Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven is an educational and entertaining podcast that will ease your fears about home renovations. In this fifth season, architect Katharine MacPhail focuses on old house owners and their home stories. She will continue to interview contractors, vendors, other architects and homeowners, gathering tips and getting answers. The first four seasons are full of information about everything from roofing to foundations, interior and exterior considerations, t ...
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We've got another renovation story in this episode, a mid century modern house in Michigan. My guest is Laurie Hughet-Hiller, a Michigan architect who was lucky to find her gem of a house as her first house. We talked about her house, how she approached her renovations, how to work with an architect, what to look for in a contractor and how to find…
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I do love talking about and thinking about residential landscape design. Steve Griggs, a straight talking landscape designer from New York, joined me to discuss one of my favorite subjects. We discussed what to keep in mind when considering your landscape design, why it is important to hire a landscape designer for certain projects, the high value …
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How to hire the right design professional, revisited
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We haven't touched on how to hire an architect or residential designer in quite a while, so here is another look at episode 68 with Jake Krowkoski. In this episode, you will discover……. - How do I know if I need an architect? - Where can I find architects online? - How can I tell which architect will be a good fit for me? - What should I bring to m…
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I started following Kemp Harper on Instagram a while ago, his account @thecolonial_on_park. We talked about his experience with his 1930s/40s Brick colonial in Brazil, Indiana. He is a true artist who has infused his interior and exterior spaces with charm. about our guest: Nestled in the middle of an Indiana small town stands a stately 1930 brick …
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Frank Cesaro and Jim Jones joined me this week to talk about the project they've taken on- a Queen Anne Victorian in Scranton PA. “Frank was born and raised in New Jersey and Jim in Pennsylvania. They met in 2018 when Jim relocated to New Jersey for work and as they say, “the rest is history!” Frank holds a project management role in business banki…
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Is your door looking a little sad and you think your only option is to replace it? I just learned that there are specialists who will take your door away and bring it back looking like new. How did I not know this? Amy Baglan joined me this week to discuss her work at Door Renew Denver. We discussed door care, door refurbishment, working in this in…
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Gabriella Somoza joined me in this episode to talk about her unusual Octagon House in Cape May, New Jersey, her love of historic preservation, interior design and advice about purchasing a house for investment vs your personal home. About our guest: Gabriella was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a…
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Insulation with Christine Williamson- revisited
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This week we are revisiting episode 51. Great for women in renovations season! A listener wrote to request an episode on insulation- here it is! Christine Williamson of Building Science Fight Club explains the factors to consider when insulating your house. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the subject. Christine is an accomplished building scie…
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Vana Carmona tells the story her ongoing revival of a derelict Greek Revival house in Maine. We talked about clearing up titles, the importance of understanding budget and timeline and renovating in the public eye. About our guest: (from Boothbay Register) Vana Carmona is the founder of The Prince Project, a database of over 2000 people of color wh…
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Environmentally Friendly Renovations, revisited
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This episode we are revisiting episode 9 with British architect Debbie Bentley. Designing your house for the future: Build less Do you really need to build more and increase your footprint? Think about how you use your house now and list everything that you would like to change. Are there areas in your house that are under-used? These days that is …
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Mona Ying Reeves, architect, renovation coach and serial renovator, joins me in this episode to talk about gender roles in home renovations. How can we change the dynamic for the future? About our guest Feeling stuck when it comes to navigating your renovation? Mona Ying Reeves is the House Coach that will get you past the overwhelm and moving forw…
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In 2021 I interviewed designer Cara Newhart about her mission to empower women to tackle home improvement and renovation projects on their own. I'm glad to revisit this interview in this season of women in renovations. About our guest: Cara Newhart is a designer and diy queen and the host of the Make Space Podcast. After losing her dad to cancer an…
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This episode is advice from just me, answering a listener's question about how to know if he should undergo a renovation at his house and how to start if he decides that is the course of action he should take. We haven't talked about this in a while on this show, so I thought it would be worth an answer. Thanks so much for being with us this week. …
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We revisited episode 62 this week, 2 years later. High Performance Architect Emily Mottram joins me in this episode to talk about the renovation she is undertaking at her home in Maine. She calls her renovation a pretty good renovation which is in keeping with the principles of the pretty good house (https://www.prettygoodhouse.org) which is buildi…
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Renovating and Renting Out Historic Properties
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Laura Parrish is my guest this week, talking about her historic Massachusetts properties. She bought her 1855 Italianate mansion in New Bedford about 10 years ago, and is now working on her third property, the oldest house in Bourne, MA. She loves to share her houses with others through AirBnB rentals. Laura shared what she has learned about workin…
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This week we revisited an episode from November 2021 on Return on Investments when it comes to renovations. I interviewed her about 6 months before we sold our house and I did take a lot of her advice! About our guest: Daryl Cohan has been helping home buyers and sellers since 2001. She is determined to help her clients reach their goals in conside…
