DH:TP - 035 - Happy Home Stories - Meera

DH:TP - 043 - Why Waiting on Your Remodel Might Not Save You Money

TJ actually did research for this one, like for real research. He goes behind the remodeling industry curtain to find out if the old line about it costing more next year is actually true, and what the real numbers look like compared to inflation. Spoiler: a gallon of milk roughly doubled in 25 years. A high-end kitchen more than tripled. Katie flies without an outline for the first time and delivers the podcast's first ever sneeze.

DH:TP - 042 - Downsizing (not the Honey I Shrunk the Kids kind)

Katie and TJ welcome Realtor Jeff Wu to the podcast to talk about downsizing, or as some are calling it, right sizing. Jeff shares his 5D framework, explains why downsizing is more of an identity shift than a house decision, and drops a stat that 10,000 people turn 65 every day. TJ realizes one of his own clients has been doing this all along without him fully connecting the dots. Katie briefly takes over as solo host, and Jeff's branded shirt inspires a long overdue conversation about Designed Happy merch. Sylvia, if you're listening, we need hats.

DH:TP - 041 - Being a great client, and why you should care

What does it mean to be a great client and why should you care? Spoiler: it's not about making your design team happy. It's about making your experience better. Katie and TJ walk through the seven-piece puzzle from Designed Happy: The Book, including pronoia, vulnerability, thank you notes, and why you don't want your service professional rolling their eyes before they pick up the phone.

DH:TP - 040 - Design Bid vs. Design Build

They sound almost the same. They're not. Katie and TJ break down the differences between design build and design bid, including the pros, the cons, and the nuance that nobody talks about. TJ also reveals he couldn't tell Bruce Willis and Michael Keaton apart as a kid, Katie and TJ fall into a Newsies rabbit hole, and TJ makes enough blanket statements to warrant a drinking game.

DH:TP - 039 - Can you live in your house while it's being remodeled?

It's one of the most commonly asked questions in remodeling. And a lot of times the answer is yes, you technically can...but should you? Katie and TJ talk through the things you need to think about before you commit, from noise and dust to water and phasing. TJ regrets a loud river cruise, Katie reveals a short-lived career as a party princess, and neither one of them would ever live through a remodel - not even a little bit.