This one is for individuals who need the “scorching goss(ip)” – all issues behind the scenes and below the hood within the life/enterprise classes. Keep in mind when that’s what blogs have been? We simply blabbed, stream of consciousness, and other people had lengthy consideration spans and would learn each phrase? All hail lengthy kind content material!!!! Anyway, we’ve got completed a number of large issues (my brother’s home, our out of doors kitchen/garages), so there’s a little bit of a “what’s subsequent” floating round each internally and externally. The humorous factor about being a house design content material creator (versus trend or meals) is that you simply want new rooms to at all times be designing, new tasks to at all times be saying and launching. It’s fairly wild and but simply a part of the job. Yearly, the panorama in digital media feels totally different – each emotionally, professionally, and financially (to not point out politically) and navigating it’s really a model of The Starvation Video games (competing in opposition to the algorithms, not one another). And pay attention, digital/social media isn’t uniquely affected by large tech and societal swings, it’s simply a part of the sport that frankly I’m grateful I nonetheless get to play, however typically don’t know what weapon I’m even supposed to carry. However I figured for individuals who would possibly care (or are simply tremendous curious), I’d speak by all of the issues we’re pondering. Right here’s what’s up:
The Visitor Home/Carriage Home
As a reminder, that is the 1850s unique farmhouse on our property that must be restored. This challenge is shifting ahead, however has already slowed down resulting from ready on basis quotes. Properly, that and I’m terrified at how a lot it’s going to value. The primary quote got here in, and Brian and I checked out one another like, “Are we actually doing this?”. We knew it will be plenty of course (and I we’re nonetheless on the fence about sharing actual numbers, TBH) but it surely’s made us rethink how we’re doing it, and albeit, we’ve got to determine one of the simplest ways to pay for this challenge. We actually need to be as sensible about this as doable, and I’m genuinely excited to get my fingers soiled, experiment, and study. So we’re nonetheless going to do it, don’t fear, but it surely’s not this tremendous simple, quick course of for a lot of causes – each private and monetary. As a lot of you identified, restoring this 1850s fixer received’t essentially be one of the best “funding” with regard to resale, but when I can use it as a challenge home for our enterprise and create content material that drives extra enterprise, then it may nonetheless be well worth the funding. It’s definitely a threat (isn’t every thing?). I believe getting by the primary spherical of main non-exciting bills will assist, and I’ve to remind myself that we will get a line of credit score, pay slowly over time, and leverage my job to assist offset the labor prices that we will’t do ourselves. However right here’s the official replace: We lately went to the Oregon Historic Society to get as a lot data as doable, and the man who was serving to us harm his again and has all the information in his locked work laptop, so we’re ready and dying to search out out. We’ve got 4 basis quotes coming in, and our asbestos and lead abatement quotes are already within the works. I really like my job, and if cash have been no object, I’d be making these large monetary selections a lot quicker, belief me. I’m studying a lot concerning the course of, although, with the quotes, strategies, and “greatest practices” up to now being so totally different (and sometimes contradictory). Who can we belief???? Anyway, I’m so glad that we pursued many extra basis restore quotes as a result of the primary one was essentially the most terrifying (and I cherished the man a lot), and crossing fingers that doing much less work is the precise transfer.
Extra Private Posts Or Brian’s Substack?
I’ve wished to put in writing about extra private issues (not design-related), so Brian and I’ve been severely contemplating a Substack for over a yr now. In reality, we’ve written so many articles already, we shot pictures and promo movies for it, and we aren’t settled on the identify, however we’re so shut (What do you concentrate on “The Stomach Flop”?). He’s taking the lead on this, and he’s within the remaining levels of enhancing his guide, so we’ve been in a holding sample for a bit. He would write about extra male-driven matters – i.e., lead parenting, marriage, masculinity in 2025, what it’s prefer to be married to me, lol, and I’d write extra concerning the insides of this nutty enterprise, Mormonism, intercourse, social media, motherhood, and many others. There are lots of occasions after I suppose “simply publish it on the weblog such as you used to” as a result of I do know these juicier posts would do very well right here, however sadly there are folks on the market who would weaponize our vulnerabilities, insecurities (and successes) and take issues out of context, so having them behind a small paywall makes us really feel safer (all of that may and can nonetheless occur right here in fact, however much less so). The nervousness that I really feel after I nearly publish a extra private submit is simply not value it to my psychological well being any longer, in order that they get caught in “drafts”. We all know that we’ve got views which are relatable and priceless, particularly Brian’s, truthfully. Would love any suggestions on that (and know that for long-time readers who’ve left optimistic feedback, I can provide out coupon codes to learn without cost). Anyway, it’s taking place quickly a technique or one other, so simply dropping it right here first.
