Your Home Story

See more links and photos on my blog! 

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. 

Hear the story of how I got started with my home decor blog, Bigger Than The Three Of Us.

Learn about pattern mixing from Carmel from Our Fifth House today. Leave with actionable tips for adding color and pattern to your space. I loved getting to chat with Carmel from Our Fifth House all about creativity in the home. We talked in-depth on how she thinks about pattern and color within her home but also talked about creativity within the home in general. You'll definitely want to tune in to this one! From how and why she shops secondhand to where she starts on adding color and pattern to her spaces, you are going to be inspired and leave the show with actionable tips to start feeling braver with patterns in your own home. Get all the links on my blog! 

Let's review past home purchases for the good, the bad and the really bad (sawhorses, I'm looking at you!). I always find is so interesting to hear what people truly love or hate within their home when it comes to items they have purchased.

Get all the pictures and details on the blog! 

Dzinly is a new home improvement platform that focuses on virtual exterior design which helps customers visualize what changes they would like on their current exterior. Hear my thoughts and get before/after photos on my blog! 

More about how I've learned to curate my home style through purchasing thoughtfully and how I'm challenging myself to stick to 20 or less home decor items for the year.  More details and photos on the blog

Get links and more details on the blog! 

What's hot in 2022 in the home? What home trends were popular but are now going out?  Get more details and links. 

See more details on my blog! 

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

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

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. 

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. 

What do you do when you are given a family heirloom? How do you work that special piece in with your home style? Should you always keep the heirloom even if you feel like it's not a fit for you?  See more on the blog with photos and links! 

The queen of thrifting, Shelby Goodman, is chatting with me today. From thrifting pointers to how she keeps her heart in check as she's creating an intentional life... you don't want to miss this one. See all the photos of Shelby's projects, links to her blog and socials and more!

It's all about the family cabin this week. Click to see links and photos! 

From decorating with Halloween art prints to using other simple decor such as paper bats, spider webs and more... tune in to turn your Halloween decor up a notch.  See photos and inspiration on the blog!

Get your jewelry organized with these jewelry organizer ideas, plus implement some of these ideas for other accessory storage (like those hair ties, bobby pins, etc.)! https://biggerthanthethreeofus.com/jewelry-organizer-ideas/

Get photos and details on my blog! 

What is a neighborhood library and why should you install one? Sharing about my favorite purchase of 2021, the joy it has brought to me, the install process, cost and more!    Get direct links to what I chatted about and see all the pictures on the blog! 

Sharing about smart home devices that we own (the good and bad) and whether we'd recommend them or not.   Full review: www.biggerthanthethreeofus.com/podcast

Should you rekey your door lock or just have them changed?  Full show notes: https://biggerthanthethreeofus.com/podcast/ Find me on Instagram: @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join the Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!

After 3 ½ years of podcasting, we are coming off our first break. We've got updates to what we've been working on, what we've been doing for personal things and what's in store for the podcast going forward.  Things we chatted about today: Faux Front Porch Plants FB Marketplace Orange Chairs Cabinet Cost Comparison One Room Challenge Historic Home Office Makeover Madeline Moves workout program that Ashley is doing 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!

Learn how to make “little by little” changes throughout the home from Leigh by The Little by Little Home. This is another installment of our Intentional Living series and this time, we are chatting about $100 makeovers, easy decor hacks, and making cleaner switches for the home. Specifically we chatted about: Book Club Discussions $100 Basement Stairwell Reveal  Talks about “functional beauty” in the home Copper Dust Pan (Affiliate Link) Erin from the $100 Makeover Challenge  Ashley's $87 Minimal Modern Bathroom Nook Makeover $100 Challenge Hallway and Linen Closet Makeover Easy Decor Hacks that Leigh loves: Spray Painting or using gel stain on Vintage Frames (check out her kitchen) Clean Switch Highlight on Instagram Two easy switches: dishwasher detergent and dish soap Homemade Laundry Detergent  Non-Coconut Oil Homemade Toothpaste Castile Soap (Affiliate link)  Find Leigh on her blog, The Little By Little Home and over on Instagram.  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!

