I’ve observed I get a handful of repeat questions by means of DMs, feedback, and e-newsletter replies, so I believed it could be enjoyable to begin answering just a few of them in additional element every month.
Ask Brittany – January 2026 Version
How is ChatGPT serving to you beautify your property?
This has been a complete recreation changer for somebody like me who can’t visualize what one thing will appear to be. I typically 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 normally takes a little bit back-and-forth to get my imaginative and prescient throughout, and it’s positively not flawless. Generally proportions are off, or it removes issues completely (RIP to the air return vent that disappeared on one wall). However general? Extremely useful.
Take the large empty wall beside our fire, for instance. I uploaded a photograph of the clean house and requested ChatGPT to embellish it within the type of Pottery Barn. I don’t need my entire home to appear to be a Pottery Barn catalog, however the aesthetic aligns intently with what I like—and it’s a mode that’s straightforward for the instrument to grasp.
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You’ll discover the proportions modified fairly a bit. It shrunk the stone space to the fitting of the hearth, lowered the ceiling, and prolonged the mantel. Not supreme… so I saved taking part in with it.
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Good? No. However nonetheless very useful for somebody who struggles with the “what’s going to this really appear to be?” query? Completely.
After just a few extra iterations, I landed on a model that felt practical and that I genuinely liked. With that picture (beneath) 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 strategy in a number of different areas of our house. 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 house 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 normally have:
- a bodily e-book for me
- an audiobook for me
- a bodily read-aloud with the youngsters
- an audiobook with the youngsters
- and normally an audiobook for me and every child for automotive time
It appears like loads, however it works for us.
As an alternative of sharing simply what I’m studying proper now, right here’s a take a look at what I’ve learn over the previous six months or so. I’ve linked the whole lot for simple searching and added my completely subjective letter grade subsequent to every.
On My Personal
- Outlive — A
- The Story (Teen Model) — B
- Demon Copperhead — A
- Large Stunning Life — Did Not End
- Be Prepared When the Luck Occurs — B-
- Satisfaction & 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 Girls — A+
- Quantity the Stars — A
- The Secret Backyard — B+
- The Bridge to Terabithia — C
- A Wrinkle in Time — C
- Beowulf — B+
- The place the Purple 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
Brief time period rental recommendation?
I typically get requested: What do you would like you’d identified earlier than getting began with short-term leases?
First, begin right here—I wrote a put up answering frequent FAQs about short-term leases. Then, listed here are just a few rapid-fire ideas:
First, begin right here the place I wrote a put up about FAQ with brief time period leases. Then, listed here are just a few speedy fireplace suggestions:
- Be clear about your objectives. Are you targeted on revenue/money movement? Decreasing taxable revenue? Making a trip house for your loved ones? These solutions matter as a result of they’ll form the whole lot—from the property you select to the way you handle it.
- Select a property with a distinguishing function. Particularly in widespread markets, one thing must set your house aside—a view, a fantastic location, or a novel amenity. There’s additionally an previous saying: heads and beds. The extra individuals 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 professionals and cons to each. If a part of your technique includes tax advantages, self-managing—and monitoring no less than 500 hours—issues. For those who use a supervisor, store round. Charges fluctuate extensively, and a few can take a shocking chunk out of your income.
- Have a monetary cushion. Early bills and slower-than-expected ramp-up durations 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 can assist you set practical expectations. Proudly owning a property near house is handy, however comfort doesn’t all the time equal robust returns.
Subsequent month…
Have a query that will be enjoyable to speak about subsequent month? Remark beneath or e mail me—I’d love to incorporate it.
And now I’m curious:
What’s the simplest manner you’ve used ChatGPT (or Copilot or Grok)?
What’s one of the best e-book you’ve learn these days?
Any funding methods catching your eye proper now?
