The thing I've learned as a home owner is that, whatever you think it will cost, it's going to cost double. So, aim for something that only costs half of your maximum budget.
This is the absolute truth. And with current prices a contractor cannot give you an absolute price. Doing it yourself will still probably be close to Triple the budget before it is all said and done. We remodeled before COVID hit and it was exactly double what we thought it would cost .
Your content is so fun and valuable but I gotta say- your channel is straight up eye candy. The lighting, the music, the fonts, the color palette, the backgrounds- all your effort and the beauty of these details make an exceptional product. An XOMac video is a beautiful place to be.
You are so good at this, and by “this” I mean, the renovation, your skills at presenting, your editing skills, all of it. I can totally see you with your own tv show and I will be there for it. Love your channel and all you do. Thank you for entertaining me, I’m loving it and can’t wait to see what unfolds next. Love from the UK. xx
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate Macenna's passion and work ethic?! GURL you are so spontaneous, creative, hardworking giving us all the content on your main channel and vlog channel while in the process of renovating your house?! Props to you and so excited for the upcoming intermission of thrift flips and room decor :]
Back in the 1960s when my folks were building their house my brother and me helped our folks do tons of work on the inside such as sanding trim and molding and baseboards and doors and wood floors. We stained the floors and paneling and did the varnish on all things wooden. Working together as a family saved money but what it meant to us as a family was far more valuable. I'm sure that you all have discovered this truth in doing your renovations. The results will stand the test of time and become bonus prizes one day should you still have the house and your family no longer be around. Memories are golden. I wish you and your family the best of times with good health and safety and happiness. ...I richly enjoy your channel. Thank you.
🚨As someone who lives In an old house, make sure you check the main house for any and all holes that could allow insects, snakes, or mice in!! It’s rat snake season, and they’re making their ways indoors!! (We had three that made their way into the house, and our house is about the same age as yours!😭)
When my husband and I were renovating our home, we (he) decided to do the wooden floors ourselves - sanding, staining, finishing. Oh my gosh, it was such a disaster. We wasted so much time, money, energy and went through hours and hours bent over on our hands and knees doing back breaking work and in the end, we gave up :( We got floating floorboards put over the top as we had really messed up our floors. It was a big lesson for us and we wish we had researched much better and had just hired a pro from the beginning and then tackled an easier project for ourselves. T'was the great floor debacle of 2019!
@@darkpathos It stinks that AmRodriguez had a rough time. I refinished my floors by myself and in my opinion, anyone can do it! I rented a drum sander and an edge sander from Home Depot. Watch some videos but my main advice is, do not stop moving while the sander is on. Staining and Finishing took a long time and it was important that we weren't living there because it was STINKY! It may seem daunting but watch videos get the RIGHT equipment and it will work!
You can also sell or let others salvage stuff that you don't want. It stops it going to landfill and reduces your waste disposal costs. I managed to sell a 20 year old basic builder grade kitchen, plus saved the cost of a skip to dump it in. We also were happy for "skip divers" to help themselves to old radiators and windows. It freed up more space for us
MaCenna, you are one of my favorite humans ever! It so funny you mentioned about how you have had your moments of stress and tears because I was literally just thinking about your videos like yesterday and how stressful it must be but you never let it show! You are always so positive and Inspiring! I watch every single one of you videos! Thanks for all you do! ❤️
I've been watching you for while (years) and I love your vision. Had I found it 30 years ago you and I would be besties. I'm now 62 and try to incorporate your ideas. We are in no whey moving to a new cottage but your inspiration encourages me to rethink. I love your vision Girl go with it...I'm along for the ride.
This is THE most valuable series on UA-cam right now! I've always dreamed of renovating an old house, and this is such a great way to kinda experience the process of it before I even buy a house.
What a fantastic video. I am truly enjoying this series! I don't know what's more awesome: the progress being made on the house, or the personal transformation it is bringing out in you. It is so apparent how much this project means to you, and how much it is helping you in experience and confidence. Watching you demo a whole kitchen or reframe it WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, i couldn't help but think, "Wow, she's come so far from just hot gluing rattan on a flower pot." You should be SO PROUD of yourself. 🖤
You are a true inspiration to us all😃. I am just so impressed by everything that you have been able to do your self. I love watching these videos plus the thrift shopping 😄😄😄. Have a wonderful week. Xoxo 💞💖💞
Sundays aren't complete without your video! Was waiting for it the whole day and got low key worried about you, please take real good care of yourself, I can't even imagine how tiring renovating a house must be, let alone vlog about it! As much as I love your content, your health is much more important! Thank you for taking us along on this lovely journey. ❤
I have been saving ideas on Pinterest for my future home and these are some that I really love. If you are painting your doors and/or baseboards; spray them; don't brush them. You get a smoother finish and when it comes time to clean your baseboards; it will be infinitely easier. Create a wood or metal shallow cabinet next to your toilet between the studs to hold your toilet brush and plunger. Eliminate something unsightly. If you need one an outlet in the middle of the family room for lights on an end table and don't want cords running across the floor; ask your electrician how to add those before finishing your flooring. Also consider where you can use outlets with USB ports (kitchen, family room, bedroom nightstands, etc.) Figure out where your wall mounted tv's will go and ask your electrician how they can hide the wires in the wall. Is your coffee bar going to have a tiny sink/faucet? If not; you might consider one so you aren't constantly having to go to the kitchen sink to get water or clean up. When planning your cabinets, consider pieces that offer space for broom and mop. And if you can't reach the top of your upper cabinets, they have folding steps that are integrated into your base cabinets that blend seamlessly. Lastly; any cabinet that has a deep shelf; make it a pullout. Things get lost or forgotten in the back. Future video suggestion: How to research and interview prospective contractors, plumbers, etc. Getting the "wrong" one can lead to costly mistakes. Love all you do; sorry this is so long; I share your love of DIY and having specific wants!
This is awesome that u are choosing to DIY a lot !!! I’m a super DIYer too!! Thank u so much for sharing this!! I have built a small home before with the help of the guy I was with at the time. He was experienced in almost everything he needed to be to do it, and show me how to do it correctly! Also another feeling that makes it worth it is the connection to ur house u get, like the house and u are bonding when u do the work on it… plus u now know every little detail about what went into the house such as where u ran the wire for electric power or the pipes for the plumbing.
I had been dreaming about renovating my kitchen for years. Then we finally were able to do it and I started freaking out inside because I was thinking what do I want! I went back and forth with dark and moody or white and airy. Pinterest was my friend to figure out what I chose. I went with dark and moody and I love it!
I just found you, this evening, because I was looking for a way to boho my plant stand. And wow, did I fall in love! You are just amazing. And your mum is a wonderful artist. I am an artist myself, and she is so good! We bought a house with my parents just months before Covid hit. Man, did prices go up, and every plan we had had to be thought trough again and again. We are still living in a renovating project. So let me just say this about tears, frustration and seemingly inventing the wheel again - make a small space with soft cushions and candles where you can take some time out. And realize you got the attention, emotional recognition and downright admiration from someone near twice your age, and from another continent. You are my new hero, seriously. Take care, keep enjoying creating stuff, and just be you.
