Let's talk mid-century light fixtures. Here’s my best advice on choosing great mid-century light fixtures, identifying classic mid-century lighting designs, and sourcing fixtures from estate sales, vintage shops, and modern reproduction stores.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why lighting is a key element of your style guide. 
• How to choose the right fixtures for your home and style. 
• Where to source vintage and new “old” light fixtures. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2221. 

Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Lighting in a mid-century home was part of personalizing the house. Choosing your lights went along with choosing your furniture or art. Which means there are often few wired in lights in homes built in that era. So, what’s a modern mid-century homeowner to do about lighting?

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why you don’t need all those can lights.
• Which lighting you need in a given area.
• Where to start applying lighting theory in you mid-century home. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2220

Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

I have to admit being a reluctant provider of gift guides. The “check your inbox”, “must have gift lists” and “buying guides” kind of give me the ick. Especially since we've just been hounded by all of this Black Friday Energy, all of this “buy right now energy”. 

Today I'm going to take a slightly different approach to the nature of a gift guide, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, that you already know you can gift someone more than an object. But sometimes the “what” of it all is the challenge. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• When a movie night might be the perfect mid-century gift. 
• How to ensure you get your picky mid mod connoisseur the perfect vintage find. 
• Where to find great mid mod inspired stuff for when gifting stuff is the right move.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2219. 

Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Thanksgiving is here! And while the holidays bring their fair share of chaos, they’re also the perfect opportunity to rethink how your home works for you. From design tips to thoughtful additions, here’s how to turn the hustle and bustle of the holidays into a launchpad for your dream mid-century home.


Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2218

I love a good Q&A session! 

During the masterclass and design clinics I make (and honor!) a promise to answer every attendee question. This last session lasted AS LONG AS THE CLASS. And everyone stayed up to the end.  It was a great Q & A. So, I'm going to share it with you!

This episode is packed with answers to some of the most frequent questions I get, including:

• Which tile patterns are appropriate in MCM kitchens? 
• Which types of flooring work for mid-century homes? 
• Where to source wood paneling? 

Catch the most recent masterclass right here!

Let's get the scary part out of the way first. Your mid-century house, the one you love for its charm and quirks, does not comply with the modern building code. 

Now, no one is going to knock on your door tomorrow demanding you rewire every outlet in the house. Your home is currently grandfathered into every code statute written and approved after the day it was built. This status is a free pass for your house to just exist ... until you decide it's time to actually start remodeling.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why your home's grandfathered status ends the moment you start remodeling.
• What the building code is really for (hint: the answer is not “making your life difficult”).
• How code compliance requirements create design opportunities.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2216

Where are all my history nerds? Raise your hands. This week is for you. I’m talking historic maps, digitized collections and crowd-sourced cartography projects. I KNOW! Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are large-scale maps created to help fire insurance agents determine the risk associated with properties. They contain a surprising amount of detail about a building's size, shape, construction materials, and fire protection systems that might just help you plan a great remodel. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• What old insurance maps can tell you about your home and neighborhood. 
• How old maps might save your garage.
• Other surprising places to look to learn about your home’s history. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2215

In honor of spooky season, let's talk nightmare mid-century remodel scenarios. Can you picture it? 

You can file this under schadenfreude if none of it applies to your house. Or it can serve as a what not to do guide to help you avoid mistakes. If you're already living one of the nightmare mid-century remodel scenarios I'm about to describe, then let's focus on the fact that you're far from alone. 

And I really believe that a good, solid master plan can bring any mid-century house back from the brink of horror.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why a nightmare remodel scenario is absolutely coming for you. 
• How to outsmart terrifying trends. 
• Where you can find mid-century safe zones. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2214

Today, some more excellent advice on planning the landscape the yard of your mid-century home from Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio. 

I bet you're wondering why mid-October is a good time to talk more about landscaping. Aren't Jim and I in the Midwest? Isn't this the time of year when there's less to do and less beautiful growth happening outside? Well that's exactly today's subject. We are talking about how to winterize your mid-century yard, both what you can and should do outside in these weekends and late fall, and how to plan a yard that's lovely in all seasons, including the winter.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why a critter friendly yard is also a winter friendly yard.  
• How worried you should be about drunk robins. 
• Where to invest in the spring for an interesting garden year round. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2213

So many of our sweet ranches were sadly re-wrapped in narrow strip beige vinyl during the 80s and 90s, when appreciation for MCM was at a low ebb, covering up their original colors and patterns. 

