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Explore every episode of the podcast Your Home Story

Dive into the complete episode list for Your Home Story. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–50 of 208

TitlePub. DateDuration
Ep 208 : Pressing Pause03 May 202200:19:03
EP 207 : Decluttering with Jessica from House Homemade12 Apr 202200:54:03

From why she declutters to how much she stores of each item, tune in to learn tips for decluttering and making your house work for you. 

Ep 198: 2021 Project Recap and 2022 Projects 04 Jan 202200:36:33

See more details on my blog

Ep 108: Renovating with a Spouse: Interview!04 Feb 202000:39:24

What makes renovating with your spouse easier--and what makes it harder? Tune in to hear some tips for renovating together and specifically, how Ashley and Luke work together on DIYs in their home. 

On the show, we talked about:

  1. The Modern Black Powder Bathroom 
  2. The light in the living room

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 107: Integrating Design Throughout the Kitchen, Dining and Living Room28 Jan 202000:39:49

Learn how to integrate the design between your kitchen, dining, and living room, whether in an open floor plan or not. Key in on what makes design sing for you and how to repeat those elements in each of your spaces. Curious to hear how to work with one-of-a-kind pieces? We have you covered with that too! 

On the show today, we chatted about:

  1. Ashley shared that she loved the Dempsey chair from Rejuvenation but didn’t end up buying it before they stopped selling it. 
  2. The cat brush Suzannah swears by (for brushing and removing cat hair from velvet furniture). 
  3. Suzannah’s recent renovations and how she’s really nailing that cohesive feel to her floor plan. 
  4. Ashley chatted about her home and the accents that she likes to have in each of her spaces (black, medium wood tones and plants!). 
  5. Kyla at House of Hipsters embraces quirky items so well in her home. 

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 106: Q&A: Kids' Stuff Organization and Storage21 Jan 202000:44:31

Kids’ stuff is not always high style, and kids can be messy. But they live in our homes, too, and we want to make them feel happy and welcome too! We’re answering your questions on handling toys, artwork, big plastic things, kids’ messes, and more.

Resources/posts we talked about:

  1. Functional office paper storage that Ashley has. 
  2. Greyson’s bedroom reveal 
  3. The attractive Lego storage Ashley did in Greyson’s room
  4. Suzannah’s blog posts on baby stuff

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 105: Home decor trends for 202014 Jan 202000:38:52

You guys have loved the trend episodes over the past two years, so we thought we check back in on those trends and then forecast what will be HOT for 2020! We hope you are ready to see some new trends this year, because we hear that warmer colors, boucle and plaster details will be coming on strong. Tune in to hear more about these as well as the debate on subway tile, Biophillic design, and more!

  1. ELLE Decor 2020 design trends 
  2. Original House Beautiful article about grandmillenial style and Emma Bazilian’s Instagram
  3. Boucle dining chair and Boucle Statement Chair
  4. Ashley from Arrows and Bow Dining Room Paint Color 
  5. House Beautiful UK article on 2020 trends in the living room
  6. Gwen from The Makerista and specifically, her recent laundry room makeover
  7. Erin Kestenbaum
  8. Ashley’s bathroom
  9. Velvet headboard DIY
  10. Curved plaster range hood in Jenny Komenda’s kitchen
  11. MyDomaine: trends going out in 2020
  12. Apartment Therapy 2020 trends

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 104: Budgeting tools: Spreadsheets, links, visuals, and more07 Jan 202000:35:39

Budgeting is not the most exciting part of a renovation project, but it’s often critical for success and confidence that you can take on a new big reno! It can be super overwhelming so we’re talking you through the exact tools Suzannah and Ashley use, including giving away a detailed template for Suzannah’s spreadsheet method for budgeting for a project. 

Resources mentioned:

  1.  Ep 59 How we budget + how to organize a budget 
  2. Midcentury modern One Room Challenge bathroom makeover and the budget breakdown
  3. The spreadsheet template!
  4. Suzannah’s last house guest bathroom, master bathroom, and kitchen reno with budgets
  5. Picasa, the simple free collage program Suzannah uses
  6. Copycat Chic
  7. 10 good apps that help you manage money

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 103: Gallery Wall Pro Tips31 Dec 201900:23:33

If you love the look of gallery walls but are scared to try to put one up, we are here to help! We are breaking down the confusion on frame sizing, how to pick art, how to decide on photographs, whether your gallery wall should be symmetrical or 3D, and much more! Join in as we give handy tips for installing your gallery wall and whether or not your gallery wall should be the focus of a space or just add to the space. 