Design Teaching – What’s Up With Pete And Chrissy’s Kitchen?
This was our first foray into teaching another person by their reworking stress. We hoped to be there to bounce concepts off or weigh in to assist keep away from issues. Now seems Chrissy and Pete have been fairly dang succesful (and had nice design sense/style), so we saved checking in like “do you want something from us?” and whereas we did assist downside clear up their structure, they truthfully did such an important job while not having an excessive amount of from us. As predicted, there are issues outdoors our management which have affected the timing of the reveal – however they’re like 90% accomplished and it appears to be like superior (we severely can’t imagine they DIY’d a lot themselves). Pete has taken a 2-month job in Kentucky, and the entire household (sure, three children) is headed on the market for a bit. They get again in December, however I’d by no means put an enormous shoot on a father or mother’s calendar in December, particularly when the home is embellished for Christmas. So our plan is to shoot in January and reveal asap after that. We began a second design teaching consumer this week – one other kitchen in our neighborhood by a reader that truthfully simply made it too onerous to say no to (and the proximity to our home makes it really easy). I’m actually having fun with these, and am studying what works content-wise and the place our assistance is most wanted. Which brings me to…
Quick Finances Styling Makeovers In 2026 – YES!!!
I joke on a regular basis that my dream job, as soon as I “retire” (seemingly by no means), is to do fast, finances restyling makeovers. These rooms can be already “good” and even “fairly good,” however they want my assist to make them higher. We’d want complete inventive management (in fact), on their finances, and in a number of days. Suppose pace purchasing, simple DIYs, thrifting, purchasing their house – actual folks, actual cash, actual time. They’ll give preliminary concepts/wants/desires in fact, however then that’s it – we get to do our factor and “Ta Da!” I’ve accomplished this with so a lot of my associates as favors through the years on weekends, and it’s extremely enjoyable, so why not strive doing this on the weblog? We wouldn’t receives a commission, however we’d shoot all of it and switch it into hopefully enjoyable content material right here. We’re beginning our first one quickly, and we’ll see the way it goes 🙂 My hope is that they’re a low carry, however excessive impression, and they are often constant. Extra to return quickly.
Jess’ and Caitlin’s Makeover Takeover!
Okay, you guys are being tremendous affected person right here, however you additionally need to do not forget that folks have private lives that they will not be sharing, which impacts their design time and reveal schedule. However I get the joy to see what they’ve accomplished – I need to, too!!! Excellent news, Jess shot her lounge and bed room final week!! Caitlin’s is scheduled for October. Gretch has a brilliant enjoyable visitor room replace coming quickly, too. Its all within the works! Simply takes time and sources (we’ve got a brand new program to assist get them executed extra swiftly).
Kaitlin’s Bogs
They’re ALLLLMOST accomplished, I promise. This one falls extra within the design teaching class – We’re simply serving to Kaitlin out with product and any design recommendation she wants (in addition to publishing and creating content material). She has nice style and magnificence, and she or he employed my brother’s firm, Afore, to execute all of it. They can use the loos now, simply ready on the glass doorways to go in and the skylights to be completed. They’re trying extraordinarily cute and simply so “her”. We’re capturing mid-October for a reveal asap after that.
The Relaxation Of The River Home – Are We Accomplished??
