Design Archives - Page 2 of 15

Get Those Good Master Plan Vibes

22 min readHow can a master plan help you feel ready to remodel?

A Master Plan means you have, well…a plan. It helps you have the right master plan vibes to move your remodel forward.

Too many people trip on the fallacy that they have to choose a perfect planning process or just “skip” right to the building part. There’s a middle ground.

Any time you spend on Mid-Century Master Plan thinking will set you up for more success. And a master plan doesn’t have to be a perfect object to be successful. In fact … perfectionism might be the problem.

Can I start planning BEFORE I have a home remodel budget saved up? YES!

19 min readYou might be doing your home remodel budget the wrong way …

This week, I’m sharing a Best Of episode on tackling one of the biggest remodeling myths I hear from clients—”I need to save up all the money before I can even start planning.”

I get the urge to save before you spend. But for home remodels, I argue that planning is step one. Dreaming up your ideal remodel, researching materials, and sketching out your vision are the essential “prep” steps that will shape a budget that fits your goals. Planning now can actually help you save more efficiently, so by the time you’re ready to start, you’ll have a clear picture of what’s next.

Quick Design tip for your…tile search.

Listen in as I answer Anna’s question about replicating a beautiful mid-century tile for her bathroom project. I share tips on how to find materials that are affordable, style-conscious, and authentic to your mid-century home.

Mid Mod House Feature of the Week

The Whole House Intercom

An iconic mid-century home feature and a lovely nod to mid-century design ingenuity. Whether you remember using one at your grandparents’ house or have seen one in a time capsule home, these systems highlight the techno optimism and forward focus of the mid-century era.

Resources to help you set a home remodel budget

Missed the live Masterclass last weekend? Catch “How to Plan an MCM Remodel to Fit Your Life(…and Budget)” in replay!
Get the essential elements of my master plan process in my new mini-course, Master Plan in a Month.
Want us to master plan for you? Find out all the details with my mini-class, Three Secrets of a Regret-Proof Mid Mod Remodel.

AND YOU CAN ALWAYS…

Join us on in the Facebook Community for Mid Mod Remodel
Find me on Instagram:@midmodmidwest
Find the podcast on Instagram: @midmodremodelpodcast

New Mid-Century House Quick Start Guide

31 min readDo you have a new-to-you mid-century home (…congratulations!) and don’t know where to start? I get it—taking on a new home, especially one with some history, can feel overwhelming. You might be tempted to dive into big projects right away, but I’m here to help you start smart and avoid remodel regrets.

I get it … It’s tempting to jump right into renovations when you purchase a new mid-century house. Sometimes, and for some projects, that makes sense.

But before you do anything drastic, I’m going to encourage you to take a step back and live with your house for a little while.

Think big picture, start with small tweaks

Now, you don’t need to spend months or years planning before tackling ANY projects. But the best thing you can do to move quickly is create a Master Plan, even if it’s a quick version.

An Architect’s Remodeling Regrets

< 1 min readThis week, I share some of my biggest remodeling regrets and lessons learned from my own mid-century home. Biggest take away? Make small, low-risk updates first and then be sure to create a Masterplan for a remodel you’ll love without the regret.

We all have remodeling regrets.

Yep, even mid-century loving architects like me. And some of my personal regrets helped shape the Mid-Century Masterplan method I now use to help homeowners like you. But it can feel lonely when you’ve made a choice you don’t love.

So this week I decided to get personal and share some of my biggest mistakes in my own home, hoping you’ll feel some solace if you’ve made a mistake. And if you haven’t, you can learn from mine and avoid making the same ones!

Sanity Saving Strategy to Finish a Remodel Strong

32 min readFinish a remodel strong with thoughtful final choices, course corrects when you need them, and mindset resets to help you bring your cats home…or whatever personal remodel milestone will help YOU stay positive and avoid remodel regret later on.