Great advice. A plan and timeline are critical. Agree with you about trying to do what you want to DIY and being realistic on what you don’t want to do.
Love watching your journey!! We are renovating our second old home. It's such a process, there are moments of extreme reward, overwhelm, and "What have I gotten myself into?!". It's so worth it though. We are also documenting our journey which has brought on a whole new level of motivation. If you're thinking of renovating an old home keep in mind that nothing is ever square or level and all renovations will take twice as long and cost double but don't let it stop you. The reward is exhilarating and you'll be reeling for the next project!
This was PERFECT! I bought 1918 house 5 years ago. I'm not a DIY'er; but, I'm learning, little by little, as I didn't know that I bought a fixer upper! I ended up being lied to EVERY step of the buying process, so the first project I tackled (the bathroom) turned into a complete fiasco, going through 3 contractors, 4 plumbers, 3x overbudget, and 6 months to get a working bathroom! That was just the beginning! I've gotten so discouraged so many times. Every time I think I'll tackle something, I quickly get reminded that I cannot do that, as nearly everything is dependent upon the foundation getting fixed. Previous owners took down interior walls, which ended up compromising the structure. I may put them back. I am "jealous" of your firm floors, and wish I could find a foundation contractor that could do for me, as you've had done to your home, that wouldn't cost me a year's salary! I found myself going through the processes, as you've described. Too bad I didn't have your videos to lean on 5 years ago! Keep up the good work, MaCenna!
I'm actually about to start building my weekend house (hope to live there one day or transform it into a boutique hotel) and want to get lots of things second hand and I can't wait! Your videos are giving me great ideas on what to do even if I don't live in the US ❤❤
I'm currently started to remodel my kitchen by painting the cabinets and let me tell you it a lot of work, I started this project the 5/15 and I finally finishing it up this week, it looks amazing. My next project is epoxy my countertop,
Once a week, I am truly exhausted from watching you work. Years ago, I might have been able to keep up with you but no more. You kick butt and look good doing it. 👌
Don't forget to design in your floor plans, the place you are going to have your central heat and air conditioning placed, and also how many vents you are going to need, and where the duct work will need to be run, in the attic of your house. It's looking great, and I like the layout for the rooms, and the pictures you have saved on Pinterest for the look you are going for. Thank you and your family for letting us in on your journey, to restoring you new home.
This is my 4th home. I bought it January 2020. I am taking my time & what I find is that doing so, the space tells me what it wants. Even though I planned to put x there, it suddenly is obvious it would be better somewhere else. Go with the flow.
we are in escrow right now (fingers crossed) and if everything goes smoothly we will have a place that I will fix up. it’s all original 80s lol. Your making so much progress!! I get excited when you update us on the cottage
We closed on our dream home in Flagstaff, AZ in mid-February - a 1400 sq. ft. pier and beam built in in 1978 and had some character (exposed beams + great windows) and the most incredible mountain view, but everything else was 1970's home owner special, complete with the entire house having heavy textured walls over paneling.... yikes!! I found your channel late last year and could not believe we were purchasing at the same time! While your reno and budget are more substancial (we are not changing the floor plan other than taking down a few walls and our budget is about 50k for reno all in), I have to say I feel like I have a friend in this process and look forward to your videos every week! Because of you I am making my carpenter/ very talented husband finally take the time and help teach me how to use a so many tools (most recently a miter saw) as we install our own floors. I am always saying - MaCenna can do it so I better learn how - haha! Thank you for all the effort you put into your videos and content - I just adore all of it and am a fellow die hard thrifter/ vintage lover. To your question, I think patience is truly key for any reno - planning but also taking one day at a time as it can be overwhelming but the end result will be so, so worth it. Just try doing it with a 5 year old.... takes patience to a new level. :) xo, Tosha
We bought our first home a 100 plus year old town house in France. We love it and are not practiced renovators or diyers but one thing we have learned through all this is an organized tool/supplies kit can save you money! Also having large durable trashcans to take things to the dump is simply wonderful. Might be good to mention that if you live in a home the renovations never end lol 😬 Happy renovating!
I’m about to start demo on a major renovation (kitchen and primary bed/bath) and it’s all about planning!! I was so lucky to have a designer friend who put my vision on paper for me and tweaked it over and over again! Also, shopping around for plumbing fixtures/tile/etc. I had picked out a bunch of tile samples that I was mulling over for the bathroom and I happened to go to Lowe’s and see some almost identical tile at about a 1/4 the price! So now I have a literal ton of tile out in my backyard shed waiting for the reno to begin and I saved so much money!! (Which of course now needs to be diverted to offset sky-high lumber prices!)
Macenna! If I would of known you weren't aware of prices I would of told you 😂😂😂 we just finished up our custom home build and INSTEAD of 6 mths it took 9!! With this being our 2nd custom home build I have learned so much and absolutely LOVED (not the waiting part 😂) the process and creating our own home plans!! Being on the property EVERY SINGLE DAY sometimes several times a day to make sure things are being done right, or to answer questions or be there when a problem arises catching a mishap early saves money AND time! we video taped our ENTIRE house build the inside most importantly because that way you know where wires are, beams, etc, because our county only allows a certain amount of windows (you can have as many as you want but the price doubled) we had our builder frame out our extra windows and then sheetrocked over them and put up the exterior Hardy siding, (we kept all the left over GOOD scraps left behind just for this project) we took pictures and all measurements that way after we got our CO and closed we now can go in and cut it out and install our extra windows! ( which i've already ordered (12 weeks 😳) I'm loving seeing the process it's so EXCITING! (just not when it comes to buying the pretty things a lot of places are out of stock 🤦♀️)
A lot of good information for people that think they want to tackle a DIY house. As you said plan, plan and re-plan. And as far as ideas go you might have a lot of ideas but you’ll figure out specially now in 2021 that maybe some of those plans can wait till supplies are cheaper.
As a designer (landscape architect) who works on occasion with architects and interior designers, I really love love your channel. You definitely have all of the design thinking right and it brings me joy to see your cad floorplans - I often watch while also working on cad! Seriously, these are fantastic tips and a great approach to all of this. Great job!
We’ve bought our next home and moved in March. Making progress with a full renovation but boy it’s hard! A lot of mess at the moment and moments of desperation but we know it will all be worth it in the end. I agree that it’s taking each day as it comes. We’ve tried to cover a lot of the work ourselves to save on cost which has helped massively. It’s always hard knowing whether to do one room at a time or the whole house. Looking back I wish we’d started one room at a time (too late now!) Especially as contractors are fully booked for several months if not a year away. Just enjoying the process and remembering to walk before we can run. This renovation isn’t a sprint and it will get there eventually. (Too impatient!) Loved the vlog and can’t wait to see future ones x
These are all great tips for home renovation. But you forgot what should have been your #1 tip .... have great parents like yours who are so helpful and supportive. Keep up the great work. Love your channel and your effervescence.
Yes. Supportive parents or siblings who love helping each other and helping you. And once the home is done they get to enjoy it too! At least on the weekends. Lol!
