Home: The Second Story

In this episode, we sit down with Carol Walsh, a homeowner and realtor from rural Monterey County, California, who recently completed a full kitchen renovation — largely on her own terms. The kitchen transformation wasn't just about aesthetics. It was also a capstone project for her coursework in historic preservation, making the renovation both personal and educational. What started as a theoreti...

In this special snack-sized wrap-up episode, we look back on the first six months of Home: The Second Story and reflect on the key lessons we've gathered from the homeowners we've interviewed. As three architects with decades of combined experience, we set out to demystify the renovation and new build process, and what we've heard over and over again from our guests has both validated and deepened...

In this special holiday episode of Home: The Second Story , we talk about the impact of the holiday season on residential architecture — both in how homes function and how clients think about their spaces. As residential architects, this time of year brings a unique set of challenges and insights. The conversation starts with a shared reality: everyone wants to be “in by the holidays,” but timelin...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we shift gears from our usual format and instead take a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in our practices right now. This is the kind of conversation we usually have among ourselves—comparing notes, sharing site challenges, and navigating the daily curveballs of architectural work. We figured it was time to let listeners in on that...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk with Mark LePage, architect, podcaster, and founder of EntreArchitect. We start by exploring Mark’s deep ties to the architecture community, including how he brought our three hosts together through the mastermind groups of the EntreArchitect Academy. Mark shares how the desire to improve how architects talk about business led him to launch a blog...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we dig into the world of flooring—what works, what doesn’t, and why context matters more than any single rule. We’ve all dealt with the pressure of making long-term, expensive flooring decisions, so we unpack real-life experiences to offer guidance that’s both practical and design-savvy. We kick off with Marilyn’s bold stance: no tile in the...

In this episode, we talk with Brahm, a homeowner in Cincinnati, Ohio, who recently completed a new custom build in Indian Hill. This was his second time building a home, and while the first experience was rocky, this time around he struck gold—with the team, the process, and the final result. We walk through his journey from initial spark to move-in, digging into everything from design decisions t...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we dig into what “the team” really means on a residential construction project. It’s not just the architect and contractor—though they’re obviously key—it’s a broader group of specialists that we as architects are responsible for assembling and managing throughout the life of the project. We start by breaking down the essential players on our...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story Podcast , we sit down with Greg from Central Kentucky to unpack the twists and turns of his custom home build during the height of COVID. We begin by learning why Greg and his wife chose to relocate to Kentucky — wanting to be closer to family and create a calm, settled place for their four young children. With prior experience building two homes through p...

In this snack-sized episode, we dig into the design selections process—what it is, when it should happen, and how to navigate it without losing your mind. Selections refer to everything from fixtures and finishes to materials, colors, and even the tiniest details like shower hardware. While the process might seem straightforward, we’ve found that it’s one of the most underestimated and overwhelmin...

In this episode, we talk with architect Jeff Sties about his recent home renovation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Jeff, an experienced residential architect, shares what it was like to be both the designer and the homeowner for a project involving the demolition and rebuild of a deteriorating sunroom attached to a 1957 brick rancher. After 25 years in the house, Jeff and his wife decided to make l...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we dive into the rising trend of multi-generational homes. This isn't just a design fad—it's something we're all actively seeing across our regions, and it’s becoming a more common conversation with clients. Whether it’s called in-law suites, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or just bigger guest rooms, the central issue is the same: how can h...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we talk with Scott and Cindy from Charleston, South Carolina, about their recent home addition and renovation experience. The project began just before the pandemic in January 2020 and wrapped up in August of that year. Originally a modest 1,000 square foot, three-bedroom, one-bath home, the renovation doubled the space to over 2,000 square feet with thr...

In this snack-size episode of Home: The Second Story , we dive into tile—how to choose it, what to look out for, and the actual conversations we’re having with clients during the selection process. We start by grounding the discussion in what types of tile are available—ceramic, porcelain, stone, concrete—and how the location in the home helps determine the best fit. A shower floor needs very diff...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we sit down with Martin, a homeowner from New Orleans who recently undertook a full gut renovation of his early-1900s home. What started as a kitchen and bathroom update turned into a complete interior overhaul, taking the house down to the studs. Martin shares how his historic neighborhood, building codes, and local governance shaped what he could and c...

In this snack-size episode of Home: The Second Story , we dive into the world of construction contract structures—a topic many homeowners find confusing but absolutely essential to understand. We break down the two main contract types: fixed price (or stipulated sum) and cost-plus (often referred to as time and materials), exploring how each affects cost, transparency, and risk. From Marilyn’s bac...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we talk with Kelly Settle about her home renovation journey in Springboro, Ohio. Kelly initially planned a modest kitchen update, simply new cabinets and an island. But as we dug into the space with her, the scope evolved into a transformation that redefined how her family uses their home. Working with Sheri, Kelly was able to go beyond surface updates a...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we dive into evolving kitchen trends from our own architectural practices, focusing on the functionality, creativity, and customization homeowners increasingly desire. Kitchens are adapting to the daily needs of families. Kid-specific beverage fridges, dog food stations, and innovative trash and compost systems are all on the table as we expl...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we sit down with Paul and Rebecca Sinopoli to unpack the lessons they learned from designing and building their custom, multi-generational home in Dayton, Ohio. Together, we revisit the full journey — from the first spark of an idea to the reality of moving into a house that balances contemporary design with practical living for three generations, on a h...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story , we explore the importance of engaging with an architect early in the planning process—before decisions are locked in and before the path feels fully formed. Too often, people delay reaching out, believing they need to have clarity before contacting us. But the reality is, the earlier we’re brought in, the more value we can offer. Whether it’s...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we talk with Brian from Cambridge, Massachusetts, about his multi-phase renovation experience. Brian shares his journey from purchasing a dated, 1980s-style home to transforming it into a personal and functional space. We begin with Brian’s decision to prioritize location and outdoor space, knowing upfront that renovations would be necessary. His project...

In this snack-sized episode, we dive into one of the most popular homeowner desires: creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. We each reflect on how this goal plays out differently depending on climate, lifestyle, and project constraints. In Ohio, Sheri notes that many clients initially want large sliding doors to open entire walls, but often back away due to limited usabi...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we sit down with Rich and Ilana from Richboro, Pennsylvania, to hear how they transformed a 1977 split-level house into a modern, functional family home. What started as a plan to build an addition over their garage snowballed into a full-house renovation, driven by necessity, creativity, and resilience. They purchased the house knowing it was a fixer-up...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story , we shift gears from interviewing homeowners to focusing on how we, as residential architects, actually work. It's just the three of us—Sheri Scott, Marilyn Moedinger, and Taylor Davis—having a candid conversation about the different ways we approach custom home design and renovation. While there's no one-size-fits-all model for architectural services, we...

In this snack-size episode of Home: The Second Story , we dig into cabinetry—one of the most pivotal yet complex parts of home renovation. As architects, cabinetry is something we talk about with nearly every client, whether they’re updating a kitchen, building a bathroom, or reimagining a mudroom. We break down the different cabinet categories—off-the-shelf, semi-custom, and full custom—highlight...