Episode 18 show notes for Young House Love Has A Podcast are here. This week we welcome Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge, who reflects on more than a decade of design blogging and shares insights about personal style, the evolving role of the internet in creative work, and why attempting to force a perfect work-life balance often misses the point. We also give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at our new coloring book, share a playful source of interior-design tips, and commiserate about a persistent household curse that’s been following John this year. Finally, we explain one simple step we’ve taken to reduce unwanted mail and clutter from the postman.
You can download the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio, or listen directly from the podcast player. Use this page to find links, notes, and images referenced during the show.
What’s New
We’re excited to announce that our coloring book, Color at Home, launches this week (October 4). The preview pages include a favorite chair collage we mentioned on the show, along with a selection of hand-drawn interior scenes perfect for coloring and customizing. If you enjoy creative projects that blend design and relaxation, this book is designed for you.
Copies are available through major retailers and independent shops. If you prefer signed copies or want to support a local bookstore, check for regional availability where you usually shop.
What’s Not
- We referenced a cheeky piece during the episode called “The 9 Biggest Mistakes Guys Make When Laying Out A Room.” It was mentioned in jest as a lighthearted example of common layout errors to avoid.
Grace Bonney
- Grace Bonney’s site, Design*Sponge, is a rich resource for design, style, travel, and creative-business content. Her work emphasizes thoughtful, human-centered design and the stories behind makers and creatives.
- Grace’s book In the Company of Women collects interviews with over one hundred female artists, makers, and entrepreneurs and is a great read for anyone interested in creative careers, resilience, and practical advice from women building businesses and creative lives.
We’re Digging
- We highlighted a pretty set of Carats DOF drinking glasses from World Market. The green and pink versions we showed are colorful, affordable glassware options that work well for everyday use or casual entertaining.
- To reduce junk mail and paper clutter, we discussed the PaperKarma app as an automated way to opt out of many unwanted mailings. It’s a useful tool for anyone looking to cut down on catalogs, coupons, and printed advertisements arriving at home.
If you’re searching for something we’ve recommended in a previous episode, we’ve compiled a master list of all our “We’re Digging” picks and past episode highlights. It’s a handy reference for locating products, apps, and resources we’ve mentioned over time.
*This post contains affiliate links*