#180: Decorating In The Era Of Zoom

The sudden boom of video conferencing in all of our lives is giving us a new window through which to view our homes (and the homes of others - from coworkers to celebrities and news correspondents). So what does your Zoom background say about you? And what lengths will we go to when it comes to altering them to make sure nothing weird gets seen by everyone else on the call? We also realized in hindsight that a family trip earlier this year had a pretty major effect on our decision to move to Florida. Plus we explain the big shiny object on our kitchen counter - and Sherry divulges an embarrassing story from her NYC days that she might never live down. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-180 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#179: A Funny Byproduct Of Having To Buy Fewer Products

The perks of downsizing continue to show themselves, including a recent realization we had while shopping for curtains and blinds. It was a pretty dramatic contrast of how shopping for this house is different than our previous ones, and it highlighted some exciting freedoms that come along with that. We also take a look at how pandemics of the past have shaped the way our homes look today, including the origin of things like powder rooms, white kitchens, and higher bed frames. Plus, what we really think of our fancy new Frame TV - and can your birthday really help you pick the right plants? Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-179/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#178: Settling Into Our New House: Expectation Vs. Reality

We’ve been in our new house for one whole month, and there are definitely some things that are shaping up differently than we had pictured. So today we’re sharing why some house projects have been easier than expected, but getting settled in a few other ways took some turns we didn’t anticipate. We’re also diving into the history of three popular and persistent design trends - like the true origins of subway tile and why the fiddle-leaf fig isn’t a recent phenomenon. Plus, a curtain hack that Sherry secretly tested out for an entire year, and what happens when Alexa commands get lost in translation. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-178 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#177: Bathrooms: A Slippery Slope?

Today we're talking about how it has been as a family of four who is sharing one bathroom, and what plans we have for adding onto that number down the line. And while we're on the subject (this podcast always seems to turn to bathroom-related things...) we look into the uniquely American obsession with bathrooms and learn why the heck in the past 50 years the number of them per American has DOUBLED. We also finally have real beds in our house after weeks of sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and it feels good! So we’re sharing how they each serve different functional purposes in our smaller house. Plus, we learn what decor styles are the most popular in each state and we bring our Instagram conversations around Black makers & voices to the podcast. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-177 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#176: The Part Of Moving To A Smaller Home We Didn’t Expect

We’re in Florida (!!!) and we’ve got LOTS to tell you about all that went down on our moving day and throughout our first couple of weeks in our new home. We’re covering a lot of ground, like how we made the 13-hour drive feel faster, which of our moving predictions from our last episode came true, and what we really thought about using those travel pee bags. Plus, getting unpacked and settled into a smaller home has presented some challenges that we didn’t anticipate, so we’re sharing what those were, and why they’re giving us a whole new appreciation for this part of the downsizing process. We’re also recapping what items we overpacked (even after leaving around 50% of our belongings behind when we moved!) and why those “extra” things aren’t working in our new house. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-176/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#175: Our Big Move Is Officially Underway (& We Have Some Predictions)

While we’re getting settled in our new house in Florida, we’ve got one last episode for you that we recorded in Richmond. In fact, we took a moment as “Past John & Sherry” to make some predictions for what our moving day might look like, along with our hopes-slash-fears for our first night in our new home. We’re also talking about temporary, affordable, and easy-to-change decor ideas that are great for renters and homeowners alike, thanks to interviewing an expert on the subject named Medina Grillo. She was full of smart solutions and also took the opportunity to bust some myths about being a renter. Plus, the Instagram account that has us in stitches, and what we’re bringing for our kids on our 12-hour drive to Florida. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-175 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#174: That Time A Psychic Came To Our House

On the cusp of our big Florida move, we take one last look at how downsizing and living for three weeks without almost all of our worldly possessions has changed our view of our “stuff” - including what we miss the most, and why it’s not what we expected. Plus experts predict how the pandemic may change the way people renovate and build homes moving forward. From floor plan changes to smart technology, it's interesting to see what they think might carry on for years to come. We also stumble into a very random discussion about astrology, pet psychics, and whether the stars can tell us where in the world we really should be living. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-174 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#173: The Money Question We Keep Getting Asked

If you’ve wondered about the money side of selling three houses and downsizing to one smaller home, today we’re answering some of your most asked questions. We're also sharing the weird renovation hiccups that have delayed our move in date (including a series of weird toilet-related follies that we never saw coming). Plus the surprising reaction we had to our own house tour video and why everyone is crying over one particular part of homeownership. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-173 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#172: What Will & Won’t Be Done When We Move Into Our New House

Our entire approach to renovating our new house from afar has changed pretty dramatically since February when we first started house hunting, including a period in which we didn’t think we’d be tackling any major projects at all. And lots of you have been asking for a rundown of what we’re doing now, what’s left, and how long we think this house reno might be. So today we’re taking you down that rabbit hole and sharing how our plans shifted quite a few times - and where we ended up. Plus, why packing all of our belongings was a more intense process than we expected, and an update on our move date. Oh, and what really makes for an “adult” kitchen? Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-172 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

#171: It Finally Happened!

We recently hit a long-awaited milestone that we’ve been working towards for months, and we couldn't be more grateful!! We're sharing all the details today - plus we're diving deeper into a question that seems to keep popping up: "How can you tell if downsizing is right for you? What if you majorly regret it?!" There are actually four ways that you can take smaller space living for a spin before pulling the ripcord - which is a huge advantage, and a great way to answer that question for yourself. We also explore how the reality TV show that you’d want to be on the most (or the least!) can reveal a lot about your personality. Plus a moving tip that’s helping us pare down even more - and why we like watching TV, but don’t actually want to be on it. Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-171 for notes, links, and photos from this episode.