Welp, it’s official: new research shows that we aren’t using all of the square footage in our homes. But we sure are paying for it (and then paying to heat & cool it, decorate it, plus spending time cleaning it). Why are we doing that?! Well, this week we're diving into a study that shows what specific spaces aren't being used - and what we all might want to consider focusing on instead of house size - even if you love having people over and entertaining large groups. We're also sharing a painting project fail that shines a light on some of the peculiar pitfalls of sharing your renovations with the world. Plus, as summer comes to an end, we’re taking you inside a months-long (and somewhat heated) disagreement that we’ve been having about our beach house.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-108/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We can’t be the only ones noticing that all of the renovations on TV and online seem to be snowballing. Whatever happened to those budget decorating shows and use-what-you-have makeovers? And who remembers when a blog post might have just been "I ordered some new art" instead of "here's the entire before & after of our kitchen gut job!" Our own projects certainly have ratcheted up over the years too, so this week we're discussing how we all got here, if we might be approaching a tipping point, the understandable craving to scale back, and how bloggers & design TV are contributing to the escalation. We're also breaking down some surprising features of something you’ve probably already got in your toolbox, and we reveal how we finally found some momentum in our beach house backyard projects. Hint: it rhymes with schmot mub.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-107/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Sure it's fun to imagine what it would be like to downsize and live in a significantly smaller space, but this week we're talking to a family of 4 (with a giant dog!) who took the leap and moved from a large builder-grade home to a 1,200 cottage bungalow with just one full bathroom and two bedrooms. Designer Shavonda Gardner shares extremely frank details about the pros & cons - including who in her family resisted it most, what space issues they still struggle with, and what they've done to make it work a heckova lot harder. We also talk to her about designing smaller spaces (is lighter paint really the only answer? she says NO!) as well as diversifying your online inspiration sources. Plus we’ve got some exciting news about the upcoming launch of our furniture line, and we find out why most Millennials regret becoming homeowners.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-106/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We seem to have a sore spot with tubs, and the duplex renovation has proven to be no exception. So today we’re sharing how a strategic money-saving decision saved us 30% off a huge renovation line item, but sent us on a tub-induced stress spiral. We’ve also got some exciting updates about painting our brick house white, our gross backyard experiment to keep the deer from eating our plants, and whether Sherry is still known as Laura in Cape Charles. We dive into the pros & cons of laundry location too - plus we explain when to choose a variety of wall colors for your house (and when one whole-house color can actually work like a charm).

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-105/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’ve turned the tables today and have asked dozens of contractors - including our own! - what THEY wish we, their clients, did differently. We learned their biggest client pet peeves (we’re certainly guilty of some!) and got great advice for how we can all help renovations go smoother, progress faster, and even cost less. We also share how we hacked our dining table to make it a harder working space, and the big purchase we recently splurged on for the beach house.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-104/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

It turns out that restoring a vintage stove isn’t all cupcakes & rainbows, so this week we’re revealing some of the quirks that you can’t see from a pretty picture. We’re also spilling the beans on several mistakes, regrets, and missed opportunities from our beach house renovation. What tile choice did we screw up? Where did we go wrong on the exterior? And how are we going to correct things moving forward? Plus, why we’re spending a chunk of money to make our house smell better.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-103/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Islands are a staple of most modern kitchens, but this week we explore why not everyone is a fan (including what we realized is a negative about the island situation in our own kitchen). Plus, we’ve tiled our fair share of backsplashes, but our recent project at the beach house kitchen taught us an important lesson about preparation, patience, and imperfection. John’s also sharing a new technique for helping you pick the perfect paint color, Sherry finds a new favorite beach accessory, and, well… Chad!!!

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-102/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Our urge to paint the exterior of our brick house white has been growing lately, but there are still some concerns holding us back. So today we’re diving into the pros & cons that we’ve been tossing around (for years now!) as well as some new stuff we've learned - plus we're asking for your opinion on what you'd do if it was your house. We’re also sharing why Sherry has ditched veganism and how our television provider suddenly ditched us... requiring us to reconsider our cable cutting set-up. Don't worry, in the end we actually figured out how to save more money!

