Many of us live with rooms that serve more than one purpose: a mudroom that doubles as a laundry room, a breakfast nook that becomes a homework station, or the classic guest-room-that-acts-like-an-office. Today we share how to make a single space work well for multiple uses so it feels intentional instead of like it’s doing one job halfheartedly. We also talk about an attic-clutter realization, a subtle negotiation trick John uses without even noticing, and a new tool he’s wanted for years. Sherry has been experimenting with some unconventional accessories that promise better sleep, relief from allergies, and even a little boost in mood.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen below. Use this page as a resource to find the links, notes, and photos we referenced. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- If you missed our big announcement last week, catch up with episode #64 here, and take a look at the “before” tour of our new duplex.
- We told the story of our ill-fated yard sale in Episode #56 — you can listen here. The promotional photo we used was taken the day before the sale.
- We haven’t installed our new Nest thermostats in the beach house yet, but we did get the Nest Thermostat E. We appreciate the cleaner white look; the trade-off is that the Thermostat E doesn’t have all of the learning features of the regular Nest Thermostat. We plan to program the settings and make adjustments from our phones when needed.
- Read more about why we like Nest and how easy it is to install in our post here. We’ve used a first-generation Nest for four years with no complaints — it’s saved us money and been reliable.
What’s Not
- There’s a good rundown of the cast for the Trading Spaces reboot, including profiles of the designers and carpenters, in this feature: read more here.
- We’ve had guests on the podcast who you might recognize from that list. For quick access, here are past episodes featuring some of those people:
- Sabrina Soto: Episode #2
- Vern Yip: Episode #15
- Genevieve Gorder: Episode #9
- Brian Patrick Flynn: Episode #26
- Jenni Pulos: Episode #12
- It turns out Joanie Sprague, a former America’s Next Top Model runner-up, has hosted Run My Renovation on the DIY Network — a reminder that many TV personalities have surprising side projects.
Listener Question
- Above is a craft table we installed along one wall of our guest room to give the space a second function. The drawer bases are from Ikea (one was a bargain from the as-is section and the matching unit was later found on Craigslist). We built a tiered plywood top to create a practical work surface.
- Below is the guest side of the room. These photos are from our second book, so they’re a little dated — when I went to take a fresh picture the room was full of beach-house supplies. Typically the desk holds a sewing machine and minimal supplies; the extras in the photo were styled for the book.
- For more on making one room serve multiple roles, read about our multi-functional guest room that doubled as an office and playroom in our first house: the full post.
- That post also links to the hardworking closet we relied on, including a shelf used for extra bedding — a small detail that made life easier when our son was little: closet details.
- From the first house we also recycled a hall closet’s back-of-door space for craft storage — a simple, efficient solution (warning: photos are from 2010 and look dated): see how we did it.
- We use a back-of-door plastic shoe organizer for craft supplies — it holds tape, paint tubes, glue sticks, and other small items neatly. We also tried a mesh version with similar results.
We’re Digging
- John’s current favorite tool is a cordless leaf blower: a Kobalt 40-Volt medium-duty model. He bought the tool body alone because we already had compatible batteries.
- Our corded blower is a TORO and it’s still going strong after 11 years — a reminder that sometimes simple, durable tools are best.
- Sherry has been exploring salt lamps and bought a pair of larger lamps for the living room and office, plus smaller nightlight-style lamps for the bedrooms and kitchen. She’s enjoying their warm glow and the relaxed ambiance they create.
If you want to revisit items we’ve recommended in past episodes but can’t remember which show notes to open, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging.
Finally, a thank-you to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. Visit grove.co/YHL to learn about their offers and to try natural household products, including Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Spray, which we use and recommend.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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