Arts

The Chris Loves Julia Podcast w/ Preston Pugmire

Conversations about DIY, Home Design, and family. Chris Loves Julia is a DIY home design blog that started in 2008. It has since become the go to place for design and home renovation info for millions of readers. On this podcast we go behind the curtain on blogging, home renovation, and design in general and how it all relates to having a home that is “lived in” by a family.

Latest Episodes:

Ep 60: Fear And The Final Episode Feb 26, 2018

Show notes

It's a hard day. But it's a good day. Today's episode of The Chris Loves Julia Podcast with Preston Pugmire will be the last of the series. Despite the million+ downloads, multiple sponsors per episode and the success stamp that most people would put on the podcast, last week, I had a major breakthrough that left me in tears. And then lead me to have a really, really difficult conversation with the team to end the podcast. We recorded our final episode less than 24 hours later, and the feelings were (and still are) very raw. That is to say, okay, I cry more and explain what led me to this unexpected decision.

The theme of the episode is fear, because it had everything to do with fear. But we touch on the scary thing that happened at our cabin, a bold decision that made our bathroom plans "click," and share some of our favorite moments from the podcast.

I know this will come as a shock to many of you, and I'm sure you will share in our sadness about it. But the time is right, and we can't wait for what's to come. -Julia

SPONSORS Daily HarvestJules and I have been ordering Daily Harvest smoothies from even before they were a sponsor of the podcast. They're healthy, so simple, and really tasty. Visit www.daily-harvest.com and use promo code CLJ to get 3 free items in your first box. Thomas Avenue CeramicsReceive 30% off your tile order before April 15th, 2018! Visit www.thomasavenueceramics.com and use promo code CLJ30

Ep 59: In Living Color Theory (Rebroadcast) Feb 19, 2018

Show notes

A candid discussion about the best practices when choosing paint colors. Julia reveals for the first time a huge mistake she made behind the scenes.

Posts mentioned in this episode:

DIY Shiplap built-ins: finished and styled!

Perfectly Putty Paint

Leave a Rating and Review for the Podcast!

Theme song: Headphones by Preston Pugmire

Ep 58: Secrets From 4 Incredibly Successful, Self-Taught Designers Feb 12, 2018

Show notes

We interviewed four successful interior designers that are all self taught. Amber Lewis, Jenny Komenda, Shea McGee and Brian Patrick Flynn all open up about everything from their education backgrounds (in some cases, dropping out of school) to advice they would give to anyone trying to break into the field.

1. Amber Lewis | Principal at Amber Interior Design and founder and CEO of the blog, Amber Interiors.

Based in California, but designing all over the world, Amber makes her signature casual California design look effortless, cool, cozy, eclectic and unique.

Find her (and her amazing work) at amberinteriordesign.com , @amberinteriors on instagram, and check out her shoppe to get her signature look in person (in Calabasas) or online here.

2. Jenny Komenda | Interior designer and the owner of Juniper Studio, Jenny's Print Shop and founder of the blog, Little Green Notebook.

Phoenix based, Jenny has been blogging about interiors since 2007! Her style is approachable, eclectic and the perfect mix of splurge pieces with budget-friendly DIY (she's the queen!) mixed in.

Find more of Jenny's work at juniper-studio.com, littlegreennotebook.com, @jennykomenda on Instagram, and her digital print shop jennysprintshop.com.

3. Brian Patrick Flynn | Television producer turned interior designer. Founder of FlynnsideOut Productions, a full service production company specializing in lifestyle-related content.

Atlanta based, Brian's style can best be described as soft-masculine and characterized by a unique mix of design styles, modern and classic art, unconventional color schemes and practical budgets. The designer primarily resides in Atlanta but frequently retreats his two alternate residences, the country home in the mountains of north Georgia and a Scandinavian pied-á-terre in Reykjavik, Iceland for creative inspiration.

