About two years ago, we found out that the wood retaining wall under our deck was rotting and needed to be replaced. That meant ripping out the fence, the stairs from the deck down to the lawn, and all the overgrown bushes along the back of the house. Our house is a series of weird angles (we think the architect was drunk when he designed it), which the overgrown brush covered up to some extent (at least in that area), so thinking about what we would build in its place made my head spin. In some ways, I preferred to keep the old with the possibility of something better in the future, rather than trying to figure out what that “something better” actually was.
I love how Mike’s Pandemic Project turned out. It feels like a fresh update to your backyard and seems to fit the house well.
We have slowly renovated a late-1980s tract house over the past 15+ years. We initially planned to stay in this house for five years then move to something “bigger/better,” but real estate prices in California got (even more) insane and a bigger/better property wasn’t reasonable.
What I’ve learned through our many renovations is that you can learn to re-love a home you thought you would be ready to leave. Remodeling allows you to choose the exact finishes you want instead of settling for what’s already installed in the bigger/better home. Plus, I agree with Mike when he says that updating kitchens and baths will make a future sale easier and possibly more profitable. We’ve also gotten creative in repurposing rooms as our family’s needs have changed. The “bonus room” has lived many different lives as a gym, craft room, playroom, guest room and now a teen hangout.
I think our society is always pushing the idea that you need to move up to that bigger/better house. Do I sometimes wish for more closets or a different floor plan? Yes. But we’ve made so many memories here over the years, and working with what we’ve had has made us appreciate what we have. We thought we’d only live here for a short time, but instead my sons will graduate from high school in a few years having lived in one house their whole lives. (I lived in nine houses in four different states as a kid, so this is a novel concept for me.) Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t stretch for the bigger/better house because the changes we were able to make to this house have made it truly feel like home.
I love your house and apartment, and to me, I’ve been envious of you having the best of both worlds, the city and a wonderful get away home. I always rave about husbands who can fix and do anything, like my Dad, and as a kid I would tell all my friends that he could fix anything. Your children are so lucky to be able to be exposed to both worlds, and wonderful parents who are able to give them that. Believe me when I say that I look at your homes the way you look at those other homes. Someone once told me that others love what you have, just like you love what others have. So we should be happy with what we have and I know you are. My Mom and Dad lived in the same house after I was born for 50 years, and when they were gone and I sold it, they completely renovated it. I was lucky to be able to go in to see it, and it looked amazing. I think my parents would be amazed. The great story about your Dad and your apartment is incredible, and I’d never get rid of it. I love NY, and love how you show us all the wonders of both worlds. aka @aerolady
Mike's project turned out beautifully. This whole post really speaks to me. We seem to be at a crossroads too and aren't sure what direction we are going.
We bought my childhood home from my parents and have done projects here and there to make it our own. Floors, windows, AC, tankless water heater (all the expensive needed updates that no one can see) and finally started on projects that transform the space.
But in the time we have done that, we have discovered our family's beliefs and values don't really jive with being in a deeply conservative red state. So now we are feeling a bit lost. We had grand plans for a two-story addition to our current house, even paid for the architect, and had a contractor ready to go, but we have put that on hold as we research where we can move. I have had to limit my reno TikTok because I know we can't pour money into this place when I know more than likely we will be leaving soon.
I love love love the work Mike did and can appreciate it given I, too, have a home improvement husband. And I totally get your whole dilemma, as we stayed in the same suburban home for 14 years (was supposed to be 5) and it doesn’t really have much of anything I love except all the family memories that nobody in my family wants to abandon (esp since one has left the best and 2 are 3 years out…) so here we stay. We recently bought a beach property and I absolutely love it! It was just about fully renovated (although the hubs has come up with several projects) but like you, I find myself dreaming about the tik tok prooerited and Reno’s. And then I realized what an asshat I am. I mean, I own TWO homes and have three amazing kids and a husband and a dog to enjoy making memories with and we’re all healthy and sheesh, I am so thankful. I mean, I still want a mudroom and a pool and to be directly on the beach but really, who cares, my love is pretty awesome and I have y’all to listen to me whine without judgment…right? Enjoy the time with the kids and the efforts of the hubs, we are really just so, so lucky!
