Your Home Story

There are so many popular organization and decluttering tips these days, and we’ve talked about a lot of them in the past! This week we’re sharing our top fave that we actually do at home as part of our normal routines. We share about dressers/clothes, kitchen storage, cleaning, and more! Resources mentioned: Episode 112: Kitchen Organization Episode 119: Bathroom Organization Episode 134: Paper Organization Episode 140: How to Organize & Store DIY & Household Supplies Episode 127: Healthy Home Expert Interview Marie Kondo teaches how to fold clothes @themoderneditpdx consultants Bamboo drawer dividers (affiliate link) You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

With a 2021 work-from-home update, today’s episode is a deep dive into office design and function. We cover the utilitarian essentials (and how to make them more attractive), some design features you can add that are also practical, and facts of office space life like the table-vs-desk debate for work surfaces. We talked about so many ideas and solutions (contains affiliate links): Suzannah’s upstairs office Suzannah’s dining room desk and picture light Suzannah’s townhouse home tour and office/sewing room Ashley’s current sunroom/office The HP printer that charges you based on prints/usage if you use HP Instant Ink Ashley’s office board on Pinterest Suzannah’s office board on Pinterest The Nesting With Grace “Magic Light Trick” you can use to add sconces above a desk or to add interest and light Inspiration image of a hanging light over a workspace Suzannah’s affordable and cute office chair round-up Butcher paper roll holder and clip set for to-do list  Inspiration image of an oversized design board

Nancy from the IG account @thehillsidehouse is our guest on the show today. She’s chatting about adding warmth and coziness in home, how she wants her house to feel welcoming, the basis of where her designs start and her love of DIY projects.  Find Nancy on IG at @thehillsidehouse. Some of our favorite views of her home include this view of her kitchen table that we chatted about on the show today, her bedroom with the millwork that she added, and the beautiful headboard that she made for her daughter.  Some of the top takeaways from the show today are: The extra steps that you take when you do DIY projects give you the professional look that you want.  To create an authentic home to tell your story… takes time. Don’t feel rushed. Enjoy it.  Links to some of the projects we chatted about:  Bedroom Bed Making Nancy @thehillsidehouse on Pinterest Garden Gate DIY You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you ca

As a DIYer it’s important to use the right glue for the job. From yellow wood glue to rubber cement, tune in to hear about specific capabilities and what types of DIY projects you should be using these eleven glue types for.  Glue types in this episode: White Craft Glue Yellow Wood Glue Super Glue Hot Glue Glue Dots Spray Adhesives Fabric Adhesives Epoxy Polyurethane Glue Sticks Rubber Cement Projects and other resources:  Types of Glue - Glue Tips (adhesives.org) Rubber Cement and Contact Cement : 5 Steps - Instructables Lamp Shade DIY using Craft Adhesive and Tacky Glue  You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Last summer Suzannah and Jason did their first large vegetable garden and it was a huge success! Jason’s sharing how he started our garden from scratch, what he did to prepare the soil, his tips for seeds and starts, and what we learned and will do differently this year. Resources mentioned: Territorial Seed Company, our favorite source for starts and seeds Episode 151, indoor gardening with @thefakefarmgirl You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Digital art downloads are inexpensive and can be a great way to get art on your walls. Learn more about them in today’s show including where to find them (we have a list of a bunch!), how to print them and how to make them look more like intentional art pieces instead of just printed pieces plopped in a frame.  Ashley talked about: Art Print Shops Juniper Print Shop  Heirloom on Etsy BFF Print Shop  Blue Jay Art  Unsplash Smithsonian  The MET Free Art: Shop Vintage Supply  Hearts and Color  Chaos and Wonder More Digital Art Downloads Places to print digital art: Mpix and Nations Photo Lab So Much Better With Age did a great printable art round-up Ashley’s roundup on digital Christmas art prints Suzannah’s post: Unique, vintage-inspired bathroom art updates and affordable custom framing Suzannah’s post: Get the Look: Vintage Oil Paintings with Custom Framing. Free downloads! Cabin in Wilderness | Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)) Art from Museum Quality Art in Suzannah’s bathroom You can find

