Home: The Second Story

We answer three homeowner questions that come up often during design and construction: how to handle change orders, how to design a house around real life, and how much resale value should influence personal design decisions.

We start with an ADU owner who has received several change orders, including a $7,000 increase for tile and fixtures selected from the builder's own options. We explain that allowances need to be realistic and itemized from the beginning. A single $52,000 finish allowance does not tell an owner whether the budget for plumbing, lighting, appliances, tile, or other finishes is reasonable. When...

A homeowner does not need a finished plan before calling an architect. In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we start with a Springhouse Architects client who knew they wanted to change their home but could not yet say what problem they were trying to solve. We walked through the house with them, learned how their family uses it, and developed a master plan.

After considering several ideas and pricing different options, the clients chose a porch addition. It would give them outdoor space and change the front of the house without committing to a...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, Sheri Scott and Marilyn Moedinger talk with Jenn, a homeowner in Farmersville, Ohio, who built a custom home on 10 acres near Dayton. Jenn’s project moved quickly. The build took about eight months, and the whole process from plans to move-in was about 10 months.

Jenn had a unique perspective because she works for Sheri at Springhouse Architects. She did not go through the full architecture process in the usual way. Looking back, she says she would have paid for the full experience. She saw firsthand how much architects help cl...

Built-ins are one of the most loved parts of a custom home, and for good reason. They are furniture, cabinetry, shelving, storage, and architectural features that become part of the house itself. Kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities count, but when most people talk about built-ins, they mean the fun pieces: bookcases, mudroom storage, pantry systems, bars, room dividers, fireplace walls, hidden doors, and custom storage moments.

A good built-in solves more than one problem. Sometimes it hides structure, a chase, or a mechanical need. Other times it turns an awkward space into something useful. In older homes...

Homeowner Beth joins us with her designer Linda to talk about a kitchen renovation that turned out beautifully, even though the process was far more difficult than expected. Beth had lived in her Lancaster, Pennsylvania home for 29 years and had wanted to remove the wall between her small kitchen and dining room for a long time. Once her husband agreed, she and Linda began interviewing builders. Beth chose the builder who seemed calm, reasonable, and willing to listen. The initial pricing was also lower than the other quotes.

Problems started once design began. Beth believed the builder...

Sometimes, a homeowner wants to use a construction method that is not common in their area. This could mean SIP construction, ICF, modular, masonry, post and beam, or another system outside of standard stick framing. The point is not to compare every building technology or decide which one is best. The real issue is how to know whether a different construction type makes sense for your project.

The first step is building the right team. Most residential construction in the United States is stick framing, so anything outside of that requires more care. The builder needs direct...

In this mailbag episode of Home: The Second Story, we answer three common questions about residential construction and renovation. We start with what happens when homeowners feel like they are managing the builder instead of the builder managing the project. We then talk about whether it is realistic to live in a house during a major renovation. Finally, we cover the early design decisions that can have the biggest impact on construction cost.

We first respond to a homeowner who feels like building a house has become a second full time job. Communication is slow, decisions happen...

How do I find a builder? In this snack size episode of Home: The Second Story, we start by making one thing clear. Clients do not need to come to an architect with a builder already picked out. Some people arrive with a builder in hand. Others come with no names at all. Both are fine. A good architect helps guide that decision and can share builders who have done strong work on similar projects. We also clarify that architects do not build the house, and we do not have financial partnerships with builders. The goal is to help...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, Sheri Scott and Marilyn Moedinger talk with Caleb Fetter, President and Managing Partner at RMS in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. RMS is an electrical services provider, lighting specifier, and technology integration company. As Caleb puts it, they are “not just the AV guys.”

Caleb explains why electrical, lighting, and technology planning need to happen much earlier in a custom home or renovation project than many homeowners expect. He says the ideal time is usually after schematic design, as the project moves into design development. That is when the architect, builder, client, and...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk about uncertainty and how much of it shows up when homeowners are deciding whether to renovate, build new, or take on a custom residential project. Big projects come with big unknowns. There is uncertainty in the market, in the environment, in pricing, in interest rates, and in our own lives. No one has a crystal ball. No architect can predict exactly what will happen with school systems, real estate, gas prices, construction costs, or a family’s future needs. What we do have is experience working inside uncertainty ev...

