Ask Brittany- January 2026 Version

I’ve observed I get a handful of repeat questions via DMs, feedback, and publication replies, so I believed it will be enjoyable to start out answering a number of of them in additional element every month.

Ask Brittany – January 2026 Version

How is ChatGPT serving to you embellish your property?

This has been a complete recreation 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 prefer to see. It normally takes just a little back-and-forth to get my imaginative and prescient throughout, and it’s positively not flawless. Typically proportions are off, or it removes issues totally (RIP to the air return vent that disappeared on one wall). However total? Extremely useful.

Take the massive 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 like a Pottery Barn catalog, however the aesthetic aligns intently with what I like—and it’s a method that’s simple for the instrument to grasp.

You’ll discover the proportions modified fairly a bit. It shrunk the stone space to the precise of the fireside, lowered the ceiling, and prolonged the mantel. Not preferrred… so I stored enjoying with it.

Excellent? No. However nonetheless very useful for somebody who struggles with the “what’s going to this truly appear like?” query? Completely.

After a number of extra iterations, I landed on a model that felt life like and that I genuinely liked. With that picture (beneath) in thoughts, I reached out to a carpenter—and shortly I’ll be capable to present you the real-life “after” of this house with floating cabinets.

I’ll report again on how the experiment seems, however I’ve already used this strategy in a number of different areas of our residence. 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 residence design?

What books have you ever learn recently?

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 ebook 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 quite a bit, 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 every little thing 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
Huge Lovely 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 Youngsters

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 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 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 widespread FAQs about short-term leases. Then, listed below are a number of rapid-fire ideas:

First, begin right here the place I wrote a submit about FAQ with brief time period leases. Then, listed below are a number of fast hearth suggestions:

Be clear about your objectives. Are you centered on revenue/money move? Decreasing taxable revenue? Making a trip residence for your loved ones? These solutions matter as a result of they’ll form every little thing—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, an excellent location, or a singular amenity. There’s additionally an previous saying: heads and beds. The extra individuals you possibly can 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).
Determine 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 not less than 500 hours—issues. In the event you use a supervisor, store round. Charges fluctuate broadly, and a few can take a shocking chew out of your earnings.
Have a monetary cushion. Early bills and slower-than-expected ramp-up intervals are widespread. You don’t wish to really feel cash-strapped whilst you’re nonetheless discovering your footing.
Analysis market information before you purchase. Instruments like PriceLabs and AirDNA may also help you set life like expectations. Proudly owning a property near house is handy, however comfort doesn’t all the time equal sturdy returns.

Subsequent month…

Have a query that might 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 approach you’ve used ChatGPT (or Copilot or Grok)?
What’s the very best ebook you’ve learn recently?
Any funding methods catching your eye proper now?