the midcentury ranch for a new generation
36 min readAre you considering new siding for your mid-century home? Before you call a contractor or pick a sample, let’s talk about what mid-century siding is and how to make good choices for your house.
During the 80s and 90s, when appreciation for MCM was at a low ebb, too many of our sweet ranches were re-wrapped in narrow strip beige vinyl, covering up their original colors and patterns.
If you’ve been dealing with that kind of generic cover-up, or if your siding is simply damaged or in poor repair, you might be considering a replacement.
Before you call a contractor or pick a sample, let’s talk about what mid-century siding is and how to make good siding choices for your home.
36 min readI’m taking July off from recording the podcast this summer but that doesn’t mean YOU have to.
Instead, I’ve rounded up the BEST of our back catalog to take you on a journey through Master Planning your remodel. Let’s start with making it fun and easy to learn more about your home!
I want you to become an expert on your home before your remodel.
Note, I did not say that you need to become an expert on remodeling … just on your house.
Why? Because it’s going to smooth every step of your remodel journey!
One good reason to take a few of your own measurements, skim an inspection report, or dig into some MCM history about the original owners by chatting with elderly neighbors, is that these activities will set you up for clever design ideas for your remodel. And they will.
But another super important reason getting familiar with your home is essential to a successful remodel is that the more you feel like an expert in the specifics of your house (not even all of them, just in certain parts of it!) the more you interface confidently with everyone else in the project.
Continue reading “Let’s Review: Discover what’s great about your Mid-Century Home”38 min readAdrian Kinney is back to talk all my latest obsessions – housing history, passive solar and planning YOUR perfect home for a grea remodel ROI. Adrian has joined me on the pod before. He’s a realtor, mid-century modern (MCM) guru and heads up Mid Mod Colorado.
I can pretty much talk all day with any number of my mid mod friends. And Adrian Kinney is definitely in that number! He’s a realtor, mid-century modern (MCM) guru and owns Mid Mod Colorado. Here’s one thing we agree on today: loving your home is a huge part of your real remodel ROI.
Continue reading “Loving Your Home is the Real Remodel ROI (with Adrian Kinney)”28 min readLet’s reframe the four financial fallacies that hold most people back from kicking off their remodeling plans.
If you’ve been holding off on home updates because of worries about the remodeling cost, I’m here to shift your mindset.
Let’s tackle the most common budget myths that might be holding you back, and talk about how you can plan a remodel you’ll love with the budget you have.
Any remodeling project comes with costs. And it is often expensive. But often what holds would-be remodelers back are the stories we tell ourselves about money.
Through my conversations with clients and students, I’ve come to believe there are four common financial fallacies that stop people from improving their homes.
Continue reading “Remodeling Cost Mindset Reset”26 min readWith so many of us working from home, it’s more than time to chat about how mid-century homes can accommodate modern home office needs.
So, how do you design a functional, charming and stylish home office that fits in to a mid-century-sized house?
Mid-century homes weren’t originally built with home offices in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a workspace that fits seamlessly into your home’s aesthetic.
Continue reading “How to Fit Your House for a Home Office”28 min readAs you get ready to sell your parents’ mid-century home, you may feel pressure to “modernize” before listing. But don’t!
What should you do to get ready to sell a house built in the mid-century era – a house built back in the 1950’s or 60’s?
Should you rip out a tired kitchen? Quickly tear off that old, beat up siding and replace it with some easy care vinyl?
No, please don’t.
One of the saddest things that can happen to a mid-century house is that the current owners jump into a bunch of unnecessary repair work right before they sell it in the misguided idea that that’s what future owners will want.
Instead, let me make your life easier. Do less. Because there is someone out there searching for your parents’ time capsule house.
Here’s a checklist of how to get the house ready to catch that person’s attention…and then move on with your life.
Continue reading “Get your parents’ dated mid-century house ready to sell”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.
Continue reading “Get Those Good Master Plan Vibes”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.
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.
Continue reading “New Mid-Century House Quick Start Guide”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.
Continue reading “Creating Great Mid Mod Interiors with Exactly Designs”21 min readToday, we have a fantastic chat lined up with Brandy McLain, co-founder and one of the creative geniuses behind Modern House Numbers.
Della and Brandy McLain, founder of Modern House Numbers, are digging in to discuss all things house number. From current requirements to history, plus tons of great style tips!
If you’ve been thinking about giving your home’s exterior a fresh look, you’ll want to keep reading!
Continue reading “House Number Basics with Modern House Numbers”