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): Ashley's DIY Gutter guard installation and pricing for professional gutter guard installation.  Suzannah's experience hiring out extensive landscaping clean-up is on our Instagram highlights The window cleaning supplies Ashley ordered and used The under $10 ant treatment Suzannah uses 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!

From a clutter-filled uninspiring office to a modern traditional serene office makeover, tune in to hear how Suzannah transformed her office space in just under 8 weeks. A blue-green-gray paint and lots of museum art prints really helped brighten up the space but that's not all. Hear about her adventure with recovering a chair, building a fireplace screen, and more.  See all the pictures and more details : Historic home office renovation reveal 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 thought it would be fun to share about some of our recent home purchases. Most of our purchases we've really loved but there's a few in there that we might regret. From drying racks to kantha quilts, tune in to hear how we are making our homes work better for us.  Recent Home Purchases (Affiliate links below) Laundry Room Wooden Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack  Label Maker https://amzn.to/2Qk5V7f  Wall Sconce from Etsy Blackout Roman shade https://amzn.to/3ePqwtq  Little wood-look ceramic garden stool for the flagstone patio (linked similar) Hammock https://amzn.to/3omL5Rd  Fake Snake Plant  Kantha quilts https://amzn.to/3hslbdy and https://bit.ly/3hsljd2  Linen Sheets in Ashley's bedroom 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're interviewing an expert on tips for improving safety around the house and reducing tip-over accidents from furniture and electronics. It takes a few dollars and a few minutes to make things so much safer and we're excited to spread awareness about this super important issue. Resources mentioned:  COVID-19 ‘Stay-at-Home,' Coupled with Super Bowl LV Viewing, Can Mean Danger for Kids from Falling Furniture and TVs: CPSC.gov AnchorIt.gov Even When You're Watching PSA video Get Involved--information about becoming an Anchor It! collaborator 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!

Ashley's been working on a massive project at her dad's rustic vacation cabin: doubling the size with an addition, renovating the whole thing, and even adding a bathroom. The framing, electrical, and roof are already done by the pros and now it's time for Luke and her to do a bunch of DIY work and finish it out!  Posts mentioned: The floor plan, design, and plans for this cabin renovation and addition The one-room cabin renovation they did at this cabin a few years ago Houzz discussions on flooring for non-climate controlled cabins 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!

Do you have dated exterior lighting that you’d love to replace one day? Or, are you dreaming up your new build and are just getting started with lighting choices? Tune in today to hear about your options for choosing exterior lights including what Dark Sky rated lighting means, what the lighting industry hides (damp versus wet rated lighting), what exterior lights Ashley just installed at her house and more! Affiliate links below: Resources mentioned: Damp versus Wet Location Lighting  International Dark Sky Lighting Association Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor  Front porch makeover Exterior Lights that Ashley bought  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!

Honestly, neither of us loves yard work or outdoor projects, but we do them! And we’ve found a few tools that make things easier. Sharing some basics and some upgrades, plus a few unique hacks! Tune in to hear how we use each of these and when we think they’re worth buying. The tools: Pick Rototiller Torch Leaf blower Sledgehammer Hedge trimmer Tree trimmer Folding camping/outdoor knife 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 can be overwhelming to think about all the money that we want to spend on our houses to get it “finished.” But there are some improvements that don’t take any money at all, some of them not even that much time!, and make a big difference. (This is a lot more than your basic ideas of moving art around!!) Deep cleaning, decor/style, and home improvement--there are tons of ways to change and better your home without spending anything. Actual real high-impact DIY projects you can do with materials you already have! Free projects we talked about: Ashley’s laundry room shelves Stems Suzannah cut from a large shrub outside Ashley’s post on trimming back boxwoods and removing shutters When Suzannah removed a fireplace screen (before/after) Suzannah’s post about for painting a fireplace screen Angela from Restoring Home’s fireplace makeover Ashley’s update to modernize stair railing Ashley’s update to ornate woodwork  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.