*Affiliate link below. In our chat, Ashley mentioned a great modern bookcase that she scored at the Goodwill and then shared about her large gallery wall that she used to have in her living room. Still want to know more about determining frame sizing for your wall? Use this handy gallery wall how-to to help you plan your next gallery wall! 

Find loads of inspiration on gallery walls on this gallery wall board on Pinterest

 

  1. Ashley’s new travel gallery wall in her master bedroom. 
  2. See Suzannah’s 2013 dining room gallery wall here
  3. See Suzannah’s 2017 dining room with multiple art pieces here

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram. Suzannah is @suzannahstanley and Ashley is @biggerthanthethreeofus. We’d love to hear your questions and thoughts! Join our Facebook group here and email us at yourhomestorypodcast@gmail.com.

Ep 102: Decor consistency throughout a home24 Dec 201900:27:40

Where to be consistent with colors, materials, and styles throughout a home, and when to avoid being matchy-matchy? We couldn’t find many resources about this so we dug into it! We talk about the time and place for consistency versus unique elements, and which pieces you can be consistent with and why. It’s not just paint color and lighting; you can show off your style and make it clear that each room in a house is yours in many ways!

Some examples we talked about:

  1. Ashley’s entryway with door hardware upgrade
  2. The super affordable black door hardware Suzannah got for her whole house: passage knob, privacy knob, hinges
  3. Suzannah’s bamboo blinds (with white curtains)
  4. Ashley’s kitchen sconces with two colors of metal

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 101: Motivation & building skills for DIY home projects: Interview17 Dec 201900:34:26

This week’s episode is an interview with Suzannah’s partner in DIY renovating, her husband Jason. Lots of insight for aspiring DIYers/home renovators in this one, including: How Jason learned his DIY skills and got comfortable working on new projects, Jason’s tips for newbies for scheduling projects and how to deal with unknowns, how to get yourself psyched up before starting a project AND how to stay motivated during the toughest parts, and what makes DIY projects satisfying.

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 100 : Giveaway and Lookback10 Dec 201900:34:03

Ashley and Suzannah take a look back at the previous 99 episodes on the show today. From fan favorites to personal favorites, hear their thoughts on past shows and where the podcast is going next year. 

Ashley shared that her personal favorite episodes were: Ep 72 on Design Books and Ep 62, the Landscape design interview with Gardening by Design

Suzannah shared that she loved Episode 53 which was all about having friends over while renovating, Episode 70 which was the interview that we did with Nicole Wear about real estate and staging, and Episode 79, about how to make a cookie cutter house more personal. 

Make sure to check out our post on Instagram this week to enter the giveaway with Sleek Socket!

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 99: Tween Boy Room Reveal03 Dec 201900:44:33

How to create a kid’s room that is functional, cool in their eyes, and a space you enjoy being around? Ashley has done several great DIYs in her son’s room in the past, but he’s getting older and it was time for a space designed for his current needs. His room got some big upgrades including lighting, flooring, and decor, and turned out beautiful and kid-approved!

Links/resources:

  1. Greyson's bedroom reveal
  2. Hue Bulb system
  3. Ashley’s new oak floors

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 197: Christmas Book Tree01 Dec 202100:12:35

Would you stack 630+ books to make a Christmas Book Tree? See all the photos and more details on the blog

Ep 98: Curating Your Home Style26 Nov 201900:35:23

Once you’ve narrowed down your style (check out episode 3 for more on that!)… NOW WHAT? On organizing your ideas to keep your style consistent--tools in Instagram, Pinterest, and more. (Find Suzannah on Pinterest here and Ashley here.) And listen in for a great tip on pinning directly from Instagram!

Other tools we cover: design books and mood boards. Books (disclosure: contains affiliate links): 

  1. Design*Sponge at Home
  2. In the Company of Women
  3. domino: Your Guide to a Stylish Home (2016 domino book)
  4. Old Home Love (this one is unique & gorgeous)
  5. Styled by Emily Henderson
  6. Simply Styling by Kristen Grove of Simply Grove
  7. Maker Spaces

And see Suzannah’s master bathroom mood boards post here.

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 97: Exterior Christmas Decor Ideas19 Nov 201900:32:56

Whether you are a seasoned exterior decorator or a newbie in trying to figure out what to do on the exterior of your home for Christmas, you are going to be inspired to just START decorating after tuning into this episode. From mailbox swags to baskets on the front doors, we share plenty of ideas you’ll want and implement. 