Find more of Brian's work on HGTV.com here, through his production company Flynnside Out, and on Instagram @bpatrickflynn.

4. Shea McGee | Co-Founder and Creative Director of Studio McGee and McGee & Co.

Utah based, Shea's bright and clean aesthetic has attracted a wait-list of clients and originally, no idea how to handle the workload. Studio McGee was created in a spare bedroom with lots of big ideas and no room for fabric samples and has grown into a massive empire.

Find more of Shea's work at Studio-mcgee.com, watch their web series here, through their McGee & Co Shop and on instagram @studiomcgee.

The 6 questions you can expect to hear answered in this episode are:

• What is your education background?

• When did you realize design was something you wanted to do professionally and how did you make that shift?

• How did you grow your business, get clients, get noticed!?

• What role does social media play in your business?

• What’s something you still want to learn?

• What advice do you have for others wanting to break into the field?

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Blue Apron We've been using Blue Apron for almost three years now, and we couldn't recommend it more. They even started offering Whole30® Compliant options, so give it a try this week! Our listeners can get $30 off their first order by visiting www.blueapron.com/clj

ThirdLove Jules is nonstop raving about her ThirdLove bras, and their incredible process. From determining fit to selecting a style, you can do it all from the comfort of your home and they offer 60 different size options! Visit www.thirdlove.com/clj to get 15% off your first purchase.

Ep 57: CLJ Q&A - Privacy In the Bathroom, Office in the Bedroom, & The Top Tools for DIY Feb 05, 2018

Show notes

Here are the four questions we answer this week:

1. I have a question about windows in the bathroom: I currently live in a row home in Philadelphia, my bathroom has two windows in it that back up to my neighbors patio and a restaurant patio. I have blinds on the two windows in my bathroom, to keep any peepers from being able to look into my bathroom but I feel like its a waste of perfectly good natural light to keep them closed all the time. My husband thinks we should put sheer curtains up and keep the blinds open to solve the peeping/natural light problem but I can't say that I've ever seen curtains in a bathroom before, what do you think we should do?

Best,Lane

The balance of natural light and privacy is a big thing in a lot of bathrooms, so we cover a few ways to frost a window (the most affordable option--check out this film for this method!), different blind options (the easiest option, we'd recommend cellular honeycomb blinds for maximum light/privacy balance), and even high tech electrically-charged glass that frosts with the flip of a switch (arguably, the coolest option--here's a video of it in action). We also talk about mirrors in front of windows--are you for them?

2. I have a thorn in my side when it comes to organizing and designing...our "home office space" - that isn't used as a home office. We don't even use the desk...it's a dumping site for papers. It's in the corner of our bedroom :( We have one filing cabinet that is terribly ugly next to the desk that is already full. My question for y'all is if you've posted on this before? Or if you have any go-to pieces for putting "adulting stuff" when you don't have an office. I need an organized space that looks pretty since it's in my bedroom and I see it every day! Help!!! Devan

Combination spaces can be tricky, especially in the bedroom where any horizontal surface tends to be somewhere that you lay things. But the first image (via) in this post sure sells it, right? We talk about some different approaches depending on how you use your spaces. We talk about evaluating the need for dual functionality in a room (is it being used for anything other than a dumping ground?) and how making things smaller can sometimes help in keeping them clean. Also, how we tackle the paper trail in our home!

3. Hello Chris, Julia, and Preston!I am a fairly new listener and have been binging your podcast. I have been so inspired by some of your recent episodes! You have me thinking we really can take on some DIY projects. We recently purchased our first home and have several projects we would like to tackle, but currently are working with very basic tools such as screwdrivers, a drill, etc. What tools do you feel are most useful and are must-haves for someone who is just starting to build their tool arsenal?

Thanks guys, love the podcast!

Casey

Here's the room that we refer to when we talk about winning the contest that allowed us to buy our first set of tools.