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My guest this week is Katelyn Parker, an architect and podcaster working in Tulsa Oklahoma. Katelyn was my guest back on episode 54 discussing the renovation of her home in Tulsa. If you love old houses, check out her podcast The Keeping Room and her firm's website https://www.bungalowroots.com We talked about podcasting about renovations, how what…
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Homes everywhere are susceptible to some sort of natural disaster. Carl Dugas of Storm Guard Roofing in Louisiana provides a firsthand account as to what recovery looks like and how to prepare for severe storms, as well as move forward after disaster strikes. about our guest: Carl Dugas has owned and operated a Storm Guard Roofing and Construction …
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The last episode of season 5 is a new renovation story. Sarah and Kevin unexpectedly fell in love with an Italianate house a few hours from Toronto, which started their sustainable old house journey. They are now on their second house project and deep into considering sustainable restorations. Check out their blog at www.readmorehouse.com instagram…
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We are taking a break for a few weeks and revisiting renovation stories from the past few years. This one is a cautionary tale with a happy ending, originally published as episode 88. Mitra Shahri is a well known and very successful attorney licensed to practice law in Oregon and California. After giving up on the idea of ever finding love, she bou…
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We are taking a break for a few weeks and revisiting Renovation Stories from the past few years. Missy was a first time home buyer and faced with a daunting full gut renovation. I happen to have been her architect. Join us as we discuss her experience renovating her old house. Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhan…
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Valerie Hill is an interior designer renovating a 1920s bungalow with her husband Justin in Seattle. We talked about how much time a renovation really takes, working with a spouse and building a local community. Instagram- @hillandvalleybungalow About our guest: Valerie is a creative BBC explorer based in Seattle who has taken her interest in desig…
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Dominic and Diedre Rubino joined me on this episode to talk with me about their grand and beautiful 1890 Late Victorian house in New Westminster, British Columbia (Canada). Check out my latest instagram post for some photos of this house, you won't believe the woodwork. I met Dom when he interviewed me for his podcast Profit Tool Belt. When he show…
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Renovation Story- 1775 Stone Farmhouse (revisited)
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In this episode we discuss reviving a delapidated former hoarder house built in the 1770s. This is a re-edit of episode 35, the first renovation story episode. My guest for this renovation story is Kim Tierney, owner and caretaker of Bloomfield Farm, a beautiful stone farmhouse in Virginia built in 1775. I have been following her account on TikTok …
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Liz and Triston Bowen joined me to talk about their 1868 brick house, called Thornhill. They are working on the significant project themselves after studying and researching for years. They encourage other young people to also get into taking care of historic houses. instagram: @thornhill.house Facebook: The Thornhill House Thanks so much for being…
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Is it just me, or does everyone see a crumbling house and hear it calling out for help? Candi and Jake have answered that call with their Victorian farmhouse in Southeast Missouri. They bought the property for $7000 and have essentially been rebuilding the house in place. Their story is one of hope and revival, perfect for Spring! Thanks so much fo…
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Would you love to renovate homes for a living, being your own client? Me too! Laurel LeBauve of SOPO Cottage joined me to talk about her early renovations, her career change and why she isn't a house flipper. She has a three pronged approach to renovations that result in high quality improved housing stock. Website and blog: www.sopocottage.com Ins…
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This is a story of a center chimney Georgian in CT, from the perspective of someone who wasn’t planning or hoping to live in an old house. My guest is Brie who runs the instagram account Center Chimney on Main. Brie and her husband moved back to Connecticut after living in Washington state for a number of years- they moved back at the beginning of …
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Marlissa Briggett joined me to talk about her cottage in Onset, a village on the South Coast of Massachusetts. A short and sweet episode, we talked about her quirky house, the power of place, an ideal house, and some good renovation tips. A short and sweet episode About our guest: Marlissa Bridgett is the owner and publisher of South Coast Almanac,…
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This episode is about getting into preservation, taking big risks, finding your dream house and a job that is perfect for you. Jim Roseland, @thecardiganking on instagram, spoke with me about his amazing house, his journey to get there and his work as a preservation professional. Jim is a former fashion photographer turned preservationist and commu…
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Another renovation story- this one from historic Meridian Park in Indianapolis. Jess is a non profit executive who is obsessed with his architect designed 1907 Dutch Colonial revival. We talked about researching the inhabitants, the original architects, the importance of high quality paint and more. Instagram- @1907DutchColonial Thanks so much for …
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This episode is another renovation story, this one a Neo classical house in Omaha, Nebraska. Em Kinghorn is a historic home enthusiast and antique aficionado who breathes life into forgotten gems. Restoring a home built in 1896 in Omaha, Nebraska, her husband Ben and their two dogs-Winifred and Bemis-are along for the ride. She has been sharing the…
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How does your personality intersect with your home aesthetic? What is important to keep in mind when buying an old house? Donna joins me to discuss her experience with her charming Gothic Revival home. Instagram: @wan2bdecorator Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this and other episodes at talkinghome…
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Renovation Story- A 1764 Pennsylvania Farmhouse
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Taylor and her family moved from a 1950s split level into their 1764 farmhouse affectionately named “The Moneypit” during the pandemic. While she anticipated the usual old-house problems, Taylor soon realized she needed to learn how to triage an antique house. Taylor and her dad, Christopher, are old house enthusiasts and spend much of their free t…