In this one-year anniversary episode of Home: The Second Story, we look back at what the podcast has taught us about homeowners, custom projects, and the conversations people need before they begin. The show started as a way to let past clients talk to future clients, because a homeowner’s voice lands differently than advice from an architect. Over the past year, that format has expanded to include homeowners, industry professionals, snack episodes, and mailbag questions. The goal is still the same: help people understand what a custom home or renovation really feels like before they are deep in it...

In our third mailbag episode, we answer three listener questions about hiring a builder, comparing bids, and knowing when plans are detailed enough for pricing. The first question asks what homeowners should ask builders beyond cost and schedule. We explain that homeowners need drawings before they interview builders, even if those drawings are preliminary. A builder cannot give meaningful feedback without seeing the scope. The interview should feel like a conversation, not a questionnaire. Good questions reveal how many projects the builder runs at once, who manages the site, how they communicate, and how they handle problems. Just as...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk about the difference between trendy and timeless design, and why that question comes up so often for homeowners. Clients often arrive with inspiration images, social media saves, and a real concern about making the wrong choice. When a renovation or new home takes major time, money, and resources, it makes sense to want the result to last. But timelessness is not as simple as avoiding trends.

Marilyn points out that many things now considered timeless were once trendy, unfamiliar, or even unpopular. Craftsman homes are a...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we welcome Craig Hyson and Nick Blessing from Pella Windows & Doors of Cincinnati. This conversation is for homeowners who are starting a custom home, a large renovation, or even a production build and want to understand how to make better decisions about windows and doors before they order anything.

Craig and Nick start with one of the most important points of the episode: the window itself matters, but the installation matters just as much. A high quality window can still fail if it is flashed incorrectly or installed poorly...

We talk about decision fatigue in home renovation and custom building, and why it catches so many homeowners off guard. The core issue is mental exhaustion. People already have full lives before a project starts, and then they are asked to make a long series of choices over many months. Some of those choices are big, like layout and room count. Others show up during construction and feel urgent. That steady pressure wears people down.

In a build or renovation, these are not simple or neutral decisions. They are emotional, personal, and often unfamiliar. Clients are making...

We talk with Patrick Paul about a Brooklyn gut renovation that began as something much smaller and turned into a much bigger project. Patrick bought a two-family home in a historic district in New York City after years of searching. He and his family used an FHA loan, lived with the risk of an as-is purchase, and took on a house that came with both DOB and landmark violations. The project started in November 2024, reached completion in July 2025, and, like many homes, still has work happening around the edges.

Patrick’s biggest lesson is that he wishes he...

In this snack-sized episode, we lay out three simple phrases that help when a construction project starts to feel tense or disorganized. The focus is not on winning an argument. It is on getting everyone back to the same set of facts so the team can move forward. The first phrase is, “Let’s look at the contract.” When communication breaks down or stress rises, the contract is often the best place to start. It defines what counts as completion, what counts as a delay, how payments work, and what happens when part of the work is in dispute. Instea...

In this episode, we talk with John and Lauren Katzman about building their custom multi-generational home in Powell, Ohio, just north of Columbus. Their project was a new build on five acres near a pond and woods. They began working with Sheri and Springhouse Architects well before construction started, and they broke ground in February 2020. About a month later, the pandemic hit. Even with that timing, they moved in by August 2021 and came away feeling supported and safe throughout the process.

John and Lauren built the house for their family and Lauren’s parents. The home includes a...

Today we focus on why HVAC design matters far earlier in a project than most homeowners expect. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning shape more than temperature. These systems affect comfort, humidity, indoor air quality, and even the long-term durability of a home. We stress that when HVAC is treated as an afterthought, the result is often awkward soffits, dropped ceilings, poor airflow, and systems that do not perform well. Our hosts also push back on the idea that modern homes are too tight. Houses are not the problem. Poorly designed ventilation is. A house still needs to breathe, but...

In this mailbag episode of Home: The Second Story, we answer three questions that come up early in almost every home project. First, we talk about the fear of missing hidden constraints before buying a property or committing to a renovation. We walk through the kinds of issues people should investigate early, including zoning, setbacks, easements, drainage, septic limitations, wells, and utility concerns. We explain that these questions often involve multiple layers of rules and that what looks simple on the surface can quickly become more complicated. Our main point is that bringing in an architect early can help...