4. Where did you get your upholstered, low-profile box spring mattress?

We shared a picture of our bedroom here, and had a lot of questions about our box spring, because it looks very low-profile. It’s actually the Sleep Number base for our mattress, and not fully low-profile. BUT we actually do have a low-profile, upholstered box spring in our guest room.

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!

Ep 56: The 7 Steps We Follow For Every Renovation Jan 29, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, we peel back the curtain on a few projects happening around here. What you see are the photos, but there is always more uncertainty and conversations about nearly every decision. We take you through conversations around 2 projects we're knee deep in (our bedroom and bathroom) and how we come to conclusions as a couple. We also answer the question, "What is your process for renovating a room?" And! Talk about how we sometimes feel we have unintentionally betrayed our readers.

In the first few minutes, we talk about how our bedroom is coming together. Side note: Do you say "make the bed?" or "fix the bed?" Either way, we get into it about throw pillows and this scene comes up.

We share what intimidates us, big, normal house projects that we still haven't learned how to do and the secret we've been keeping: we don't know how to do everything. And that's okay!

What's Your Process For Renovating a Room?

Live in a space long enough to decide your feelings about it and discover pain points.
Make a wish list—things you want from the room, how you want to use the room, how you want the room to feel.
Gather inspiration photos.
Make floor plan renderings and layout options.
Make a mood board to see how all the elements will work together.
Order products
- If I can help it, I don’t order everything at once. I like things to arrive and then I can course correct if needed. Sometimes we have to order it all and then I can return something if it's not going to work.
Make a timeline for getting it done.

Can't Get You Outta My Mind

Preston has Beef Jerky on his mind. Specifically this brand.

I recently watched this YouTube video that changed my perspective on motivation. (bottom line: it sucks) In turn, I've been able to get up early every morning since and hit the gym. I hired a trainer to write a program for me so I have direction and use the JEFIT app, which shows how to do every exercise and work every machine out there, so I'm no longer intimidated to go to the gym.

Chris has always been passionate about cooking and although he doesn't share much here anymore, he got this chest harness that holds his phone so he can record while he cooks! He's been sharing a lot of our meals and his recipes on his Instagram--@c_marcum.

Sponsors:

Blue Apron Click for $30 off first order.

RXBAR Click for 25% off first order.

Ep 55: CLJ Q&A - Over-Improving Your Home, Choosing Art, Painted Stripes, Two-Story Living Spaces Jan 22, 2018

Show notes

Here are the four questions we tackled this week:

1. How to balance over-improving your home for someone else and making it perfect for you.

Jen largely answers her own question, but we chime in with some examples from our own home. Sometimes the value is enough for you that it's worth the money, and sometimes you can get the same value for spending less. What we did with our kitchen ranges is a good example.

2. How to choose and display art in your home.

We give a lot of tips and talk about the various ways we display art in our home, as well as how to make differing display options feel cohesive and not combative. 3. How to fix lines on a wall from painted stripes There's going to be a lot of people dealing with this issue in the coming years, because about ten years ago, stripes were the rage. We talk about a couple of options, but unfortunately none of them are super convenient. But worth it, to get rid of the stripes. 4. How to handle a living space that is two stories high This can be a tricky one, but there are things you can do to make two-story living spaces feel less empty, particularly on the walls. We talk about curtains, local theaters and millwork trim. SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Daily HarvestJules and I have been ordering Daily Harvest smoothies from even before they were a sponsor of the podcast. They're healthy, so simple, and really tasty. Visit www.daily-harvest.com and use promo code CLJ to get 3 free items in your first box. We’d love it so much if you could leave a rating and review for the podcast, and thank you for continuing to spread the word about our corner of the podcast world! We love hearing from new listeners every week!

Ep. 54: 2018 Trend Watch, Predictions, and Let's Be Honest...Harsh Judgements Jan 15, 2018

Show notes

We start this episode with a small recap of our time in Seattle visiting the HGTV dream home and then describe where and what our dream homes would be! They might surprise you!