For what it’s worth, my family *was* “stuck in the city during the pandemic,” in a little apartment in Queens with no outdoor space, and it was really fucking hard. I had to stop reading the New York Times real estate section (it was all about people who had left the city) and stop looking at the Instagram accounts of people who had second homes or suburban homes 😭 So I know you know your house is a blessing, but in case you needed confirmation!
My husband's family has a cottage on the North Fork of Long Island (so we could wave to you from across the Peconic Bay) and it's a literal sardine can. I LOVE being out there -- the beach is lovely and the bay is amazing for kids (no worries about riptides!) and lots of farms and vineyards. But I CAN'T STAND the living quarters. It now belongs to my husband's mom & uncle and they will NEVER renovate but I'm hoping down the line when it belongs to us we can knock it down and build a proper home that I'd be comfortable staying at for weeks at a time if needbe. I think the renovations look beautiful. Having a place to escape to is a very special thing for you and your family :)
It looks very good, I'm kind of like Mike, I like to take things in my hands and do something. I bought the tools and fixed and installed a bunch of things in my house because I was tired of always having to pay someone. I am searching for my first apartment with my girlfriend, and boy, it's difficult. I am trying to make the list of what I think it's in important in a house, like you thought about after you already had the house, but also, what neighborhoods I'm open to live plus what we have the money for. It's tiring.
From the photos, I like the odd style of your house and thought this garden that Mike made really changed the landscape.
I’m with you on middleaged women and real estate porn 😭. We are in a conundrum over whether to renovate our starter home, or leave it be and possibly get a weekend home upstate. All of which are privileged options of course in the grand scheme of things. Loved what you said about nurturing what you have than coveting what’s out of reach, puts things in perspective.
We are in a similar situation, house-wise. We were kind of forced into buying a home this past summer due to our rental home being sold during the pandemic housing explosion. We had 30 days to find a house in the gated community we live in and love, during one of the hardest economic hardships we have ever been in, while there were almost zero houses for sale and the only ones left were waaaaay out of our price range. I refused to move out of our community, because I love it dearly, so it was a struggle. We got very lucky and met someone who hadn't put their house on the market yet and swooped in to buy it at a reasonable price before it was snatched from us.
Turns out we bought a money pit. We thought we were getting so lucky getting a Lakeview (only in the winter) hillside (read: 45 degree slope for the entire property) 1970s (dry rot, neglect, diy updated) house we could make our own.
We are currently on the retaining wall portion of the outdoor work, because there are horrible drainage issues due to the last owner ripping out all the old walls, all the foliage, and just letting water run off the hill and straight into the foundation. Everyone says to DIY to save money, but I truly believe after all this that DIY is actually for rich people, and we are NOT.
We are about 4 hours from NYC, so our little luxury community has EXPLODED with NYC transplants. While some of the older residents are very concerned with all the change, it has been such a positive experience for the community as a whole. Yall came crashing into our fancy little lakeside destination, and since then we have finally been rocketed into modern times. Before the pandemic, we didn't have food delivery, grocery delivery, modern conveniences, etc. We have all that now, and so much more. Our property values have sky rocketed, we have had more tourism than any time in tbe recent past, and an influx of new and interesting people that I'm so thankful for!
Also, if you ever decide that you want to move permanently out of the city, you should come here. You've already got a built in friend (me) and plenty of other transplants, cost of living is astronomically cheaper, and all you have to do is jump on 80 and drive back to the city if need be lol. Ideally, you will do this before my own 11 year old daughter decides we need to move to NYC (I've taken her several times and she is definitely born to be a city girl).
If only I had Mike's dedication towards a project, I'd be doing wonders. Also, you always wanted grass between the steps. I remember you blogged about it how you saw it in Bali & loved it.
