While we’re settling into our new home in Florida, we wanted to share one last episode that we recorded back in Richmond. In it, “Past John & Sherry” made a few lighthearted predictions about how moving day would go and shared hopes and worries about our first night in the new house. We also spoke with renter-decor expert Medina Grillo about temporary, affordable, and easy-to-change decorating solutions that work great for renters and homeowners alike. Medina offered a ton of practical tips, busted a few myths about renting, and inspired plenty of creative ideas. We also shared a few laughs over an Instagram account we love and rounded up what we’re packing for our kids for a 12-hour car ride to Florida.
This episode is available on major podcast platforms if you prefer to listen rather than read. If you want real-time updates on our move and to see whether any of our predictions came true, check our Instagram or Instagram Stories for the latest posts while we get settled and sort out our internet connection in the new house.
What’s New
- We’ve scheduled these shownotes to publish before we arrive in Florida, so social media will be the fastest way to catch live updates about the move and any surprises that happen along the way.
- As we mentioned on the episode, we fully expect to spend at least a few nights sleeping on a mattress on the floor — much like we did after the move into our second house — until we decide on the right bed setup.
- Because next Monday is Memorial Day, we’ll take a short break and return with a new episode on June 1st. That week will help us get more settled and ensure we have reliable internet so we can upload without issues.
Renter-Friendly Ideas From Medina Grillo
- Medina Grillo, founder of Grillo Designs and author of Home Sweet Rented Home, joined us to share renter-friendly design strategies that look customized without permanent alterations. Many of her solutions are temporary, affordable, and highly effective.
- One clever idea Medina described is removing and storing upper cabinet doors for an open shelving look. That approach makes a kitchen feel brighter and more modern, and you can dress the back of the cabinets with removable wallpaper or contact paper for added color and pattern.
- She also experimented with removable wallpaper on floors — yes, wallpaper on the floor — in an entryway. When installed correctly, removable wallpaper can hold up for years and come off cleanly when it’s time to revert the space or make a permanent change.
- Removable peel-and-stick wallpaper is one of our favorite rental-friendly tools as well. We’ve used it in multiple projects and recommend starting with a small area if you’re new to the material. It’s forgiving, easy to work with, and lets you add bold graphics or patterns without long-term commitment.
- Medina’s video series #HowIRent features inspiring renter house tours and practical tutorials. In particular, she highlighted a gallery-wall technique that avoids holes in the wall and another creative use of contact paper that gives a rented space a strong personal stamp without violating lease terms.
- If you’re curious about past apartment projects, we reminisced about older tours that documented apartments we lived in before blogging days — helpful inspiration if you’re outfitting a smaller rental or want to see creative solutions in compact spaces.
We’re Digging
- One small travel-friendly activity our son loves is Paint By Sticker books. They’re great for kids on long car rides — focused, low-mess, and entertaining — and come in themes like zoo animals and sea creatures. They’re inexpensive and durable for repeated use in the car.
- There are also versions for adults, including ones with vintage travel poster art that make a relaxing and creative break during long trips or quiet afternoons.
- A favorite Instagram account we keep returning to features charmingly illustrated national park posters paired with hilariously blunt one-star reviews. The combination of thoughtful art and deadpan humor is surprisingly funny and a nice reminder that design and levity can coexist.
- If you want to find items or books we’ve mentioned in past episodes, we keep a master list of things we’ve been digging across all our shows, plus a page for book recommendations from our podcast book club.
We’d also like to thank our sponsor for this episode. They reminded us how important good sleep is for both physical and mental health, and they were kind enough to offer listeners a special discount for a limited time.
Thanks for listening and reading — we appreciate you following along while we make this transition. We’ll share photos and stories from the move and our first days in Florida on social channels, and we look forward to catching up with you in the next episode.
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