Then we dive into a new segment, that we eventually decide to call "Cabin Log" (although Cabin of Green Gables was a close second! Ha!) where we're telling a few more nitty gritty details of our adventures in renovating our new-to-us A-frame. While we love our cabin, it's hasn't all been views and a walk in the park. This week's log story includes a whole lotta snow and a very expensive lesson.

For the main segment, we go through House Beautiful's 16 Decor Trends that are Going to Be Hot for 2018 and weigh in on each.

• Chris raps about the tone on tone trend.

• And although House Beautiful is telling us to go moodier (compared to what?!), there's a big change we're making in our house that goes in the opposite direction!

• And then, yeah, I mispronounce agate over and over and over. (I now realize, I was thinking of the word agave!) Here's the link to Sarah Sherman Samuel's Wallpaper line.

• Also, my 2018 goal to convert Preston to beige--who do I need to add to the list?

Can't Get You Outta My Mind

Preston talks about launching his own personal development podcast, Next Level Life, last week and how he worked so hard to make it the number 1 podcast in his category--a goal he totally nailed!

Chris declares his love for Inca Corn. (I filled his stocking with these, and he ate them all in less than a week!)

I share a toy that we gifted to our daughter and nephew (both 7) that has helped so much with their anxiety, especially at bedtime. It's called a Worry Eater and I couldn't recommend it enough!

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Ep. 53: CLJ Q&A - Character, Focal Points, Mini Renos and Wood! Jan 08, 2018

Show notes

While our podcast usually airs every other Monday, this year, we are adding a special Q&A episode on the former off weeks--we're calling...waiting for it...CLJ Q&A! It rhymes. These episodes are shorter (we're shooting for under 30 minutes) and still have all the same fun and banter, but we answer YOUR questions! Although these are specific questions that come from real listeners, they are either questions we get a lot or we think can be applicable to many homes and situations. If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can send it to podcast@chrislovesjulia.com.

Topics this week:

1. How to add detail and interest to a blank slate.

2. What to do when you have competing focal points.

3. Some things you can do to temporarily renovate your kitchen, or tips to make it look a lot better until your big reno!

4. Tips for mixing wood types and stains.

Ep 51: Holiday Traditions, Bathroom Reno In A Week, And We Have Water Damage! Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

We just finished a week long bathroom renovation in the Pugmire's home, and it turned out super awesome. We talk about how that project came about, who foot the bill, and the purpose behind it. We also talk about some of the flack we received because of some of the design elements, and our thoughts around that.

Happening This Week: Dealing With Water DamageWe've been going through our list this week, scheduling out our priorities for the next few months and then something happened that is forcing us to make our Master Bathroom a priority. And it has to do with portions of the ceiling below the bathroom (in the girls' bedroom) falling in.

General Discussion: Creating and Meshing Holiday TraditionsYou like white lights, he likes colored lights. You go sledding on Christmas Eve, he makes popcorn and watches movies. We all have our traditions that make the Holidays feel like "The Holidays", but what happens when your significant other has their own traditions that are different from yours? We talk about some of our own traditions that we've had, how we've combined and how we want to approach creating our own going forward. Jules also shares an article with a few tips for starting your own traditions, no matter what stage of life you're in.

Game: How Many, How Many, How Many Named after Preston's "How Many Chins" game he and his wife play on Instagram, this game has nothing to do with that and involves numbers and home design/DIY. Jules quizzes Preston and me about how many blanks are in blank, or how many blanks are in a blank. The blanks are filled in on the podcast.

Can't Get You Outta My MindJulia: For Julia's birthday I bought her a Wi-Fi enabled SD card for her camera, and she talks all about how much she loves it. No cables, instant transferring from a camera to her phone, and posted straight to Instagram. If you're a blogger or social media influencer or just posting lots of pictures and you want them to look their best, this is the product you want.

