Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven

How often do you think about your water heater? John Hynds, co-founder of Torii Industries, joins me to discuss their cheaper, more sustainable alternative to the water heaters we know today. about our guest: John Hynds is the Co-Founder of Torii Industries, a company pushing the boundaries of smarter, more efficient water heaters. Through high-efficiency technology and an emphasis on sustainabili...

Daryl Cohan joins me to discuss what home renovations will have the best return. Is it worth renovating a kitchen before you sell? What about adding a bedroom or a garage? About our guest: Daryl Cohan has been helping home buyers and sellers since 2001. She is determined to help her clients reach their goals in considers her role one of education. Her excellence in listening to her clients wants a...

This episode is a renovation story, told by Teresa Younkin. She describes four renovations she has been through and what they taught her about life. About our guest: Teresa Younkin is a Leadership Coach, Consultant, and Expert specializing in helping healthcare leaders and teams bring their multi-level health IT initiatives to fruition and deliver powerful results. Leaders can be the respected lea...

Mandy Freeland broke her femur in an accident and realized how challenging it was to take care of herself in her house the way it was conventionally designed. We talk about what the issues were, how to address the issues and what we might all keep in mind as we alter our houses to really improve them. About our guest: Mandy Freeland is a mother, wife, architect, and firm owner based in Bakersfield...

Remodeling and construction journeys are complicated. It’s no wonder homeowners get stuck in the process. Having a roadmap means reducing frustration and always knowing your next step. In this episode, you will discover……. What “roadmap” means in the context of home renovation. Some common mistakes homeowners make on their renovation journey. Whether it’s ever too late in your project to start mak...

This week Mark Ostrom, founder and executive director of Joy Collaborative, tells me about his work bringing people together to create enriching spaces for youth - and how you can apply those methods and principles to your own home. In this episode, you will discover……. - That designing with accessibility in mind is good for everyone. - What kind of accommodations can make the most difference to s...

Today I am talking to LaShaun Key from South Carolina, and we're discussing clients -- the good, and the bad. In this episode, you will discover……. - What makes a good client, and how can I be one? About our guest: LaShaun helps families create a home that serves as the family hub which brings everyone home to connect, reconnect and treasure family. We do this by maximizing their property’s value...

This episode is a discussion with Isra Banks, founder and principal of Trivek Architects, about how design can affect your mood and attitude.  In this episode, you will discover……. the benefits of sunlight and ventilation the significance of privacy in the house and its history how curves elevate mood the importance of houseplants About our guest Isra O. Banks, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C: is a regis...

Jake Krokowski joins me again for an episode on how to find the right design professional for your project. Jake is a landscape architect and residential designer from South Carolina. In this episode, you will discover……. - How do I know if I need an architect? - Where can I find architects online? - How can I tell which architect will be a good fit for me? - What should I bring to my interview wi...

This week I chat with Cindy Gelormini, the Paint Diva of New Jersey. Do you have trouble choosing paint colors? In this episode, you will discover……. - What colors are most likely to go well with my furniture and appliances? - Why does the color I chose look so different when it’s actually in my house? - How do I find the best person to help me with choosing paint colors? - Why is gray so “in” now...

Architect Cinda Lester joins me this week to talk about her ongoing improvements to her split level entry house in the suburbs of Chicago. She has plenty of good tips and cautionary tales to share. Have you ever asked yourself- What would happen if a contractor took off with my money before the job was complete? How would I finish the project on my own without any money? Why would I hire a profess...

This episode is an exploration of the craft of old house renovation, as told by an experienced builder and designer who has revived four old homes of his own- Dave Rademacher of Rademacher Revival. In this episode, you will discover……. - How to work with vintage fixtures. - How to make the new kitchens and bathrooms resonate with the feeling of the old house rather than look completely new - Navig...

