Today we’re sharing how to strike the right balance when choosing between artwork and family photos for different walls in your home. We’ll also reveal where we naturally placed personal photos in our house and why those spots felt right. You’ll find practical tips for personalizing walls beyond the typical posed portrait, and ideas for displaying candid shots and handmade family art. Plus, we’ve gone shed-crazy—seriously—and we’ll talk about the silver lining we discovered after a yearlong delay at the beach house, which is saving us money and getting us excited for summer. And yes, I’m finally trying crystals (or window prisms) and I’m surprised by how much joy they add to a room.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We’ve been making progress on the patio and shed at the beach house. The duplex is a bit further behind—the shed frames were just completed—but overall it’s shaping up to be a busy, productive spring with lots of shed projects on the docket.
- If you want background on the small beach house backyard decisions, we first mentioned it in Episode #84, where we outline our disagreement about the shed and show early planning photos. Those shownotes include images of the original metal shed when we bought the house, which help explain how the plans have evolved.
- We also discussed updated plans and layouts in Episode #107 when our hot tub arrived. The plan has continued to evolve since then, and we’ve been adjusting design choices as the project moves forward. For context, you can also find photos and organization ideas from our Richmond shed projects that inspired some of our storage choices here.
Listener Question
- The image above shows our bedroom before we simplified the large family photo gallery around the bed. We mentioned “quieting the room” as a goal—which means reducing visual clutter so the space feels calm and restful. We talk more about that idea in Episode #111 on Cozy Minimalism.
- Some of the photos that used to hang over the bed were moved to the guest room, above Sherry’s sewing and craft desk. That spot feels more casual and playful, which suits candid or eclectic photo groupings.
- We also love candid family photos—like the shot of our kids playing on rocks at the beach. Nobody is looking at the camera, but the matching striped shirts, scenery, and the memory of that day make it a favorite. Candid images often feel more authentic and emotional than posed portraits.
- In the kitchen, we enjoy a new family photo every day using an annual page-a-day calendar. We tape the daily photos inside the cubbies of our mini mudroom cabinets, which is a simple way to personalize each family member’s space and rotate memories without a long-term commitment.
- Beyond traditional photos, consider hanging artwork made to represent your family. Options include a shadowbox with painted wooden pegs that represent family members, embroidered portraits, or custom paintings and sketches from independent artists. We had a portrait of our children made that now hangs in our foyer and feels both personal and decorative.
- We also enlarged a piece of kid artwork and hung it in our bonus room to create a large-scale, playful focal point. Personal art like this can bring warmth and a sense of authenticity that store-bought pieces sometimes lack.
- If you’re looking for custom family art, there are many small sellers and artists who create unique portrait options—everything from stylized family illustrations to playful, themed portraits. These pieces feel personal and can be tailored to your home’s aesthetic.
We’re Digging
- I’m enjoying crystals—or more accurately, glass window prisms—that cast small rainbows across our rooms. I ordered two sets and they’ve been such a hit we’re planning to add more at the beach house. They feel like tiny, inexpensive mood boosters.
- We’re experimenting with where to hang them for the best light. The kitchen window has been a favorite spot: morning sun hits the prisms and splashes rainbows across the cabinets and even onto the far wall with our shoe cubbies. It’s a cheerful way to start the day and requires almost no effort.
- The idea came after reading a book that inspired small joyful touches around the house. Tiny, intentional additions—like prisms—can change how a space feels without major renovation.
- On a different note, we recently binged the Netflix show Russian Doll. It’s adult-oriented (explicit language), unusual, funny, intense and refreshing. Episodes are short—about 30 minutes each—so it made for a quick, engaging watch.
If you want to revisit things we’ve recommended before, we maintain a master list of items we’ve dug across past episodes, as well as a Book Club page that lists books we’ve discussed. Those resources make it easy to find designs, products, and reads we’ve mentioned over time.
A note of thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. New customers who spend their first $20 can receive a special welcome gift and trial benefits when they sign up.
Thanks for listening and reading—hope these ideas help you display family and art in ways that feel meaningful, calm, and joyful.
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