We're so excited to introduce a new series on our show. It's called 'Happy Home Stories.' In it, we talk with one of our clients about what it's really like to remodel - not the HGTV made-for-TV version remodeling - the real life, what happens when things don't go the way you planned, and how do you work through it. This week, Katie and TJ talk to Nick about his whole-home remodel in Fairfax. They discuss the tool Nick used to mentally process design options (it's not what you think it is), some of the surprises he encountered during construction, what he learned about the process and himself, and what he would do differently next time. Thank you so much to Nick for being a great client, and being willing to talk about his process openly.

Feathers will be ruffled and boats will be rocked! Gears might even be ground!! Katie and TJ discuss why Price Per Square Foot is such a common way to talk about remodeling and new construction pricing, and why it is completely misleading. Then they discuss a better alternative, before sneaking a Harry Connick Jr reference in just when you thought the episode was over.

Katie and TJ welcome Jake Jackson-Wolf to the show. Jake is the owner of b'well Counseling Services and is a licensed therapist. Katie, TJ, and Jake debate whether podcast guests should have entry music, reminisce about the 2011 DC earthquake, and discuss why remodeling is hard on relationships. Jake offers wisdom and advice to help you keep your relationship strong. To learn more about Jake and b'well visit: https://www.bwellcounselingservices.com/

In this episode, Katie and TJ have a special guest...Marc Cashin! Marc is a realtor, the owner Forward Real Estate, TJ's friend, and most importantly, Katie's husband. We have a fun time discussing our long time knowing each other - our time in college, TJ and Marc having a band, gifting a dining table, and Marc's dislike of formal dining rooms. We also discuss the DC real estate market, selling your house in the winter vs in the spring, remodeling with an eye toward resale, and why having the right team of professionals can make your life a whole lot easier.

Katie and TJ review one of Designed Happy's favorite tools: The Future Test. This test and the accompanying worksheet help homeowners get their remodeling project unstuck by helping them imagine different versions of their future. They also discuss one-person seesaws, their current thermostat situation, and how TJ's hair blends in with his wallpaper. Visit https://www.designedhappy.com/the-future-test.html to download The Future Test worksheet.

This week, Katie and TJ invite their first guest to the podcast, and it gets personal for TJ, because it's his wife, Kat. We discuss what it's like to live through a remodeling or construction project, some of the fun projects TJ and Kat have done (and one they didn't do), and how to get your kids involved and engaged in the process.

Katie and TJ talk about what they do for Thanksgiving. TJ talks about his famous mashed potatoes that have an ego. Then they dive into one of the most popular posts on the Designed Happy blog: You're Late For Thanksgiving. They discuss how to talk about completion dates with your contractors, the idea of a reverse timeline and how it can be useful, and review how lead times can affect your project schedule and what you can do about it.

Katie loves British cuisine. TJ wants to be in the Rat Pack. In a follow up to recent episodes on ways to pay, and what expensive really means, Katie and TJ discuss what kind of return you can expect on your investment, whether that investment is money, energy, time (or all 3). Then they review the 2025 Cost vs Value Report, explain what it is, and how it can be useful.

Katie and TJ discuss purchases they've made that felt expensive. Then they tackle our big topic - what does "expensive" really mean in remodeling? They discuss a chart from Designed Happy: The Book, why focusing on value is important, and call back to our episode on ways to pay (other than money).

Katie and TJ tackle the topic of paying. Sure, everyone knows what it means to pay for a project with money. But did you know that you could also choose to pay with your time, energy, and emotion? All of the options are interwoven, and have pros and cons. Katie and TJ tackle the nuances and guide you through decided which path might be best for you.