This episode is the story of Jenny, and her long untouched 1969 California ranch. When she and her husband decided to do a big renovation, Jenny was just going along with what the designer he’d hired wanted, until one day her friend pointed out that she didn’t seem excited as she should be about such a big change. This inspired Jenny to go with her heart, and make some big changes the way she want...

Coastal flooding is increasing and is only going to become more frequent. How are the coastal cities going to transform as a result of climate change and rising waters? This episode is the story of the lifting of a massive historic house in Charleston SC, as told by Buz Morris of Morris Construction. About our guest: As Morris Construction's principle and a licensed builder and architect, Robert "...

High Performance Architect Emily Mottram joins me in this episode to talk about the renovation she is undertaking at her home in Maine. She calls her renovation a pretty good renovation which is in keeping with the principles of the pretty good house ( https://www.prettygoodhouse.org ) which is building better than required by code until it doesn't make financial sense. Like all of us, she encount...

This is a short trailer,  it is a recap of what's happened and a preview of what's to come. Over the first two seasons we've built up a library of information about elements homeowners need to choose including doors and windows bath fixtures, skylights, roofing lighting. I spoke with contractors to get their advice on getting started and choosing contractor. I've interviewed architects and in...

Wood, tile, linoleum, carpet, concrete- which flooring option is right for your home and your situation? What should you consider for the kitchen? This is my most frequently asked question, probably. Interior Designer Amy Everard joined me again on this episode to discuss the pros and cons of each flooring type. About our guest: Amy Everard is an interior designer living and working in NYC for ove...

Andre Lecroix joined me this episode to explain the importance of indoor home air quality and easy things people can do to improve their daily lives in small ways. Andre is a certified indoor environmentalist, certified healthy homes specialist, certified radon measurement provider, and owner of EZ Breathe Ventilation Systems. He speaks to the importance of indoor air quality as well as offers gui...

Are you looking for an attractive, affordable and environmentally friendly driveway? Landscape architect Jake Krokowski ran through the options with me in this episode in response to a listener request. We discuss asphalt, concrete, pavers, cobblestone, permeable concrete, shells, gravel and more. Here is the link to the permeable concrete video that Jake sent to me after the interview- https://ww...

In this episode, I am joined by Erich Kruger from Deconstruction Works in VT.  Their tagline is Recycling the built environment.  Deconstruction is the deconstruction of a building and recycling or reusing the materials vs demolition which is just tearing down the building and disposing of the material.  We talk about what deconstruction is, what happens to the materials, what is in...

This is one of the contractor shows, where I’m joined by Nathan Dishington, owner of JensenHus in Natick, MA.  We talked about HGTV and whether I should worry about the effect that it has on clients, different perspective on home renovations around the country, why home renovations cost so much and how to find a contractor who is right for you.  The audio quality on this episode is...

Jeff Echols joined me to talk about this experience renovating his 1939 home in Indianapolis, IN. What is different about the way we live today versus 1939? What does it mean to modernize a house? What are the downsides of DIY? About our guest: Jeff Echols studied architecture at Ball State University and left architecture to work with professional service providers on Branding and Marketing throu...

Peter Feinmann joins me to discuss the merits of Design-Build, what to look for when choosing a design build company, and why putting out a job to bid doesn't serve anyone very well. About our guest: Starting in 1987 from Peter's home, Feinmann, Inc. has grown into a multi-million design-build firm with over 20 employees. As a leader among both design and build professionals, Peter has received hu...

We are back this week with another renovation story, this time a bungalow in Tulsa Oklahoma. Architect Katelyn Parker explains what her house means to her, how working on her house has changed her practice, what she would do differently if she could and offers good tips to first time home buyers. Check out Katelyn's instagram account @bungalowroots, her email is kp@bungalowroots.com and her websit...

Jodi Swartz and I are in a meditation group together, a group made up of people who work in the construction industry. We were talking about compassion and how we really need to practice that right now in this moment of attempting to carry on as "normal" during a pandemic. There have been delays and price increases throughout and everyone seems to want to do their project and do it right now. It h...