When a neighbor recently shared historic documents about our 100-year-old beach house, we were stunned to uncover a 1936 story involving jealousy and even murder. This week we’re sharing what we learned about that dramatic episode, along with other surprising details from the house’s past. We also help a listener find creative ways to maximize storage and reveal additional places to stash items (because “I have too much storage” is something no one ever says). Plus: a Christmas gift that’s helping Sherry fight insomnia and an inexpensive accessory that makes John’s vision tasks much easier.
You can download the related episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, or listen directly from the podcast player on the original post. Use this page to check the links, notes, and photos we referenced.
What’s New
- Over the holiday break we tackled the beach house pantry. If you want a closer look, we’ve shared highlights on our Instagram Stories where you can watch the short clips showcasing the pantry updates.
- We also shared a photo showing the scale of the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the route we take to reach Cape Charles. It’s an impressive span and a vivid reminder of how much water separates the Eastern Shore from mainland Virginia.
- On New Year’s Eve in Cape Charles the town hoisted a giant “crab pot” by crane and dropped it as part of the festivities. It was charming and unexpectedly delightful to watch in person.
- We also examined a decades-old newspaper clipping about a 1936 murder mystery connected to the area. The article and subsequent coverage helped fill in details about that unsettling chapter in the house’s history.
Storage
- In the episode we discuss tips for making storage both functional and attractive. A previous episode that dives deep into organization—featuring The Home Edit—includes many useful ideas and starts around the 14-minute mark of that show.
- Here are several of our own projects that illustrate practical storage solutions:
- A coat closet repurposed as a toy closet in the foyer.
- Custom built-ins in the living room that maximize vertical storage and display space.
- Built-ins in our son’s room designed to hold books, toys, and clothing across multiple posts detailing the process.
- Built-ins in the bonus room used for toys, games, and overflow linens.
- We also shared a kitchen organization post where Sherry opens nearly every drawer and cabinet to explain what’s stored where and why—great for picking up small, practical habits that make daily life easier.
- In the powder room, we replaced a bulky vanity with a sleek console sink and added a pretty basket for toilet-paper storage—small swaps that improve both function and style.
Sherry also rounded up a selection of storage-focused furniture and accessories we like for making the most of small spaces. Highlights include an upholstered bed with under-mattress storage, a lift-top coffee table with hidden storage and a tray surface, compact wall cabinets for bathrooms, ready-made closet systems for optimizing small closets, a mixed open-and-closed “Hide ’N Seek” shelving option, wall-mounted shelving for vertical solutions, upgraded laundry hampers that read like furniture, back-of-door organizers, stylish under-bed baskets, and storage ottomans that organize shoes or other belongings.
We’re Digging
- John has been using laser-enhancing safety goggles when cutting wood; they make laser guide lines clearer and improve accuracy. Affordable options from known tool brands work well for hobbyists and pros alike.
- Sherry’s been sleeping better with a weighted blanket. We chose a 48 x 72″ size at roughly 10% of body weight and found the added pressure helps promote calm and deeper sleep for some people. We also use blankets and pillows in the podcasting space to reduce echo and create a warmer sound during recordings.
If you want a quick reference for items and ideas we’ve recommended across episodes, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging from past shows. It’s a handy place to rediscover ideas you heard but don’t remember which episode covered them.
Finally, a note of thanks to the sponsor of this episode. They offered a welcome gift set for new members as part of their sign-up promotion.
Thanks for listening and reading—hope these ideas help you get more out of your home and inspire a few small projects of your own.
*This post contains affiliate links in some of the original episode notes*