I haven't had much to say about tv shows or raising kids as I am not a mom yet, but this past November my partner and I bought a hole in the wall they told us was a condo and spent about 90k renovating the 1100 sq feet top to bottom.
Home renovations are literally the wildest ride. Take you expectations, lower them and then cut them in half. Have a plan A, plan B and possibly down to a plan G. Yes, experts help, but they are human and many people will tell you more money doesn't really buy you that much better contractors!!
We lived with my sister and her partner in a two bedroom condo for 4 months while we watched our hole in the wall have asbestos removed, concrete floors repoured, walls ripped out, electric rewired and tiling go in. We started a little bit before the construction/ housing market boom of the pandemic in our area and we were lucky to move in about 5 months after closing.
It is amazing how indecision can be the anthesis of progress and risk can feel like 4 steps in the wrong direction instead of a measured two steps sideways and possibly 10 steps forward.
All of this to say, we have a saying in my family... when my mom met my dad she lived in a small townhouse in a not great part of town, but she owned it and it was good enough for her. When they married he convinced her to sell it and move into a single family home in a slightly better part of town. Without him, she would still be in the townhouse on Yakona road. My dad is a 10 solutions to every problem kind of guy, while my mom is a 1 in the hand is better than 2 in the bush kind of person. So when a family member has a risk situation we say "You could still be living on Yakona road." But it's awesome that my parents took the risk, the leap and still challenge each other in different ways.
Maybe that's why I bought a 200k hole in the wall, put 90k of work into it and ended up with an awesome place to live despite covid, pinched pennies, bad contractors and tears!!!!
Wow. Mike did an amazing job. Sometimes it’s hard to see the potential. And I totally get the nervousness about putting money into something that you may not want to keep. We are in a similar situation since we are actually thinking about moving out of state. Can’t wait to see the kitchen and bathroom remodels. Hang in there. It’ll all work out. 😍
Having seen Mikes pandemic project, I can attest to the fact that it is fabulous! It looks professional and well designed. It was well worth the time and effort. It seems that no matter where we are in life, there always seem to be greener pastures.
I love how Mike’s Pandemic Project turned out. It feels like a fresh update to your backyard and seems to fit the house well.
We have slowly renovated a late-1980s tract house over the past 15+ years. We initially planned to stay in this house for five years then move to something “bigger/better,” but real estate prices in California got (even more) insane and a bigger/better property wasn’t reasonable.
What I’ve learned through our many renovations is that you can learn to re-love a home you thought you would be ready to leave. Remodeling allows you to choose the exact finishes you want instead of settling for what’s already installed in the bigger/better home. Plus, I agree with Mike when he says that updating kitchens and baths will make a future sale easier and possibly more profitable. We’ve also gotten creative in repurposing rooms as our family’s needs have changed. The “bonus room” has lived many different lives as a gym, craft room, playroom, guest room and now a teen hangout.
I think our society is always pushing the idea that you need to move up to that bigger/better house. Do I sometimes wish for more closets or a different floor plan? Yes. But we’ve made so many memories here over the years, and working with what we’ve had has made us appreciate what we have. We thought we’d only live here for a short time, but instead my sons will graduate from high school in a few years having lived in one house their whole lives. (I lived in nine houses in four different states as a kid, so this is a novel concept for me.) Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t stretch for the bigger/better house because the changes we were able to make to this house have made it truly feel like home.
I love your house and apartment, and to me, I’ve been envious of you having the best of both worlds, the city and a wonderful get away home. I always rave about husbands who can fix and do anything, like my Dad, and as a kid I would tell all my friends that he could fix anything. Your children are so lucky to be able to be exposed to both worlds, and wonderful parents who are able to give them that. Believe me when I say that I look at your homes the way you look at those other homes. Someone once told me that others love what you have, just like you love what others have. So we should be happy with what we have and I know you are. My Mom and Dad lived in the same house after I was born for 50 years, and when they were gone and I sold it, they completely renovated it. I was lucky to be able to go in to see it, and it looked amazing. I think my parents would be amazed. The great story about your Dad and your apartment is incredible, and I’d never get rid of it. I love NY, and love how you show us all the wonders of both worlds. aka @aerolady
Mike's project turned out beautifully. This whole post really speaks to me. We seem to be at a crossroads too and aren't sure what direction we are going.
