Mid Mod Remodel

Remodeling a ranch or other mid century home can be so rewarding but it IS a bit of a challenge.  

Today, I introduce Mid Mod Remodel - the podcast.  We'll uncover why MCM remodels can be an up hill slog and end with a pep talk about why I find your mid-century ranch to be so darn lovable!

Key takeaways

• Mid Mod remodeling is EVEN HARDER than regular old remodeling. But don't let that stop you. You're a cha...

This week, lets get into the history of mid-century ranches in the midwest. After all, it helps to know where we’re coming from before we plan where to go next.

The main message here is that history happens in a context. The materials, style, choices, and culture that add up to a mid-century ranch all come from somewhere.

We'll cover:

• Why MCM history matters to a Mid Mod Remodeler
• Where the term "Mid-Century Mod...

We aren't the same people our parents and grandparents were, so we need to tweak their homes a bit to make them facilitate a modern lifestyle.

In today's episode you'll hear ...

• What some of my Mid Mod Instagram community has done to upgrade their mid mod homes. [02:31] 
• Some people are more interested in preserving their mid-century homes and others want to update them. Learn more about where you fall on ...

Understanding what's unusual about some of those original features - and also the history and the reasoning behind how they were built - will help you identify what's rare, cool, quirky, or valuable about your home. And in other cases, it will help you know when something about your home isn't that important to its overall character and you can modify it with a clean conscience. 

In today's episode you'll he...

Want to make sure you've thought of everything when you design a ranch remodel? This easy three part remodeling framework will make sure you are covering all the bases in your MCM home update! 

People remodel for many reasons.  Some homes need pressing maintenance, others just aren't working right for their owners and still others might need an aesthetic overhaul.  

Whatever YOUR reason, it is easy to fixate on that initial...

Do you know your own ideal remodeling level? It’s important to figure out how involved of a renovation you really want to take on long before you start! Consider your home’s condition, your lifestyle needs, your budget, and your willingness to deal with chaos.

Are you looking for a few bite-sized updates, a list of semi-involved DIY overhauls, or a gut remodel that changes the layout, reconfigures spaces and generally involves month...

It is so easy to get overwhelmed at the start of a big, planned renovation, especially if you're a first time home buyer. Adding the stress of a home renovation can be a lot. You CAN do this, though. Sit down and plan a mid-century renovation that SUITS you. Your masterplan will clarify what you want, and steer the path to your ideal future home.

Today's episode is devoted to walking you through the crucial elements you ne...

When we talk about if 2020 is going to be the year you remodel, let's start with WHY.   Because my answer is that if you have good reasons for wanting to tweak your house to better suit your lifestyle ...

... you ARE ready.  

Take a deep breath.  You've got this.  Stay tuned for more help on the question of how to PRE-plan your remodel in the next few weeks!

In today's episode you'll hear ...

I don't know about you, but when I get into a topic, I really go down the rabbit hole. So, of course, I love to stay up on my reading regarding Mid-Century Resources. 

Knowing the context of the time period and design thinking that created our favorite mid mod looks helps us figure out how to recreate them or update them for ourselves, but I'm not just sending you to visit Amazon or your local library. I mean ... yes, ther...

Remodeling a house isn’t your day job. So how do you get the energy to take on a huge project like a remodel in on top of all your other commitments? Set yourself up for SUCCESS by giving yourself the satisfaction of an early, easy win with the Mid-Century Room Upgrade recipe.

Today, get the formula for an easy mid-century room upgrade for any space in your house.

I’m going to focus on updating a living room as a handy example, but s...

Loving and reviving MCM ranches is more than my job. It's a personal crusade. I'm on a mission to help as many new homeowners as I can with the process of moving into, and adapting, an existing mid-century ranch to suit their lifetime needs. 

The saddest thing that can happen to a recently sold MCM home is to be bulldozed to make way for something bigger, newer, and worse. But it's ALSO really tragic (to me)...

Today I want to share a really powerful organizing tool with you: the bullet journal method! 

Earlier this week I asked the Mid Mod Remodel Community how they stay organized and on track of their home updates. What I heard back is that mostly they feel like they don't.

I get it.

Planning a home remodel ... on top of everything else you have going on in your life ... can seem like a lot. Keeping track of your progress and mov...

Someone once said that a really good declutter of your life is as good as a remodel (and so much easier and cheaper). 

Now as an architect, I don't know that I totally agree with that. 

A remodel can improve your layout, add natural light, introduce in beautiful new surfaces and generally custom fit your home to your life. A solid decluttering job can't do any of those things. 

However, sometimes a serious declutter is as go...

Wait. You do use Pinterest to strategize your remodel plans, right?

Here's the thing: Pinterest can be your best friend, or your most stressful frenemy when you are planning a remodel. It all depends on how you use it. Here are some quick and easy tips for how (and when) to use Pinterest to plan your mid-century home update the right way!

In today's episode you'll hear ...

• Pinterest is more than a fun way to ki...

In all my years of helping homeowners plan remodels, I've seen two factors that really determine whether someone will feel happy with a remodel during and after it's done. 

You need  a can-do, positive attitude, and you need real clarity about  what you want to get out of your remodel.  

Today, I'm telling the tales of two clients. One couple who was (in my opinion) not really ready to remodel, beca...

Whether you are sheltering in place, safer at home, or just staying home, you might be starting (continuing) to feel little stir crazy. I have too. Here are some prompts to help you imagine improvements to your MCM house and some ideas for manageable DIY while you #stayhome!

I want to make this clear.  I am NOT trying to productivity shame you right now.  

But if you're looking for some non-scary ways to keep your mind and hands...

This week's episode gets into the why of our homes' need for places to gather and places to spread out and get away from each other. 

Typical American homes were designed around the idea that we'd leave them for part of every day to go to work and to meet our social needs in the community at large.  Right now ... we can't.  So the house needs to do all the work that we typically outsource. 

T...

One of the many weird side effects of our collective corona virus precautions is that almost every kid in the country is home from school right now.  Families are having to come up with new routines, creative kid spaces, and fresh inspiration to keep everyone active, happy and stimulated (and hang on to parental sanity if possible).  

This week I share some kid-focused advice that could come in handy for parents who are working to k...

Today, we talk about how to plan for a remodel that can grow with your family.  One of the things we can still do while we all #stayhome to flatten the curve is dream about and plan for the future.  So let's get into the details of planning a great remodel for (and with) your kids! 

Grab my Free Download: How to Make Extra Space in your house Right Now with Nooks Right Here!

In today's episode you'...