart-home visit especially fun and useful for everyday life.
What’s Not
- Sherry recommended the Novogratz book Downtown Chic, which inspired a lot of their approachable, playful style. They’ve followed it with Home By Novogratz and have another title, Beachside Bohemian, coming soon. Their work is a good resource if you like bold, eclectic spaces with personality.
- We also reminisced about meeting Bob and Cortney Novogratz at our very first book signing in Cincinnati back in 2012. It was an early, wholehearted “nerd out” moment for us and a fun memory from our book-tour days.
Vern Yip Voicemail
- Vern Yip’s new book, Design Wise, is out and blends beautiful visuals with practical guidance for making smart choices in the home. It’s approachable for both design enthusiasts and homeowners working on real projects.
- Vern also offers a line of fabrics and textiles that reflect his aesthetic—useful for anyone looking to add layered pattern and texture to a room.
Fancy Dorm Rooms
- We discussed the viral Ole Miss dorm room photo and similar college spaces that have been labeled “dorm goals.” These highly styled rooms have sparked conversation about privilege, taste, and what’s appropriate for student housing.
- We also linked to several round-ups that collected extravagant dorm rooms from different campuses. They’re interesting to browse if you’re curious about how far students will go to make small spaces feel special.
- As promised, below is a photo of John’s room from a house he lived in during college—the one that had once been a kitchen. The only surviving image is a quirky collage from that era, back when panoramic phone photos weren’t a thing yet.
- We couldn’t locate Sherry’s denim-blanket-and-goldfish-shower-curtain dorm photo, but we’ll add it here if it turns up.
We’re Digging
- Sherry has been collecting bookends that combine function and charm. She shared several styles she loves—sculptural ceramic pieces, simple metal supports, and whimsical animal forms. A sturdy, attractive bookend can anchor a shelf while adding personality to a book display.
- We also mentioned basic metal bookends as an affordable, practical option. They’re easy to hide behind books when needed and work well when balanced with a light decorative object like a vase at the shelf’s edge.
- John is currently reading Mary Roach’s Grunt and recommends it for its curious, entertaining approach to science and history. Other favorites by Roach include Stiff, Gulp, and Bonk—readable, well-researched books that mix humor with dense topics.
- And yes, we documented the “rice-splosion” that happened when a vase tipped over—an embarrassing but oddly photogenic clean-up situation.
Psst—looking for something we’ve mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check? We compiled a master list of past “We’re Digging” picks to help you find previous recommendations.
*This page includes affiliate links for items we discussed. These links help support the podcast at no extra cost to you.