Preston: Preston has known for quite some time now that he needs to start meditating, but he hasn't really known where to start. He talks about an app he recently purchased called Headspace, that provides guided meditations that Preston has started doing each day. He shares some thoughts he has on it so far and benefits that he's seeing.

Chris: I've always struggled with maintaining friendships, but some experiences recently have reminded me how important that is. I talk about some time I've spent with old friends recently, and why I think that everyone should take a step today to reach out to someone, just because.

Sponsors:

Wonderbly (previously known as Lost My Name) The holidays are fast approaching, and birthdays know no season. If you have a kid in your life and you want to make them feel special, visit www.wonderbly.com. Wonderblyallows you to create custom story books for children in a way that puts them at the center of the plot. This isn't just Find-and-Replace on the name - they actually build the story around each child so every book is unique to them. Visit www.wonderbly.com and use promo code CLJ at checkout to get 15% off your order.

Grove CollaborativeGrove Collaborative is an online marketplace for all of your favorite natural home & personal care products. We signed up a few months ago and set all of our favorites products on a subscription to arrive automatically, right when we need them. Visit www.grove.co/chrislovesjulia to sign up, spend your first $20 and they will throw in a FREE set of Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products. No code required, but you do need to sign up at www.grove.co/chrislovesjulia.

We'd love it so much if you could leave a rating and review for the podcast, and thank you for continuing to spread the word about our corner of the podcast world! We love hearing from new listeners every week! Have questions you’d like us to answer on the podcast? Email podcast@chrislovesjulia.com.

Ep 50: Designing a Home For Airbnb Vs. To Live In & Which Minimalist Are You? Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

We closed on a super awesome cabin, and we've already had our first party! We talk about our approach to the design with the cabin, and a few eye-opening things we've learned about minimalism. When planning a space that will be rented as a vacation home, as opposed to a primary residence, it's surprising the number of things you can do away with. And taking that one step further, do we really need those extra things at all?

Impromptu Game: Name That MinimalistWhile talking about the cabin design, Jules shares an article from Apartment Therapy that defines 6 different types of minimalism. She names what they are and Preston and I take turns guessing their definitions. We also say which ones we identify with most, and would love to hear your matches in the comments.

Can't Get You Outta My MindJulia: Something Jules and I have been talking about recently is the responsibility people have to those around them. I don't know why, but humans are just naturally competitive - sometimes that's good, sometimes not. She talks about the power of doing something positive and what happens when we focus outward.

Preston: As someone trying to build their own brand, Preston shares his thoughts on the world of marketing and how it has changed in our modern world. He talks about how this applies to all businesses, but specifically why it creates success. The short version? Provide something of value!

Chris: I realize the world loves extremes, but I think there's a much more fulfilling way to live. I'm sure many of you have watched the documentary "What the Health" on Netflix, and perhaps some of you felt shocked by it. I talk about a less popular documentary called "In Defense of Food" (also on Netflix) and why it makes so much more sense, while still lighting a fire under us all to live more healthy. It's definitely worth a watch.

This Episode is Sponsored By: Wonderbly (previously known as Lost My Name) The holidays are fast approaching, and birthdays know no season. If you have a kid in your life and you want to make them feel special, visit www.wonderbly.com. Wonderbly allows you to create custom story books for children in a way that puts them at the center of the plot. This isn't just Find-and-Replace on the name - they actually build the story around each child so every book is unique to them. Visit www.wonderbly.com and use promo code CLJ at checkout to get 15% off your order.

Grove CollaborativeGrove Collaborative is an online marketplace for all of your favorite natural home & personal care products. We signed up a few months ago and set all of our favorites products on a subscription to arrive automatically, right when we need them. Visit www.grove.co/chrislovesjulia to sign up, spend your first $20 and they will throw in a FREE set of Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products. No code required, but you do need to sign up at www.grove.co/chrislovesjulia.

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