We open this snack size episode by asking a simple but critical question. How do we estimate the cost of a renovation or new home when the design is still evolving? We explain that the conversation starts before someone even becomes a client. In our first discovery call, we ask three questions. What is the scope of the project, what is the timeline, and what is the budget. Most people say they do not know their budget because they do not know what things cost. We clarify that cost and budget are not the same. Budget is what you...

We talk with Cami Pinsak about a kitchen remodel in her 1950 ranch home in Camarillo, California, and the conversation turns into a very clear lesson about what happens when a homeowner tries to manage too much of a renovation alone. What began as a simple kitchen update, driven in part by the need for a new refrigerator, quickly expanded into a larger project with more decisions, more coordination, and more stress than expected. Cami explains that she and her husband had lived with a dated 1990s remodel for years, and once they finally committed to changing it, they moved...

In this episode, we take on a question we hear all the time: do you really need an architect? We explain that the answer is yes and no, because it depends on the type of project, the location, and what the homeowner is trying to achieve. Some jurisdictions require an architect for certain residential projects, especially when zoning analysis, change of use, or larger homes are involved. In places like Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and some municipalities in Ohio, even smaller projects may need an architect because of local rules.

From there, we shift the conversation from whether...

In our first mailbag episode, we answer four questions that come up all the time for homeowners who are trying to make smart decisions before starting a renovation or new build. We start with a question about whether a $300,000 renovation budget is realistic for a family hoping to update a kitchen, family room, and primary bath. We explain that there is no honest way to answer that without some level of professional input. A builder or architect needs real information before giving a meaningful number, and homeowners also need to understand that their total project budget is not the...

Today. we talk about regrets—specifically, the kinds of regrets homeowners have after a renovation or new home build—and why having some level of imperfection is inevitable. We start by setting expectations. There is no such thing as a perfect project, and believing that a renovation will magically make life perfect only sets people up for disappointment. Design and construction happen in the real world, which is messy, imperfect, and constantly changing. Giving yourself grace from the beginning is essential.

We explain that most regrets are avoidable if you have the right team, a thoughtful process, and...

This is Taylor's final episode on Home: The Second Story, and we use the moment to pull together the biggest lessons we have heard across roughly 40 conversations with homeowners. 

Call your architect or designer early, before you think you need one. Waiting too long often leads to surprises, disappointments, or expensive compromises. Also, architects do far more than draw plans. We help test whether a project is even viable, weigh tradeoffs, organize decisions, and guide clients through the emotional and practical side of the process. 

We talk about getting the big decisions right first, including si...

Choosing the right builder is one of the most critical — and most misunderstood — parts of any renovation or new home project: . We talk through how this decision can dramatically shape the project experience and why it's not just about cost. Across our different markets — from Boston to Cincinnati to Birmingham — we each see a range of approaches homeowners take when it comes to builder selection. But no matter where you are, the principles of making a smart choice are the same.

We agree that builder selection should be intentional, not impulsive. Too often, people pick a builder after a...

In this snack-size episode, we talk about quality of workmanship in residential construction and why it’s such a common source of stress for homeowners. We frame the conversation around punch lists, expectations, and the reality of how construction actually unfolds on site. We explain that workmanship doesn’t suddenly appear at the end of a project—it’s the result of decisions and care taken from the very beginning, starting with framing, sequencing, and the quality of subcontractors involved.

We spend time defining what a punch list is and why it matters. We describe it as the fina...

In this snack-size episode of Home: The Second Story, we dive into plumbing fixtures—how to choose them, what to avoid, and what we wish more homeowners knew before starting their projects. We walk through the entire selection process, starting from early space planning to detailed specifications and finishes. The big takeaway: start talking about plumbing fixtures early, especially if you’re dreaming of something unique, like a Japanese soaking tub or a stone monolith centerpiece. The sooner we know about your preferences, the better we can plan structurally and spatially.

We emphasize the importance of ease of u...

In this episode, we sit down with Antonia Botero to talk about designing and building her own home in Park City, Utah—a contemporary mountain house shaped by view, guidelines, risk, and a deep understanding of construction. We open by grounding the project: a new build that broke ground in May 2022 and wrapped up in August 2023, completed on an aggressive 13-month timeline in a post-COVID construction market. Antonia served as both architect of record and co–general contractor alongside her husband, bringing a commercial development mindset into a residential project.