Are you mid-remodel right now, or maybe you’re just starting to think about one? Whether you’re already living among the dust and chaos or you’re just dreaming about your future project, it’s critical to focus on how you’ll finish your remodel strong.

This week we’re diving into the importance of your remodel mindset as you approach the final phase, making those last choices that will impact how you feel about your home for years to come.

Who to Hire and When for an MCM Update (with Exactly Designs)

21 min readWhen is the right time to hire design help for your remodel? The right mix of experts at the right points in the process can transform your mid-century remodeling experience.

Elin Walters from Exactly Design is back to share her thoughts on who to call and when to make sure your remodel is a stunner. We talked about the experts you need on your remodel from the start and then dive into how the child of antiques dealers stumbled into mid mod interior design.

If you’re thinking about remodeling your mid-century home, the first step is finding the right people to help you. As much as we wish we could just call a contractor and say, “Let’s redo the kitchen,” the truth is, there’s more to it. The key to a successful remodel—especially when preserving mid-century charm—is assembling the right team before you dive into the project.

As a specialist in mid-century interiors and a mid-century loving architect, Elin and I agree that design should come first, followed by assembling the team that will bring that vision to life.

Design tips from (the 1955) Parade of Homes with Atom Stevens

23 min readMCM expert Atom Stevens is back! Tune in for our parade of homes conversation and ideas for how to future proof mid-century homes.

If you love nerding out about the history of your house as much as I do, then you need to hunt down the Parade of Homes history for your town. Don’t have one? You can borrow mine (Madison) or Atom Stevens’ (Denver) because they can really deliver on the excellent design ideas!

Get to Know Your Home Before You Remodel with Make It Mid-Century

25 min readMid Mod Remodel Fav Susan Halla from Make It Mid Century is back! Susan is an absolute treasure trove of knowledge when it comes to period-appropriate choices for your home, whether it’s mid-century modern or mid-century modest.

I know it can be tempting to dive right into remodeling your mid-century house the minute you get the keys, but I’m here to offer a bit of unconventional advice: wait. And I’m not the only one who knows this is true!

In my latest chat with preservation expert Susan Halla of Make it Mid-Century, we explored why it’s crucial to live in your home for a little while before making major decisions about renovations.

(If you don’t already know Susan … check out her amazing supplies and how-to instructions to for perfect MCM projects.)

Creating Great Mid Mod Interiors with Exactly Designs

22 min readI recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Elin Walters from Exactly Design to get her perspective on mid-century interiors. While I spend my days thinking architect-y thoughts, Elin obsesses over mid-century homes as an interior designer and I was curious how our takes might differ.

We covered everything from essential elements to keep (if you are lucky enough to have them) to the pitfalls you should avoid if you want to stay true to a mid-century aesthetic.

“Architect vs Interiors” aside, when it comes to remodeling a mid-century modern home, it’s all about balancing the timeless with the timely! Whether you’re gearing up for a restovation hoping to pack in the original charm or planning to add something fresh that still respects the era, making the right choices can be nerve wracking so having the right pros on your ReMod Squad is a must

Enter Elin Walters of Exactly Designs. As mid mod pros, Elin and I both encourage mid-century homeowners to think about the long-term when making decisions about their homes. Elin’s philosophy is that mid-century design is classic for a reason, and changes should be made with an eye toward how they will age. She believes a guide is to ask yourself, “Would the original designers think this is cool?” If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.

House Numbers that Shine with Modern House Numbers

19 min readBrandy McLain from Modern House Numbers is back again with her wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for great modern and mcm design!

Are you looking for ways to make your home’s exterior shine? Updating your house numbers is one of those small, manageable tasks that can dramatically enhance your home’s exterior without breaking the bank.

Plus, it’s a fun way to inject a bit of personality and style into your home.

Quickly … if you’re thinking about exterior updates? Don’t miss this FREE live Curb Appeal Clinic hosted by Modern House Numbers and Mid Mod Midwest on September 6th!