In honor of Halloween, we’re sharing a genuinely spooky event that happened at our beach house—one we couldn’t explain for months. I’m usually the skeptic, but even I had a “how did that just happen?” moment. We also spoke with author Miranda Anderson about her family’s yearlong shopping ban and how that experiment brought more gratitude, patience, and a renewed sense of adventure into their daily lives. Plus: a progress update (and a few mess-driven confessions) from our bathroom renovation, and a tool that’s been essential for keeping our sanity during the chaos.
Episode Access
This episode is available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify. Search for “Young House Love Has A Podcast” in your preferred podcast app to listen.
What’s New
- We recently completed demo work in the bathroom at the beach house so the plumbers and electricians could complete their scheduled tasks. The demo was tougher than it looked, but everything went smoothly and on time.
- With the subwork done, we’re now focused on rebuilding: prepping floors and shower walls for tile installation is next on the schedule.
- If you’re managing a renovation yourself, it helps to know the difference between acting as your own general contractor and hiring someone to oversee the whole project. There are clear trade-offs in time, coordination, and cost that everyone should weigh before deciding which route to take.
- We’ve talked in previous episodes about finding and working with contractors, reading estimates and bids, and maintaining productive relationships with tradespeople—those earlier conversations are still useful if you’re deep in a reno right now.
Our Haunted Room?
- The photo above shows the middle bedroom during a recent makeover—not the summer moment when we encountered the unexplained “haunting.” You can spot the attic access door on the ceiling.
- Later this week we’ll share a detailed blog post with photos and instructions about installing board and batten in this room.
Miranda Anderson — More Than Enough
- Miranda Anderson joins us to talk about her book, More Than Enough, and how her family embraced what she calls “practical minimalism” for a year. Their shopping ban helped them surface priorities, reduce impulse buying, and create more intentional time together.
- Her work covers the many practical and emotional challenges that arise when you choose to simplify—where they struggled, how they adapted, and the long-term lessons they took away from the year.
- Miranda also offers a multi-week e-course on decluttering and living with less. If you’re interested in a structured approach and accountability, a guided course can be a helpful next step.
Further Listening and Resources from Miranda
- Miranda hosts a weekly podcast that explores themes like family, money, marriage, and home. Selected episodes that complement our conversation include topics on money management, optimism, decluttering beyond Kondo, renovation expectations, and resilience when things go wrong.
- We also referenced several past episodes of our own show while chatting with Miranda, such as conversations about “Year of Less” experiments and how household ownership can feel like becoming “stuff managers.” Those past episodes provide practical perspective and relatable anecdotes.
We’re Digging
- Our wet/dry vac has been indispensable for big cleanup jobs during the bathroom demo. While a larger model handles heavy-duty debris well, smaller portable models make quick cleanup tasks and car detailing easier. Choosing the right size comes down to the jobs you tackle most often.
- We’ve been listening to a true crime podcast that’s been absorbing company during long workdays. If you enjoy narrative audio storytelling while you work, it’s worth exploring similar high-quality podcasts that match your preferences.
Episode Links, Book Club, and Sponsors
We keep a master list of topics and recommendations we’ve featured on past episodes, including books we’ve discussed in our Book Club. If you’re trying to relocate a topic we covered previously—whether a product, a book, or an episode—our archives are organized to make that easier.
A quick thank-you to the sponsor of this episode. They helped make this conversation possible, and they offered a discount code to listeners for photo-printing services—perfect for turning renovation memories into keepsakes.
Thanks for listening and reading. We appreciate your support and love hearing how your own projects and life experiments turn out.
*This post contains affiliate links*