What happens when you move into a smaller house in a quieter town for more than two months? We found out this summer while staying at our beach house to manage the duplex rentals — and it turned out to be one of the best summers we’ve ever had. Living in a smaller space, in a smaller place, taught us lessons that stuck. When we returned to Richmond we immediately made four changes to our routines and priorities. Even if you aren’t planning to downsize, you can experiment with a few of these ideas to see what feels good for your family.
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What’s New
- Looking through the photos of our bathroom has made us even more excited to begin the renovation — seeing it in images and standing in the space in person are both motivating.
- It’s hard to capture the awkward layout of our bathroom in photos because the room is so tight and compartmentalized. I’m planning to create an overhead diagram for a future post — maybe I’ll relearn SketchUp or another 3-D planning tool to show the layout clearly.
- The photo above is taken from our bedroom, looking toward the vanity we made over after we moved in. Our closet is to the right. We removed both doors that used to swing into that space because they were constantly bumping into one another. There’s also a linen closet door to the left that competes for space.
- Beside the linen closet and vanity is a doorway — this one still has a door — that leads into the shower and toilet area. We refreshed that small room by removing the glass shower door, stripping the dated wallpaper, and softening the blue tile with a ceiling paint treatment that helps the space feel less closed-in.
Removing the dark wallpaper was an immediate space-expander, and the small updates we made over the years definitely improved the feel. Now that we’ve lived with the house and saved for the project, we’re more confident about the direction of the full renovation and excited to start making permanent changes we love.
2020 Color of the Year Predictions
- We always enjoy discussing paint brands’ Color of the Year picks. Behr released its 2020 selection, “Back To Nature,” and we predicted what other paint makers might choose. On the show we made a few guesses, and we’ve kept track of the last three years’ selections to compare trends.
- We also talked about a playhouse project by a fellow creative that may reveal Sherwin-Williams’ color choice — the black-and-white progress photos hinted at a darker finish, though it could still read lighter depending on lighting and finish.
- Watching designers and makers reveal their process around color selections is always fascinating. We’ll update readers once all the official picks are announced so you can see how our guesses stacked up.
Our Summer in a Smaller Town and a Smaller House
- Living all summer in a smaller town and a smaller house was great for our whole family. We slowed down, soaked up the slower pace, and left looking forward to returning. The experience also gave us a fresh perspective on how we might use space and money differently going forward.
- If you want more about Sherry’s minimalist wardrobe, we’ve discussed it in a past episode and shared a closet tour post that shows how she streamlined clothing for ease and packing.
- For two months we shared a 3-drawer Malm dresser to organize our clothes. It was compact but effective, and we even made it feel built-in with a simple hack to save space and keep things tidy.
- Our kids used four small cubes — two apiece — to store clothes, pajamas, and swimsuits. Toward the end of summer we added a few storage tweaks to make room for more books, and we’ll photograph and share those updates in a follow-up post.
- Aside from stuffed animals in their rooms and some craft supplies in the living room cabinet, most of the family’s games and toys were kept in the three drawers of the entry table. Keeping fewer toys within reach made playtime feel more intentional — a few favorites reappeared more often because there were fewer options to choose from.
- We’ve talked before about why we reduced the number of toys in our home and how that change improved play and family time. When kids have fewer choices, they often engage more deeply with the items they do have.
We’re Digging
- One small swap that’s helped Sherry kick a sparkling-water habit is True Lemon packets. They’re inexpensive and easy to carry in a beach bag or car. Just add a packet to a reusable bottle or a glass of water for a quick citrus flavor without plastic cans or bulky bottles.
- On a less cheerful note, my Apple Watch stopped working earlier this year. I enjoyed having a Series 3 with cellular and won’t rule out another in the future, but living without it for several months has been perfectly fine — a reminder that tech upgrades aren’t always essential.
If you want to find something we’ve recommended in a past episode but don’t remember the exact notes, we’ve compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging across past shows. We also have a Book Club page that collects all the books we’ve recommended.
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