Sketching is the most important visual thinking tool you can use to plan your remodel. Sketches help you generate ideas quickly, explore alternatives without risk and avoid getting bogged down in the details too soon. And YOU CAN Sketch…even if you have kindergarten-level drawing skills.


Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at www.midmod-midwest.com/1212

What feels like the true beginning of summer to you? Memorial Day weekend? The first lightning bugs of the year? The last day of school?  For me, my birthday in early June is the real start of summer!

It kind of feels like we just dived into the middle of summer in the last week or two and I have a feeling you might be in exactly the right headspace to take on some easy summer projects to make your mid-century home a little more your own. 

So, grab your lemonade and a lawn chair and listen in for a few fun (and, okay some less fun but more necessary) summer projects you can tackle right now to kick off your mid-century home improvement season!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1211. 

I LOVE updates from our homeowners, both design clients and Ready to Remodel students! Photos in the Facebook group are great. Emails with project pictures? A delight!

I bet YOU like to peek inside other people's remodeling process, too!

I recently reached out to see if some of my Ready to Remodel students had a few minutes to spend catching me up on their remodels and their experience in the program. We chatted on Zoom and edited those convos into a podcast for you!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1210. 

I'm often asked, "What does it cost to remodel a kitchen right now?"

Wow! That depends on so many factors. 

I might as well ask you, "What does it cost to go on vacation?"

There are as many types of home remodels, as there are different ways to travel away from home! But there are shortcuts and ways to simplify planning a remodel…just as there are ways to plan an easier vacation. You can make it simple when you go in the right order.  So, grab your Mai Thai and let’s break it down!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1209

How can you make sure the choices you make for your mid-century home RIGHT NOW will be ones you don’t regret in the future?  Ask the right questions!

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How to roll back remodeling choices you made in the past to get a home you’ll love for decades to come. 
• Plus, can a mid-century door that’s been languishing in a shed for 16 years be salvaged?
• How to make sure replacement windows (or more) fit in well with the character of a mid-century house.
• Whether SolaTube lights are appropriate for MCM homes. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1208

We created the Mid-Century Master Plan Package to get you from “I want to remodel” to “let’s call up contractors.” 

The masterplans we create for our clients include floor plans and images to help clients visualize the remodeling possibilities. We also share a style guide with project specific recommendations and our general design guidance. One they review these documents, we integrate their feedback into a set of final schematic designs they can use to  guide their remodel.

But what if you have a question after the master plan?  We're always here to help! Listen in to hear more about how that works.


Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1207

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 another thing we do all the time...

We spend A LOT of time answering questions. And that's why the next three episodes are going to focus on the questions I answer for clients, Ready to Remodel students…and you!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1206

What is a micro space? 

A micro space (also know as a "nook") is an area within a room that does one specific job. A few examples: a reading chair in the corner of a larger living room, an eat in area in the kitchen, a closet repurposed as an office or crafting space. 

Today I’m going to teach you to capitalize on the micro space idea to improve on your home…without moving a single wall. And, great news! This works for both large and small spaces. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1205.

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 lever by which you can easily control the way your home looks.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How using the style guide is like using a dishwasher
• Why the style guide system make your whole life easier AND…
• Will help make your home feel cohesive and snazzy, as if it were planned by a professional.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at www.midmod-midwest.com/1204

You don’t need a mid century mood board…but feel free to make one, if it feels like fun to you. It's just not the tool that is going to destress and simplify your remodel decision making. For that, you’re gonna need a style guide. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why a mid century mood board won’t cut it for your remodel.
• How a style guide is different and better (for our purposes) than a mood board.
• Tips for creating a style guide that will simplify all your remodeling decisions. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1203

Today let’s talk about the right way to steal mid-century style ideas. There is actually a right way and a wrong way to find your mid mod home improvement inspiration.  Done right, you can light up your mind with great ideas. You can connect with mid-century homeowners who have walked the path you’re on to find out what they learned.  But done wrong, your search for ideas can lead you into overwhelm. Or terminal house envy.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1202

What's your mid century remodel era? Do you love 40's fab or 50's sputnik-space-race or sunny, earthy late 60's vibes? 

Today's episode is all about naming your favorite mid century era, then using that information to create the perfect style guide for your remodel!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1201

One of the easiest ways to make your front door shine is to upgrade your house numbers. I've been a big fan of one particular company,  Modern House Numbers, for quite a while. I've got their numbers on my house, and I recommend them to a lot of my clients. But I didn't even know how much I love this company until I sat down with owner, Brandy McLain, recently.

Brandy and I talk about how one comes to run a house number company (hint - a DIY project taken to the max) and review some exterior design tips. We also cover curb appeal trends and the quickest ways to add some panache to your home.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1111

Mid-century modern is so in right now, people are popping neutra type house numbers and modbox mailboxes onto just about any house type.  You are in luck, Ranch Owner, because the mid-century front door was made for your house.  I'll break down how you can get or make your own perfect mid century front door. This works whether you are simply aiming for a spin through Etsy or planning major renovation.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How to take your door from drab to dramatic in a weekend. 
• The trick to determining which remodeling level is right for you.
• Which products will help bring out the mid mod in your mid century ranch.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1110

One thing most mid century homes lack is a modern mudroom…or any practical dedicated entry/exit space designed to catch those things that belong to the outside edge of your life. If this sounds like your home, you're not alone! 

Helping our one-to-one design clients to solve this challenge is part of nearly every mid century master plan here at Mid Mod Midwest. And solving this problem doesn't have to be that complicated! So today, we’re talking about what your entry areas need and how to make that happen for your home.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1109

This week we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes!