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In this episode I'm joined by Stacey and Rick Forgensi, owners of a glorious Queen Anne house in Buffalo New York. This is their 5th house renovation and they have plenty of experience and wisdom to share. Have you been wondering how to remove bad smells from your house? Stacey can tell you how (it isn't easy). How many companies in the US make cur…
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Renovation Story- The Buckley-Bishop House
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The Buckley Bishop House is a folk victorian outside of Philadelphia. Kurt and Emma Leuschner purchased the historic house in summer 2022. Emma joined me to discuss the resources she has used to explore the history of the house and what she has learned. About our guest: Emma is a stay at home mother, former flight attendant and current board member…
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This week's renovation story comes from an instagram account I have been following, @ourgreekrevival. Deepa and Eric moved into their Hudson Valley New York house about a year and a half ago and have been working away at reversing some improvements, insulating the house, they've perfected lime wash painting and gotten to know a bit about the histor…
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From Massage Parlor to Masterpiece: A Roller Coaster Ride of a Historic Home Renovation in Old Towne Orange
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Hugh Siler is back with me on this episode talking about the renovation of the J.W.Wilson House in Old Towne Orange, California. Hugh was the guest on episode 70- How to Find, Buy and Restore Your First Historic Home. About our guest: Hugh Siler has been making waves with his innovative restorations of homes in the historic district of Old Towne Or…
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Home Kitchens- with Three Kitchens Podcast
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This episode it about home kitchens- how we live in them, cook in them, entertain in them- all of which we should really think about if we are going to be creating our own custom kitchen. I say this all the time, but I encourage you to design for the way that you want to live, rather than being concerned with what others might like. My guests are t…
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Michael MacPhail is back talking about the progress on the Smart Old House project. We talk about ordering windows, embarking on the new bathroom build out and dreaming about house concerts when the Spring comes. Follow along on Instagram @Smartoldhouse ***** Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this an…
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Mona Ying Reeves, the Founder and House Coach behind Kickstart House, shares how she made a new year's resolution to renovate her fixer upper and how it's going one year later. We also learn about her 5-Day Home Renovation Challenge where she helps women take the leap from having a Pinterest board full of ideas to making real progress on a real ren…
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We are on break this week, enjoy a holiday rerun and see you in 2023! Nick, Drew and Matt of Appliance Educator joined me to discuss how to choose appliances, whether more expensive appliances are that much better than less expensive appliances, what to look for and possibly what to avoid. They have SO MUCH information on their website- www.applian…
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Common Renovation Mistakes to Avoid- Holiday Rerun (episode 86)
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Massachusetts architect Chris Novelli joined me in this episode to discuss common mistakes that people make while undertaking a renovation to their house. If you enjoyed this episode then you will enjoy Chris' podcast for homeowners, Home Design Academy. Chris has a book for homeowners coming out soon, working title is Your Guide to Residential Des…
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In this episode, Jillian Souza joins me to discuss her design approach and how she creates spaces for families. About our guest Jillian Souza founded Wooly Architecture with a passion for homes because they play a leading role in shaping a person's dreams, creativity, health & relationships. And when our homes truly support us it reduces our stress…
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Smart Old House Case Study Part 8- HVAC Installation
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Michael MacPhail and I are back with a recap of the November progress at the Smart Old House. Air sourced heat pump installations, shadow box fence complete, radiator removal, powder post beetle sill damage, more plumbing leaks- in other words, business as usual! The 1794 Taber House is getting stabilized and becoming all electric. Follow Michael o…
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Old House Alteration Discussion with Dave Rademaker
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Everyone can benefit from calling in a professional, in this case we need help working through options when it comes to design choices here at the Smart Old House. My guest this week is Dave Rademaker, an old house specialist from Michigan who has been on the show twice before- Kitchens and Baths in Old Houses (episode 65) and an episode I called o…
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We may dream about renovating our home for years before getting to an actual renovation. Some of us never get there. How can we improve our spaces without involving a contractor? Architect Emma Greenberg believes there are plenty of things we can do- even today- to really love our spaces. About our guest: Emma Greenberg is a licensed architect in N…
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Design Stinson of Fujitsu joined me this week to discuss the latest in HVAC "Smart" technology. We discussed my upcoming heat pump installation, the importance of maintenance, whether you really need a back up system for your system, and more. About this week's guest: Dennis Stinson is the Vice President of Sales for Fujitsu General America, a nati…
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Ralph Reed, building mover, joined me in this episode to discuss his work as a house mover and what to do if your floors are sagging and bouncy. ************************************************************************************************ Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this and other episodes a…
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Our very slow reality show continues with some wins this month, surprises still popping up and extra expenses that we didn't anticipate. Michael MacPhail joins me to give the monthly update on the 1794 smart old house. Do you want to see photos of the progress? Sign up for the newsletter, see link below. ********************************************…
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