Sure! and …. no. We nonetheless need to reveal a number of of the rooms that I’m so excited to point out you (lounge, recreation room, and eating room), and we haven’t touched Frank’s room (their 7-year-old son) or the pantry, which we nonetheless need to do (and Frank is certainly like, “what about me??”). Each are nice January tasks. Technically, they’ve a basement to show right into a rompous room/health club, and we’ve by no means shot the entrance of the home, which has an enormous patio so there is perhaps some extra River Home reveals sooner or later (and truthfully they’re simply actually enjoyable for us as a result of we’ve got full inventive/purchasing freedom to spend another person’s cash:))
The Future Of The Weblog (And Some Drama)
We’re presently to start with course of (once more) of redesigning and rebuilding this web site. Final yr, we had some fairly devastating hacking that occurred again and again and over, which was a large downside for a lot of readers and value tens of 1000’s in safety repairs for my IT group. So behind the scenes, my IT group rebuilt the location with out redesigning it for it to be safer, but it surely needed to occur actually FAST so no time to revamp or rebrand. Mainly, I used to be instructed that our former model of WordPress (the weblog platform) was so previous that it was like having a classic automobile that you would be able to’t discover the elements for, and it was really easy to hack. So we did a quick and soiled rebuild, migrated every thing over with the intent of a full redesign/rebrand in 2026. As my group is aware of, this isn’t my energy (which is why I let it go for thus a few years) – it’s simply so intimidating, daunting, costly, and albeit, the way in which media goes, it’s onerous to know the way a lot to put money into a “web site”. However throughout our retreat, we brainstormed the location, learn how to make it one of the best for every day readers, and learn how to make it essentially the most helpful and reader-friendly for folks simply dropping in after they need assistance with design, renovation, or purchasing. It actually helped to slender it down, hone in on priorities, after which arrange the location primarily based on that. I’m lastly so enthusiastic about it. Seems that whereas every day readers like course of posts, the brand new one who lands right here randomly will hardly ever search them out. So we needed to cull by a lot information to know what actually wants to remain, learn how to categorize, and many others. It’s not going to essentially change the content material a lot, simply the place it lives completely after it’s not that day’s submit. We’re additionally optimizing extra for environment friendly renovation guides and clear searching for these simply seeking one of the best counter stool. An enormous because of Paul and Flywheel Company for serving to us navigate it all of the final 8 years, and to my group who maintain my hand and provides me confidence by all of the stuff that’s simply not my energy. However websites as large as ours aren’t in-built a number of weeks for a number of thousand {dollars} – nope. They take months and months and value greater than you’d ever need to know 🙂 So, crossing fingers you’ll like it!!! (Clearly very open to recommendations/concepts!!)
Love For Portland!
Portland has been within the information loads recently resulting from Trump calling it “war-ravaged” and “like dwelling in hell,” and subsequently calling within the nationwide guard to assist quell some ICE protests. I’m not right here to speak politics, however it’s best to know that there was nothing violent taking place in Portland that warranted this motion final week. And certain, in 2020 (earlier than we lived right here), there have been some critical issues with protests. But it surely’s not a factor proper now (a minimum of wasn’t when he introduced it). Trump has admitted to taking a look at outdated footage that isn’t correct or present. Everybody in Portland was truthfully so confused about what he was speaking about. My associates drove by the ICE constructing to see for themselves and despatched pictures of 8 peaceable protestors (this was on Monday). I’m not saying its excellent right here, however no the place is. Our public colleges are underfunded, our small enterprise taxes are excessive, and sure, we’re additionally affected by the nationwide housing disaster. However Portland is such an unimaginable place to reside, increase our youngsters, in a vibrant neighborhood filled with creativity and acceptance, close to world famend nature, and nonetheless with large metropolis tradition. Residing right here is fantastic and exquisite, and I sincerely hope that this activation doesn’t really trigger the violence that he hoped to quell, misguided because it was.
Media – What A Thriller You Are!!!??
