Our week living furniture-free has come to an end, and it went… differently than we expected. Today we’ll share what worked, what didn’t, the mistakes we made, and what changes might stick around as we rethink how we use our home. We also confess an annoying side effect of one of our house features that’s lovely but not always practical. Plus, Sherry leans further into her woo-woo rituals and John vents about a pet peeve with a certain smart-home product.
You can find the episode on your favorite podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and others) or listen through the player on the original post. Below, we’ve gathered the links, photos, and notes we mentioned in the episode.
What’s New
- This is me improvising a standing desk using a random box as part of our Furniture Free Living experiment we introduced last week.
- I’m still undecided about switching to standing work long-term, but if I did I’d likely invest in a clean, convertible standing desk in white for a minimal look.
- I suggested an under-desk walking treadmill to Sherry, but it won’t fit under her current desk. She prefers walking outside while handling small tasks on her phone—she’s taken calls, answered emails, and ordered items while moving around the neighborhood.
- We watched videos on the Furniture Free and Natural Movement movement to learn more. A comprehensive house tour by Katy Bowman stood out as a useful resource; she was also featured in a Good Housekeeping piece we referenced.
- We’re thinking about adding more active elements to our bonus room—there’s space behind the couches that would fit a treadmill if we moved a few baskets of dress-up clothes.
If you’re thinking of joining the movement, let us know on social media if you’re taking part in Aquatober or Walktober.
Updates
- Thanks to suggestions from readers, I finally removed loyalty cards from my keychain. I now rely on entering phone numbers, Apple Wallet, or the Key Ring app. I’m also testing an app called Pass2u to import cards that retailers’ apps don’t support.
- About that lone key on a ring next to my leather key organizer: it’s for the beach house. Keeping it separate makes it easy to detach the leather organizer and carry only the car key and that single key when we go down there.
- I ordered a slim wallet to see if it helps me pare down what I carry. Small changes like that can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re trying to simplify.
Can We Just Talk About Smart Locks?
The door shown above is the main candidate for a smart lock because it’s our most-used entry from the garage. We love how the current polished nickel lock coordinates with our kitchen hardware, which is why we chose it. The lock is even visible from the living room.
Now picture one of the typical smart-lock units—a bulky, dark device—mounted on that light-colored door. Most smart locks come in satin finishes or darker colors, and we haven’t found many in polished nickel. The big black modules tend to show up starkly on a pale door, and that concerns us aesthetically.
One option we’re researching is a brand that keeps the bulk smaller by using a separate hub that plugs in elsewhere. That approach reduces the visible mass on the door and offers an optional keypad for people who don’t want to rely solely on a phone. The “silver” finish isn’t a perfect match for polished nickel, but it’s less visually intrusive than a large black block. Still, it will always be a noticeable modern element on a classic door.
For reference, our front and back doors use Kwikset locksets with SmartKey rekeying. We’ve had those for five years and recommend them for the convenience of rekeying without hiring a locksmith.
Listener Question
- Ang asked about our covered porch area. The photo above is from before we removed the old deck. The windows behind the outdoor sofa look directly into our living room.
- You’re used to seeing our kitchen and living room bright and open, but in the afternoons the west-facing sun lights the front of the house and leaves this side noticeably darker.
That photo, taken without long exposure, shows how the dining room can be brilliantly lit by the sun while the living room side remains shaded. The covered porch creates a permanent shadow in that corner, so interior light levels vary strongly in late afternoon. A small patch of brightness on our fireplace, for example, is actually sunlight reflecting from our white shed doors—proof that light behaves in surprising ways around the house.
We’re Digging
- Our kids’ favorite new game is Tenzi. We play variations like Tenzi Tower—where you stack dice as you go—and Stealzi—where you can swipe opponents’ dice. We’re using coasters to stack the dice and loving the chaos.
- We also picked up a book of variations called “77 Ways to Play Tenzi,” which has sparked dozens of new game ideas. They even sell a Party Pack with multiple sets of dice if you want to play with a larger group.
- Sherry bought a jade face roller that she uses in her skincare routine. We included an example and previously shared an article about the roller’s benefits. If you want to see Sherry use it—and my goofy reaction—you can find the short video we posted on our social channels.
- For more of Sherry’s unconventional skincare tips (including low-effort routines and kitchen staples she swears by), see our roundup of favorite household and skincare hacks.
If you’re looking for an item we mentioned in a past episode, check our master list of “We’re Digging” recommendations from previous shows. You’ll also find book suggestions on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Revel Woods for sponsoring the episode. They helped us with hardwood floor samples and offered a discount code for first-time orders.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
*This post contains affiliate links and recommendations shared by the hosts*