Now that we’ve wrapped up our big brick house painting project, we’re sharing the behind-the-scenes twists and turns from the past week. A job this large can veer off course quickly—and ours did, more than once. We’ll explain why the final result ended up even better than we expected, what’s next on the to-do list, and why John could use gadget advice from fellow tech lovers. We’ll also share an update about our upcoming furniture collection launch.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen using the player below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos we mentioned. If you’re reading in a feed reader, click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- If you missed last week’s post with all the details and photos of painting our house white, check it out to catch up.
- We’ve discussed this project on several podcasts if you want more context:
- Episode #101 — introducing the idea and weighing the pros and cons.
- Episode #105 — deciding to move forward and listener input that helped us choose.
- Episode #118 — our concerns and stresses heading into the project.
- The photo below shows siding areas that needed matching Benjamin Moore paint—imagine how unfinished the house would have looked if those patches were still the old gray-brown color.
- One of the more chaotic days was our midweek porch reconstruction, which hilariously overlapped with Halloween trick-or-treating. Early that morning we were racing to finish the porch framing while contending with two big holes in the brick where the new doorframe was being built. Those openings ended up working perfectly for new lanterns to light the stoop.
- A few hours later, electricians arrived to wire the new fixtures. We mounted them on white composite backing to cover the brick holes—an approach we’ve used before that provides a rot-proof, sealed base for the lanterns.
- We expected some interior drywall damage when wiring the fixture on the right side, but the crew managed to snake the wiring through the crawl space and up the other side without harming the drywall. It required a lot of coordination—and a half-hour of yelling through the floor—but it was worth it. There was even a tense mouse-sighting moment in the crawl space, which added to the adventure.
- By Friday it was a photo finish. Lance, our painter, had a few minutes to capture final “after” shots from high in the lift. Our neighbors watched and cheered the whole way through—so much community support made the project feel special and even emotional for Sherry.
- For those curious about Lance’s work, he posts before-and-after photos on his Instagram and travels around the U.S. doing antique limewash applications. If that look appeals to you, he’s a great resource.
- After trimming and tidying the landscaping, Sherry calls the cleared-up shape our “Target ball.” The cleanup made the exterior read much cleaner and more intentional.
We’re Digging
- We’ve previewed our new furniture collection at YoungHouseLoveFurniture.com. In a couple of weeks we’ll announce when the pieces go live for sale on Wayfair and Wayfair Canada. We’re excited to share the collection with you.
- Featured pieces include navy X-Back chairs and a mixed-finish Cinch Table with a metal base and glossy white top. The Wisp Dresser and Debonair Dresser include white dentil molding details that echo our house’s trim.
- The Noble Dresser was inspired by a vintage piece from Sherry’s family. Seeing that dresser recreated was a meaningful moment for us.
- We’d love your input: should John spend his birthday money on an Apple Watch? DM, message, or tweet us your thoughts and experiences—especially if you wear one during yoga.
If you want to revisit other items we’ve recommended, check our master “We’re Digging” list and the books we’ve covered on our Book Club page.
Finally, thanks to Annie Selke for sponsoring this episode. Their Cyber Sale starts Monday, November 19th, with 25% off sitewide—visit annieselke.com/YHL to prepare your wish list.
Thanks for listening and following along—we’ll keep you posted as the next phases unfold!
*This post contains affiliate links*