We’re getting personal this week and sharing some early setbacks and tough decisions that nearly sent our lives in a very different direction — no house, no blog, maybe even no marriage. We also talk about a few failed attempts to redo part of our home that ended with us calling in professionals, an easy trick to instantly improve drawer organization, and a tool that makes almost every DIY project smoother.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, or Spotify — or listen to the player embedded below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos mentioned in the episode. If you’re reading in a feed reader, you might need to open the post to see the player.
What’s New
- These quick fall photos aren’t as vivid as spring shots will be, but they give a good sense of the backyard layout. The taller ornamental “stick” in front is a ginkgo and the one nearer the shed is a weeping cherry.
- The second photo below is a “before” taken shortly after we moved in. The large tree that died last summer sat to the right of the yellow birdbath. Losing that tree shifted the curve of the yard and opened up more space — we appreciate the breathing room, but we still miss that old tree.
- A couple of years ago we worked with a landscaper to create a plan that helped steer our priorities. We didn’t plant everything from that plan, but it did motivate us to install an irrigation system, add a shed, and repave the driveway — moves that paid off.
- The current view shows progress after several seasons of establishing grass, installing irrigation, and planting screening shrubs and a few trees around the perimeter. You can also see the pea gravel under the table, which marks where we want a future patio and helped us realize we want it a bit deeper.
- Another angle highlights the planting mix: screening shrubs, ornamental grasses, and three small trees — a maple, a ginkgo, and a weeping cherry. We’re excited to watch everything green up and fill in over the coming seasons.
Quick Tip
- Our junk drawer is a great example of how simple containers and a few adhesive velcro strips can transform clutter into tidy, usable space. By attaching boxes strategically, we created storage zones without adding more containers — that’s where we keep tape, a stapler, and a small flashlight.
- Using small wooden boxes, dividers, and adhesive hooks or strips lets you customize dozens of drawer configurations. It’s an inexpensive way to compartmentalize and keep frequently used items easy to find.
- For more detailed inspiration, we’ve documented how we organized the kitchen — including a guided cabinet-and-drawer tour.
Update
- If you missed our take on the trend of displaying books backward, listen to last week’s episode to hear our full conversation and whether we think it works in practice.
Our Early Setbacks
- As promised, we dug up some video tours from our first apartments, filmed years before the blog existed. First is Sherry’s NYC studio from 2005 — a quick point-and-shoot tour she made after a breakup. The fridge content is the highlight.
- Next is the Upper West Side apartment I moved into with friends shortly after Sherry and I started dating. That early tour is full of laughable design choices and earnest explanations, like our “blue and brown” bathroom motif.
- Finally, there’s a tour of our first apartment together in Richmond, VA after moving from NYC in early 2006. That space had a fax machine on the floor and a washer/dryer that made us feel like kings. By this point the fridge finally contained actual meals.
- For a compact summary of our early years together, check the relationship timeline post from 2009, which outlines milestones that led to where we are today.
We’re Digging
- One tool that shows up in nearly every project is our cordless drill/driver. If you don’t already have a compatible battery platform, consider picking up a kit that includes the drill, battery, and charger. If you already own a battery system, the drill body alone is an affordable upgrade.
- Keep a compact drill/driver bit set nearby — a small 30- to 31-piece kit covers most needs and is inexpensive to replace.
- We’ve also written about other power tools that transformed our DIY capabilities if you’re building a starter toolkit.
- On the reading front, Sherry’s been devouring a selection-series collection of books and has raced through several more since we first mentioned it.
If you’re trying to remember which episode covered a particular product or idea, we’ve compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past shows to make it easier to find.
Finally, thanks to HANDy Paint Products for sponsoring this episode. For painting projects we use the HANDy Paint Cup (with a magnetic brush holder) and the HANDy Paint Tray — both make rolling paint around a room much less messy. You can find the bright red HANDy Paint products wherever you buy paint.
Thanks for listening!
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