We talk about our little baby girl, some major things that happened this week in CLJ history, and give some great tips on mixing metals. We also talk about some issues we've had with contractors and how we handled them, how we wish we would have handled them, and how sometimes a bad contractor is a great motivator to DIY.
Listen to the latest episodes on: iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher.
Sweet Baby Polly, In the Studio
With the addition of our sweet little girl, Polly, there are things we remember and things that are new. We talk about the day Polly was born and the differences between this delivery and those of our two other daughters. We talk about the new family dynamic, the relationships between the girls, and give little glimpses into how we're adjusting to our new life and combatting the baby blues.
This Week in CLJ History
• 4 years ago - we moved into our new house!
• What we did our first weekend in this home
• 2 years ago - our DIY white concrete countertops!
Reader Question: How do you introduce mixed metals into a space?
• Julia's Opinion: Curtain rods should pretty much always be black
• Julia's Opinion: Nothing should pretty much ever be brushed nickel (or brushed gold)
• Differences between chrome & polished nickel, unlacquered brass & aged brass and other metals
• How to get a "collected" feeling with your mixed metals
Hot Topic: Dealing with contractors who do a bad job
Even DIYers hire some things out, but what do you do when the person you hire does a terrible job? We talk about a few projects we've hired out and how we're having to redo them. We also talk about what to do before and during a project in order to prevent an end product you aren't happy with.
Can't Get You Outta My Mind
Julia: With a newborn in the home, anything to do with Polly's sleeping habits is going to be on Julia's mind. We have three different things we're using in rotation to help Polly sleep well and be comfortable when she's awake. Check them out:
• Mama Roo
• Rock & Play Sleeper
• DockATot
Chris: Chris is all about T-shirts, and he found his new favorite subscription service, Wohven (and no, they aren't a sponsor of the podcast). You can sign up to receive a plain T-shirt and/or a graphic T-shirt each month, for a super reasonable price. The shirts are comfortable, fit great, and have great design.
Preston: A couple episodes ago we talked about the eclipse, and you most likely saw someone on social media talking about it. Living smack in the middle of the Path of Totality, we were able to experience everything a solar eclipse has to offer, and it was, by all measures, phenomenal. We share some of our experience and mention plans for the next one in 2024.
This Episode is sponsored by Brooklinen. They sent us their Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle with a Window Pane Sheet and their Bedford Smoke Stripe Duvet cover back in April and we could not be happier. Our listeners get $20 off PLUS Free Shipping with code CLJ at checkout!
Theme song Headphones by Preston Pugmire
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I've loved this podcast since Episode 1 -- hilarious and insightful, but I just wanted to say "thank you" to Julia for sharing about baby blues in this episode. It is obvious how committed y'all are to your kids and family, so thank you for openly sharing how new life can be wonderful *and* hard. Best wishes as you settle in to being a family of five.
Is the podcast not available on Spotify? I'd really appreciate if it could be made available on that platform too!
We'll definitely look into what it takes to make it available there!
So glad to have you back! I love those concrete counter tops!
As far as the eclipse. We were in like 95% and I too was so surprised it didn't get darker. You look through the glasses and see it pretty much covered but it's still light outside. I want to drive to totality in 7 years.
Chris and Julia, what do y'all use to clean your concrete countertops?
I have read this blog for years now, and listened to all of the podcasts. You guys have had so many inspiring and wonderfully fun things to say, and I've soaked it all in. But I just have to say, when you were talking about the baby blues and life with a new born, I have never felt more relatable to anyone or anything than in those moments. I love how you were so honest and open about your experience which was OH SO similar to mine. The amazing, terrifying gravity of loving and being in charge of this sweet like human you created and just gave birth too. It was just so...REAL! And I know so many new moms or almost new moms, or heck all of us seasoned moms need to hear these words from each other. You put it so honestly, humorously, and beautifully. I'm so thankful for it.
Where did you get the green throw pillows on your bed? Thanks!
They are from Lulu & Georgia. :)
What about brushed nickel for door handles and knobs? I'm heartbroken Julia hates brushed nickel as we just started replacing the original knobs in our 1960s house and felt like the brushed nickel was a good choice. We feel choose black is too harsh for our home and doors.
Every home is different and I have no doubt that your new door hardware looks just perfect! ;) I was referring more to cabinet hardware in the podcast.
I listen to your podcast every week, and as a fellow designer, I have a suggestion to make. Telling your audience that they should never put something in their home can really put some of your listeners down (especially when you say it's cheap looking as well). Seeing comments like Elizabeth's break my heart because she now feels like she's doing something wrong. Many of your listeners go to you for inspiration and to boost their confidence in their own designs, and I feel like you could have delivered your message in a more positive way. Tell them why you love brass, why it looks more sophisticated and high end, etc... Loving something doesn't mean you have to list all of the reasons you don't like something else. I've enjoyed listening to the show and seeing it constantly improving, so please don't take this as an attack, but as a sincere suggestion for how to make a great show even better :)
I just replaced my door handles with satin nickel. I used a nicer product (higher end Baldwin), and it doesn't look like plastic at all - it actually looks quite nice! I tried polished nickel first (thinking I would liked it better) ,but I was surprised that it was the polished nickel that looked 'cheap' in this application. Plus, the finger print thing was going to be a big problems for these door levers (I've never noticed this with polished nickel cabinet knobs - but it was ridiculous in the lever door handle!)
So, my advice : buy one of each knob / pull options and try them out in your space to see what works!
I wish you had an edit feature! You'd think I didn't know english based on my writing above :/
Lynsie,
Thank you so much for saying exactly what I was thinking so perfectly! I so admire the style of this blog but as someone who rents there are only so many things I can change. Our towel bars, faucets and door handles can't be changed and as much as they are not the style I love. I work hard to surround my family in a home that has things we love, are stylish and most of all welcoming. Do I hate some of the finishes in my home? Yes.
When I look at my home as a whole I am thankful? Yes. It was a little unnerving to see it mentioned as something no house should ever have and very off putting to me as a reader because this has become one of my favorite blogs. I have purchased a lot of products from Crate and Barrel as well as other stores after seeing them on the blog. You are certainly entitled to write what you want but you may be want to be careful how you write it.
We appreciate the comments on this. From our perspective, what people have come to appreciate about us (we hope) is our honest recommendations. As Jules said in the podcast, she can't think of any time where she would recommend brushed nickel, or most brushed finishes. I worded it a bit stronger in this post, but I think in context of what we've always said there's no need to feel uneasy about it - we want everyone to create a space that they love. If someone really likes brushed nickel, great! We hope everyone decides for themselves which of our comments apply to them, which ones don't, and which ones they simply disagree with.
....because she doesn't *care* for them. Which is different than being *wrong* as a design choice.
You guys tend to look for 'budget' options. Maybe that's the problem.
Elizabth: If it makes you feel better, I just toured a couple of new homes in a stylish neighborhood in Denver, one was $1.75 million and the other $1.85 million - and they both had satin nickel door knobs. (having just used these in my home (see below) I was noticing these things) And it looked good. I think the faucets were all polished though.
I am reminded again that every homeowner has different opinions of what she thinks is beautiful. I have satin nickel ALL over my home: the faucets, drawer pulls, cabinet pulls, doorknobs, hinges. It's my go-to choice, with oil-rubbed bronze a close second, and I am so, so happy with how it looks. But I do not like chrome at all! I'm like Bizarro Julia!
Totally agree, Cindy. I should have emphasized that more. "In my opinion" was used on purpose many times. Also, at different price points, even I enjoy me some brushed and satin nickel!