We bought my childhood home from my parents and have done projects here and there to make it our own. Floors, windows, AC, tankless water heater (all the expensive needed updates that no one can see) and finally started on projects that transform the space.
But in the time we have done that, we have discovered our family's beliefs and values don't really jive with being in a deeply conservative red state. So now we are feeling a bit lost. We had grand plans for a two-story addition to our current house, even paid for the architect, and had a contractor ready to go, but we have put that on hold as we research where we can move. I have had to limit my reno TikTok because I know we can't pour money into this place when I know more than likely we will be leaving soon.
I love love love the work Mike did and can appreciate it given I, too, have a home improvement husband. And I totally get your whole dilemma, as we stayed in the same suburban home for 14 years (was supposed to be 5) and it doesn’t really have much of anything I love except all the family memories that nobody in my family wants to abandon (esp since one has left the best and 2 are 3 years out…) so here we stay. We recently bought a beach property and I absolutely love it! It was just about fully renovated (although the hubs has come up with several projects) but like you, I find myself dreaming about the tik tok prooerited and Reno’s. And then I realized what an asshat I am. I mean, I own TWO homes and have three amazing kids and a husband and a dog to enjoy making memories with and we’re all healthy and sheesh, I am so thankful. I mean, I still want a mudroom and a pool and to be directly on the beach but really, who cares, my love is pretty awesome and I have y’all to listen to me whine without judgment…right? Enjoy the time with the kids and the efforts of the hubs, we are really just so, so lucky!
For what it’s worth, my family *was* “stuck in the city during the pandemic,” in a little apartment in Queens with no outdoor space, and it was really fucking hard. I had to stop reading the New York Times real estate section (it was all about people who had left the city) and stop looking at the Instagram accounts of people who had second homes or suburban homes 😭 So I know you know your house is a blessing, but in case you needed confirmation!
My husband's family has a cottage on the North Fork of Long Island (so we could wave to you from across the Peconic Bay) and it's a literal sardine can. I LOVE being out there -- the beach is lovely and the bay is amazing for kids (no worries about riptides!) and lots of farms and vineyards. But I CAN'T STAND the living quarters. It now belongs to my husband's mom & uncle and they will NEVER renovate but I'm hoping down the line when it belongs to us we can knock it down and build a proper home that I'd be comfortable staying at for weeks at a time if needbe. I think the renovations look beautiful. Having a place to escape to is a very special thing for you and your family :)
It looks very good, I'm kind of like Mike, I like to take things in my hands and do something. I bought the tools and fixed and installed a bunch of things in my house because I was tired of always having to pay someone. I am searching for my first apartment with my girlfriend, and boy, it's difficult. I am trying to make the list of what I think it's in important in a house, like you thought about after you already had the house, but also, what neighborhoods I'm open to live plus what we have the money for. It's tiring.
From the photos, I like the odd style of your house and thought this garden that Mike made really changed the landscape.
I’m with you on middleaged women and real estate porn 😭. We are in a conundrum over whether to renovate our starter home, or leave it be and possibly get a weekend home upstate. All of which are privileged options of course in the grand scheme of things. Loved what you said about nurturing what you have than coveting what’s out of reach, puts things in perspective.
Mike is a talent! I love your garden every time you post about it. It causes me house envy lol
Mike is a master! I love your garden every time you post about it. It causes me house envy lol
That looks so absolutely amazing 👏
We are in a similar situation, house-wise. We were kind of forced into buying a home this past summer due to our rental home being sold during the pandemic housing explosion. We had 30 days to find a house in the gated community we live in and love, during one of the hardest economic hardships we have ever been in, while there were almost zero houses for sale and the only ones left were waaaaay out of our price range. I refused to move out of our community, because I love it dearly, so it was a struggle. We got very lucky and met someone who hadn't put their house on the market yet and swooped in to buy it at a reasonable price before it was snatched from us.
