Bazinga. These are the show notes for Episode #19 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this week’s episode we discuss when it makes sense to tackle a project yourself and when it’s smarter to hire a pro. That question came up repeatedly during our big kitchen renovation, so we walk through how we decided which tasks to DIY and which to outsource, including practical strategies that saved both time and money. We also share five favorite daily routines that keep household clutter under control (they’re all surprisingly simple). Plus, we reveal some unusual ways we’ve discovered original artwork and confess to doing some delightfully odd projects—like turning a bedroom into a vampire den. Yes, you read that right.
You can download or stream this episode from the usual podcast platforms, or listen to it below. Use these notes to find any links, references, or photos we mention in the show.
What’s New
- Read more about our kitchen renovation in the full write-up on the blog. We go into the layout changes, material choices, timeline, and lessons learned—lots of photos included and more updates coming soon.
- Below are photos of the still-life painting of the Paymaster that we purchased from Vita (featured above) and a pink painting we brought home from a ski house we visited.
What’s Not
- We read and laugh about some bizarre WikiHow articles that offer truly odd advice. Examples include guides on how to decorate a room like a vampire den, how to arrange the house for a visiting grandparent, changing sheets on an occupied bed, and tactfully discouraging a neighbor from adding a new fence. These resources are entertaining and a little absurd—perfect podcast fodder.
- We also highlight a CollegeHumor roundup that collects more of these strange WikiHow entries. It’s a funny look at how specific and quirky some online how-to content can be.
Take Five
- We referenced an old post about committing to make the bed every day. It’s one of those small daily habits that pays off: it makes the room look instantly tidier, and our dog Burger still enjoys burrowing around in the blankets for a little morning fun.
- Over the years we’ve written several practical posts about keeping a home organized and manageable. Topics include living with less to save money, strategies for wrangling kid clutter, streamlining closet space, quick cleaning routines to tidy the house faster, and recipes for natural homemade cleaning products. These posts are full of tips that are easy to implement and sustain.
- For laundry organization, we mention the particular hamper we use in our closet and a few alternates we recommend. Choosing a hamper that fits your routine and closet space makes a surprising difference in keeping clothes from piling up.
- We also mention a set of space-saving stair baskets that work like a Tetris puzzle on stairways—great for corralling a variety of odds and ends that tend to migrate from room to room.
We’re Digging
- Sherry fell hard for a set of gold frames that were available at a popular home store. We ended up picking up several sizes—large frames for impactful art and smaller frames for grouping on a wall or tabletop. They’re classic, surprisingly affordable, and versatile for both family photos and found artwork.
- We also talk about the tool bag we use for home projects and mention a couple of comparable options that look well made. Having a reliable bag with the essentials makes quick jobs and weekend projects much less frustrating.
Psst—if you’re trying to remember a product or resource we mentioned in a previous episode, we keep a master list of everything we’ve recommended across past shows. It’s a handy reference if you can’t recall which episode covered a specific find.
Our sponsor highlighted a design program and offered a discount code for listeners. Check the episode notes for current promotions and details if you’re interested.
*This post may contain affiliate links and recommendations based on items we use and enjoy.*