We specifically chatted about:

  1. Free Christmas Storage Labels to help you get organized 
  2. Suzannah’s Color Crush on Camel 
  3. Style This Life shares some beautiful outfit combinations with camel.
  4. Ashley’s 2017 Christmas Front Porch
  5. Ashley’s 2018 Simple Christmas (Winter) Front Porch 
  6. Fox Family Den used a blow-up for Halloween
  7. Adding the smallest touch of greenery to your mailbox is super cute. 
  8. Decorate your mailbox with a Christmas mailbox swag
  9. Ashley’s newest view of her front porch

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 96: Suzannah's completed 100% DIY bathroom renovation One Room Challenge12 Nov 201900:47:21

Suzannah and her husband recently did a completely DIY full bathroom renovation during the 6-week One Room Challenge. Tile, shower, vanity, fixtures, paint… they put a ton of work into transforming this bathroom, while keeping their home’s classic feel. Suzannah shares the behind-the-scenes story of the long design process, favorite luxurious updates, budget, and even what went wrong in this informative episode. 

Resources and posts we talked about:

  1. Vietnam Veterans of America donations pickup (PickUpPlease.org)
  2. Habitat For Humanity near you
  3. Suzannah’s bathroom makeover reveal + budget (includes all products/sources we talked about today)
  4. Suzannah’s spring 2019 One Room Challenge for her friends

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 95: Breaking down barriers to DIY05 Nov 201900:35:44

It can feel like there are so many barriers to DIY projects and home renovating in general, but we believe that not all barriers need to block you from doing what you want to your home. Ashley and Suzannah are sharing their thoughts (and skills--they differ in what they are good at) about DIY projects that are good to start with, how project costs grow, learning and having access to the right tools, and more. You are going to leave this episode with at least one of your barriers knocked down!

In this show, we chatted about:

  1. Ep 18: Design, Make, & Live: Guest Bedrooms 
  2. An article on when you need a permit for a home project
  3. How @savoring_home finds 30 minutes a day to give love to her house even with busy toddlers.
  4. @makingprettyspaces and @angelarosehome are two amazing women DIYers who inspire us with their power tools and workshops

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 94: Coziness in Decor29 Oct 201900:30:56

“Cozy” means way more than warm and snuggled up in a blanket. It can mean being present in the moment, being grateful for your home, feeling content and relaxed... but also bringing pieces into your home to accommodate that lifestyle. You’ll feel warm and fuzzy (and inspired!) after the positive vibes from this episode!

Resources and images we talked about:

  1. Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World
  2. Links to a bunch of “cozy” images Ashley saved:
    1. Stacks of books on the floor by @petraalexandra
    2. An artist with a tiny corner of bliss
    3. A simple branch adding so much character to a dining space
    4. Garden harvest 
  3. Fairy lights
  4. Hue bulb - varying light temperatures
  5. @nestingwithgrace
  6. @thehillsidehouse

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 93: Life, House, & Podcast Updates22 Oct 201900:33:22

We figured it was about time to update you on what we are both up to (personal and home decor), all things ORC, and even what we are excited to talk about on the podcast over the next few months. If you love gabbing with your BFF, then this episode is for you. 

In the show today, we talked about: 

  1. Down to Earth: Laid-back Interiors for Modern Living by Lauren Liess
  2. Goodreads
  3. Audible
  4. Ashley’s IG Book Club
  5. Episode 31: Exterior Home Maintenance
  6. Suzannah’s ORC Updates
  7. Episode 85, where Ashley interviewed Greyson about his room
  8. Pokemon Poster (affiliate link)
  9. Episode 47: Modern Christmas Decor

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 92: Kitchen Organizing15 Oct 201900:45:33

Organizing your kitchen cabinets is a small-scale DIY that can make a huge difference. Today we talk through common issues for kitchen organizing, including listener questions like hard-to-reach upper cabinets, corner cabinets, deep pantry shelves, and more.

Resources and examples: 

  1. Suzannah’s blog posts about her One Room Challenge bathroom makeover
  2. The Rev-A-Shelf pull-outs Ashley bought
  3. The Modern Edit organizing service and inspo
  4. The plain black lunch bag Suzannah bought
  5. White plastic bins in many sizes

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 91: Powder Bath Renovation08 Oct 201900:37:18

Sometimes the smallest rooms can make the biggest impact--but small doesn’t always mean easy for a DIY renovation! Tune in to hear all about Ashley’s powder bath renovation including what it ended up costing!

You can find links to what we talked about below.

