Preparing for Your Home Remodel | Renovations, Home Improvement, Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design, Welcoming Home

You know what you like, but the thought of pulling it all together leaves you feeling totally overwhelmed. Sound familiar? I get it—remodels are a lot. Between endless selections, layout decisions, budgeting, and contractors, it can feel impossible to know where to start.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the four phases I guide every homeowner through to take the overwhelm out of remodeling: Clarity, Practicality & Visi...

Before you fall headfirst into demo day or get swept away by your Pinterest board, there are a few renovation mistakes that can cost you thousands—and most homeowners don’t even know they’re making them. In this episode, I’m calling out the biggest budget-busters I see all the time… and how you can avoid the stress, the chaos, and the expensive do-overs.

We’re breaking down the top mistakes that wreck renovation budgets—like demoin...

In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I’m breaking down the three functional challenges you need to tackle before diving into design: storage solutions, layout, and the everyday frustrations that drive you crazy in your home. I’ll show you how to plan your home renovation or remodeling project with less stress and more confidence. You’ll get practical tips on taking accurate measurements, exploring creative layouts, m...

Feeling overwhelmed by your home renovation or remodel? In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I share how to get clarity, confidence, and a clear plan for your space. I’ll explain how my Pocket Designer session—your one-hour, one-on-one consultation—can help you tackle layout challenges, material selections, and design decisions without the stress. Whether you’re just starting or mid-project, you’ll walk away with act...

In this episode, I’m walking you through the countertop decisions you must make before demo day if you want to avoid regret, delays, and unexpected costs. Most homeowners pick their countertop material…but forget about the details that truly impact the final look and functionality.

I break down the exact choices you need to make early—like edge profiles, overhangs, finish options, backsplash height, faucet hole placement, seams, an...

Not all countertops are created equal — and choosing the wrong one could turn your dream kitchen into a daily frustration. In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I break down different options of man-made countertops, including quartz, porcelain, and even laminate.

I will share my own experience of prioritizing aesthetics over function (and what I learned the hard way) so you don’t make the same mistake. You’ll learn w...

In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I’m answering a question from our Facebook community: How practical are wet rooms?

If you’re planning a bathroom remodel or designing your dream home, this episode breaks down everything you need to know about wet room bathrooms — from layout, cost, and design ideas to maintenance and cleaning tips. I share the real pros and cons of this luxury bathroom design, including what to e...

In this episode, I’m diving into the world of natural stone countertops—marble, granite, quartzite, and soapstone. I break down the key factors you need to consider when choosing the right material for your home, including function, aesthetics, maintenance, and durability.

I share what it’s really like to live with each type of stone, the maintenance involved, and how to decide which one fits your lifestyle. Plus, I give tips on se...

In this episode of Remodels Made Easy, I’m kicking off a brand-new mini series all about materials and selections—starting with one of my favorites: countertops. There are so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming, so I’m breaking it down and sharing four key factors that will help you confidently choose the countertop that fits your home, lifestyle, and budget.

I’ll walk you through how to balance function, aesthetics, m...

If you’ve ever wondered how to create a remodel that’s actually budget-friendly without sacrificing quality, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the “Good, Fast, Cheap” rule — and why you can only pick two. We’ll walk through what that really looks like in a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, or even a whole home remodel — and how to decide what’s right for your goals, lifestyle, and budget.

You’ll ...

Ready to design your dream kitchen layout—but not sure where to start?

In this episode, I’m breaking down four crucial design details you don’t want to overlook before locking in your kitchen layout.

We’ll talk about how to: ✅ Plan your appliances first (and why skipping spec sheets can blow your budget) ✅ Use the kitchen work triangle to create a space that actually flows ✅ Incorporate those bells, whistles, and storage solution...

In this episode of Remodels Made Easy, I’m diving into one of the most important parts of any home renovation or remodeling project — planning and design. I share how taking the time to create a clear layout and detailed blueprint can keep your project on track, on budget, and a lot less stressful.

I walk you through how to take accurate measurements, think through functionality, and use tools like SketchUp to draft your own design...

You don’t want to get to the end of your remodel regretting decisions you made in the rush to get things done. Trust me — I’ve seen it too many times: homeowners who focus only on aesthetics and forget about how the space will actually work for their lives.

I’m Jen — designer, project manager, and your remodel accountability partner and you back pocket designer. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what many homeowners ...

Ever wondered what really happens after your remodel design is done? In this episode, I’m breaking down the order of operations for a renovation—from demo day to final inspections—so you can understand exactly what to expect once construction begins.

As a designer and project manager, I’ve learned (often the hard way!) how important it is to know which trades come when, how long each phase takes, and why certain steps can’t happen ...

Budgets—the dreaded part of remodeling that no one wants to talk about, but everyone struggles with. In this episode of Remodels Made Easy, I’m breaking down how to keep your renovation costs from spiraling out of control. You’ll learn the five key steps to keep your budget on track—from knowing exactly what you can spend on materials, to prioritizing your “must-haves,” to tracking every selection so the numbers don’t sneak up on y...

In this episode, I’m walking you through the next step after creating your Pinterest board and gathering all that dreamy inspiration for your remodel. Now that you’ve got a vision and a direction, it’s time to move past the pretty pictures and get practical. I’ll share why layout and function have to come first, how to think through cabinetry and appliances, and the tools I recommend to help you map it all out. Then we’ll dive into...

Struggling to define your design style for a kitchen remodel? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to use Pinterest as a powerful design tool—not just for inspiration, but to actually clarify your style, discover what you’re truly drawn to, and create a cohesive vision for your renovation. I’ll walk you through practical steps for building boards that capture both the overall feel you want and the specific eleme...

Renovations don’t have to turn into horror stories — but all too often, they do. In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common mistakes I see homeowners make that cause projects to spiral off track: not properly vetting contractors, skipping a budget buffer, and diving into demo without a clear plan. I’ll walk you through why these mistakes create so much stress (and wasted money) and how you can avoid them so your renovation ...

In today’s episode we are going to talk about how jumping into demolition before you’ve nailed down a design plan is the fastest way to guarantee stress, blown budgets, and contractor chaos. In this episode, I share why design must come before demo — and how to build a clear plan that keeps your remodel on track.

You’ll learn the first three steps of smart planning:

1. Function first — identify how yo...