This week we dive into a recent survey that uncovers the top regrets homeowners have after moving in — the features they thought they’d love but ended up not liking. The findings are surprising and make for a lively conversation. We also discuss an eye-opening study comparing millennial dads and baby boomers, and one particular result sparked a lot of strong reactions. Plus: a literal mess at our beach houses and the unusual fixes we tried, fresh design norms from around the world, and a handful of summer entertainment picks worth checking out.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- The photo above shows the “bird city” gathered behind the duplex fence that created a huge mess on the patio, outdoor furniture, and even on the windows. Our cleaner couldn’t believe how much debris was stuck to the glass.
- We tried a pair of decoy owls, which surprisingly discouraged the birds from using the tiny backyard as a restroom. That quick win was a relief.
- We also hung reflective bird-deterrent discs in the trees. They look reasonably attractive and did help reduce spotting on our nearby pink house as well.
- We’ve been experimenting with other animal deterrents too — earlier episodes cover our efforts to keep deer away from landscaping.
Game Time: Homeowner Hindsights
- The homeowner regrets study we mentioned highlights what people most commonly wish they’d done differently when buying a home. Hardwood floors, layout choices, and overbuilt custom features all came up in the results.
- Hardwood floors were a major topic in our discussion. We shared examples showing how old, damaged hardwoods can often be refinished to look like new — including the duplex floors pictured above.
- We also showcased the beach house’s more than 100-year-old heart pine flooring, with before-and-after images that emphasize the dramatic transformation available through refinishing.
- If you’re considering refinishing your floors, we talked about the process and living through the renovation in a previous episode — the upsides are real, but the short-term inconvenience is worth noting.
Updates
- We discussed the Charmin “Forever Roll” and shared a Business Insider write-up about the logic behind long-lasting toilet rolls. Also: a friend’s Game of Thrones wager paid off, and he was thrilled with his prize.
- There’s been continued conversation about how some generations approach household staples differently. We revisited an earlier episode where we talked about items our generation buys less often and why.
- One surprising survey result noted that a significant share of households don’t own basic tools like screwdrivers or hammers. To fix that gap, we recommended a compact, affordable tool kit that covers the basics.
Global Design Norms
- Listener suggestions led us to look at steep, narrow “Dutch” style stairs. The photos make my head spin — they’re beautiful but look almost vertigo-inducing in person.
- We also discussed services that connect deliveries to a homeowner’s garage and how different regions handle mail and package delivery norms.
We’re Digging
- To keep you occupied during our podcast’s summer break, we shared several shows and books we’ve been enjoying. One new podcast we recommend is “Redesigning Life with Sabrina Soto,” where we appear as guests this week.
- We reminisced about early interviews from our own podcast archive, including conversations with designers and TV personalities whose humor and perspective still resonate.
- For a gripping true-crime and business story, we both enjoyed an in-depth podcast that traces the rise and fall of an infamous startup. It’s well produced and compelling listening.
- On the reading list, the WWII biography Unbroken was a standout — immersive and hard to put down. If you’ve seen the movie adaptation, we’d love to hear your thoughts on how it compares to the book.
If you want to revisit something we covered in a past episode but aren’t sure which show notes to open, we keep a master list of everything we’ve “dug” across episodes, plus a dedicated Book Club page that compiles all book recommendations.
Finally, thanks to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. They often offer promotional bundles for new sign-ups that include popular cleaning products.
Thanks for listening — we appreciate you tuning in.
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