Turns out we bought a money pit. We thought we were getting so lucky getting a Lakeview (only in the winter) hillside (read: 45 degree slope for the entire property) 1970s (dry rot, neglect, diy updated) house we could make our own.
We are currently on the retaining wall portion of the outdoor work, because there are horrible drainage issues due to the last owner ripping out all the old walls, all the foliage, and just letting water run off the hill and straight into the foundation. Everyone says to DIY to save money, but I truly believe after all this that DIY is actually for rich people, and we are NOT.
We are about 4 hours from NYC, so our little luxury community has EXPLODED with NYC transplants. While some of the older residents are very concerned with all the change, it has been such a positive experience for the community as a whole. Yall came crashing into our fancy little lakeside destination, and since then we have finally been rocketed into modern times. Before the pandemic, we didn't have food delivery, grocery delivery, modern conveniences, etc. We have all that now, and so much more. Our property values have sky rocketed, we have had more tourism than any time in tbe recent past, and an influx of new and interesting people that I'm so thankful for!
Also, if you ever decide that you want to move permanently out of the city, you should come here. You've already got a built in friend (me) and plenty of other transplants, cost of living is astronomically cheaper, and all you have to do is jump on 80 and drive back to the city if need be lol. Ideally, you will do this before my own 11 year old daughter decides we need to move to NYC (I've taken her several times and she is definitely born to be a city girl).
If only I had Mike's dedication towards a project, I'd be doing wonders. Also, you always wanted grass between the steps. I remember you blogged about it how you saw it in Bali & loved it.
I haven't had much to say about tv shows or raising kids as I am not a mom yet, but this past November my partner and I bought a hole in the wall they told us was a condo and spent about 90k renovating the 1100 sq feet top to bottom.
Home renovations are literally the wildest ride. Take you expectations, lower them and then cut them in half. Have a plan A, plan B and possibly down to a plan G. Yes, experts help, but they are human and many people will tell you more money doesn't really buy you that much better contractors!!
We lived with my sister and her partner in a two bedroom condo for 4 months while we watched our hole in the wall have asbestos removed, concrete floors repoured, walls ripped out, electric rewired and tiling go in. We started a little bit before the construction/ housing market boom of the pandemic in our area and we were lucky to move in about 5 months after closing.
It is amazing how indecision can be the anthesis of progress and risk can feel like 4 steps in the wrong direction instead of a measured two steps sideways and possibly 10 steps forward.
All of this to say, we have a saying in my family... when my mom met my dad she lived in a small townhouse in a not great part of town, but she owned it and it was good enough for her. When they married he convinced her to sell it and move into a single family home in a slightly better part of town. Without him, she would still be in the townhouse on Yakona road. My dad is a 10 solutions to every problem kind of guy, while my mom is a 1 in the hand is better than 2 in the bush kind of person. So when a family member has a risk situation we say "You could still be living on Yakona road." But it's awesome that my parents took the risk, the leap and still challenge each other in different ways.
Maybe that's why I bought a 200k hole in the wall, put 90k of work into it and ended up with an awesome place to live despite covid, pinched pennies, bad contractors and tears!!!!
Great work Mike, we knew you could do it.
I related to this story on many levels. Thank you for telling it. The garden looks amazing. Mike should be proud!
Wow. Mike did an amazing job. Sometimes it’s hard to see the potential. And I totally get the nervousness about putting money into something that you may not want to keep. We are in a similar situation since we are actually thinking about moving out of state. Can’t wait to see the kitchen and bathroom remodels. Hang in there. It’ll all work out. 😍
Having seen Mikes pandemic project, I can attest to the fact that it is fabulous! It looks professional and well designed. It was well worth the time and effort. It seems that no matter where we are in life, there always seem to be greener pastures.