Choosing a color scheme for your home is one of the most effective ways to put your stamp on a house and start the process of making it your home. But before you “pick” the “right” color for your home … I want you to ask yourself a few more questions about what you’re trying to make happen here.

Don’t panic. This is part of the fun, I promise! Because today we’re going to talk about how to apply the Master Plan Method to help you confidently update your mid-century house color scheme.

IN TODAY’S EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR:

• Why the right color for MY mid-century house isn’t necessarily the right color for YOUR mid-century house.
• Strategies for using color to highlight the elements you love about your house. 
• How to apply the Master Plan Method to choose an exterior palette that’s a perfect fit for your style and your home.  

Get the show notes with all the extras at www.midmod-midwest.com/1108

Where are you supposed to fit your flat screen TV in a mid-century living room? Especially is you also have a lovely fireplace! Here's what the internet generally recommends: that you plop your TV on the wall right over the fireplace opening. 

And here's what I have to say to that ... nope. 

Instead follow the key principles in today's episode for a well placed TV in a mid-century living room. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1107

Brick has been used as a building material since long before the three little pigs. But mid-century brick is particularly well suited to the ethos of modernist designers: it is humble, honest, tactile and capable of both great simplicity and great variety. 

There are a number of problems with painting mid-century brick, including aesthetics, technical issues and maintenance headaches. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1106

What is a mid mod ReMod Squad and what can it do for you? 

Your ReMod Squad is the team you rely on to give you advice specific to your love of mid century style.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why it’s so important to find you mid mod folks. 
• How big a difference finding the right experts can make for your mid century home and remodeling experience.  
• How a mid mod ReMod Squad can support your remodel planning. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at midmod-midwest.com/1105.

Want to join the squad that's about to start inside of Ready to Remodel NEXT MONDAY?  Watch my FREE masterclass: "How to Plan a Mid-Century Remodel to Fit your Life (and budget)" to get started

Every home has a story and every homeowner can benefit from becoming their home’s resident expert! When Atom Stevens bought his house in Harvey Park, he had no idea it would lead him on a journey to becoming a local Cliff May historian and advocate for mid-century preservation. Not only did Atom find a vocation, he also found a great value!

Part 2 of Della’s conversation with Denver area mid-century Realtor, photographer, designer, and advocate Atom Stevens about how to become your own home’s historian. 

What secrets does your house hold and how can you go about uncovering them? Learning about your home’s history may lead you to information about structure, mechanicals, and materials that can help you as you remodel plan. So, where do you start? 

Atom shares his expert tips on uncovering your home’s history and a lot more fascinating history of Cliff May and the homes he designed!

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://midmod-midwest.com/1104

Della chats with Denver area mid-century realtor, photographer, designer, and advocate Atom Stevens about becoming an enthusiast and then an expert on Cliff May homes in Denver ... and across the country. 

When Atom Stevens bought his house in Harvey Park, he had no idea it would lead him on a journey to becoming a local Cliff May historian and advocate for mid-century preservation. Stevens spent years researching the origins of his and his neighborhood’s mid-century modern homes, discovering famous California designer Cliff May.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at http://www.midmod-midwest.com/1103

My masterplan process was created as a path to managing a full house (or at least very significant) remodel. You begin by dreaming about your ideal home and the life you envision in it and move through each step until you have a full vision for your home. The five steps follow in order and you are able to plan until you feel ready to tackle your renovation. Sounds just like real life, right?

At this point, I’m sure you are laughing hysterically and wiping away tears as you try to close that stuck drawer AGAIN or assess how much longer your family can survive without a microwave. You need to get your kitchen reno moving…and fast. Too fast to masterplan!

But wait! You can still use the five D’s - dream, discover, distill, draft, and develop to micro-masterplan your kitchen (or bath or basement or…well you get the picture). The Master Plan Framework is scalable and can help you feel ready for and in control of any size project.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1102

In her fantastic new book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, Kendra Adachi lays out a system for creating a kitchen that has and does everything you need. The lazy genius kitchen isn't really a book about remodeling. Nor is it explicitly a cookbook or an organizing book or a lifestyle guide. It's some of all of those things. And, perhaps, it's better than any of them could be on their own. 

Adachi's advice is to think about the way you want to live in your home.  And if you know me at all, you know this is absolutely where I believe every project in architecture should begin. So, let's talk about how you can be a lazy genius about your kitchen update. And create the kitchen that's perfect for YOU. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at www.midmod-midwest.com/1101

And sign up RIGHT NOW for the Mid-Century Kitchen Clinic to get the early bird price on the live, two hour workshop happening January 14th at 2pm central!

The five Mid Mod Kitchen Update Essentials are key to creating a fabulous and functional kitchen regardless of style, but are extra important when updating a mid century kitchen. 

We love mid century homes for many reasons - they are right sized, they were made with quality materials, they tend to have a simple beauty, and they still function pretty well for modern families. 

But often mid century kitchens are missing important design elements necessary for a functional modern kitchen. Understanding and incorporating these elements into your kitchen remodel will transform your space and ensure you end up with a mid mod kitchen you love.

Find the full episode with all the trimmings at http://www.midmod-midwest.com/1012.

Find a new, lazier remodel philosophy in 2023. One that understands perfectionism is a perfect way to prevent yourself from making remodel progress. Real talk folks…it's more important to begin than to do it perfectly. 

Today’s episode is an end-of-year pep talk about setting yourself up for success with reasonable and realistic expectations for yourself around remodel planning. All of the pressure of the holidays and the new year can add up to stress and overwhelm instead of comfort and joy.

Find the full episode with all the trimmings at http://www.midmod-midwest.com/1011.