This is a fun one! Bathrooms used by kids and toddlers have to be high on function but can also be great places to try out some of your edgier design ideas and get creative! We talk about some of the most important functional elements we’ve found for our kids, some fun favorite bath toys, and more! Resources/links: Designing a Perfect Kid’s Bathroom Creating a Kid Friendly Bath Greyson’s favorite bath toy/fountain (affiliate link) Frog scoop bath toy storage (affiliate link) You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

When should you use spray paint? How do you get the aged look of brass with Rub n Buff? Can you paint metal? Should you paint metal? We are talking about all things spray paint, gold leaf, and Rub n Buff today and sharing about successes, failures, and tips for using them in the future.  Resources we mentioned: Shuffleboard that Ashley ordered  Suzannah’s project of spray painting her fireplace screen The embarrassing very old project Suzannah doesn’t recommend - painting shoes The gold alligator that Ashley painted Spray painted light fixture in Suzannah’s breakfast nook Nightstand makeover with gold knobs Good FAQ on Krylon’s site Quest for the Best Gold Spray Paint - Chris Loves Julia  Gold Leaf versus Rub n Buff Rub N Buff Gold Test + DIY Tutorial (jennasuedesign.com) @robyn.rebecca You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and as

Some projects were knocked off the list in 2020 at Ashley’s house such as having a new roof installed, adding crown on the walls in the bedroom, and starting on the basement. Some projects didn’t get accomplished though, yet we left 2020 with more information on those large scaled projects and are sharing the details with you today.  As we look to 2021, Luke and Ashley chat about what they hope to accomplish and what it will look like to DIY a bit less and enjoy their home a bit more. Posts mentioned: 20 in 2020 Recap Egress Windows Drywall Installation Cost DIY Rug Art You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

There’s a lot to do inside and out when you own a fixer upper. Jason and Suzannah are 2.5 years into renovating their historic home and are sharing their (huge) achievements in 2020 plus goals for 2021. Jason has done a lot of the manual labor while watching their little kids and finishing physical therapy school, and Suzannah has been designing and planning while working and having a baby, but they still are checking things off the list for getting their home to where they want it. They also talk about garden plans, curb appeal improvements, finish work on the interior, and whole-room updates they’re planning for 2021. Posts mentioned: Suzannah’s 2020 project recap blog post with lots of photos Suzannah’s 2021 house goals blog post with before photos You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

It’s our annual episode on decor trends we expect to see in the coming year. Things are a little different this year--2020 has made a big impact on interior design. For 2021, we’re seeing trends based on 1) nostalgia/looking for comfort and 2) function! It’s so interesting which trends from the past are coming back this year, and how much working from home has affected the market for home products and how we use our homes. Sources mentioned: What Is Cottagecore? Cottagecore Aesthetic & Trend Explained Veranda article on 2021 interior design trends  Veranda article on antimicrobial surfaces  Good Housekeeping article on 2021 home decor trends Etsy's Year in Review and First Look at 2021 Trends Better Homes & Gardens: 2021 Interior Design Trends  My Domaine article: 2021 Home Office Trends  One of the sort-of floral/paisley fabrics Ashley’s been shopping for Indian block print cotton Roman shade DIY Suzannah just did You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suza

This episode is an interview with Kira from Zestful Design on what it means to mindfully declutter and organize. We chat about what over-owning is, how to decide if you really need multiple items of one kind, what to do about family heirlooms and more. From systematic reduction to Marie Kondo and how to build decision making skills, you’ll leave the episode today feeling more empowered to start organizing and decluttering at home.   Links to some of the things we covered:  Zestful Designs You Can Do Anything For 15 Minutes Old guitar as a shelf An old piano doubling as a liquor bar Upcycled globes as lights Ways to repurpose things You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Today we have DIY design blogger Bre Bertolini on the show sharing about her design process, how she makes it work sharing a home with her husband, two little ones, and father-in-law (including her #1 tip for designing in a shared home), how she budgets for room makeovers/home projects, her go-to online sources for home decor, and more!  Tips and resources we learned from Bre:  Bre's Photoshop mood board tutorial Bre’s 5 go-to online sources for home decor: H&M Home, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, CB2, and World Market Bre’s great room and dining room One Room Challenge reveal Bre’s master bathroom ORC reveal Bre’s laundry room ORC reveal Check out Bre’s blog, BrePurposed and follow her on Instagram @brepurposed. You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast We’d love to hear your questions and thoughts! Join our Facebook group here and email us at yourhomestorypodcast@gmail.com.

