Aspirational mid-century kitchens influenced the kitchens we live in and love today. The kitchens that served as backdrops for our favorite mid-century TV families often included features missing for the builder basic kitchens of the time (and still missing in many of our ranches!). 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• When the kitchen shifted from work zone to social space. 
• All about features of some of the OG aspirational mid-century kitchens.
• How aspirational kitchens of the past can inform your kitchen remodel. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1603

Want the most reliably biased remodeling advice around? Head for HGTV. In fact, pick up or turn on any mainstream piece of home and garden media. Now, try to separate expert advice from paid content.

What you’ll find is a strong push toward well funded trends that dominate the industry. Certain elements seem to make it into every renovation. Think gas stoves, stainless steel finishes, professional grade appliances, countertop materials like granite and marble, luxury vinyl flooring. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How gas (and granite and stainless steel) came to seem like our only options.
• The question to ask every time someone shares THE solution for your remodel.
• Tips for bucking trends and designing a timeless remodel.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1602

This season, I'm pushing back on the default remodeling advice that we all encounter on television and in online magazines, see manifested in big box home improvement stores and hear echoed in the mouths of run-of-the-mill general contractors. 

But you know I'm not about negativity! 

Instead, you are going to get all the positive, encouraging, actionable advice to help you make timeless choices tailored to your home. 

In short, this season's theme is "The remodel advice you will never get from HGTV." 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why HGTV’s universal advice isn’t for us (mid-century homeowners). 
• The motivations behind many HGTV design recommendations. 
• How to forgive ourselves for past HGTV influenced design choices.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1601

If you've been following along this month you know the four cornerstones of a great Mid Mod design ... but how do you make sure that you're going to bake them into your own home and plans?  Before you start calling contractors and deciding what to do first ... I want you to hit pause for just a moment.  

The best way to make the most of your mid-century remodel is to use the Master Plan method! 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1505.

When we think about gorgeous mid-century homes, many of us picture a glass wall separating the living room from a patio and lush backyard. Or a sunken living room that flows from the formal entry. Glass. Open spaces with exposed structure. Screens that allow a peek through to the next space. Stone that seems to continue seamlessly from the exterior through to the central fireplace.  

This amazing flow from one space to the next and out into the yard is definitely a feature of high-end mid-century homes. But it can also be a feature of your (and my!) simple, builder-grade ranch. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• How to improve flow without blowing out a wall. 
• Why it’s important to bring the outside in. 
• Where materials can make the difference. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1504

Your material and finish choices can make or break a mid mod remodel. Choose correctly and you'll enhance your home with lovely, long-lasting materials that feel period-appropriate and yet somehow timeless…and don't break your budget. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• When to save original materials. 
• How to combine mid-century and modern materials in your remodel. 
• The secret to making every material choice easier. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1503

You'll find simple shapes everywhere in a mid-mod design - from the basic triangle of a gable roof  to the gentle curve of a kidney shaped swimming pool. The simple playful shapes of mid-century design put the focus back on the materials they're made from and the overall balance (the asymmetry) of the design. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why simple shapes became possible in the mid 20th century. 
• How simple shapes actually make life easier.
• When using shapes that date your house is a big yes, instead of a no-no. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1502

Asymmetry, in a nutshell, is about balance...instead of matching. 

In previous eras, impressive home design showed its classiness with repeating, matching elements along a central line. These elements feel formal, weighty and grand.   
The mid-century aesthetic challenged this formality. Mid-century design is about being off-center and less structured, but still balanced. 

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why asymmetry is a cornerstone of mid mod design. 
• How balance can be more inviting than uniformity. 
• Where symmetry makes sense. 

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1501

Let’s talk about a revelation I recently had about planning  your remodel - the importance of the cycles in your life as you tailor your home to match your lifestyle.

In Today's Episode You'll Hear:

• Why laundry may be the best allegory for cycles of life. 
• How to plan for now and also make great choices for future you. 
• And why catering to the messy, chaos-ridden parts of your life might make your remodel better than you could have imagined.

Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1413

This episode originally aired on December 8, 2022. 

I want you to use your holiday prep time to plan your remodel. 

Okay, Before you tell me, Della, that's crazy. The holidays are when I'm busiest. I can't be picking out tiles and solving problems and calling contractors during this period. You're right. Of course you can't. You know me. I wouldn't ask you to make your life harder when it's already full. Instead, make your future life easier by harnessing all of the satisfactions (and frustrations) that are part and parcel of the celebratory times in your house during this season of madness and fun.

Get the episode and show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/1412