  1. Ashley’s post on the Stylemaker Event
  2. Small Powder Bath Renovation Plan 
  3. Sarah Sherman Samuel Bathroom Inspiration
  4. Wall Mount Faucet Cost
  5. Quirky art by Wink Wink Studio 
  6. Powder Bathroom Full Reveal 

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 90: Renovation or Design Burnout01 Oct 201900:24:43

It happens to the best of us… overwhelm and burnout with DIY and/or design projects around our homes. It can be so hard when you want to do more to your house than you really can--physically, mentally, logistically, financially, for your health…! We’ve both been there and we have a completely honest conversation about what we’ve struggled with AND what has worked for us! There are solutions!

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 89: Ashley's Completed Eat-In Kitchen24 Sep 201900:23:48

We talk a lot about “Your Home Story” and what the story of your spaces are. Today, Ashley is sharing all about her eat-in kitchen’s  story, from where it started (spoiler, it had blue wallpaper), to the more eclectic updates that she did a few years ago and now, to the space that she really feels is the perfect addition to her home. 

You can find links to what we talked about below.

  1. Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World 
  2. One Room Challenge reveal of the Eat-In Kitchen (2015)
  3. Breakfast room updates
  4. Modern Eat-in Kitchen Today 
  5. Restore a Finish

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 196: Holiday Traditions with Shelby Goodman23 Nov 202100:14:06

From family traditions to how she decorates for Christmas, see more on the blog

Ep 88: What we can learn from show homes17 Sep 201900:31:18

If you’ve ever wondered what a modern mansion is like inside, or what you’d choose for your home if money was no object… listen up! Ashley and Suzannah both visited multi-home tours of show homes in their areas and chat about elements they liked, trends they both saw at the respective tours, regional differences, and what we can learn by visiting these elaborate, massive homes!

Links and favorites:

  1. Ashley’s Highland Cow Painting MOVE to 89 or 90
  2. Re-loving the decor book Habitat by Lauren Liess
  3. Parade of Homes that Ashley went to
  4. Street of Dreams that Suzannah went to
  5. Suzannah’s blog posts from previous Street of Dreams events: 2015, 2016, and 2017
  6. Walk-in pantry with hidden door in cabinets
  7. The angled sliding door treatment Suzannah saw
  8. Some of Suzannah’s photos from the show this year: here and here

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 87: Functional Updates at Ashley and Suzannah's Houses10 Sep 201900:26:13

Functional updates make both of us so happy. On the show today, Suzannah and Ashley are both sharing recent functional updates they have made at each of their houses. Suzannah brightened up her back entry by doing lots of grunt work and is so much better than where it started. Ashley took her over-filled coat closet and purged, painted and built a bench to help transform the space into something that they use and love. Tune in today to be inspired to tackle a mini functional update of your own.

Blog posts and photos that we talked about today:

  1. Suzannah’s kitchen reno
  2. Suzannah’s scary basement stairwell makeover
  3. DIY Mudroom Projects
  4. The Start of the Coat Closet  - Circa 2018
  5. Ashley's coat closet makeover reveal

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 86: Design, Make, & Live: Bonus Rooms03 Sep 201900:28:32

This high-energy, fun episode will get you inspired for updating your family’s bonus spaces! A “bonus room” is a multi-purpose space that can be used as a  family room, sewing or hobby room, game room, home cinema, office, or den. They can be super functional or catch-all, to the point of not matching the rest of your home’s style. But we have tips! Hear about our bonus room experience, what’s worked well (and what has us feeling embarrassed!). (You can see Suzannah’s in her townhouse tour here.) We talk about bigger projects for adding character and function, plus simple decor updates you may not have thought of. 

Rooms and links we covered:

  1. Critical simple elements to think about like lighting and what kind of storage you need for the activities you do in the bonus room.
  2. One of our favorite bonus rooms on Instagram, with these great before/afters
  3. Inspiring bonus room added over a garage, with kids’ spaces integrated
  4. This beautiful daylight basement bonus room with hanging chair
  5. A cute home gym space
  6. DIY home gym organizer

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 85: Interview with a 9-Year-Old About Designing His Room27 Aug 201900:15:42

What does a kid really think about his/her room? Do they know what they want in a space JUST FOR THEM? Today’s episode is unique in that Ashley is interviewing her son, Greyson, all about his room. She’s getting ready to embark on transforming his space but wanted to get a bit of direction from him to hear what he would really enjoy having. 

Hear about where the space started (it was dark pink with wallpaper) to all the DIYs they’ve done so far, plus the functional upgrades they are going to do soon. 

