While we’re settling into our new house in Florida, here’s one last episode we recorded back in Richmond. In this show we, as “Past John & Sherry,” predict what our moving day might look like and share our hopes and nervousness about spending our first night in the new place. We also talk with renter-decor expert Medina Grillo about easy, affordable, and temporary decorating ideas that work for both renters and homeowners. Medina shared practical solutions, busted a few renter myths, and inspired us with clever, low-commitment updates. Plus: an Instagram account that cracks us up and what we’re packing for the kids for our 12-hour drive to Florida.

You can find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Stitcher, and Spotify.

What’s New

• These shownotes are scheduled to publish before we land in Florida. If you want real-time updates about whether our predictions came true, check our Instagram or Instagram Stories for the latest photos and quick videos about the move and unpacking.

• Like we discuss on the episode, we expect to spend several nights sleeping on a mattress on the floor—similar to what we did in our second house—until we choose a bed that feels right for the new space.
• Because Memorial Day falls next Monday, we’ll return with a new episode on June 1st. We plan to use that short break to get more settled and to ensure our internet is working so we can upload the podcast that week.

Renter-Friendly Ideas From Medina Grillo

• Medina Grillo, founder of Grillo Designs and author of Home Sweet Rented Home, joined us to talk about transforming a rental without permanent changes. Her approach focuses on temporary, budget-friendly updates that still create a highly personalized space.

Her projects feel custom yet are frequently reversible. A few renter-friendly ideas from our conversation:

• Remove and safely store cabinet doors to create open shelving. It’s an easy swap that instantly brightens a kitchen and allows you to add removable wallpaper or contact paper to the cabinet backs for a bold, custom look.
• Use removable wallpaper in unexpected places—walls, nooks, and even floors—to introduce pattern and color. Medina shared a successful project where she applied removable wallpaper to an entryway floor; it lasted over two years and peeled off cleanly when it was time to replace it.
• Contact paper is another flexible tool for renters. It can refresh surfaces like countertops, shelves, or the backs of bookcases and comes off without damage when the lease ends.
• Create hole-free gallery walls using alternative hanging methods and lightweight frames. Medina highlighted renter home tours that demonstrate how to display art and photos without leaving marks behind.

We’ve also used removable wallpaper in our projects—like the middle bedroom at the beach house and removable mural panels in the duplex sleeping nooks—and found it to be a quick, high-impact solution. Medina’s practical approach shows how small changes can make rented spaces feel thoughtfully designed.

• Medina’s #HowIRent series highlights renter tours and clever hacks from many creators—everything from creative contact paper uses to ways to hang art without damaging walls.
• If you like before-and-after tours, we also shared links to some of our older apartment tours, which show how much you can personalize a small rental with thoughtful, temporary updates.

We’re Digging

• One small thing we’ve been loving for road trips is Paint By Sticker books for kids. Our six-year-old has been really into them. They’re inexpensive, portable, and keep little hands busy during long drives.
• There are versions designed for adults too—vintage travel posters and other grown-up themes make for a relaxing creative project.
• On Instagram, we’re currently obsessed with @subparparks. Illustrator Amber Shares pairs charming park drawings with real one-star reviews, and the combination is consistently funny. She also offers posters and postcards if you want to enjoy the art beyond the feed.

If you want to revisit items we’ve recommended on past episodes, check our master list of “We’re Digging” picks and our Book Club page for all of the books we’ve mentioned on the show.

We also want to thank Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They’re offering a discount through June 30th that can help anyone looking to upgrade their sleep setup during a busy moving season.

Thanks for listening and for following along as we make this move. We can’t wait to share updates from our new home and hear about any renter-friendly decorating tricks you love.

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