We've got another renovation story in this episode, a mid century modern house in Michigan. My guest is Laurie Hughet-Hiller, a Michigan architect who was lucky to find her gem of a house as her first house. We talked about her house, how she approached her renovations, how to work with an architect, what to look for in a contractor and how to find one. About our guest An architect focused on experience-driven design that makes an impact, Laurie Hughet-Hiller, AIA is a principal at McIntosh Poris Architects. Her portfolio comprises a wide range of award-winning residential and commercial proje ..read more

I do love talking about and thinking about residential landscape design. Steve Griggs, a straight talking landscape designer from New York, joined me to discuss one of my favorite subjects. We discussed what to keep in mind when considering your landscape design, why it is important to hire a landscape designer for certain projects, the high value low cost moves in the landscape and more. About our guest: From www.stevegriggsdesign.com: "Steve is not your typical landscape designer. He’s been getting dirt on his hands ever since he was 16, cutting grass to earn some bucks. Working hard got him ..read more

We haven't touched on how to hire an architect or residential designer in quite a while, so here is another look at episode 68 with Jake Krowkoski. 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 with my architect? About our guest Jake Krokowski is a Landscape Architect and Residential Designer based in Greenville SC, and founded JWK DESIGN in 2015 “to help families create their comfortable, modern homes”. He received his Bachelor ..read more

I started following Kemp Harper on Instagram a while ago, his account @thecolonial_on_park. We talked about his experience with his 1930s/40s Brick colonial in Brazil, Indiana. He is a true artist who has infused his interior and exterior spaces with charm. about our guest: Nestled in the middle of an Indiana small town stands a stately 1930 brick colonial home. This maturely-grown 3 city lot property is home to Kemp Harper and partner Kevin Boling. For eight years, the couple has worked to preserve and restore this Indiana relic. The home boasts country amenities with a chicken coop (home to ..read more

Frank Cesaro and Jim Jones joined me this week to talk about the project they've taken on- a Queen Anne Victorian in Scranton PA. “Frank was born and raised in New Jersey and Jim in Pennsylvania. They met in 2018 when Jim relocated to New Jersey for work and as they say, “the rest is history!” Frank holds a project management role in business banking and Jim is a project manager in pharmaceuticals. While handy, neither of them have prior experience in restoration or home building. In 2021, they purchased their first old home in Denville, NJ. After living there for 2 years and completing minor ..read more

Is your door looking a little sad and you think your only option is to replace it? I just learned that there are specialists who will take your door away and bring it back looking like new. How did I not know this? Amy Baglan joined me this week to discuss her work at Door Renew Denver. We discussed door care, door refurbishment, working in this industry and the process. About our guest As a 4x CEO, Amy Baglan has built multiple companies dedicated to connection and relationships over the past 20 years, raised over $10M in venture funding, and built an award-winning company culture. Two of her ..read more

Gabriella Somoza joined me in this episode to talk about her unusual Octagon House in Cape May, New Jersey, her love of historic preservation, interior design and advice about purchasing a house for investment vs your personal home. About our guest: Gabriella was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Eight years ago, she teamed up with her brother Oliver to start S7 Real Estate. S7 Real Estate develops affordable housing in up-and-coming neighborhoods in Philadelphia, PA as well as short ..read more

This week we are revisiting episode 51. Great for women in renovations season! A listener wrote to request an episode on insulation- here it is! Christine Williamson of Building Science Fight Club explains the factors to consider when insulating your house. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the subject. Christine is an accomplished building scientist who has a large following on instagram through her account Building Science Fight Club (@buildingsciencefightclub). She can also be reached through her website https://www.christine-williamson.com About our guest: Christine Williamson’s profess ..read more

Vana Carmona tells the story her ongoing revival of a derelict Greek Revival house in Maine. We talked about clearing up titles, the importance of understanding budget and timeline and renovating in the public eye. About our guest: (from Boothbay Register) Vana Carmona is the founder of The Prince Project, a database of over 2000 people of color who lived in Maine prior to 1800.  She has given presentations on her work to local historical societies and schools and is a docent/guide for several historic sites in the Portland area, including Maine Historical Society and Spirits Alive (Easte ..read more

This episode we are revisiting episode 9 with British architect Debbie Bentley. Designing your house for the future: Build less Do you really need to build more and increase your footprint? Think about how you use your house now and list everything that you would like to change. Are there areas in your house that are under-used? These days that is often the formal dining room. Can you change how you think about your spaces and alter them to suit your needs? Many clients are looking for extra room as their children grow, but once they fully grow you will no longer have the space issue. Instead ..read more