Links to what they talked about:

  1. The DIY magnetic map wall 
  2. The DIY closet loft
  3. The lego storage that they are liking. 
  4. How to print cheap poster prints

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 84: 2-Hour Decor Projects20 Aug 201900:28:06

Sometimes, we only have short windows of time and we want to actually accomplish something home-related in that window. The show today, is all about 2-hour house projects that you can do. We are here to inspire you to tackle a new project, start-to-finish!

We specifically talked about:

  1. Bluetooth waterproof speaker that Ashley’s loving (and it’s under $40!). 
  2. Portable bluetooth speaker that Suzannah and Jason have been using while working on projects
  3. 2-hour or less projects: 
    1. Styling a vignette whether that be on a dresser, nightstand or media cabinet. 
    2. Change out dresser hardware. Examples: dresser/changing table, vanity (added holes)
    3. Give a poster frame a wood look
    4. DIY wall art on a canvas.. Examples: abstract ikat-ey painting, windowpane ribbon art
      1. Ashley loves these cork pads for plants (affiliate link).
    5. Split plants or change their vessels. 
      1. Great pillows, Suzannah made one that said HOME BODY with the Silhouette transfer machine years ago.
      2. Curtain hemming. Suzannah shared her IKEA tutorial here.
    6. Sewing for the Home
    7. DIY Bamboo Shade Hack
    8. Light Fixture Upgrades
      1. Even can lights or fluorescents can be replaced with a few extra pieces of equipment.
      2. Spray paint a light fixture. Check out this (formerly brass) pendant in Suzannah’s breakfast nook here
    9. Hang a gallery wall. 

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 83: Suzannah's finished DIY full kitchen reno13 Aug 201900:47:49

This week we are hearing the inside scoop and getting tips from Suzannah’s 100% DIY “modern traditional” kitchen reno! Hear about the biggest projects and design decisions, plus... why she chose white cabinets despite being a little bored of them these days!, would she do anything different in hindsight? This project was almost “down to the studs”--hear why she kept and covered some elements. Hear her favorite finishes! And finally, you WILL be surprised what this beautiful kitchen reno cost!

Links to posts and images we talked about:

  1. Listen back to episode 67, where Suzannah shared the design challenges and plans
  2. Suzannah’s slate-look sheet vinyl installation tutorial (flooring by Armstrong Flooring)
  3. Suzannah’s post and video about building her own cabinets (which are from Walcraft Cabinetry--see her comparison post here)
  4. Suzannah’s post on her marble-look quartz countertops and money-saving tips
  5. How Suzannah chose her sink and faucet (both from Elkay)
  6. Suzannah’s post on how to choose cabinet hardware and the ones she loves from Sumner Street Hardware
  7. Suzannah’s DIY thicker wood open shelf tutorial--plus how they kind of look floating and worked above a tile backsplash
  8. How Suzannah saved almost $4k on nicer, traditional-look handle appliances (hint: scratch-and-dent sources like Sears Outlet)
  9. The full BUDGET breakdown of Suzannah’s kitchen reno
  10. Suzannah’s DIY range hood cover tutorial for her Zephyr vent hood
  11. @Philip_or_flop’s helpful crown molding Instagram story highlights

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 82: Design, Make, & Live: Front Porches06 Aug 201900:32:46

Today, we are sharing all about how to design, makeover and use and love your front porch. 

We open the show with Ashley sharing how she’s been purging this year. It may be embarrassing for her but it’s working so yay for that! Suzannah talks about the kitchen utensils that she’s updating. She’s being a bit pickier with what is going in her drawers and it’s inspiring Ashley to purge a bit more in her cupboards. 

Suzannah shares her front porch setup and some wishes for the future (specifically with curb appeal). Ashley shares that she loves the updates that she’s done in her space, but after the talk, comes to the realization that she doesn’t actually take advantage of her space the way she would like to. 

We talk “function” of the front porch first. We believe that you should address: doors, weatherstripping, lighting, doorbell and doormat to upgrade to how your front porch functions. 

Specifically we referenced:

  1. What it costs to replace double front doors 
  2. How to install a doorbell button 
  3. Ashley’s Modern Front Porch Makeover 
  4. Beautiful Before/After Skinny Front Porch Makeover 
  5. Single Door on the Front Porch with a Larger Concrete Stoop/Porch
  6. Inspiration Front Porch that Spans the Whole Front of the House

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 81: DIY or Hire Out Kitchen Open Shelving30 Jul 201900:20:46

Open shelving is all the rage! And for good reason! Ashley and Suzannah have both done open shelves in their kitchens and Suzannah is planning some more in her current kitchen reno. Kitchen open shelves need to be deep (about 10”) and sturdy, but can be made of wood, metal, or glass and can be floating or mounted with basic or beautiful brackets. There are several kinds you can DIY!, and some to consider ordering or getting custom. We share technical info on lots of options.

