We’re sharing how our bathroom renovation went from a standing start to about fifty percent complete — that number will make more sense once you hear what we tackled — and what we learned about the best layout and the right sizes for the vanity, shower, tub and other big pieces. We also dove into the houseplant struggle and invited plant expert Carmeon Hamilton to answer all our beginner questions about keeping indoor greenery healthy. She recommended easy starter plants, explained when to water, repot and fertilize, and clarified how to handle pests — yes, it turns out fertilizing is a thing we should be doing. We also rave about a multipurpose tool we liked so much we bought two, and there was a surprise twist in our color-of-the-year predictions that even surprised us.
What’s New
- If you missed our earlier post showing the partial gut of our master bath, check our previous update to see how changing the view made a huge difference.
- We love using classic tile, but arranging it in unexpected patterns for visual interest and texture.
- Now that the layout feels crystal clear, we felt confident ordering the big items: the tub, the toilet and a large double vanity that should fit perfectly. We’re leaning toward painting the vanity a muted gray-brown inspired by a photo we love.
- The toilet we chose is the same model we’ve used in our downstairs powder room for years — it looks surprisingly refined for a toilet, and it feels good to be upgrading another one in the house. Soon we’ll be two-for-three!
Colors Of The Year
- We were off on our earlier color prediction for Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year. Instead of deep brown or forest green, their pick was a dark navy blue called Naval.
- Meanwhile, a lighter “blush” or peachy pink — a shade lighter than Millennial Pink — turned out to align closely with another brand’s pick, a soft romantic tone that surprised us by matching one of Sherry’s earlier guesses.
- We’re also keeping an eye on a muddy, green-gray, clay-like hue that could be a contender for other brands’ picks; neutrally styled ceramics and pottery in that tone are cropping up in inspiration photos and mood boards.
Carmeon Hamilton’s Plant Parenting Tips
Carmeon shared a number of practical, beginner-friendly plant tips. Below are the essentials we found most helpful.
- Carmeon recommends a short, approachable guide to plant care that covers the basics of watering, light, pruning and propagation — a great first resource for new plant parents.
- Her three top beginner plants are pothos, snake plant and ZZ plant. All three tolerate a range of light conditions and are forgiving of occasional neglect. Note: many common houseplants can be toxic to pets, so check toxicity before bringing plants into a home with curious animals.
- If you’re choosing a large statement plant, Carmeon prefers the monstera over the fiddle leaf fig because of its dramatic foliage and forgiving nature in many indoor conditions. Smaller starter versions and propagated clippings make great, budget-friendly options for getting started.
- For propagation, Carmeon has clear step-by-step advice on how to root pothos and monstera cuttings — simple methods that let you grow more plants from a single parent and share cuttings with friends.
- To handle pests, she suggests a gentle homemade spray: water plus a small amount of apple cider vinegar or neem oil, and a few drops of dish soap. Take the plant outside, spray and wipe the leaves, then let it air for a few hours before bringing it back in. That routine is usually enough to control common houseplant pests.
- For regular feeding, Carmeon endorses a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer used according to package directions to support healthy growth without overwhelming indoor plants.
We’re Digging
- One tool we’ve loved is a compact Ryobi inflator. Beyond inflating bike tires and sports equipment, it’s been perfect for beach floats and other seasonal needs. It’s an inexpensive, handy gadget that does more than you’d expect.
- On a lighter note, Sherry’s small new habit of adding endearing photos to her phone contacts (and sometimes a heart emoji) makes everyday texts feel surprisingly sweet. The little gestures add a lot of warmth to routine conversations.
If you’re trying to remember which past episode featured a product or book we mentioned, we keep a master list of favorites and a Book Club page highlighting all the books we’ve recommended across episodes.
A final thank-you to our episode sponsor for supporting this show. Their seasonal home collection offers a variety of rugs and textiles that fit cozy fall styling — and they provided a discount code for listeners to use on qualifying orders.
Thanks for reading and listening — we appreciate you following along as the bathroom reno and our plant journeys continue.
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