You put an incredible amount of work into each video. You're basically producing a mini movie Every week! Every detail you talk about you take the time to add a visual cue to. Thank you for putting so much care into your content, it shines through and inspires!
I love watching you making your journey through the renovation even though I would never be able to renovate my house like you do. Here in Germany about 98 % of the houses are made of stone which makes everything concerning walls very difficult. Removing walls makes a mess in the whole house and walls you want to remove often are load-bearing and then a steel beam has to be put under the ceiling which makes even a bigger mess LOL And you can't just put in a new door or a new window or remove a window like you will do in your living room. I love your style and your determination to get what you want resp. to do what you want to do. And your videos are so well made and so refreshing to watch, I am always happy when a new one somes around. I love to see you smile and talking about things, it's always an excitation. Thank you so much for sharing all your works an thoughts on it. It's iike being a part in something I'd like to do if I could.
$15-$16 per piece of lumber is a steal! Up here in Canada, the price for that size wood has gone up to $50-$60 per piece!!! I truly love this series and seeing a strong, confident young woman doing all of this demo and renovation!! We need more of you in the world!
My husband has a small Reno company that does mostly residential work. He’s a general contractor/project manager and laborer. He always says if you are a diy’er, outsource anything that requires a licence/insurance/bonded to do. Also, don’t mess with anything structural, or anything that could kill or damage your home (ie gas lines, electrical,water lines,fireplace installation). Everything else is fair game to do. He also says if possible, practice with the material and mock up a few square feet of whatever it is you are doing (patching drywall, installing flooring, etc) to get comfortable with the products, how they apply, and you get practice and are more fluid; and if possible and you can find someone willing, have an expert in that trade teach you a bit and give you pointers.
Thank you for sharing that even you had moments of doubt and feeling overwhelmed. Just know you are doing an AMAZING job and your vision will come to life because of all your hard work and determination. YOU are AMAZING! 🥰❤️🍀🙏🏻🤞🏻🌸🌼
I didn’t think I would like these reno videos, but I am in LOVE!! To go and look for the earliest photo of this home, keeping some details (doors, handles, locks), tear down, sketching everything, AND thrifting at the same time! ❤️🇨🇦😘 We’re currently doing renos on our house - windows, new stucco, patio door, deck, siding - and I’m wanting to change the colors on the walls, décor, and to be intentionally a minimalist. But I have no clue lol
And I think number 11 would have to be PATIENCE and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE which MaCenna you seem to have in droves & is so nice to watch - your beautiful mama too! You make it look fun. I get that it's not always that way but I find it motivating - so thank you! Thoroughly been enjoying taking this journey with you, Romeo, your fam & Kinsley ♥ Frankly, I am overweight, smoke, live on the third floor of a beautiful pre war apt - circa 1926 - arched doorway, hardwoods & all. I am doing my best to draw inspiration to get thru depression to purge, organize & repaint my whole apt by myself. I have done so before at a different time, in a different body & not so caught up in this nasty smoking habit! It's really disgusting... But I'm slowly coming out of an almost 3yr depression. And I am actually making progress = a long time coming but for sure thanks to you & a few other homemaking channels here on YT! You guys & this community have really helped me! So thank you again. It's clear from the comments section...in case you had any doubt... that all your hard work is not only helping you but inspiring so many others as well!
Love love love the series! It is original, you are so nice and so passionate! Really love the energy. We (me and my husband) bought an apartment two years ago and little by little (renos) is becoming our house... so you are so inspiring even if your house is 110 years old an my home only 40! XOXO from Italy!
I LOVE watching this story unfold! And you tell it so beautifully. My only advice is to research contractors, ask for real recommendations (at least 3) and ask to see the work done. Also research what goes into your contract and timeline. You should never have to pay tons up front! 🥰
love watching your videos in both channels.....and this journey here.....so so amazing....keep up the great work you, Romeo and your parents have done.....you have such amazing ideas and concepts to different things.....i appreciate your gift and talent.....may God continue to bless all of you.....tfs
I always love to watch your videos, not only because it’s informative and how passionate you are of what you do but because of your personality, giving me so much positive vibes! Whenever my husband see your video, he’ll say “your friend” and I’ll say “yes, my happy person🥰”. So, thank you ❤️
I'm currently working floor plans for our home remodel. I did start going to school for architecture but didn't go far enough (lack of money hindered my continuation), but creating my own floor plan has been interesting. I love seeing your videos to keep reminding me of different things I need to look at or change to be better. It's amazing watch you in more "real time" get all the things done! Thanks for being sincere and transparent about the process!
Loving watching your adventure!! Kudos & congrats!! My only constructive criticism is this (keeping in mind I'm not familiar with your existing plumbing)...bu-ut perhaps...trading the unit that is "Closet #2 & Laundry" with "Closet 1" - with minor tweaks - would keep your laundry plumbing on the same side of the house as Kitchen, Guest Bathroom & Master Bath. Aa-and perhaps consider a pocket door between "Closet #2 & Laundry" for convenience. Love what you're doing & will anticipate each new video!
Man...could you imagine having family to come help like that?!?! Thats crazy. I think it's wonderful they have so much support. I can't get anyone to even piss on me to put out the flames. Haha.
Oh and one more thing!! You should look into setting up a switch system where you can switch power from solar to electric, this could for one thing save u from night electrical bills, but it’s also a fun process learning about the different form of energy and how much it can do… or can’t do lol 😝 but definitely congrats on ur house and ur process for this whole thing and again thank u for sharing the tips you would’ve wanted too!!! I love ur videos!
You are such an inspiration for me! It's really putting a fire under my butt to get renovations in my house done, and doing more myself vs hiring someone!
I’ve seen your mom and you haul a lot of material by hand to workshop and to dumpster etc. I suggest a 2 tire wheel barrel. I own one and I love that I never have to worry about tipping it over. It’s very light weight but sturdy and it can hold a lot both inside or layed across. I also have a 4 wheel dump wagon/cart that I use. They’re not only great for yard work but so much more. I use them when if I have a large grocery haul from Sam’s, taking my seasonal decor to and from our garage, large and or heavy packages I’ve ordered and much more. I’m pretty attached to my wheel barrel! I’m guessing just like you are to your crowbars! I hope my suggestion is useful in making it easier and faster for y’all. PS- I love your videos! Your hard work shows not only in what your doing but in how amazingly well your videos are edited!❤️
Such a great resource for getting started on a project like this. Thanks for presenting this info in a way that is not overwhelming, but actually useful and informative.
We have renovate our house just before the pandemic it was long and we had trouble to see the end of it (it was clearly less major than your renovation 😜) but it’s all worth it, we are happy here and it still some things to do but you know with a house you’ve never done with renovating it (it’s kind of an expression in French) good luck and I can’t wait to see your next video 😘
Your enthusiasm and positivity is simply contagious. Your skills in everything you do is so exceptional. You deserve your post as XO (Xtra Ordinary)MaCenna. Idol! 💕💕Love from 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭. 🥰
This video was a valuable resource for someone like me who's new to DIY home improvement. The presenter shared insightful advice that helped me avoid common pitfalls and feel more confident tackling projects around the house. I highly recommend this video to fellow beginners looking to embark on their home renovation journey. Many thanks!