We explore how the site and HOA desi...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we dive into the essential things we, as architects, look for when walking through a home with clients — especially those considering a renovation or major purchase. It's a question we get constantly: “What should I be looking for?” While we always stress that a home inspection is still critical, we share the practical, experience-based insights we bring when we tour homes ourselves.

We begin by separating needs from wants. Clients often conflate the two, but knowing the difference upfront can help manage expectations and budgets. Then, we focu...

This episode brings us a new perspective - someone who has been in their home for nearly two decades. Today, we sit down with Scott Choppin, a Long Beach, California homeowner who completed a full scrape-and-rebuild of his family home nearly twenty years ago. We explore what it means to live with your design decisions over the long term and how perspective changes when you’ve raised a family in the house you built from scratch. Scott’s project is a 4,600-square-foot Spanish-style home built on a 5,000-square-foot lot in Belmont Shore, replacing a modest 1940s house that no long...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we dive into what it really means to “spend wisely” when renovating or building a home. As always, the three of us—Sheri Scott, Marilyn Moedinger, and Taylor Davis—bring our own experiences as architects into the conversation. While “wise” spending is inherently subjective, we agree that aligning financial decisions with individual priorities and long-term goals is key.

We begin by discussing the concept of a master plan. Sheri shares a real-life client example where the dream design exceeded the budget. Instead of scaling back arbitrarily, we advised investing in...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we sit down with Trevor from Pensacola, Florida, to unpack the highs and lows of building a custom home in the aftermath of COVID. What starts as a promising project—a new build on recently purchased land near the coast—soon evolves into a cautionary tale about mismatched expectations, supply chain chaos, and the essential need for a strong, consistent advocate throughout a construction project.

Trevor and his wife worked with a talented home designer to create custom plans and brought in an exceptional interior designer early in the proc...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we dive into one of the most deceptively complex design topics: the entryway. Sheri, Taylor, and Marilyn explore how the front entry is far more than just a threshold—it’s a critical transition space that balances function, privacy, beauty, and identity.

We each bring regional and architectural perspectives to the conversation. From Marilyn’s tight urban renovations in Boston, where front yards are rare and entries often lead directly into the living space, to Sheri’s multi-acre ground-up projects in Cincinnati, and Taylor’s context in Birmingham where fron...

In this episode, we sit down with Carol Walsh, a homeowner and realtor from rural Monterey County, California, who recently completed a full kitchen renovation — largely on her own terms. The kitchen transformation wasn't just about aesthetics. It was also a capstone project for her coursework in historic preservation, making the renovation both personal and educational. What started as a theoretical school assignment quickly turned into a real-life remodel when Carol and her husband decided to invest in enjoying their kitchen before potentially selling the home.

We walk through the scope of the project, from its outdated 1975 ye...

In this special snack-sized wrap-up episode, we look back on the first six months of Home: The Second Story and reflect on the key lessons we've gathered from the homeowners we've interviewed. As three architects with decades of combined experience, we set out to demystify the renovation and new build process, and what we've heard over and over again from our guests has both validated and deepened our understanding of the homeowner experience.

One of the most consistent themes from our conversations was that homeowners don’t need to have all the answers at the start. You do...

In this special holiday episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk about the impact of the holiday season on residential architecture — both in how homes function and how clients think about their spaces. As residential architects, this time of year brings a unique set of challenges and insights. The conversation starts with a shared reality: everyone wants to be “in by the holidays,” but timelines rarely allow for that. Finishing construction projects in December is complicated by shorter days, worker availability, and seasonal slowdowns across permitting and trade schedules. We often find ourselves having to reset expectations around what’s...

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we shift gears from our usual format and instead take a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in our practices right now. This is the kind of conversation we usually have among ourselves—comparing notes, sharing site challenges, and navigating the daily curveballs of architectural work. We figured it was time to let listeners in on that part of the story too.

Sheri kicks things off with a construction tale from a high-end custom home in Columbus, Ohio. The project includes modern detailing with integral gutters—beautiful in theory...

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk with Mark LePage, architect, podcaster, and founder of EntreArchitect. We start by exploring Mark’s deep ties to the architecture community, including how he brought our three hosts together through the mastermind groups of the EntreArchitect Academy. Mark shares how the desire to improve how architects talk about business led him to launch a blog in 2007, which ultimately became a thriving podcast and online resource that has impacted thousands. 

We then dive into Mark’s personal journey renovating a 1934 stucco cottage in Chappaqua, New York. He and his w...