If you've been dealing with that kind of generic cover-up, or if your siding is simply damaged or in poor repair, you might be considering a replacement. Before you call a contractor or pick a sample, let’s talk about what mid-century siding is and how to make good choices for your home.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why vinyl siding is always a bad idea. 
• Who to talk to before you decide to replace original wood siding.  
• How to pick a replacement siding with the most mid mod flavor.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2212 

We all know the story. You find an MCM ranch in your desired neighborhood, only to click further into the listing to discover a flipper has been there first. They’ve ripped out the character and replaced it with trendy, generic finishes. But what if I told you that it’s not impossible to reverse the damage done in a flip? 

I was thrilled to chat with Dana Jenkins and Colin Davis of the Instagram account @un.flipping (who may have coined the phrase!) and have blown up online sharing their five-year journey to add the soul back into their thoroughly flipped mid-century home.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How to see past a flip to what might be your dream home. 
• Why taking your time unflipping makes sense.
• Where you can add charm back on a budget before tackling bigger projects. 

You’re thinking about a remodel. You have a budget in mind, a Pinterest board full of perfect tile, and a list of things in your house that just aren’t working. But stop right there. 

Before you hire a contractor or pick out a single fixture, I need you to answer the single most important question you will ask in this entire process.

Why does your house need a remodel? I mean, does it? Seriously?

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why your why is the most important element of your remodel. 
• How to get from your surface level reasons to a deeper understanding of your why. 
• Where to invest based on your why…and not where the remodeling industrial complex tells you to. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2210

If you listen to the Mid Mod Remodel Podcast regularly, you hear lots about the tips and tools I recommend to help you plan and lead your perfect MCM remodel. And once or twice a year I boil down the most helpful of those tips and tools into a free masterclass that I offer live. 
 
In the past that session was only available to the folks who signed up and attended the live event, but now you can listen on the go! 

In Today's Episode You'll Learn:

• The three biggest mistakes other homeowners are making on their remodels (that ALWAYS result in a remodel that costs more, takes longer and … doesn’t do end up how they want)
• My five step process for planning a remodel YOU CAN LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE: one that will turn the house you have into a home you’ll love
• How to cut the chaos of remodeling in HALF with one simple maneuver (seriously, everyone should do this!)

Learn more about my master plan process and Ready to Remodel right here!

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. 

At this week's open office hours I answered questions about: 

• How to tune your remodel to a house built and expanded over eras. 
• Ways to upgrade a fireplace facade. 
• When to call an engineer. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2208

You’ve heard of the military-industrial complex, and maybe even the wedding-industrial complex, but what about the kitchen renovation industrial complex? A truly timeless kitchen renovation isn't about creating a time capsule (unless that is your dream!). It’s about making choices that serve your family, your budget, and the unique character of your home. 

So, how do you stay true to your home and your life when planning a kitchen renovation? 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• What I mean by the “kitchen renovation industrial complex”. 
• How to set your priorities and a timeless style for your kitchen. 
• Where to include trends you love. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2207

Designing accessibility into your mid-century home is easier than you think. Mid-century houses have enormous potential to fit every stage of life. They make great first homes for  young couples and singles, were built for and are adaptable to the needs of growing families, and serve owners who choose to age in place. Let’s talk about how to design accessibility into your mid-century home to fit your life and the lives of the people you love.

This week you’ll learn:

• The difference between accessibility and universal design.
• Where big accessibility wins are easiest…if you plan for them. 
• What makes mid-century homes great for aging in place. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2206

I get asked about landscaping a lot and I always turn to our favorite mid-century landscaping expert, Jim Drzewiecki. Jim is an APLD, award-winning principal designer and the founder and owner of Ginkgo Leaf Studio where he and Hannah Paulson design beautiful landscapes for all kind of homes. 

Now, not everyone can afford to hire a landscape designer for their project. Others just love gardening and planning for their own yard. And Ginkgo Leaf Studio usually has a waiting list. 

So, this week Jim is back with his best tips for DIY landscape designers. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why a plan is a must.  
• How to let your house tell you how to design your landscape. 
• When starting small is smart.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2205

Temperature and moisture control in mid-century houses is one of those topics that seems less exciting and relevant until suddenly…it is. 

And while our mid-century houses have the potential be properly snug without being too sealed up. They also sometimes need a tune up. Plus a number of trendy, seemingly “esthetic” changes to your house - siding, soffit, or roof changes - can create problems that didn't exist before. We’ll definitely cover the moisture consequences (yes, that sounds icky) of painting brick and adding vinyl siding.