Hello from France ! I love your channels so much ! It's so inspiring... and so fun. I love your creativity and your energy ! I learn a lot with you and it's always a great moment. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see the next chapter of this beautiful adventure!
I work in architecture in the U.K. and am really impressed with this video, great advice 😄 really enjoying this series too - good luck with the rest of the project!
I will never get rid of that image stuck in my mind of you getting so excited and jumping up and down and how proud u were when you and ur mom framed out the room. Girl you can do anything u put ur mind to ur amazing!
No words! I literally don't have words how amazing you are! I learn so much from you, beacuse I am renovating my 110 yrs old house too in Ontario, Canada. Love the quality of your videos!
Excellent video and my favorite of all of your videos. One thing I might add is that it's good to take note of all electrical outlets, cable outlets, phone, alarm systems and electrical boxes when you first move in, so when you need to reroute your cable three years later (like us), you'll know what you're working with. ha! Other than that, I'd say you were on point with all the pointers, especially the trash pick up, we ALSO had no idea. First-time homeowners here. :)
This series has been so inspiring to me. We're going to start renovating our house in the next couple of months and I'm so many taking mental notes from you and your journey 🤓
I love your video it is very structured and organized. We always see that through out your video's how you plan and SketchUp everything you do. And as French German here I know how much work that is😉 I wish that you get through this process to your dream house. Always happy to watch your content 😊
If you ever make a video entirely only on your mindset and how you achieved so much being so young still, what's most helpful in following your dreams etc, I'd watch that and would probably learn it by heart, because you are just such a big inspiration in that sense as well!!!
Prioritize renovations by function, and prepare to live simply for a while. We bought a house built in 1940 and have run into substantial WDO damage/ way more repairs than we had originally anticipated. We worked on getting the house livable, such as replacing the floor and walls, having a functional bathroom, and setting the back room renovations aside to be able to just get our stuff in while we renovated the front of our house (not pay rent on top of a mortgage AND rebuilding costs). After 5 months of just a microwave, hot plate, and using the bathroom sink for dishes, we finally are working on finishing the kitchen (luxuries like a stove, cabinets, and my beautiful farmhouse kitchen sink). You'd be surprised what you can make due without for a while in order to save money and splurge down the road. For example, by saving ~$6K on not having to pay rent, we were able to run a gas line and get a new gas stove instead of using the electric stove that was already in the house. A big deal for foodies like us!
I would like to add that when buying a house, also check the parcels of land and if you have the size you are supposed to. When my son bought his house, there was two other lots that used to be with the house lot. The realtor pointed that out to us. And we then had to find out (after closing) who the other lots belonged to. To get the full size of lot that was listed and he was supposed to get. Was about a half acre difference And also if the taxes are homesteaded or not. You pay more if not, which means you won’t live on the property, like you renting out the house. Hope this helps someone. ❤️❤️❤️❤️Love all your videos MaCenna!, ! And your so empowering for all people to be able to do it themselves. Thank you so much for that.😊❤️.
Love your video's!! Lots of really good info happening! It's REALLY NICE to see you saving ALL that you can from the house & re-using it! With wood prices sky high, that's a HUGE savings. Not to mention, the wood used to originally build the house is soooo much different than what we have now! Your a girl after my own heart. Love old houses!!!
Hey from Australia 🙋 Love your work and positive approach Macenna. My husband and I recently moved into a house with a big ol' backyard. It needs some landscaping but i've been putting off making a plan for it. Your tips in this vid were super helpful! Feeling a bit less directionless now 😊♥
My Sunday evenings now are spent" waiting for a notification and trying not to fall sleep (🇬🇧) til I've watched the video. Absolutely loving this content. Seen as I cannot do this stuff anymore as my illness has rendered me with mobility issues it's filling in that bit of me that still wants to just get on with it 😊❤🤗
Gotcha. Am in same condition but having just had a forced redo of all the apartments in our historic building ,I have the opportunity to redo some pieces,get rid of stuff and make decisions about many things in this place. This is so encouraging so let us do what we can do,as we can and revel in the watching of this part of her artistic expression. Smile.
You’re such an inspiration .. I love your humor and you’re attitude towards life ! You are so up lifting... God Bless you on your journey with your home! I can’t wait to see it all done ❤️
I just love Sundays... the excitement and positivity is contagious. May God continue to bless you and your family...can't wait for the finished product ♥️
Great video! I’ve been following this series and loving it. I love how you’ve done so much of this on your own. Truly inspiring! I’m not sure of all the capabilities of AutoCAD but I use Xactimate, a program that allows you to sketch, build, and price according to where you live. I use this every day for work and recommend checking it out. It’s a great program to validate pricing for material and labour.
A major consideration in saving everything from the demo is where you can keep it until you need it. Macenna has the great advantage of heaps of on-site storage. Unfortunately, not everyone has this benefit.
In Edmonton, AB, Canada - contractors sometimes want the homeowner to get the building permits - because if they get the permits themselves, they’re on the hook if there’s any problems down the road. Don’t know how it works elsewhere, but thought that was super interesting.
Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores. Best place ever for building supplies. Even lumber. They also have incredible thrift stores. I found 2 amazing chandeliers & an incredibly unique set of french doors.
You’ve gotta save all those floor plans and frame them somewhere in the house!
In the workshop 100% yes 😍
Great idea!!!!
That is so cute !!
I love hanging my beautiful sandart in all my houses. They just look majestic! Check them out using this link swinget.com/?ref=maghraby
The thing I've learned as a home owner is that, whatever you think it will cost, it's going to cost double. So, aim for something that only costs half of your maximum budget.
Double the budget of both timelines and money. 👍👍
Yes!!!
With the current wood prices, it may be more like tripled.
Absolutely
This is the absolute truth. And with current prices a contractor cannot give you an absolute price. Doing it yourself will still probably be close to Triple the budget before it is all said and done. We remodeled before COVID hit and it was exactly double what we thought it would cost .
Your content is so fun and valuable but I gotta say- your channel is straight up eye candy. The lighting, the music, the fonts, the color palette, the backgrounds- all your effort and the beauty of these details make an exceptional product. An XOMac video is a beautiful place to be.
Omg thank you so so much!! 🥰 I love directing a video in how it looks and feels so I’m so glad the work shines through !!
Well said 👏 🥰
I was just thinking this while watching! All around her videos have been so well made 🙌 💕
You are so good at this, and by “this” I mean, the renovation, your skills at presenting, your editing skills, all of it. I can totally see you with your own tv show and I will be there for it. Love your channel and all you do. Thank you for entertaining me, I’m loving it and can’t wait to see what unfolds next. Love from the UK. xx
Think the same way! She is so much better than anything we have on telly!
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate Macenna's passion and work ethic?! GURL you are so spontaneous, creative, hardworking giving us all the content on your main channel and vlog channel while in the process of renovating your house?! Props to you and so excited for the upcoming intermission of thrift flips and room decor :]
???
M
Back in the 1960s when my folks were building their house my brother and me helped our folks do tons of work on the inside such as sanding trim and molding and baseboards and doors and wood floors. We stained the floors and paneling and did the varnish on all things wooden. Working together as a family saved money but what it meant to us as a family was far more valuable. I'm sure that you all have discovered this truth in doing your renovations. The results will stand the test of time and become bonus prizes one day should you still have the house and your family no longer be around. Memories are golden. I wish you and your family the best of times with good health and safety and happiness. ...I richly enjoy your channel. Thank you.
🚨As someone who lives In an old house, make sure you check the main house for any and all holes that could allow insects, snakes, or mice in!! It’s rat snake season, and they’re making their ways indoors!! (We had three that made their way into the house, and our house is about the same age as yours!😭)
Don't forget about the bats! I've had SOOOO many bats in my apartment! (150+ yr old house.)
I actually had a bat in my foyer 2 nights ago. I had the door to my apt shut so it couldn't come in. By morning, it was MIA! 🙉🙈🙊
When my husband and I were renovating our home, we (he) decided to do the wooden floors ourselves - sanding, staining, finishing. Oh my gosh, it was such a disaster. We wasted so much time, money, energy and went through hours and hours bent over on our hands and knees doing back breaking work and in the end, we gave up :( We got floating floorboards put over the top as we had really messed up our floors. It was a big lesson for us and we wish we had researched much better and had just hired a pro from the beginning and then tackled an easier project for ourselves. T'was the great floor debacle of 2019!
Was the hardest part sanding? My husband and I were considering this project too!
@@darkpathos It stinks that AmRodriguez had a rough time. I refinished my floors by myself and in my opinion, anyone can do it! I rented a drum sander and an edge sander from Home Depot. Watch some videos but my main advice is, do not stop moving while the sander is on. Staining and Finishing took a long time and it was important that we weren't living there because it was STINKY! It may seem daunting but watch videos get the RIGHT equipment and it will work!
@@darkpathos Yes! Sanding was back breaking! We had a huge space to do as well...
You can also sell or let others salvage stuff that you don't want. It stops it going to landfill and reduces your waste disposal costs. I managed to sell a 20 year old basic builder grade kitchen, plus saved the cost of a skip to dump it in. We also were happy for "skip divers" to help themselves to old radiators and windows. It freed up more space for us
MaCenna,
you are one of my favorite humans ever! It so funny you mentioned about how you have had your moments of stress and tears because I was literally just thinking about your videos like yesterday and how stressful it must be but you never let it show! You are always so positive and Inspiring! I watch every single one of you videos! Thanks for all you do! ❤️
Aww thank you so so much!! The good happy moments far out weight the stressed overwhelmed ones but they definitely happen from time to time haha
This is one of the best series on UA-cam. Thank you so much for talking us with you!
Omg thank you so much!!
Someone give this woman her own TV show already! 😍
Another thing to check before buying a piece of property is " is it in a flood zone, etc. "👍🤔
100%
Good one. Even if it is a tiny corner you will be paying flood insurance.
I've been watching you for while (years) and I love your vision. Had I found it 30 years ago you and I would be besties. I'm now 62 and try to incorporate your ideas. We are in no whey moving to a new cottage but your inspiration encourages me to rethink. I love your vision Girl go with it...I'm along for the ride.
Truly my favorite 20 minutes each week! So inspiring and feel-good!
awwww yay!! thank you so much!
Agree ❤️
This is THE most valuable series on UA-cam right now! I've always dreamed of renovating an old house, and this is such a great way to kinda experience the process of it before I even buy a house.
Last week's episode had 2 well known YT'rs following & commenting.
What a fantastic video. I am truly enjoying this series! I don't know what's more awesome: the progress being made on the house, or the personal transformation it is bringing out in you. It is so apparent how much this project means to you, and how much it is helping you in experience and confidence. Watching you demo a whole kitchen or reframe it WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, i couldn't help but think, "Wow, she's come so far from just hot gluing rattan on a flower pot." You should be SO PROUD of yourself. 🖤
You are a true inspiration to us all😃. I am just so impressed by everything that you have been able to do your self. I love watching these videos plus the thrift shopping 😄😄😄. Have a wonderful week. Xoxo 💞💖💞
thank you so so much!
You have accomplished so much MaCenna! You are truly an INSPIRATION!
Sundays aren't complete without your video! Was waiting for it the whole day and got low key worried about you, please take real good care of yourself, I can't even imagine how tiring renovating a house must be, let alone vlog about it! As much as I love your content, your health is much more important! Thank you for taking us along on this lovely journey. ❤
Quelle femme incroyable !!! Quelle belle énergie et quel courage !!! Bravo, 😍😍
I have been saving ideas on Pinterest for my future home and these are some that I really love.
If you are painting your doors and/or baseboards; spray them; don't brush them. You get a smoother finish and when it comes time to clean your baseboards; it will be infinitely easier.
Create a wood or metal shallow cabinet next to your toilet between the studs to hold your toilet brush and plunger. Eliminate something unsightly.
If you need one an outlet in the middle of the family room for lights on an end table and don't want cords running across the floor; ask your electrician how to add those before finishing your flooring. Also consider where you can use outlets with USB ports (kitchen, family room, bedroom nightstands, etc.)
Figure out where your wall mounted tv's will go and ask your electrician how they can hide the wires in the wall.
Is your coffee bar going to have a tiny sink/faucet? If not; you might consider one so you aren't constantly having to go to the kitchen sink to get water or clean up.
When planning your cabinets, consider pieces that offer space for broom and mop. And if you can't reach the top of your upper cabinets, they have folding steps that are integrated into your base cabinets that blend seamlessly.
Lastly; any cabinet that has a deep shelf; make it a pullout. Things get lost or forgotten in the back.
Future video suggestion: How to research and interview prospective contractors, plumbers, etc. Getting the "wrong" one can lead to costly mistakes.
Love all you do; sorry this is so long; I share your love of DIY and having specific wants!
YESSSSS TO ALLLLL 👏🏻 love it!!!! Thank you so much !
I love these ideas! Thank you so much. I will take these into consideration for my future home too. 😊
You literally described Hygge when describing your design style
I haven’t heard you talk about the HVAC system. Will you be running new ductwork or installing a ductless system?
This is awesome that u are choosing to DIY a lot !!! I’m a super DIYer too!! Thank u so much for sharing this!! I have built a small home before with the help of the guy I was with at the time. He was experienced in almost everything he needed to be to do it, and show me how to do it correctly! Also another feeling that makes it worth it is the connection to ur house u get, like the house and u are bonding when u do the work on it… plus u now know every little detail about what went into the house such as where u ran the wire for electric power or the pipes for the plumbing.
I had been dreaming about renovating my kitchen for years. Then we finally were able to do it and I started freaking out inside because I was thinking what do I want! I went back and forth with dark and moody or white and airy. Pinterest was my friend to figure out what I chose. I went with dark and moody and I love it!
I just found you, this evening, because I was looking for a way to boho my plant stand. And wow, did I fall in love! You are just amazing. And your mum is a wonderful artist. I am an artist myself, and she is so good!
