Mid Mod Remodel

Asymmetry, in a nutshell, is about balance...instead of matching.  In previous eras, impressive home design showed its classiness with repeating, matching elements along a central line. These elements feel formal, weighty and grand.    The mid-century aesthetic challenged this formality. Mid-century design is about being off-center and less structured, but still balanced.  In Today's Episode...

Let’s talk about a revelation I recently had about planning  your remodel - the importance of the cycles in your life as you tailor your home to match your lifestyle. In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why laundry may be the best allegory for cycles of life.  How to plan for now and also make great choices for future you.  And why catering to the messy, chaos-ridden parts of your life might...

This episode originally aired on December 8, 2022.  I want you to use your holiday prep time to plan your remodel.  Okay, Before you tell me, Della, that's crazy. The holidays are when I'm busiest. I can't be picking out tiles and solving problems and calling contractors during this period. You're right. Of course you can't. You know me. I wouldn't ask you to make you...

In the chat you've all been waiting for...Susan Halla of Make It Mid-Century and Della dish on mid-century design.  Listen in as the creator of the Master Plan Method meets the creator of Sparkle Lam to talk about architecture, how to listen to your house and why you should NEVER paint your brick. It's a meeting of similar, mid-century loving minds full of great advice, retro and modern...

I know you've been daydreaming about your perfect mid-century remodel for months (years?), but somehow reality just hasn’t caught up to your Pinterest board. Sometimes it can feel like your remodel planning has gone completely off the rails. Or at least dropped off your radar. So, how do you get your remodel on track once it feels off?  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: When the fluff...

Think your remodeling timeline is too tight for a master plan? Think again! You can get (most of) the benefits of a master plan in just 30 days of planning.  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why some things are worth half-assing.  The one thing that is sure to slow you down…and fast! Why you don’t have to pick no planning or all the planning.  Get the full show notes with all the trimming...

Last week I dove deep into risks related to lead lurking in your mid-century home and talked a bit about vile VOC’s off-gassing into the air. This week I’m exploring other common hazards that you may come across in your mid century home.  In Today's Episode You'll Learn: All about some scary stuff that could be hiding in you mid-century charmer! The history of an (almost) undetectable ba...

Let's celebrate spooky season with a pair of episodes covering some common mid-century house hazards to be aware of.  Part one? Lead paint and other panic-producing paint by products...vile VOC's. In Today's Episode You'll Hear: All about the USA’s weird relationship with lead.  When to worry about the potential for lead exposure. How to stay calm and remodel on SAFELY if you f...

So, you are ready to kick off your remodel. (are you, though?)  The last big question (is it, though?)...how to find an experienced, qualified mid-century contractor.  Don't worry! In Today's Episode You'll Hear: What makes for a great mid-century contractor.  How to find the best contractor for you! The secret to making sure your contractor keeps mid-century in mind.   Get the full...

Are you preoccupied with space? Obsessing about vast expanses and endless horizons?  Do you just need a little more room? Or maybe just another little room?   Mid-century homes are often the right size for modern living. Until they aren’t. An addition may be just what you need to fit your modern life into you mid-century home.  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: How to decide if an addition...

Did you know that average cost to hire a residential architect to design a remodel is $47,000.  Isn’t that crazy? I used to work on projects with price tags just like that and … now I don’t.  But I do still believe that design makes all the difference!  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: A summary of the “usual” residential architecture process. Which pieces of this process are must haves f...

Do you ever think of your home as destined for the landfill? This is dark, I know. But all things are…eventually. Every part and piece of your home has a useful life, a finite number of years to serve as a dwelling. So how can you plan an upgrade for your house that will keep it out of the landfill for as long as possible? I’m so glad you asked!  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why gutte...

How did I become so invested in empowering women to be strong leaders in their own home improvement projects?  As a young female architect, I've faced skepticism and dismissal from male colleagues and contractors throughout my career. But over many years and many projects I've learned to push back confidently and achieve the results I believe in. Not everyone has the luxury of building t...

I bet you can’t wait to tuck into your new banquette with your morning coffee or to slip into your Onsen tub…once your remodel is finished.  But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to wait until everything is finished to enjoy your remodel. You can enjoy every phase of your remodel, from planning to leading to living in your finished home!  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: The Remode...

Basements are the best. Bonus space for creating cozy guest suites, great game rooms or awesome home offices without the expense of an addition right under your feet. So, if you’re lucky enough to have a basement go ahead and make the most of it! In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Strategies for maximizing natural light, even if you don’t have a walkout.  How to reimagine layout and flow do...

This best of episode is essential listenting! You need a masterplan approach to be able to a) get started in the first place , b) keep going with a minimum of unpleasant expensive surprises and c) end up with a home that looks and works the way you want and need it to.  Making changes to your home’s layout and flow is how you make sure it is going to work the way you want. The style guide is the l...

Are you hoping to make your remodel more expensive? I bet you aren't.  But so.many.people make the same remodel planning mistakes that are pretty much guaranteed to make your remodel more expensive than it needs to be! Plus they won’t add any value to the remodeling process, the life you'll lead in the house when it's done, or how much you like the look of your finished project. In...

Mid-century homes aren't just livable, cute and in style right now. They were actually built in a way that is easier to document, measure and understand. Which means measuring for any remodeling project is (almost) a breeze for a remote design team like Mid Mod Midwest or a homeowner like you!  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why mid-century homes are a dream for DIY documenters.  H...

Could you be overlooking the perfect spot for your dream owners’ suite? If your mcm home has a basement you might be!  Adding a dreamy bedroom with an amazing en suite in the basement (or on a lower level) offers some real advantages…even if your only views are of the other adorable mid-century homes in your neighborhood.   In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why your basement might just be...

Do you ever wish you could just sit down and chat with an experienced friend about how to make the right choices for your mid-century home?  Well, that's what Sarah Yearout, a realtor with Mid-Century Homes in Boise, and I do every week over on Instagram.  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Why Della encourages caution if you’re considering wallpaper in a bathroom.  How Sarah made a ba...

Most mid-century bathrooms are pretty modest by modern standards. They tend to be small and there often are too few of them in the house. Upgrading or restoring the mid-century charm in a bathroom while making it work better is one of the most consistent requests from both design clients and Ready to Remodel students. So, how can you give yourself a serious bathroom upgrade while remaining true to...

Don't have an owners’ suite in your modest mid-century home? Want one? Let's talk about how to make that happen.  In Today's Episode You'll Hear: Where to snag the space you need for the owners’ suite you want.  How to design a cost conscious addition.  Some surprising ways to find space in even the snuggest homes.   Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www...

Looking for clever bedroom storage solutions designed to fit into to your (modest) mid-century bedroom? These bedroom storage secrets will help you create a mid mod inspired space that meets your modern storage needs.  In today's episode you'll hear: How to maximize storage in a mini mid-century bedroom. Why you don't want a walk-in closet. The power of personalized  storage.  Get t...

If you are stuck in neutral on your remodel, the best way kickstart the work is to find a perfect first project. I hear you out there yelling, “Della! I don’t know which project is the perfect first project!!! If I knew, I’d start already.”  I have good news for you. I know exactly which project is your perfect first project. In fact, it’s the perfect first project for almost any remodeler.  In To...

Discover how being prepared to pivot can save your remodel and your sanity.  Every remodeling project gets stuck at some point. Life is chock-full of surprises, setbacks, and unexpected twists - work or family obligations change, supply chain snags mean choosing different materials, shifts in the economy make scope or schedule changes a must.   In Today's Episode You'll Hear: All about t...