Links we chatted about:

  1. Ashley’s sturdy tote bag that she’s using for groceries and loves.
  2. Magnolia’s technical guide for open shelving.
  3. Ashley’s open shelving guide
  4. Pre-fab metal shelving unit 
  5. Restaurant style floating look shelf
  6. Suzannah’s tutorial for how to install open shelves (over tile, even)
  7. Beautiful custom made metal shelves

Have you tried any of these treatments? Tag #shareyourhomestories on Instagram and we’ll share our favorites!

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

Remember to #shareyourhomestories for a chance to be featured!

We’d love to hear your questions and thoughts! Join our Facebook group here and email us at yourhomestorypodcast@gmail.com.

Ep 80: Ashley's Foyer Makeover Reveal 23 Jul 201900:35:00

We talk a lot about “Your Home Story” and what the story of your spaces are. Today, Ashley is sharing all about her foyer’s story, from where it started (spoiler, it was pretty darn formal), to the more eclectic updates that she did a few years ago and now, to the space that she really feels is the perfect addition to her home. 

  1. Foyer Reveal 
  2. Get a good look at that purple spray painted chandelier and where her space was 6 years ago. 
  3. The iron railing DIY project underwent such a huge change. 
  4. The entryway never felt “right” for the ORC reveal, but it was MUCH closer to what she had envisioned. It’s key to remember that progress is good! 

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 79: How to add character to a cookie-cutter house!16 Jul 201900:39:00

Both Ashley and Suzannah have lived in brand-new builder basic, cookie-cutter homes (and Suzannah has also lived in a dated, dingy one). We are passionate about taking these homes beyond decor and helping you make them feel unique and fitting to your personal style! You’ll hear tons of ideas in this episode, ranging from easy DIYs to projects to plan ahead for.

Resources & inspirations mentioned:

  1. What is a cookie cutter house
  2. Suzannah’s painted doors and trim
  3. Adding trim to make plain doors look paneled
  4. Suzannah’s latest spray painted light fixture
  5. How to spray paint a brass fireplace screen
  6. Blesser House shares some great ways to add charm to a cookie cutter home
  7. Picture frame molding idea. 
  8. Suzannah’s faux wood beam installation
  9. Amazing before/after of fireplace area/built-ins
  10. How to add interest to the exterior of your cookie cutter home. 
  11. Houzz article on how to customize a cookie-cutter house
  12. Blesser House has some really great before and after’s 
  13. Apartment Therapy post on exterior updates to make your house less cookie cutter.
  14. The Lettered Cottage’s tips for adding character. 

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 195: Christmas Traditions and Decor with Chelsea from Stylemutt Home16 Nov 202100:15:05

Chelsea from Stylemutt Home is on the show sharing about the childhood memories and traditions of the holidays and how that has translated to her family today. Plus, take a peek at her holiday home decor style!

See all the photos and links on the blog

Ep 78: Novice DIYers tackle a full bathroom reno09 Jul 201900:27:19

Can you tackle a complete powder bathroom as a new DIYer? What are the challenges that you might encounter? How do you get the tools to actually complete the job? Today, we are chatting with two novice DIYers about their recently completed Mid-Century Modern Inspired Bathroom makeover. Hear their tips for staying on track, actually doing the work and what they plan on doing next time to make their project go even smoother. 

We chatted about:

YouTube videos that our first-timers loved:

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 77: How to Define your Decor Style02 Jul 201900:34:24

Happy 4th of July holiday! We share what we’re up to this week, then revisit a favorite episode of ours from the archives, episode 3. It’s a big one--how and why to define your home style! 

Some questions we tackle and resources we cover:

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram. Suzannah is @suzannahstanley and Ashley is @biggerthanthethreeofus. Join the community in our Facebook group here!

 

Ep 76: How to Include Family Heirlooms in your Decor25 Jun 201900:31:04

Family heirlooms, from furniture to small decor items… how to use them in your home and decor? Sometimes these pieces are so special and beautiful to us but other times it’s hard to fit them into your style. We share our personal experiences with heirlooms and antiques, really fun unique ideas for what to do with them, art ideas, plus our favorite tips from our Facebook group on when to keep vs. when to get rid of. (You guys are so wise!)