Answering your questions! We’ve compiled questions about how to hide media cords, what to do with paper clutter, how to live with pets and not have pet stuff all around, how to paint over wallpaper, and even what plant resources we use. As you tune in today, get ready to learn a few tricks!

We’re sharing easy design tips, solutions to common living room problems, best forever pieces to invest in, and more economical DIYs that can add function and intention.  We specifically chatted about: Ep 142: How to Make Big Furniture Purchases   Media unit/fireplace placement ideas: DIY Stone Fireplace (sharing built-in to the left of fireplace) Nancy at The Hillside House has a fireplace that she recently put in in a walkway behind the couch. Her television is on the wall that faces the couch. So, it’s unusual yet it works well!  A deep dive on toy storage can be found in Ep 132! You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

What’s the difference between character and personality in a home? Does your house have either? Do you want to add some? We answer all these questions and more this week and talk about how to create a high quality home that feels like the family that lives there.  Resources mentioned: Nancy @thehillsidehouse has added beautiful character to her home including wall treatment or molding in almost every room Apartment Therapy article: 7 Ways to Add Character to a House Jason's grandpa's pencil drawings Quirky Bathroom With Boob Art Sailor Art, Antlers and Fish You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Should you save or splurge on household and decor purchases? There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer but we are talking through some of the mindsets you might have when spending less or splurging.  In the beginning of the show today, Ashley chatted about a new project that she’s going to start soon.  Her inspiration for the front yard patio  Rock stream inspiration  You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Suzannah just completed yet another bathroom renovation One Room Challenge, this time her upstairs half bath. It turned out dramatic and elegant but was super budget-friendly and one of their easiest renos! We talk about design questions like when to keep original elements, when to paint trim the same color as the walls, and how to shop at sources that will keep you on-budget. Resources mentioned: The Portland Airbnb house Suzannah helped decorate Vintage rug source for the Airbnb: @nomadicvintagepdx Suzannah’s upstairs bathroom reno One Room Challenge reveal. That post includes the full budget breakdown and links to the tutorials she mentioned. ChrisLovesJulia’s dark basement makeover You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

We all want that organized drop zone, that beautiful mudroom,  or a built-in bench with coat hangers for all our family members, but sometimes, that’s just not an option. Today, we are chatting about how to create a drop zone for fall and winter gear that’s actually attainable for most. Whether you implement a new system for your gloves and hats (which we will give you a few options for) or learn how to corral what you have in a new way, you’ll walk away from this episode ready to tackle the space you have with a fresh set of eyes! Inspirations that we talked about: We love this DIY cubby built-in. It’s a very custom, but doable DIY for most and uses the GARAGE! Suzannah’s Instagram post about shoes in the house Using the garage as a mudroom again, this wire system could be put up and utilized in just one weekend!  If you don’t have a space to create closed storage for your drop zone, consider storing all your necessities in plain site! We love this moody entryway filled with a bench and hooks - the perfe

We are all about making our homes festive for the holidays without going overboard! We’ve put together a list of 5 beautiful items you may already own or can use outside of Christmas as well. We also share a few all-time fave Christmas decor tips, plus elements we avoid. Links we mentioned (contains affiliate links) Ashley’s front porch for Christmas Suzannah’s Christmas decor last year: kitchen and living/dining Wilt Pruf to keep cedar garlands fresh Mittens and greenery Vintage-look bells you can buy online: rustic or classic Mini live evergreen branch/vase Live greenery branch vase and terrariums Episode 147, Interview with Myquillin Smith, The Nester, about her new book Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round Episode 97, exterior Christmas decor ideas Episode 47, modern Christmas decorating ideas You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook