Mid Mod Remodel

The neo-mansard roof is as polarizing as an architectural feature can be. Mansard roofs belong along a street in Paris or maybe on an 80’s vintage Burger King, right? Yet, a slew of mid-century architects seemed to independently decide to give them a try in residential design during our favorite decades. Why, though? Why? Today, I'm talking that over with our favorite mid mod house historian,...

The University Hill Farms neighborhood is one of my favorite parts of my home town and in today’s episode I’ll be your tour guide!  It's on the national historic register and boasts a concentration of great mid-century including one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. And, while I love the homes, there are a whole bunch of elements that make the neighborhood great.  In Today's Episode You&ap...

Do you think of your mid-century home as historic? Maybe you don't. After all, MCM stands for mid-century MODERN.  But these houses are all 50 to 75 years old at this point. That's getting up there!  Because of that, I am bringing you a conversation with my favorite expert on caring for historic homes, Scott Sidler, the historic window whisperer. In his opinion, mid-century homes and our...

What makes mid-century furniture so great? And which pieces might you want to hunt down for your house? Whether you are looking for high quality comfort or something to your mid-century cool factor, your dream mid-century furniture piece is out there…no matter your budget.  In Today's Episode You'll Learn: All about some classic MCM pieces.  Where to find originals and licenced reproduct...

Arranging furniture in a mid-century home is about more than just fitting pieces into a room. It’s about creating flow, function, and style. In today's episode you'll learn: Where furniture might solve your layout challenges.  How to use furniture to create inviting spaces. Why (furniture) size matters in your mid-century home.  Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://w...

Let's talk mid-century light fixtures. Here’s my best advice on choosing great mid-century light fixtures, identifying classic mid-century lighting designs, and sourcing fixtures from estate sales, vintage shops, and modern reproduction stores. In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why lighting is a key element of your style guide.  How to choose the right fixtures for your home and style...

Lighting in a mid-century home was part of personalizing the house. Choosing your lights went along with choosing your furniture or art. Which means there are often few wired in lights in homes built in that era. So, what’s a modern mid-century homeowner to do about lighting? In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why you don’t need all those can lights. Which lighting you need in a given area....

I have to admit being a reluctant provider of gift guides. The “check your inbox”, “must have gift lists” and “buying guides” kind of give me the ick. Especially since we've just been hounded by all of this Black Friday Energy, all of this “buy right now energy”.  Today I'm going to take a slightly different approach to the nature of a gift guide, and I'm going to go out on a limb h...

Thanksgiving is here! And while the holidays bring their fair share of chaos, they’re also the perfect opportunity to rethink how your home works for you. From design tips to thoughtful additions, here’s how to turn the hustle and bustle of the holidays into a launchpad for your dream mid-century home. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/ 2218 Like and...

I love a good Q&A session!  During the masterclass and design clinics I make (and honor!) a promise to answer every attendee question. This last session lasted AS LONG AS THE CLASS. And everyone stayed up to the end.  It was a great Q & A. So, I'm going to share it with you! This episode is packed with answers to some of the most frequent questions I get, including: Which tile pattern...

Let's get the scary part out of the way first. Your mid-century house, the one you love for its charm and quirks, does not comply with the modern building code.  Now, no one is going to knock on your door tomorrow demanding you rewire every outlet in the house. Your home is currently grandfathered into every code statute written and approved after the day it was built. This status is a free p...

Where are all my history nerds? Raise your hands. This week is for you. I’m talking historic maps, digitized collections and crowd-sourced cartography projects. I KNOW! Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are large-scale maps created to help fire insurance agents determine the risk associated with properties. They contain a surprising amount of detail about a building's size, shape, construction mate...

In honor of spooky season, let's talk nightmare mid-century remodel scenarios. Can you picture it?  You can file this under schadenfreude if none of it applies to your house. Or it can serve as a what not to do guide to help you avoid mistakes. If you're already living one of the nightmare mid-century remodel scenarios I'm about to describe, then let's focus on the fact that yo...

Today, some more excellent advice on planning the landscape the yard of your mid-century home from Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio .  I bet you're wondering why mid-October is a good time to talk more about landscaping. Aren't Jim and I in the Midwest? Isn't this the time of year when there's less to do and less beautiful growth happening outside? Well that's exactly...

So many of our sweet ranches were sadly re-wrapped in narrow strip beige vinyl during the 80s and 90s, when appreciation for MCM was at a low ebb, 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...

We all know the story. You find an MCM ranch in your desired neighborhood, only to click further into the listing to discover a flipper has been there first. They’ve ripped out the character and replaced it with trendy, generic finishes. But what if I told you that it’s not impossible to reverse the damage done in a flip?  I was thrilled to chat with Dana Jenkins and Colin Davis of the Instagram a...

You’re thinking about a remodel. You have a budget in mind, a Pinterest board full of perfect tile, and a list of things in your house that just aren’t working. But stop right there.  Before you hire a contractor or pick out a single fixture, I need you to answer the single most important question you will ask in this entire process. Why does your house need a remodel? I mean, does it? Seriously?...

If you listen to the Mid Mod Remodel Podcast regularly, you hear lots about the tips and tools I recommend to help you plan and lead your perfect MCM remodel. And once or twice a year I boil down the most helpful of those tips and tools into a free masterclass that I offer live.    In the past that session was only available to the folks who signed up and attended the live event, but now you can l...

Movies love to show architects creating away at a drafting table or sitting picturesquely at a cafe, sketchbook in hand.  It’s romantic, this vision of a endlessly creative mind conjuring beautiful buildings from some eternal, internal well.  But * SPOILER ALERT* no one uses a drafting table anymore (except throwbacks and nostalgia lovers). In fact, I do all my sketching on a tablet. But there is...

You’ve heard of the military-industrial complex, and maybe even the wedding-industrial complex, but what about the kitchen renovation industrial complex? A truly timeless kitchen renovation isn't about creating a time capsule (unless that is your dream!). It’s about making choices that serve your family, your budget, and the unique character of your home.  So, how do you stay true to your hom...

Designing accessibility into your mid-century home is easier than you think. Mid-century houses have enormous potential to fit every stage of life. They make great first homes for  young couples and singles, were built for and are adaptable to the needs of growing families, and serve owners who choose to age in place. Let’s talk about how to design accessibility into your mid-century home to fit y...

I get asked about landscaping a lot and I always turn to our favorite mid-century landscaping expert, Jim Drzewiecki. Jim is an APLD, award-winning principal designer and the founder and owner of Ginkgo Leaf Studio where he and Hannah Paulson design beautiful landscapes for all kind of homes.  Now, not everyone can afford to hire a landscape designer for their project. Others just love gardening a...

Temperature and moisture control in mid-century houses is one of those topics that seems less exciting and relevant until suddenly…it is.  And while our mid-century houses have the potential be properly snug without being too sealed up. They also sometimes need a tune up. Plus a number of trendy, seemingly “esthetic” changes to your house - siding, soffit, or roof changes - can create problems tha...

Your master plan both a process and a document. Today, we're talking about how to use that document to navigate your remodel, from getting bids from contractors to working with the city. But when it comes down to it, your master plan is for YOU.  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why a master plan is so much more than a bunch of pretty drawings.  How to curate sections of a master pla...

We love our mid-century houses for many reasons - their enduring design, clean lines and great indoor/outdoor connections. But MANY mid-century homes, both modest and high end, share one glaring omission. They lack of a proper mudroom.  This design flaw often vexes my clients and students. Our families and pets come with a whole lot more "stuff" than they did in the 50s and 60s! Let’s ex...