We bought a house with my parents just months before Covid hit. Man, did prices go up, and every plan we had had to be thought trough again and again. We are still living in a renovating project. So let me just say this about tears, frustration and seemingly inventing the wheel again - make a small space with soft cushions and candles where you can take some time out. And realize you got the attention, emotional recognition and downright admiration from someone near twice your age, and from another continent. You are my new hero, seriously. Take care, keep enjoying creating stuff, and just be you.
I live for sundays thanks to you 🥲
omg thank you!
Great advice. A plan and timeline are critical. Agree with you about trying to do what you want to DIY and being realistic on what you don’t want to do.
Love watching your journey!! We are renovating our second old home. It's such a process, there are moments of extreme reward, overwhelm, and "What have I gotten myself into?!". It's so worth it though. We are also documenting our journey which has brought on a whole new level of motivation. If you're thinking of renovating an old home keep in mind that nothing is ever square or level and all renovations will take twice as long and cost double but don't let it stop you. The reward is exhilarating and you'll be reeling for the next project!
This was PERFECT! I bought 1918 house 5 years ago. I'm not a DIY'er; but, I'm learning, little by little, as I didn't know that I bought a fixer upper! I ended up being lied to EVERY step of the buying process, so the first project I tackled (the bathroom) turned into a complete fiasco, going through 3 contractors, 4 plumbers, 3x overbudget, and 6 months to get a working bathroom! That was just the beginning!
I've gotten so discouraged so many times. Every time I think I'll tackle something, I quickly get reminded that I cannot do that, as nearly everything is dependent upon the foundation getting fixed. Previous owners took down interior walls, which ended up compromising the structure. I may put them back. I am "jealous" of your firm floors, and wish I could find a foundation contractor that could do for me, as you've had done to your home, that wouldn't cost me a year's salary!
I found myself going through the processes, as you've described. Too bad I didn't have your videos to lean on 5 years ago! Keep up the good work, MaCenna!
I'm actually about to start building my weekend house (hope to live there one day or transform it into a boutique hotel) and want to get lots of things second hand and I can't wait! Your videos are giving me great ideas on what to do even if I don't live in the US ❤❤
Best of luck in your ventures! How exciting!!
I'm currently started to remodel my kitchen by painting the cabinets and let me tell you it a lot of work, I started this project the 5/15 and I finally finishing it up this week, it looks amazing. My next project is epoxy my countertop,
Once a week, I am truly exhausted from watching you work. Years ago, I might have been able to keep up with you but no more. You kick butt and look good doing it. 👌
Don't forget to design in your floor plans, the place you are going to have your central heat and air conditioning placed, and also how many vents you are going to need, and where the duct work will need to be run, in the attic of your house. It's looking great, and I like the layout for the rooms, and the pictures you have saved on Pinterest for the look you are going for. Thank you and your family for letting us in on your journey, to restoring you new home.
This is my 4th home. I bought it January 2020. I am taking my time & what I find is that doing so, the space tells me what it wants. Even though I planned to put x there, it suddenly is obvious it would be better somewhere else. Go with the flow.
I couldn’t imagine just renovating OR just filming and editing each week. I cannot believe you do both, perfectly!!
we are in escrow right now (fingers crossed) and if everything goes smoothly we will have a place that I will fix up. it’s all original 80s lol. Your making so much progress!! I get excited when you update us on the cottage
We closed on our dream home in Flagstaff, AZ in mid-February - a 1400 sq. ft. pier and beam built in in 1978 and had some character (exposed beams + great windows) and the most incredible mountain view, but everything else was 1970's home owner special, complete with the entire house having heavy textured walls over paneling.... yikes!! I found your channel late last year and could not believe we were purchasing at the same time! While your reno and budget are more substancial (we are not changing the floor plan other than taking down a few walls and our budget is about 50k for reno all in), I have to say I feel like I have a friend in this process and look forward to your videos every week! Because of you I am making my carpenter/ very talented husband finally take the time and help teach me how to use a so many tools (most recently a miter saw) as we install our own floors. I am always saying - MaCenna can do it so I better learn how - haha! Thank you for all the effort you put into your videos and content - I just adore all of it and am a fellow die hard thrifter/ vintage lover. To your question, I think patience is truly key for any reno - planning but also taking one day at a time as it can be overwhelming but the end result will be so, so worth it. Just try doing it with a 5 year old.... takes patience to a new level. :) xo, Tosha
We bought our first home a 100 plus year old town house in France. We love it and are not practiced renovators or diyers but one thing we have learned through all this is an organized tool/supplies kit can save you money! Also having large durable trashcans to take things to the dump is simply wonderful. Might be good to mention that if you live in a home the renovations never end lol 😬 Happy renovating!
We're currently renovating our old farmhouse kitchen! I 100% agree a baby crowbar is essential!
I’m about to start demo on a major renovation (kitchen and primary bed/bath) and it’s all about planning!! I was so lucky to have a designer friend who put my vision on paper for me and tweaked it over and over again! Also, shopping around for plumbing fixtures/tile/etc. I had picked out a bunch of tile samples that I was mulling over for the bathroom and I happened to go to Lowe’s and see some almost identical tile at about a 1/4 the price! So now I have a literal ton of tile out in my backyard shed waiting for the reno to begin and I saved so much money!! (Which of course now needs to be diverted to offset sky-high lumber prices!)
Macenna! If I would of known you weren't aware of prices I would of told you 😂😂😂 we just finished up our custom home build and INSTEAD of 6 mths it took 9!! With this being our 2nd custom home build I have learned so much and absolutely LOVED (not the waiting part 😂) the process and creating our own home plans!! Being on the property EVERY SINGLE DAY sometimes several times a day to make sure things are being done right, or to answer questions or be there when a problem arises catching a mishap early saves money AND time! we video taped our ENTIRE house build the inside most importantly because that way you know where wires are, beams, etc, because our county only allows a certain amount of windows (you can have as many as you want but the price doubled) we had our builder frame out our extra windows and then sheetrocked over them and put up the exterior Hardy siding, (we kept all the left over GOOD scraps left behind just for this project) we took pictures and all measurements that way after we got our CO and closed we now can go in and cut it out and install our extra windows! ( which i've already ordered (12 weeks 😳) I'm loving seeing the process it's so EXCITING! (just not when it comes to buying the pretty things a lot of places are out of stock 🤦♀️)
A lot of good information for people that think they want to tackle a DIY house. As you said plan, plan and re-plan. And as far as ideas go you might have a lot of ideas but you’ll figure out specially now in 2021 that maybe some of those plans can wait till supplies are cheaper.
As a designer (landscape architect) who works on occasion with architects and interior designers, I really love love your channel. You definitely have all of the design thinking right and it brings me joy to see your cad floorplans - I often watch while also working on cad! Seriously, these are fantastic tips and a great approach to all of this. Great job!
We’ve bought our next home and moved in March. Making progress with a full renovation but boy it’s hard! A lot of mess at the moment and moments of desperation but we know it will all be worth it in the end.
I agree that it’s taking each day as it comes. We’ve tried to cover a lot of the work ourselves to save on cost which has helped massively.