Resources mentioned:

  1. Our Facebook group conversation on heirlooms
  2. DIY unique treasures in shadow boxes
  3. Wall Street Journal article on working inherited furniture into your decor
  4. Antique vs. vintage vs. retro

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 75: 5 weekend projects you can do NOW! Plus a giveaway!18 Jun 201900:20:03

Sometimes, you just don’t have time for month-long renovation projects but you still want to improve your house. On the show today, we are walking you through five projects that can be completed from start to finish in just two days, perfect for a weekend! Also, make sure to check out our post this week on Instagram to enter the giveaway that we have going on! It’ll give you the tools that you need to make one of these weekend projects a reality!

Specifically, we chatted about:

  1. Our giveaway partner, Arrow Fastener products.
  2. A color blocked hallway that really inspires.
  3. If you are keen to try your hand at hand stenciling, then this hand stenciled hallway could serve as your inspiration.
  4. Removing the scalloped woodwork above the sink to modernize it.
  5. How to Convert a Can Light to a Pendant Light
  6. Suzannah’s upholstery project
  7. Video tutorial on reupholstering
  8. How to Tighten Wobbly Chairs
  9. Vintage Rug Upholstered Bench
  10. How to Install a Door Knob
  11. Refresh doors and trim
  12. Updating switch plates for a small but mighty impact.
  13. How to Install a Doorbell Button
  14. Love this painted front porch inspiration!

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 74: Design, Make, & Live: Garages11 Jun 201900:30:56

We often do a “deep dive” into design and function of a specific room or space--this week it’s garages, so we’re focusing on how to make your garage work for your home and family. (This room/space is heavier on the function than form, but still can be nicer and more inspiring than a cluttered eyesore!)

Ideas and resources we talked about:

  1. DIY above-garage-door shelving
  2. Painting garage tutorial
  3. Before/After garage door makeover
  4. Ashley’s garage Pinterest board with lots more garage organization and DIY ideas

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 73: Maintenance Update (Interior and Exterior)04 Jun 201900:23:53

It’s time for a check-in on how we (and you) are doing with interior and exterior maintenance. We chat about peeling paint on Ashley’s windowsills to deck updates that Suzannah wants to make for the exterior side of things. Then, we take it indoors and celebrate a few wins … Suzannah actually vacuumed her refrigerator coils and Ashley washed her curtains. It’s the little things that we are celebrating today!

Resources mentioned:

  1. Exterior Printable Checklist
  2. Interior Printable Checklist

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

We’d love to hear your questions and thoughts! Join our Facebook group here and email us at yourhomestorypodcast@gmail.com.

Ep 72: Our favorite home design books28 May 201900:36:10

We love to put down the Internet and flip through a book sometimes! It can be so fun to get ideas from a real, comprehensive design book. Not just instructional manuals, the pretty photograph kind too. We’re sharing our favorites (as well as some potentially controversial opinions about some popular ones!)!

The books we talked about (affiliate links):

  1. Design Sponge at Home
  2. In the Company of Women
  3. Styled - Emily Henderson
  4. Young House Love
  5. Lovable Livable Home
  6. Domino: The Book of Decorating
  7. Homebody
  8. Living with Pattern: Color, Texture, and Print at Home
  9. Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating
  10. Surf Shack

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 71: Suzannah's modern bathroom reno One Room Challenge21 May 201900:36:09

Could you completely gut, renovate and style a bathroom taking it from a dated 1960’s space to eyesore to a gorgeous mid-century inspired dream room in just 6 weeks? Suzannah is chatting all about her recent project that includes flooring mishaps, hardware decisions, and styling tips on today’s episode!

Links to what we chatted about:

  1. The Modern Bathroom Reveal for the One Room Challenge.
  2. All the before pictures of the bathroom including the rubber baseboards, colored tub, and interesting vintage sink!
  3. Suzannah’s pretty bathroom Pinterest board where she gained insight for styling.

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 70: Real Estate Staging: Interview with Nicole Wear of Friday and Company14 May 201900:33:45

We often get questions about real estate, and we do our best to answer, but wanted to bring in a pro! Nicole Wear is a stager and stylist who works with her husband, a seasoned residential real estate broker. Nicole talked to us about how the real estate staging process works, what DIYers can do to keep and improve their home values, styling vs. being comfortable in your own home, and more!

