Our duplex renovation isn’t even close to being done, but we can’t help but think about the next house we’ll transform – because there will be another one. So today we’re sharing our hashtag goals to own more rental properties through retirement, and the story of how we almost did more than just think about the recent one we toured. What caught our eye? What were our plans for it? And why did we ultimately pass it up? We’re also explaining why we took a large saw to our front porch – and how a break-in scare turned into a highly embarrassing moment involving a police officer. You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn
Cape Charles, Virginia: A Guide To Our Beach Town
I know it’s odd to be posting a beach-centric travel guide after summer’s over, but Sherry has been fielding so many questions lately about what to do in Cape Charles that we wanted all the answers in one place. Now people can just drop in on this post for all the details. And boy, are there details (have you met me? If not, hi, I’m John “Thorough” Petersik). The first question is always for the link to our Airbnb (the Doublemint Duplex) so here’s a link to the left side & here’s a link to the right side. And no matter where you stay, if you’re thinking of making a visit to our favorite little
#113: What You Don’t See In Photos Of Our Living Room
Our week of living Furniture Free is over and it went… wellllll… differently than we expected. So today we’re talking about what we liked, what we didn’t, what we screwed up, and what lasting impacts it may have on how we use our home. We also confess an annoying side effect of a feature in our home that’s pretty, but less than ideal. Plus, Sherry takes her love of all things woo-woo to another level and John breaks down an issue he has with a certain smart home technology. You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify – or listen to it below! Then use this page to check out any links, notes, or photos
How To Make Ikea Curtains Look Expensive
You haven’t seen our bedroom in a while (except for small peeks on Instagram) because we owe you a certain curtain-related confession. But first, I get so many questions about our new bed – and why we upgraded from our old Ikea one – that I thought it was time to formally introduce you to this beauty that we got nearly a year ago. Yes, as in last November. bed / nightstand / bench / similar art / similar rug / duvet / chandelier / faux plant Why a new bed? Well, at first glance, our new bed isn’t wildly different from what was there before (which you last saw last May when we blogged
#112: One Week Of Living “Furniture Free”
Have you heard of the Furniture Free movement? Well, it piqued my interest so much that we’re challenging ourselves to try it for seven days (Sherry reluctantly agreed). So what does it mean? And how does it promise to improve our lives and homes? Will it make us happier or just annoyed? Plus, we were lucky to skate by without any damage from Hurricane Florence, but it did sent us on a rollercoaster of panic, relief, and then more panic, which left a big impression on us – and led to a pretty great reminder. We also share how we navigated a weird challenge involving holes in the duplex, and why Sherry’s getting a tattoo.
Colorful Paint, Cabinet, & Tile Picks For The Duplex
I’m not gonna lie. Simultaneously choosing a bunch of finishes – like paint colors for walls and ceilings and trim and doors, cabinets for two kitchens, and tile for six bathrooms (plus two mudroom/laundry rooms along with two kitchen backsplashes) has felt overwhelming at times. Heck, planning just one room, like a bathroom renovation on its own, can feel overwhelming… and here we are planning six different bathrooms, two different kitchens, and 10 other rooms simultaneously! But we’ve managed to keep our heads on straight (so far) and even have some advice to offer through it all. So whether you’re working on a new construction and have to make a lot of decisions like this
#111: Can Minimalism Be Cozy?
As much as we love to simplify and declutter, we’re not aiming for that ultra sleek and sometimes sterile look that’s often associated with minimalism. So we’ve been trying out a step-by-step process for creating a minimalist space that still feels warm, cozy, and inviting. Spoiler alert: Sherry loves the easy formula and is basically going nuts on the whole house. We’re also starting to bring our vision for the duplex kitchens to life and – curveball alert! – we’re steering clear of white cabinetry. You can hear why we don’t think it’s right for the duplex, along with learning how we’re getting a custom look on a serious budget. Sherry also ups her underwear
The Duplex Has Drywall! And A Video Tour!
Last week we gave you all of the details on the outside of our duplex renovation, but today we’re turning our attention to a big development on the inside: DRYWALL! We’d nearly forgotten how big of a step this is in a renovation, but all of the feels quickly came flooding back (just like when we hit the drywall stage at the pink house last summer). Rooms suddenly feel like rooms again! Your floor plan starts to feel real. And the vision for its finished state comes much more into focus. Speaking of vision, Sherry shot a video tour that goes room by room to explain what goes where (everything from where we’re planning to
#110: And Then We Flooded The Bathroom
What started as a straightforward sink swap in the beach house’s en-suite bathroom ended with a big hole in the wall and a face full of water. And the cause was something we had never heard about before (and just about the weirdest thing ever). We share what happened and how we fixed it – plus we spill all the details on why we continue to put off the renovation of the two upstairs bathrooms here at home. We’re also shouting out a new decorating show that we really like, a piece of technology that Sherry is loving, and the a tale of how our first book snagged the attention of a ‘90s rock singer
Finding Shutters For Our Historic Beach House
You guys may have seen some of our progress on the duplex’s exterior on social media, but let’s get into some of the nitty gritty (and answer a ton of questions that have come in about it) here on the ol’ blog. We wanna talk shutters, steps, metal awnings, and what the heck is happening with all of that diamond door drama (among other things). As a refresher, this is what the house looked like before. Due to the historic mandates in town, we’re required to keep all of the basic elements of the house the same – original front doors, exact window locations, the roofline itself (ahem), and the corbels along the roofline… …
How To Get Stains Out Of Your Granite Countertop
Eeeeeks! We discovered a four day old blueberry stain on our granite counter. But we got rid of it in a snap with a simple and effective stain removal tip that we’re happy to share. Victory is ours!
#109: Just When You Thought The Diamond Door Saga Was Over
We’ve been on a rollercoaster with those diamond paned doors that we hunted down for our duplex renovation. There was a pretty disappointing low followed by a surprising high, so we’re looping you into the whole thing this week. Also, how come some home improvement professionals seem to be playing hard-to-get sometimes? Unreturned phone calls, missed appointments, and straight-up ghosting seem to be all too common, so we asked a contractor why this happens and what people can do to get better service. Plus, we explore some weird new “smart” gadgets for your home, the trendy new place for paint, and John gets swindled by a sponsored post. You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google
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