We follow designers with a range of decor styles, and have noticed there are a few rules that apply across all of them. Not just design school basics, but principles that will help you shop for your home over time. We’re breaking them down and sharing how to use them in your home! Design rules that are true for any style: Where to hang art How to choose paint colors A large rug makes a space look larger How to mix wood tones Overhead lighting Vintage, heirloom, and/or antique pieces 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!

Have you checked into solar panels for your house? If not, are you curious to hear what they cost, what’s involved and what they do for your energy bill?  Ashley and her husband Luke are chatting about what they’ve learned when it comes to adding solar because it’s something they are seriously considering adding to their house.  Helpful links to check out:  Project Sunroof by Google Powerwall by Tesla  Federal Tax Credit for Solar 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!

Rock landscaping can drastically change the look of a yard. Today, there’s a big breakdown of the rock creek and flagstone patio install that Ashley just put in at her house.  We chatted about:  Flagstone patio and dry creek inspiration images Replacing mulch with rock  Landscape architect episode  Full before/after reveal of Ashley’s Flagstone Patio and Dry Rock Creek  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!

Getting dressed is something we have to do every day, and having clothes we like is only part of that. How we store our clothing makes a huge difference on how easy or stressful that start to our day is. We’re interviewing an expert in personal style and wardrobe strategy, Jennifer Mackey-Mary, about function and design for great closets, no matter how much space you have to work with.  Jennifer’s giving our listeners 20% off any of her courses or guides you can grab from her website with code YOURHOMESTORY! Jennifer’s recommendations of easy, free design tools that can help you maximize your closet space: EasyClosets The Container Store  Closet Maid-- Closet Maid has a free option, or a $5 option where they design it for you and send you a parts/product list. You can find Jennifer: Web: Everyday Style | Capsule Wardrobe Guides, Virtual Styling Facebook: Everyday Style Instagram: @everydaystylewithjen 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 a casual catch-up chat today, talking about Ashley’s extra hair supplies (and where to store them), Suzannah’s projects with unique fabrics, and what’s coming up over the next month on the podcast.  Links to some of the things we talked about:  Curly Girl Method Tension pole shower storage (affiliate)  Suzannah’s recent closet makeover Cotton block print for Lucy’s Roman shade (affiliate) Lucy’s room Fabric covered-Roman shade tutorial The wreaths Ashley ordered (affiliate) A peek at Ashley’s basement The Everyday Style Podcast 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!

If you’ve been curious about what is involved in purchasing custom wood furniture pieces, then this episode is for you. From lead times to cost breakdowns and what you should be asking before you purchase… tune in for all the details! Resources mentioned: (Affiliate links below) Matboard shop on Etsy  Mat Cutting Tutorial  Room and Board Vanity in Ashley’s Bathroom Room and Board Bathroom Vanities Wren and Cooper Hedge House Furniture Astoria Shuffleboard Exotic Wood Stores Questions to ask for when buying custom furniture 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 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  Some cute acrylic wall-mounted calendars: 1, 2, 3 The clear plastic pegboard system Suzannah used in her sewing room The Grid-It product you can use to corral and hide cords mounted to a desk Plus shared four office inspirations we love: Ashley from the Gold Hive - Hand Painted mural, pendant light, table (without drawers)  Lindsey from Hello Hydrangea - A weaver so her office displays lots of her yarns, looms, etc.  Yellow Brick Home - Small office setup with table and storage and then seating area on the other side. Jones Design Co - Office/studio with desk and table setup  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!

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

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 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!

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 ask questions!

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: @suzannahstanley @biggerthanthethreeofus @yourhomestorypodcast And you can join our Facebook group here to connect with other listeners and ask questions!