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-101/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Nothing like an infestation to drive you from your home for a few days, am I right? We’re sharing the whole itch-inducing story, including why we had to leave, and what we did to resolve the issue (for significantly less trouble than we originally thought). Plus, we vent some strong feelings about front doors and share an idea that we stole from a luxury hotel to fancy up our beach house. And in celebration of our 100th episode, we have a VERY special guest.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-100/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

When you put a lot of time or money into a project, you’ll go to great, weird, and sometimes gross lengths to protect it. We’ve got all the details in this week’s episode, along with a story that shows why renovating a house that's over two hours away isn't always a smooth process. Plus, we gathered some great advice on building a new home from scratch (or tackling a major renovation with a group of pros), including how to find the right team and avoid common pitfalls... and why you should keep your expectations in check.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-99/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

A few years ago we embarked on a design project with a local company that we were very excited about… but it fell apart for reasons we could’ve never expected. We’re sharing that story this week, along with the surprising way Sherry scored an incredible secondhand find for the beach house. We also dive into your feedback about houses that are too big, including some conflicting sentiments about children and large houses. Also, how we pulled off a stress-free game night with friends and details behind our new collaboration with A Beautiful Mess.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-98/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Our month-long shopping hiatus came to a close last week, so today we’re sharing our results! What was the most difficult part? How did it change our habits? What were we dying to buy first after it ended? And - most importantly - how did it impact our bank account? We’re sharing all those details, along with some ideas for you to try if you’re too nervous to commit to a full-on ban. Plus, there’s a part of our house that we rarely show because we’ve been so ashamed of its state - but not anymore! Find out what we did to fix it without spending any money. We also added some easy organization at the beach house… and those dreaded water meter issues came back to haunt us again.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-97/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Right in the middle of our own month-long shopping ban, we jumped at the chance to have a deep conversation with the author who started it all: Cait Flanders. She shared fascinating insights, regrets, and explained how her “Year of Less” had a lasting change on her relationship with “stuff." She also cleared up some common misconceptions about her ban, including why shopping is not the enemy - and how this experiment affected her relationships (along with her bank account). We also cover how some outsourced work in our backyard from last fall is finally starting to pay off, and why we’re both very glad not to be in high school anymore.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-96/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’ve recently had a realization that we just don’t need as much space as we have. So how'd we end up buying a too-big house? What has made this so clear to us now? And what square footage do we think would be just right? We’re sharing all of that in this episode, including the exact moment we now realize we went off the rails during our house hunting search. We're also taking you behind the scenes of our recent charity makeover for three deserving kids and sharing why things have really turned a corner out at the beach. Plus, Sherry hunts for the perfect Mother’s Day gift and John shares what exterior gadget made all of our jaws drop. Really, it's mesmerizing to witness.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-95/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Just when we thought the duplex renovation was finally rolling along smoothly, we found ourselves in the midst of an ordeal that required an emergency trip to Cape Charles, and another hot-seat meeting with the Historic Review Board. We're sharing all the details, along with an update on our month-long shopping ban (oh the temptations!). Plus we're talking about how to get large materials and furniture home when you don’t own a giant car or truck. Because as much as we DIY, we don’t actually own the ideal DIYers vehicle. So this week we'll tell you why, and share how we get around it. Plus, maybe millennials are just efficiently experts...?

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-94/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Can we go a whole month without buying anything we don’t need? That’s the challenge we’ve handed ourselves as part of a self-imposed month-long shopping ban. So this week we’re sharing how we were inspired by Cait Flanders’ “Year of Less” and how we’re adapting her rules for our own lives. Plus, the duplex renovation is (finally!) racing along and we’re answering some of your top questions about it. Also, how filming our April Fool’s video was even more embarrassing than it looked... and why a makeover show is giving Sherry hope that it might actually heal the world.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-93/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Do you reject certain “household staples?” We do! And it turns out a lot of other people do too - to the point that experts are saying they might someday disappear. So this week we’re breaking down how and why the typical home (and its contents) might be changing, along with revealing what modern comforts we’ve deemed unnecessary in our house (one of them is weird, I'm warning you). We're also sharing how we found the best spring break home we've ever rented, and how we navigated the stresses of flying with children, car seats, a dog, his crate - essentially ALL THE THINGS. Oh, and it turns out we’re storing lots of stuff in our garage that we probably shouldn’t be.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

