Revisiting Organizing Your Home ft. Sam Pregenzer
Aug 05, 2020
Show notes
If you feel like clutter gets the best of you sometimes, don’t worry, you are not alone. We all have spaces in our homes that we wish were more organized. That’s where professional organizers like Sam Pregenzer come in. In the early days of Heart of the Home Podcast, we talked with her about ways to get all our homes in order. Today, we’re revisiting that conversation, because it’s a reminder we can all use.
Behind the Design: Project Desert Escape ft. Meg and Melissa
Jul 29, 2020
Show notes
If it feels like we’ve been talking about #projectdesertescape for a long time, it’s because we have. But at 7,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest projects our firm has ever done, and there are lots of amazing spaces to share with everyone! In this episode of Heart of the Home Podcast, Jen is talking with two of our designers about what went into designing this home, and the unique challenges they faced working on a remote project.
Show Notes
Before we started on this project, the home had some interesting wallpaper choices. One of the powder rooms had a print that Jen describes as “being in the belly of a snake”. A guest bedroom featured wallpaper that looked 3D and would make you feel dizzy if you looked at it too long. (And don’t even get us started on those bubble lights on the wall…)
The house also featured lots of lighting that was obviously high-end, but didn’t necessarily match the style of the home or the direction our clients wanted to go.
We are absolutely thrilled with the way each of the spaces turned out. And trust us, there were lots, because this is a BIG home. (7,000 square feet to be exact.) You can find more details and images about the project here. But we’ll also share some of our favorite spots below, because we don’t want to keep you waiting!
Revisiting Adapting Your Home to Fit Your Family ft. Oakley Peterson
Jul 22, 2020
Show notes
One of our first episodes on Heart of the Home Podcast featured one of our favorite people on the planet, Oakley Peterson. She’s the woman behind the popular Instagram account ‘Nothing Down About It‘. In the interview, she shared about being the mom of a son with Down Syndrome. In this episode, we’re re-visiting that conversation with Oakley. It’s all about creating an environment at home that allows children of all abilities to thrive.
The Home Behind the Infamous Instagram Haircut ft. Abi Ayres
Jul 15, 2020
Show notes
Would you ever be able to rent your home to complete strangers while you’re still living there? And then keep doing it with different groups of strangers? That’s just one of the things about Abi Ayres that is so interesting. You may know her as the woman who got a really bad haircut on Instagram, but when you dig deep, she is so much more than that one viral moment. Abi is our guest on this episode of Heart of the Home Podcast. She and Jen are discussing home, family, and how she believes we should all get to know ourselves.
Show Notes
Abi is truly one of our favorite people to follow on social media. She shares real-life struggles in an honest and hilarious way that has us laughing more often than not. But she’s also not afraid to share the raw, personal stuff that makes us all human.
Abi and her husband Ammon are parents to three adorable little ones. They have recently embarked on a journey Abi refers to as “Homesteading Like a Gangster”. Their family is growing all sorts of vegetables in the backyard, learning to can and preserve that produce, baking sourdough bread, brewing homemade kombucha, and even raising chickens!
Their current home is the third flip Abi and Ammon have gutted and remodeled themselves. The first one was a house in Michigan that Abi says was full of some pretty disgusting stuff. (We’ll spare you the visuals of the worst, but just know rat traps with decaying rats, and peanut butter that expired in the ’70s are on the list.)
They finished this first project in the middle of the Great Recession, while living thousands of miles away from family. We say that’s the definition of a DIY warrior! But the results were worth it. Check out these after images.
After moving back to Utah, the Ayres family repeated the process with two more homes. The first time in West Valley City.
Where the results were just as impressive as you’d expect.
And a third time in Millcreek. I mean, check out that wood paneling!
We will never get sick of a good before-and-after. Abi’s Millcreek home is the perfect example of a satisfying transformation.
You can connect with Abi Ayres on Instagram @abiayres or by visiting her website.