It’s always hard knowing whether to do one room at a time or the whole house. Looking back I wish we’d started one room at a time (too late now!) Especially as contractors are fully booked for several months if not a year away.
Just enjoying the process and remembering to walk before we can run. This renovation isn’t a sprint and it will get there eventually. (Too impatient!)
Loved the vlog and can’t wait to see future ones x
These are all great tips for home renovation. But you forgot what should have been your #1 tip .... have great parents like yours who are so helpful and supportive. Keep up the great work. Love your channel and your effervescence.
Yes. Supportive parents or siblings who love helping each other and helping you. And once the home is done they get to enjoy it too!
At least on the weekends. Lol!
You put an incredible amount of work into each video. You're basically producing a mini movie Every week! Every detail you talk about you take the time to add a visual cue to. Thank you for putting so much care into your content, it shines through and inspires!
I love watching you making your journey through the renovation even though I would never be able to renovate my house like you do. Here in Germany about 98 % of the houses are made of stone which makes everything concerning walls very difficult. Removing walls makes a mess in the whole house and walls you want to remove often are load-bearing and then a steel beam has to be put under the ceiling which makes even a bigger mess LOL And you can't just put in a new door or a new window or remove a window like you will do in your living room. I love your style and your determination to get what you want resp. to do what you want to do. And your videos are so well made and so refreshing to watch, I am always happy when a new one somes around. I love to see you smile and talking about things, it's always an excitation. Thank you so much for sharing all your works an thoughts on it. It's iike being a part in something I'd like to do if I could.
$15-$16 per piece of lumber is a steal! Up here in Canada, the price for that size wood has gone up to $50-$60 per piece!!! I truly love this series and seeing a strong, confident young woman doing all of this demo and renovation!! We need more of you in the world!
My husband has a small Reno company that does mostly residential work. He’s a general contractor/project manager and laborer. He always says if you are a diy’er, outsource anything that requires a licence/insurance/bonded to do. Also, don’t mess with anything structural, or anything that could kill or damage your home (ie gas lines, electrical,water lines,fireplace installation). Everything else is fair game to do. He also says if possible, practice with the material and mock up a few square feet of whatever it is you are doing (patching drywall, installing flooring, etc) to get comfortable with the products, how they apply, and you get practice and are more fluid; and if possible and you can find someone willing, have an expert in that trade teach you a bit and give you pointers.
Thank you for sharing that even you had moments of doubt and feeling overwhelmed. Just know you are doing an AMAZING job and your vision will come to life because of all your hard work and determination. YOU are AMAZING! 🥰❤️🍀🙏🏻🤞🏻🌸🌼
I didn’t think I would like these reno videos, but I am in LOVE!! To go and look for the earliest photo of this home, keeping some details (doors, handles, locks), tear down, sketching everything, AND thrifting at the same time! ❤️🇨🇦😘 We’re currently doing renos on our house - windows, new stucco, patio door, deck, siding - and I’m wanting to change the colors on the walls, décor, and to be intentionally a minimalist. But I have no clue lol
And I think number 11 would have to be PATIENCE and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE which MaCenna you seem to have in droves & is so nice to watch - your beautiful mama too! You make it look fun. I get that it's not always that way but I find it motivating - so thank you! Thoroughly been enjoying taking this journey with you, Romeo, your fam & Kinsley ♥ Frankly, I am overweight, smoke, live on the third floor of a beautiful pre war apt - circa 1926 - arched doorway, hardwoods & all. I am doing my best to draw inspiration to get thru depression to purge, organize & repaint my whole apt by myself. I have done so before at a different time, in a different body & not so caught up in this nasty smoking habit! It's really disgusting... But I'm slowly coming out of an almost 3yr depression. And I am actually making progress = a long time coming but for sure thanks to you & a few other homemaking channels here on YT! You guys & this community have really helped me! So thank you again. It's clear from the comments section...in case you had any doubt... that all your hard work is not only helping you but inspiring so many others as well!
Love love love the series! It is original, you are so nice and so passionate! Really love the energy. We (me and my husband) bought an apartment two years ago and little by little (renos) is becoming our house... so you are so inspiring even if your house is 110 years old an my home only 40! XOXO from Italy!
I LOVE watching this story unfold! And you tell it so beautifully.
My only advice is to research contractors, ask for real recommendations (at least 3) and ask to see the work done. Also research what goes into your contract and timeline. You should never have to pay tons up front! 🥰
love watching your videos in both channels.....and this journey here.....so so amazing....keep up the great work you, Romeo and your parents have done.....you have such amazing ideas and concepts to different things.....i appreciate your gift and talent.....may God continue to bless all of you.....tfs
I always love to watch your videos, not only because it’s informative and how passionate you are of what you do but because of your personality, giving me so much positive vibes! Whenever my husband see your video, he’ll say “your friend” and I’ll say “yes, my happy person🥰”. So, thank you ❤️
I'm currently working floor plans for our home remodel. I did start going to school for architecture but didn't go far enough (lack of money hindered my continuation), but creating my own floor plan has been interesting. I love seeing your videos to keep reminding me of different things I need to look at or change to be better. It's amazing watch you in more "real time" get all the things done! Thanks for being sincere and transparent about the process!
Loving watching your adventure!! Kudos & congrats!! My only constructive criticism is this (keeping in mind I'm not familiar with your existing plumbing)...bu-ut perhaps...trading the unit that is "Closet #2 & Laundry" with "Closet 1" - with minor tweaks - would keep your laundry plumbing on the same side of the house as Kitchen, Guest Bathroom & Master Bath. Aa-and perhaps consider a pocket door between "Closet #2 & Laundry" for convenience. Love what you're doing & will anticipate each new video!
Man...could you imagine having family to come help like that?!?! Thats crazy. I think it's wonderful they have so much support. I can't get anyone to even piss on me to put out the flames. Haha.
Oh and one more thing!! You should look into setting up a switch system where you can switch power from solar to electric, this could for one thing save u from night electrical bills, but it’s also a fun process learning about the different form of energy and how much it can do… or can’t do lol 😝 but definitely congrats on ur house and ur process for this whole thing and again thank u for sharing the tips you would’ve wanted too!!! I love ur videos!
You are such an inspiration for me! It's really putting a fire under my butt to get renovations in my house done, and doing more myself vs hiring someone!
I’ve seen your mom and you haul a lot of material by hand to workshop and to dumpster etc. I suggest a 2 tire wheel barrel. I own one and I love that I never have to worry about tipping it over. It’s very light weight but sturdy and it can hold a lot both inside or layed across. I also have a 4 wheel dump wagon/cart that I use. They’re not only great for yard work but so much more. I use them when if I have a large grocery haul from Sam’s, taking my seasonal decor to and from our garage, large and or heavy packages I’ve ordered and much more. I’m pretty attached to my wheel barrel! I’m guessing just like you are to your crowbars! I hope my suggestion is useful in making it easier and faster for y’all.
PS- I love your videos! Your hard work shows not only in what your doing but in how amazingly well your videos are edited!❤️
Such a great resource for getting started on a project like this. Thanks for presenting this info in a way that is not overwhelming, but actually useful and informative.