This week we're talking about when you should undo a personal or customized change that you made to your house that might turn off potential buyers (and when we'd recommend leaving it the heck alone). We're also getting into store returns and how they're changing, because the ability to return decor items that don’t turn out the way you hoped is a great safeguard... but did you know that some stores may be cracking down on that practice? Here's what we learned about the policing of returns that's going on behind the scenes, and what a DIYer can do to avoid getting their account flagged. We're also recapping our trip to a blogging conference in Austin, John has an a-ha moment regarding something you sleep on, and Sherry gets a personal call from a celebrity that kinda makes her year.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-91/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We all know that deflated feeling when you’ve lost your mojo for a major project or renovation. So how do you reignite that excitement or energy you had for it in the first place? We’ve struggled with this at the beach house lately, so we’re sharing five tips for combating project fatigue. Plus spring is a big time for home maintenance, so we have an easy way to guarantee that you'll never forget about routine tasks again - plus a new trick for barreling through those other little lingering projects our your to-do list. We also share how we rediscovered a date night idea, and why we’re getting called out for fueling a despised decorating trend.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-90/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Could you put your wallet on lockdown for 365 days? Sherry shared the story of a woman who did, including why she took on the challenge, the few exceptions she allowed to make it possible, and how it’s inspiring us to adjust our spending... and maybe even try out a ban of our own. Plus, how much should you involve your kids in the design of their rooms? We share some tips and tactics for keeping everyone happy in the process, so the result is a room that they love (and that you also like to be in with them). Plus, the paint colors that will help your home sell for more money (some of them surprised us!) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-89/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Doorless bathrooms? Toilets behind glass walls? Showers and tubs just sitting in the corner of the bedroom? These “open concept” bathroom trends seem to be showing up more often, and they’re alarming to some and exciting to others. So this week we attempt to understand what sparked this growing trend, and we explain where we land on the bathroom privacy spectrum. Also, Sherry concocts a new date night idea for DIY enthusiasts and John recaps how a few months off of social media has affected him (for better and for worse). Plus, how our very own half-bathroom installation went terribly, terribly wrong.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-88/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

It’s never fun to get a call saying that you have to tear down something that you just SPENT AN ENTIRE WEEKEND CONSTRUCTING, but that’s exactly what happened with our beach house bunk beds. So this week we’re sharing what went down behind the scenes, and what we did to get around it. Plus, we’re talking to Matt Paxton who's one of the extreme cleaning experts from the A&E show Hoarders, and he sheds a ton of light on why people hoard, how you can help someone who does, and what tricks he has picked up for keeping his own home in order. Sherry’s also diving deeper into the woo-woo waters, John’s loving a certain non-power tool, and our whole family is cracking up over a recent game-related discovery.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-87/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We’re getting personal this week, and sharing some early setbacks and hard choices that almost steered our lives in a totally different direction - no houses, no blog, even no marriage! We also dive into how some failed attempts at making over a certain area of our home led to us giving up and calling in the pros. Plus, an easy way to up your drawer organization game, and a tool that makes nearly every project easier.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-86/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

This week John's fessing up to a design choice that he insisted we make in our beach house kitchen, but we now realize was - shall we say - misguided? Thankfully it's not too hard to undo, so we're explaining our change of heart, and what we're doing to fix it. There’s also a polarizing design “trend” that we’ve been asked to weigh in on, so this week we’re sharing our take and why we think it gets people so worked up (this trend literally can make people get rage-y). We’re also sharing some secrets for recreating that super cozy, uber luxurious bed you see in the pages of magazines... and why there are some bed-making tricks that are best left to the pros. Also, does Young House Love have a board game?

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-85/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

We don’t always see eye-to-eye on our projects and decorating decisions. In fact, we’re stuck in the midst of some pretty "active" home arguments right now. So in honor of Valentine's Day, we're sharing everything we love about each other. Just kidding, that would be boring. We’re walking you through three of our home-related disagreements and how we’re planning to work through them - hopefully without too many hurt feelings (although Sherry's pretty heated about one of them already). We also cover a whole slew of updates, from the historic review board's verdict on our duplex roof proposal to Sherry's never-ending Invisalign saga. And most importantly, we answer one of the most common questions we get: if our neighbor still thinks Sherry is named Laura. Plus, our new favorite solution for wrangling shampoos and soap in the shower, and one of us falls hard for something shiny.

Be sure to check out younghouselove.com/podcast-84/ for notes, links, and photos from this episode.