Fall 2025 Masterclass Q & A

Do you think of your mid-century home as historic? Maybe you don't. After all, MCM stands for mid-century MODERN. But these houses are all 50 to 75 years old at this point. That's getting up there! Because of that, I am bringing you a conversation with my favorite expert on caring for historic homes, Scott Sidler, the historic window whisperer. In his opinion, mid-century homes and our original windows may or may not be obviously historic.And we are really on the same page about the intended permanence of mid-century houses and everything built before. They were meant to be repaired and maintained for long periods of time. As far as Scott and I are concerned, this is where historic and mid-century are perfectly aligned. I wasn't halfway through this conversation before I started to wonder to myself, did we just become best friends?In Today's Episode You'll Hear:How Scott went from Disney performer to historic window wizard. Why your windows might be experimental rather than historic. Where to find the right methods and materials to keep your original windows in service for years to come. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2301Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

What makes mid-century furniture so great? And which pieces might you want to hunt down for your house? Whether you are looking for high quality comfort or something to your mid-century cool factor, your dream mid-century furniture piece is out there…no matter your budget. In Today's Episode You'll Learn:All about some classic MCM pieces. Where to find originals and licenced reproductions. How to get the right vibe with modern designs. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2223Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Arranging furniture in a mid-century home is about more than just fitting pieces into a room. It’s about creating flow, function, and style.In today's episode you'll learn:Where furniture might solve your layout challenges. How to use furniture to create inviting spaces.Why (furniture) size matters in your mid-century home. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2222Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Let's talk mid-century light fixtures. Here’s my best advice on choosing great mid-century light fixtures, identifying classic mid-century lighting designs, and sourcing fixtures from estate sales, vintage shops, and modern reproduction stores.In Today's Episode You'll Hear:Why lighting is a key element of your style guide. How to choose the right fixtures for your home and style. Where to source vintage and new “old” light fixtures. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2221. Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Lighting in a mid-century home was part of personalizing the house. Choosing your lights went along with choosing your furniture or art. Which means there are often few wired in lights in homes built in that era. So, what’s a modern mid-century homeowner to do about lighting?In Today's Episode You'll Hear:Why you don’t need all those can lights.Which lighting you need in a given area.Where to start applying lighting theory in you mid-century home. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2220Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

I have to admit being a reluctant provider of gift guides. The “check your inbox”, “must have gift lists” and “buying guides” kind of give me the ick. Especially since we've just been hounded by all of this Black Friday Energy, all of this “buy right now energy”. Today I'm going to take a slightly different approach to the nature of a gift guide, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, that you already know you can gift someone more than an object. But sometimes the “what” of it all is the challenge. In Today's Episode You'll Hear:When a movie night might be the perfect mid-century gift. How to ensure you get your picky mid mod connoisseur the perfect vintage find. Where to find great mid mod inspired stuff for when gifting stuff is the right move.Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2219. Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Thanksgiving is here! And while the holidays bring their fair share of chaos, they’re also the perfect opportunity to rethink how your home works for you. From design tips to thoughtful additions, here’s how to turn the hustle and bustle of the holidays into a launchpad for your dream mid-century home.Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2218Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

I love a good Q&A session! During the masterclass and design clinics I make (and honor!) a promise to answer every attendee question. This last session lasted AS LONG AS THE CLASS. And everyone stayed up to the end.  It was a great Q & A. So, I'm going to share it with you!This episode is packed with answers to some of the most frequent questions I get, including:Which tile patterns are appropriate in MCM kitchens? Which types of flooring work for mid-century homes? Where to source wood paneling? Catch the most recent masterclass right here!Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Let's get the scary part out of the way first. Your mid-century house, the one you love for its charm and quirks, does not comply with the modern building code. Now, no one is going to knock on your door tomorrow demanding you rewire every outlet in the house. Your home is currently grandfathered into every code statute written and approved after the day it was built. This status is a free pass for your house to just exist ... until you decide it's time to actually start remodeling.In Today's Episode You'll Hear:Why your home's grandfathered status ends the moment you start remodeling.What the building code is really for (hint: the answer is not “making your life difficult”).How code compliance requirements create design opportunities.Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2216Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

Where are all my history nerds? Raise your hands. This week is for you. I’m talking historic maps, digitized collections and crowd-sourced cartography projects. I KNOW! Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are large-scale maps created to help fire insurance agents determine the risk associated with properties. They contain a surprising amount of detail about a building's size, shape, construction materials, and fire protection systems that might just help you plan a great remodel. In Today's Episode You'll Hear:What old insurance maps can tell you about your home and neighborhood. How old maps might save your garage.Other surprising places to look to learn about your home’s history. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2215Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.