Thank you for always saying “primary bedroom/ bathroom” rather than master bedroom!
🙄🙄
@Deanna W. exactly lol i guess some people don’t understand where that term comes from 🤷🏼♀️
We have renovate our house just before the pandemic it was long and we had trouble to see the end of it (it was clearly less major than your renovation 😜) but it’s all worth it, we are happy here and it still some things to do but you know with a house you’ve never done with renovating it (it’s kind of an expression in French) good luck and I can’t wait to see your next video 😘
Your enthusiasm and positivity is simply contagious. Your skills in everything you do is so exceptional. You deserve your post as XO (Xtra Ordinary)MaCenna. Idol! 💕💕Love from 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭. 🥰
This video was a valuable resource for someone like me who's new to DIY home improvement. The presenter shared insightful advice that helped me avoid common pitfalls and feel more confident tackling projects around the house. I highly recommend this video to fellow beginners looking to embark on their home renovation journey. Many thanks!
Hello from France ! I love your channels so much ! It's so inspiring... and so fun. I love your creativity and your energy ! I learn a lot with you and it's always a great moment. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see the next chapter of this beautiful adventure!
I work in architecture in the U.K. and am really impressed with this video, great advice 😄 really enjoying this series too - good luck with the rest of the project!
Looking at buying an 80 year old home right now and I’m nervous to take on the project! This video is a big help!
I will never get rid of that image stuck in my mind of you getting so excited and jumping up and down and how proud u were when you and ur mom framed out the room. Girl you can do anything u put ur mind to ur amazing!
No words! I literally don't have words how amazing you are! I learn so much from you, beacuse I am renovating my 110 yrs old house too in Ontario, Canada. Love the quality of your videos!
Excellent video and my favorite of all of your videos. One thing I might add is that it's good to take note of all electrical outlets, cable outlets, phone, alarm systems and electrical boxes when you first move in, so when you need to reroute your cable three years later (like us), you'll know what you're working with. ha! Other than that, I'd say you were on point with all the pointers, especially the trash pick up, we ALSO had no idea. First-time homeowners here. :)
I am living vicariously through you!!! I'm a handy woman myself and I feed off of your energy...... you are always so wired!!!
This series has been so inspiring to me. We're going to start renovating our house in the next couple of months and I'm so many taking mental notes from you and your journey 🤓
Forward. Positivity. Resistance free. Creativity. Love. Passion. Yeah!!!
I love your video it is very structured and organized. We always see that through out your video's how you plan and SketchUp everything you do. And as French German here I know how much work that is😉 I wish that you get through this process to your dream house. Always happy to watch your content 😊
If you ever make a video entirely only on your mindset and how you achieved so much being so young still, what's most helpful in following your dreams etc, I'd watch that and would probably learn it by heart, because you are just such a big inspiration in that sense as well!!!
Prioritize renovations by function, and prepare to live simply for a while. We bought a house built in 1940 and have run into substantial WDO damage/ way more repairs than we had originally anticipated. We worked on getting the house livable, such as replacing the floor and walls, having a functional bathroom, and setting the back room renovations aside to be able to just get our stuff in while we renovated the front of our house (not pay rent on top of a mortgage AND rebuilding costs). After 5 months of just a microwave, hot plate, and using the bathroom sink for dishes, we finally are working on finishing the kitchen (luxuries like a stove, cabinets, and my beautiful farmhouse kitchen sink). You'd be surprised what you can make due without for a while in order to save money and splurge down the road. For example, by saving ~$6K on not having to pay rent, we were able to run a gas line and get a new gas stove instead of using the electric stove that was already in the house. A big deal for foodies like us!
I would like to add that when buying a house, also check the parcels of land and if you have the size you are supposed to. When my son bought his house, there was two other lots that used to be with the house lot. The realtor pointed that out to us. And we then had to find out (after closing) who the other lots belonged to. To get the full size of lot that was listed and he was supposed to get. Was about a half acre difference
And also if the taxes are homesteaded or not. You pay more if not, which means you won’t live on the property, like you renting out the house. Hope this helps someone. ❤️❤️❤️❤️Love all your videos MaCenna!,
! And your so empowering for all people to be able to do it themselves. Thank you so much for that.😊❤️.
This is exactly what we need to know now that we are almost in our first home. Thank you so much
Love your video's!! Lots of really good info happening! It's REALLY NICE to see you saving ALL that you can from the house & re-using it! With wood prices sky high, that's a HUGE savings. Not to mention, the wood used to originally build the house is soooo much different than what we have now! Your a girl after my own heart. Love old houses!!!
Hi MaCenna! Texas girl right here! 🙋🏼♀️ I love your content!
I only found your channel about 3 months ago and trust me when I say I have binge watched every single episode 😂
Sameeee
Hey from Australia 🙋 Love your work and positive approach Macenna. My husband and I recently moved into a house with a big ol' backyard. It needs some landscaping but i've been putting off making a plan for it. Your tips in this vid were super helpful! Feeling a bit less directionless now 😊♥
What a good vibe you transmit 🥰 I love you ✨💛
I'm so excited for the outcome of your plans...but I'm most excited of kitchen and living area. Gogogo girl!!
My Sunday evenings now are spent" waiting for a notification and trying not to fall sleep (🇬🇧) til I've watched the video. Absolutely loving this content. Seen as I cannot do this stuff anymore as my illness has rendered me with mobility issues it's filling in that bit of me that still wants to just get on with it 😊❤🤗
Gotcha. Am in same condition but having just had a forced redo of all the apartments in our historic building ,I have the opportunity to redo some pieces,get rid of stuff and make decisions about many things in this place. This is so encouraging so let us do what we can do,as we can and revel in the watching of this part of her artistic expression. Smile.
Thanks for reminding me that it is fun and a beautiful creative outlet 💜
You’re such an inspiration .. I love your humor and you’re attitude towards life !
You are so up lifting... God Bless you on your journey with your home! I can’t wait to see it all done ❤️
I just love Sundays... the excitement and positivity is contagious. May God continue to bless you and your family...can't wait for the finished product ♥️
I just discovered you yesterday and have been bin watching your videos. I just love you!
Need this. Thank you!
Great video! I’ve been following this series and loving it. I love how you’ve done so much of this on your own. Truly inspiring!
I’m not sure of all the capabilities of AutoCAD but I use Xactimate, a program that allows you to sketch, build, and price according to where you live. I use this every day for work and recommend checking it out. It’s a great program to validate pricing for material and labour.
A major consideration in saving everything from the demo is where you can keep it until you need it. Macenna has the great advantage of heaps of on-site storage. Unfortunately, not everyone has this benefit.
Great video! Very helpful info! I’ll be starting a renovation soon and I’m super excited to get started and you have been a great inspiration!
In Edmonton, AB, Canada - contractors sometimes want the homeowner to get the building permits - because if they get the permits themselves, they’re on the hook if there’s any problems down the road. Don’t know how it works elsewhere, but thought that was super interesting.
Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores. Best place ever for building supplies. Even lumber. They also have incredible thrift stores. I found 2 amazing chandeliers & an incredibly unique set of french doors.