We had so much fun talking to Nicole and we love how confident Nicole is! She really shares her years of experience and knows how to stage and style a home to sell! Some knowledge she shared:

  • The unique piece of art that drew Ashley to Nicole’s Instagram
  • Working with her real estate agent husband day in and day out
  • How/when/why real estate firms offer staging and styling services
  • How to figure out the task list of what to do to your home before it’s ready to be listed
  • Answering: Should you paint before resale? What colors?
  • Perfect-world updates you’d do to your home before selling, plus the second tier if you’re limited in time and money.
  • What she asks almost every client to remove from their homes
  • What the DIY home improvement/decor DIYer should do if keeping in mind resale--if you plan to sell in 2-5 years?
  • What tile NOT to use if you update your backsplash!
  • How to be mindful of what’s appropriate for your home
  • How to make your home feel consistent and intentional
  • What she’s learned from staging homes that has influenced her own home

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

Plus, join our Facebook group here to share your questions and ideas!

Ep 69: Listener Questions 307 May 201900:31:24

You’ve asked… we’ve tried to answer. =) The questions we chat about today are how we approach designing kid’s spaces, practical tips for making your bathroom feel more luxurious, the debate between having an office or a guest bedroom and more.

On the show, we referenced (affiliate links below):

  1. Bat Box
  2. Frame a poster instead of putting up a wall decal in your kid’s room.
  3. A beautiful example of neutral baskets in a kid’s space instead of primary color bins.
  4. Stud Pop
  5. A great look at what a picture rail looks like if you aren’t familiar with one.
  6. Episode 20 on small electrical
  7. Episode 2 on painting cabinets
  8. Our FB conversation on painting a large space white.
  9. Suzannah’s hallway/carpet removal update

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

We’d love to hear your questions and thoughts! Join our Facebook group here and email us at yourhomestorypodcast@gmail.com.

Ep 194 : Design Books Wish List 09 Nov 202100:12:19

After reading through a lot of design books, I'm sharing which one's you should add to your wish list. See all the books on the blog

Ep 68: DIY or Hire Out: Maintenance/Extras30 Apr 201900:41:49

Deep cleaning, bug treatment, leaves, and more… we’re covering interior and exterior home maintenance tasks that you could DIY or hire out! Which ones are worth the money to save your time?!

Some products and blog posts we talked about (includes affiliate links):

  1. Beeswax food cover wraps
  2. Stretchy food storage cover lids
  3. Ashley’s DIY Gutter guard installation and pricing for professional gutter guard installation.
  4. Suzannah’s experience hiring out extensive landscaping clean-up is on our Instagram highlights
  5. The window cleaning supplies Ashley ordered and used
  6. The under $10 ant treatment Suzannah uses

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

Remember to #shareyourhomestories on Instagram for a chance to be featured! And join our Facebook group here to join the conversation!

Ep 67: Suzannah's Kitchen Remodel Design23 Apr 201900:33:07

Suzannah is embarking on a massive project this June! She’s tackling transforming her 1980’s kitchen with new cabinets, flooring, plumbing, tile, and more. With the curveball that isn’t going to be her forever house, tune in as we chat about some of the renovation possibilities, things they may or may not do, and issues they have already run in to.

With all designs, you pull information and sources to really cull what you love. Some of the inspirations that Suzannah keeps coming back to are:

  1. The Grit and Polish : Example of the marble backsplash and beautiful, timeless pieces.
  2. Cary Ray : White cabinets, black countertops, mixed metal hardware, and open shelving.
  3. Design Shop Interiors: Marble slab backsplash and white cabinets with edgy black accents.

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:

And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

Ep 66: Landscape Design: Interview with Gardening by Design16 Apr 201900:42:01

It’s beginning to be the time of year when lots of people start planning exterior projects like deck/yard upgrades and landscaping. We called in the experts about landscape/hardscape design, Engelina and Erin from Gardening by Design, an Ottowa, Ontario, Canada firm. Their mission includes strengthening connection to the outdoors by designing spaces that allow you to experience nature in a new way.

We learned so much in this episode and you will, too!

  1. Why you should consider updating your landscaping/hardscaping
  2. What the limits are for a DIYer (both design and installation)
  3. Whether you’re trying to sell soon, or just want a quick update--key areas to focus on for resale (including a super simple DIY you can do to existing landscape beds to make your yard look more maintained and fresh!).
  4. Which types of exterior improvements to do when/per season
  5. Trends in plant materials and hardscaping for residential landscape design including some easy, inexpensive materials
  6. Where to start when making a landscape plan for your yard
  7. Plants to consider for interest and color for every season even in colder climates

You can find us on our blogs or connect with each of us on Instagram:


Join the conversation in our Facebook group here!

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