This week we’re sharing how a short cottage getaway turned into a reconnaissance trip for our own vacation rental plans. While we were there, we also wrestled with the challenge of choosing ceiling lights that complement each other without feeling too matchy. After a few missteps, we discovered one straightforward approach that keeps multiple fixtures cohesive while preserving character. We’ll explain that here, along with a list of decor items professional designers suggest men should avoid in their homes. Plus: a new painting tool we can’t stop using, and an oddly relatable revelation about something Sherry can’t do quite right, despite most people doing it without thinking.
You can download the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio, or listen with the embedded player below. Use this page to find related links, photos, and episode notes. If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to open the post in your browser to see the player.
What’s New
- Quick highlights from our Charlottesville weekend:
- We stayed in a charming 700 sq ft Airbnb cottage that inspired ideas for our own rental.
- Breakfasts at Keevil & Keevil and Brazos Tacos—both were great ways to start the day.
- Dinners at Citizen Burger and Oakhart Social; both were relaxed and tasty.
- We visited IX Art Park, which is right next to Brazos and full of fun installations.
- You might already have seen the Instagram photo above, but here are a few additional iPhone shots from the trip (we left the big camera at home).
- We also snapped a photo of a cheeky sculpture at the art park—classy tourists, as always.
Updates
- Episode #31 of the podcast and its accompanying blog post discuss how we chose the “pinch” color for our beach house.
- Sherry keeps recommending a pair of jeans she calls “life-changing”—they’re the ones she’s been buying again and again.
- In Episode #33 we chat about float tanks, and we referenced Questlove’s Instagram post about his experience with them.
That’s Embarrassing
- We revisited an earlier episode (#36) that reveals Sherry’s long-standing aversion to baths—an oddly personal confession.
- On a lighter note, we finally replaced a drain plug so both bathrooms now have a “good” stopper—small wins are real wins.
What’s Not
- We discussed Elle Decor’s list of things designers say men should avoid displaying at home and had a bit of fun riffing on it.
- If you missed our take on the women’s list, that discussion appears in Episode #37 and includes some eye-rolling moments.
Listener’s Call
Dining chandelier / kitchen pendant / similar end chair / blue dining chairs / stools / blinds
- Visit our Shop Our House page to see the lighting we’ve used throughout our home and where each piece came from. Our recent house tour videos also show how the fixtures look in motion as you walk through the rooms.
- We made a lighting mistake in our pre-renovation kitchen: three lights that seemed compatible on paper ended up competing with each other once installed. We talk through what we learned and show photos from that phase of the project.
- Sherry started building mood boards for lighting options and got carried away—so we’ll turn those into a focused post. One preview includes a glass globe sconce that demonstrates how a single glass shape can tie multiple fixtures together.
We’re Digging
- The concave paint roller has become a favorite for furniture legs and curved surfaces because it hugs rounded shapes better than a standard foam roller. It also avoids the plastic end nub that can scratch finishes when you press too hard.
- For reading, we’re recommending The Kind Worth Killing for fans of twisty thrillers like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. It’s an engaging page-turner that even features a renovation subplot.
Psst — If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in an earlier episode but can’t remember which show notes to check, consult our master list of everything we’ve featured in past “We’re Digging” segments.
To see the Smartstuff nursery makeover and learn more about their smart furniture features, visit the brand’s site referenced in the episode notes.
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