This catchall episode contains a number of lessons in building technology and the broader concept of thermodynamics that have me both reaching back to my graduate school architecture education and sharing some of the most important considerations about moisture control in mid-century homes.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why you should be on the lookout for evidence of moisture issues.  
• How to tell if you have a “warm” or “cold” roof. 
• Who to call for testing and answers related to temperature and moisture control. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2204

Your master plan both a process and a document. Today, we're talking about how to use that document to navigate your remodel, from getting bids from contractors to working with the city. But when it comes down to it, your master plan is for YOU. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why a master plan is so much more than a bunch of pretty drawings. 
• How to curate sections of a master plan for different pros.  
• When to share your master plan. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2203

We love our mid-century houses for many reasons - their enduring design, clean lines and great indoor/outdoor connections. But MANY mid-century homes, both modest and high end, share one glaring omission. They lack of a proper mudroom. 

This design flaw often vexes my clients and students. Our families and pets come with a whole lot more "stuff" than they did in the 50s and 60s! Let’s explore how Mid Mod Midwest has solved the "garage to house” transition problem to offer options for a functional entry that truly works. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Which entry spot is always the WORST…and is super common in mid-century ranch homes.  
• How to tuck the storage you need into a modest footprint. 
• When you might want more than one mini-mudroom. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2202

Mid-century homes often have a poor connection to the garage. This is largely due to early building codes and a very real fear of fire and chemicals, which led to a deliberate separation between the living space and the garage. Breezeways, covered but open-air spaces, were one solution to provide a covered path from house to garage. Today, however, our need for convenience and a dedicated space for daily clutter has made the breezeway to mudroom conversion a hugely popular project.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why your mid-century ranch was probably not originally connected to your garage. 
• What to consider before you decide to convert your breezeway into a mudroom.  
• How to determine which type of breezeway conversion could work best for you.  

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2201

Documenting what you've designed is a key element to bringing a remodel to fruition.  I could have called the last stage of the master plan method Document.  

But I didn’t.  I called it Develop.  And that’s because your vision is subject to change until the last bit of construction dust has been cleaned away.  I’m taking 

July off from recording the podcast this summer but that doesn’t mean YOU have to. In fact, I’m actually pretty excited about what I’ve got planned for you.  I took a dip through our deep archives  (did you know we have over 250 episodes recorded) and pulled together some throwback episodes that have great content but may be SO FAR BACK in your podcast feed that you’re unlikely ever to hit them. For these four weeks  I’ve chosen some fun episode pairings from the past that will take us on a little spin through the master plan method. So sit back and relax and get read to get inspired to do little more for your home and for yourself. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2123

If you don’t remember to plan a remodel that fits the mid-century era of your home … your too-trendy choices will rapidly become dated ones.  

To help you plan a timeless remodel, This week I'm sharing two episodes that encapsulate some of my core beliefs and strategies around making a strong mid-century choices to update your mid-century house. 

I’m taking July off from recording the podcast this summer but that doesn’t mean YOU have to. In fact, I’m actually pretty excited about what I’ve got planned for you.  I took a dip through our deep archives  (did you know we have over 250 episodes recorded) and pulled together some throwback episodes that have great content but may be SO FAR BACK in your podcast feed that you’re unlikely ever to hit them. For these four weeks  I’ve chosen some fun episode pairings from the past that will take us on a little spin through the master plan method. So sit back and relax and get read to get inspired to do little more for your home and for yourself. 

I want you to become an expert in your home before your remodel.  Note, I did not say that you need to become an expert in remodeling … just in your house.  Taking a few of your own measurements, skimming an inspection report, or digging into some MCM history by chatting with elderly neighbors will set you up for clever design ideas for your remodel. 

These activities will also make YOU feel like the expert in your house so you can confidently lead your remodel!

I’m taking July off from recording the podcast this summer but that doesn’t mean YOU have to. In fact, I’m actually pretty excited about what I’ve got planned for you.  I took a dip through our deep archives  (did you know we have over 250 episodes recorded) and pulled together some throwback episodes that have great content but may be SO FAR BACK in your podcast feed that you’re unlikely ever to hit them. For these four weeks  I’ve chosen some fun episode pairings from the past that will take us on a little spin through the master plan method. So sit back and relax and get read to get inspired to do little more for your home and for yourself. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2121

Let’s talk about starting your remodel plan from the right place - your own life.  Your choices. Your priorities. If you start your remodel planning anywhere other than HERE it will take longer, feel more chaotic, be more stressful and likely end up more expensive.  

I’m taking July off from recording the podcast this summer but that doesn’t mean YOU have to. In fact, I’m actually pretty excited about what I’ve got planned for you.  I took a dip through our deep archives  (did you know we have over 250 episodes recorded) and pulled together some throwback episodes that have great content but may be SO FAR BACK in your podcast feed that you’re unlikely ever to hit them. For these four weeks  I’ve chosen some fun episode pairings from the past that will take us on a little spin through the master plan method. So sit back and relax and get read to get inspired to do little more for your home and for yourself. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2120