We are back with a classic "Trials & Triumphs" episode! After a long hiatus from sharing their own home updates (since August!), Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down to catch up on what has been happening behind their own front doors.

The ladies discuss the highs and lows of homeownership, from Liz’s garage flood nightmare to Caroline’s victory over a builder-grade "boob light." Taryn gives a major update on her Facebook Marketplace bed project (spoiler: it’s finished!), and Caroline explains why she finally ditched her trendy jute rug for a vintage estate sale find.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Don't Fear the "Floater" Rug: Caroline shares her win with a vintage 8x11 rug. While 9x12 is the standard for living rooms, she explains that you can break the "all legs on" rule with a slightly smaller vintage piece as long as the front legs of your furniture anchor it comfortably.

Spray It, Don't Brush It: Taryn confirms that for intricate furniture (like a spindle bed), a paint sprayer is non-negotiable. It saves hours of frustration compared to brushing and delivers a smooth, factory-like finish that makes DIY pieces look high-end.

Upgrade the "Boob Light": It is the most common builder-grade eyesore, but swapping a flush mount is one of the easiest updates you can do. Caroline replaced hers in 20 minutes with a faux-alabaster fixture, instantly elevating her hallway for under $100.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome & Happy New Year!

01:30 Caroline’s Triumph: Scoring a vintage Turkish rug on EBTH.com

06:00 The "Jute vs. Wool" debate: Why wool is actually cleaner

09:00 Taryn’s Triumph: The $100 Facebook Marketplace bed is finished!

12:00 Painting Tips: Why you need a sprayer for spindles & the color reveal ("Stardew")

18:00 Liz’s Trial: A pipe burst and ceiling damage in the garage

22:00 Liz’s Triumph: Painting the front door "Tate Olive"

26:00 Caroline’s Triumph: Replacing the hallway "boob light" with an Amazon find

32:00 Taryn’s Trial: The struggle of finding bedding to match a blue bed

38:00 Closing thoughts & looking ahead to spring projects

Also Mentioned:

Everything But The House (Online Estate Sales) | ebth.com

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams "Stardew" (Taryn's Bed)

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore "Tate Olive" (Liz's Door)

Paint Sprayer (Wagner)

Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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