We all know that each few years issues change, and you actually need to embrace it otherwise you’ll spiral into an existentialist pit the place you query your relevancy and objective whereas crying within the bathe (as an example). AI and TikTok disrupted our lives so quick, like in a single yr, issues drastically modified. And pay attention, we’ve been right here earlier than. Magazines have been killed by blogs, blogs have been killed by Pinterest and Instagram, and Instagram was nearly killed by TikTok (seems too many shoppers like me don’t need to be on TikTok, so thank god there’s nonetheless an enormous viewers and model cash on IG). We’re nonetheless right here and thriving (because of you and my group). However now with AI scraping all our years of academic design content material (to not point out my two books – and sure I’m a part of that lawsuit) our numbers are being challenged as a result of what was an enormous “Google hit” (like how excessive to hold your curtains) is now being answered by an AI bot earlier than they scroll down to search out the unique author of the content material. And persons are extra simply entertained on their cellphone than on a web site. All issues I get!! It’s what it’s, and we noticed it coming and have diversified sufficient to be a wholesome, sturdy enterprise. And truthfully, I’m simply nonetheless so grateful to be right here doing this, whereas elevating my children, and if I solely received to do 50% of what I’m doing now for the remainder of my life, I’d nonetheless really feel fortunate. I inform myself on a regular basis that after the youngsters go to varsity, I actually suppose I’ve a 3rd act in me, however proper now, the chance value of attempting to develop the enterprise, whereas not seeing my children, is simply too nice and never value it.
However What About Product Strains??
I’ve cherished doing the rug and couch line. They actually pushed my group and me to develop in ways in which have been so enjoyable. New muscle tissues to flex, and many others. And can at all times pursue the precise alternative ought to we really feel compelled – each emotionally and financially, or if we see a transparent gap out there. But it surely’s not at all times seamless behind the scenes (lol). With the couch line, we needed to transfer the complete operations from Mexico in April when the primary tariffs have been introduced, making them now in Texas. This clearly created a good quantity of stress (to not point out shifting the income whereas attempting to not increase the costs). I flew down a number of occasions to tweak and approve, tweak and approve, and I’m so grateful that they have been affected person with me they usually did an unimaginable job. I’m so pleased with them and so grateful for my group’s skills. With the most recent excessive proportion tariff gauge on upholstered furnishings, I assume we’re as grateful as ever that they’re American-made. That’s all to say that we’re persevering with to broaden the road and see the place it goes! We’re in talks with one other rug producer whom we love, and hoping it’s match for all, but when it’s not, that might be okay, too. The world is stuffed with so many alternatives, some we earn from and others we study from (ideally each).
In the meantime, on the Henderson household entrance, Brian and the youngsters are wholesome and thriving, which is truthfully all that issues. Most nights and weekends are us doing sports activities, enjoying pickleball, or watching Survivor after dinner. They’re really my favourite folks to hang around with, which I truthfully didn’t predict (I knew I’d love my children, however I didn’t know that we’d have a lot enjoyable collectively). Elliot is my life-buddy (I received’t say greatest good friend as a result of it’s too cringey, however y’all, we’re completely greatest associates). We’ve got a lot in frequent, and we actually, actually get one another, which makes parenting fairly fulfilling proper now. Just lately, we have been each sick all weekend, and we binged “My Life With The Walter Boys”. I used to be secretly like “that is my favourite day ever – being sick together with her was so cozy and cozy” after which received nervous that I used to be being slightly Munchausen-y (in the event you haven’t watched Unknown Caller but – OOF). Charlie worships Brian (in one of the simplest ways doable), they usually join in ways in which I solely get to admire (sports activities, comedies, and so many farts), however Charlie and I play chess every single day, and nobody can tuck him in like a burrito like I can. So fortunately no critical drama right here but 🙂 The youngsters are sad with our household media insurance policies, and albeit, in the event you requested them, they might love extra sugar. LOL. Brian and I simply celebrated 25 years collectively (19 years married), which is more and more incomprehensible. How is that even doable?
That’s the replace. As at all times, THANK YOU for being right here and hope you’re excited for what’s arising. xx
