I’ve observed I get a handful of repeat questions by DMs, feedback, and publication replies, so I assumed it could be enjoyable to start out answering just a few of them in additional element every month.
Ask Brittany – January 2026 Version
How is ChatGPT serving to you adorn your house?
This has been a complete sport changer for somebody like me who can not visualize what one thing will appear like. I usually don’t know if I like one thing till I’m staring proper at it—which makes adorning difficult.
We use the paid model of ChatGPT (although you are able to do this with the free model too—there’s only a restrict on picture generations). I merely take a photograph of the house I wish to enhance, add it within the app, and describe what I’d wish to see. It often takes slightly back-and-forth to get my imaginative and prescient throughout, and it’s undoubtedly not flawless. Typically proportions are off, or it removes issues totally (RIP to the air return vent that disappeared on one wall). However general? Extremely useful.
Take the large empty wall beside our hearth, for instance. I uploaded a photograph of the clean house and requested ChatGPT to brighten it within the fashion of Pottery Barn. I don’t need my complete home to appear like a Pottery Barn catalog, however the aesthetic aligns carefully with what I like—and it’s a method that’s simple for the software to grasp.
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You’ll discover the proportions modified fairly a bit. It shrunk the stone space to the best of the hearth, lowered the ceiling, and prolonged the mantel. Not ultimate… so I saved enjoying with it.
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Excellent? No. However nonetheless very useful for somebody who struggles with the “what’s going to this truly appear like?” query? Completely.
After just a few extra iterations, I landed on a model that felt practical and that I genuinely beloved. With that picture (under) in thoughts, I reached out to a carpenter—and shortly I’ll have the ability to present you the real-life “after” of this house with floating cabinets.
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I’ll report again on how the experiment seems, however I’ve already used this method in a number of different areas of our dwelling. I’m planning a built-in bench for the entrance porch and am very near pulling the set off on a setup for an empty nook in the lounge too.
Have you ever used ChatGPT for dwelling design?
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What books have you ever learn these days?
Let’s discuss January reads but additionally 2025 books since my studying tends to stretch over time.
At any given second, I often have:
- a bodily ebook for me
- an audiobook for me
- a bodily read-aloud with the youngsters
- an audiobook with the youngsters
- and often an audiobook for me and every child for automobile time
It seems like rather a lot, but it surely works for us.
As a substitute of sharing simply what I’m studying proper now, right here’s a have a look at what I’ve learn over the previous six months or so. I’ve linked every thing for simple shopping and added my completely subjective letter grade subsequent to every.
On My Personal
- Outlive — A
- The Story (Teen Model) — B
- Demon Copperhead — A
- Huge Stunning Life — Did Not End
- Be Prepared When the Luck Occurs — B-
- Pleasure & Prejudice (with Hailey) — A+
- The Alchemist — C
- 4 Thousand Weeks: Time Administration for Mortals — B
With the Children
- Anne of Inexperienced Gables — A+
- Pollyanna — B-
- Little Ladies — A+
- Quantity the Stars — A
- The Secret Backyard — B+
- The Bridge to Terabithia — C
- A Wrinkle in Time — C
- Beowulf — B+
- The place the Crimson Fern Grows — A+
- King Arthur and the Knights of the Spherical Desk — B-
- The Legend of Sleepy Hole — B+
- The Mysterious Benedict Society — A
- The Hobbit — A
Quick time period rental recommendation?
I usually get requested: What do you want you’d identified earlier than getting began with short-term leases?
First, begin right here—I wrote a submit answering frequent FAQs about short-term leases. Then, listed below are just a few rapid-fire ideas:
First, begin right here the place I wrote a submit about FAQ with brief time period leases. Then, listed below are just a few speedy fireplace suggestions:
- Be clear about your targets. Are you targeted on revenue/money movement? Decreasing taxable revenue? Making a trip dwelling for your loved ones? These solutions matter as a result of they’ll form every thing—from the property you select to the way you handle it.
- Select a property with a distinguishing function. Particularly in fashionable markets, one thing must set your home aside—a view, a terrific location, or a novel amenity. There’s additionally an outdated saying: heads and beds. The extra folks you’ll be able to comfortably sleep, the higher your reserving potential (even when that results in some unconventional sleeping preparations like a twin mattress in the identical room because the king mattress).
- Resolve whether or not you’ll self-manage or rent a supervisor. There are execs and cons to each. If a part of your technique includes tax advantages, self-managing—and monitoring at the very least 500 hours—issues. In the event you use a supervisor, store round. Charges fluctuate extensively, and a few can take a stunning chunk out of your earnings.
- Have a monetary cushion. Early bills and slower-than-expected ramp-up intervals are frequent. You don’t wish to really feel cash-strapped when you’re nonetheless discovering your footing.
- Analysis market knowledge before you purchase. Instruments like PriceLabs and AirDNA may help you set practical expectations. Proudly owning a property near house is handy, however comfort doesn’t at all times equal sturdy returns.
Subsequent month…
Have a query that will be enjoyable to speak about subsequent month? Remark under or e mail me—I’d love to incorporate it.
And now I’m curious:
What’s the simplest approach you’ve used ChatGPT (or Copilot or Grok)?
What’s one of the best ebook you’ve learn these days?
Any funding methods catching your eye proper now?