Journey of a First Time Renovator Part II ft. Kelton
Jul 08, 2020
Show notes
We get asked about home renovations all the time. And sometimes there are things you just learn best by doing. That’s why we’re excited to take you along as one of our team members completes his first renovation. Hopefully the things he learns will help you in a future project of your own. In this episode Jen is checking in with Kelton for a status update, and sharing some advice about managing your own expectations.
3 Things We Did Right, and 3 Things We’d Change in our Garden Church ft. Jon
Jul 01, 2020
Show notes
It’s a project many of you have followed along with on Jen’s social media. Now we’re finally sharing all the nitty-gritty details about the Garden Church in the #StaggReno backyard! We’ve gotten lots of questions over the past few weeks about this one. We posted a companion webisode on Instagram documenting how Jen and Jon built the structure. Now in this podcast episode, they’re sharing what went right, what they’d change and what they’re loving about this backyard sanctuary.
Being Brave With Color in Your Home ft. Cara Newhart
Jun 17, 2020
Show notes
When you’re starting out on a new project, it can be tempting to stick to things you know. But for Cara Newhart at @neverskipbrunch being brave always has benefits! She’s a big proponent of making bold decisions in both design and life. That’s part of why she left a career in the energy industry to pursue her passion of DIY and home decor. Now she’s on a crusade to empower other women to pick up those power tools and finish projects all on their own! On this episode, she and Jen are talking about the best ways to make bold color choices in your home, and how to get started on your DIY journey if you don’t have much experience.
The Importance of Elevating Black Voices ft. Shavonda Gardner
Jun 10, 2020
Show notes
We’ve been trying a lot harder to listen this week. In the wake of the death of George Floyd and protests against police brutality sweeping across the country, we have felt the weight of knowing we need to do something more. The call for change is louder than ever. We hear it, and we want to do what we can to amplify it. That’s why we’re inviting back one of our favorite guests from a past episode. Shavonda Gardner is an extremely talented interior designer. She’s also a black woman in a predominantly white space. In this episode, we’re handing the microphone over to her. She’s sharing an important message, one we think we all need to hear.
Renovating a Home During a Pandemic ft. Kelton
May 27, 2020
Show notes
If you’ve ever renovated a home, you know problems always come up. (And they’re never ones you were anticipating.) But when our podcast producer bought a fixer-upper earlier this year, he never could have imagined a global pandemic would interfere with his remodeling schedule. This project has been full of surprises. Some good. (Like finding designer-grade supplies on a budget). And some bad. (Overpowering animal odors anyone?) On this episode, Jen is chatting with Kelton Wells about how he prioritized spaces in this renovation, and the biggest hurdle in transforming this house into his ideal home.
Designing a Kitchen Full of Memories ft. Maria Lichty
May 20, 2020
Show notes
You’ve heard us say it before (and we’ll probably say it again), good homes help you easily create memories. That’s exactly what happens in the kitchen of Maria Lichty. She’s the brains behind the popular Instagram account, blog, and cookbook “Two Peas and Their Pod”. Her recipes are delectable showstoppers while still being approachable – much like Maria herself. She believes everyone can cook, and she’s on a journey to help everyone connect with their inner chef. In this episode, she and Jen are discussing the ways your kitchen can become the most important place in your home.
She started blogging shortly after marrying her husband, Josh, when people started asking for the recipes she served at her wedding. (She prepared all the food herself, by the way.)
Along the way she has amassed quite the following, and it’s no surprise why. I mean, just look at all these amazing treats she has cooked up!
These days her two favorite kitchen helpers are her sons, Caleb and Maxwell.
It is obvious the heart of Maria’s home is her kitchen. It is welcoming, open and organized… the perfect place to whip up a batch of your favorite treats!
But the most impressive part of her kitchen, is this wall of KitchenAid mixers. If this doesn’t bring you joy, we’re not sure what will.
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