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00:00Are you ready?
00:00It's bold.
00:01My path to design was not traditional.
00:04It was survival.
00:0618, no diploma, no job.
00:09What the heck am I going to do?
00:10When every dollar matters, you get resourceful.
00:14Oh my gosh, this is beautiful.
00:16It's how I design homes to look way more expensive than they are.
00:44We are in the beautiful downtown of Strathroy, where we are opening or trying to open our
00:50brand new retail store on Front Street.
00:53I am slightly terrified because we're opening in the next couple of days.
00:57So I'm kind of losing my mind a little bit.
01:01I feel like I am a huge dreamer, but I never thought it would be reality.
01:07I am a designer.
01:08I do everything from design concepts to selling thrifted things.
01:12And the list goes on.
01:13This is actually my second store.
01:16The first took off selling DIY and curated finds until COVID shut it down.
01:20It's been a few years and I'm giving retail another go.
01:26Hi, guys.
01:27Hi.
01:28Anywhere closer to being done, I was secretly hoping I'd walk in here and everything would
01:32be done.
01:33Curtains are done.
01:34They look really good.
01:35I hate to put the pressure on, but the sign is not up yet.
01:38Mm-hmm.
01:38You said curtains first.
01:40Yeah, but this is taking a while.
01:42My dream team is my dad, Rob.
01:44I'll be scared for you.
01:46You'll be scary.
01:47And my husband, Alex.
01:48What do they keep me like?
01:50Coffee.
01:51Why do you have to smell everything?
01:53They are both contractors with their own projects.
01:56I run our client design and retail business, and they help where they can.
02:00And finally, my niece, Chloe, who is the general manager of the store.
02:04Are you ready to be her only?
02:06Yes.
02:06I've had this kind of support for a long time now, ever since I got knocked up at 18.
02:11When I found out I was pregnant, I was like, what the heck am I going to do?
02:16How am I going to make money?
02:18I've always had a love for beautiful things, and I think I have a pretty good eye.
02:22And Alex is handy.
02:23So I bought $15 dressers, and we kept flipping pieces of furniture.
02:27From there, it grew to a design business, to a store, to an online business.
02:31I trusted myself to figure it out as I went and prove that money doesn't get to decide who
02:37has beautiful things.
02:38I'm the creative crazy brain, and Alex brings my visions to life.
02:42Anything Emily needs, I just try to be there and help her as much as possible.
02:47And you would think that being together all the time would make you fight, but we had
02:52the same dream of having a property, and we work so well together.
02:56We're so polar opposite, which I think it works so perfectly.
02:59I don't know, maybe because we met at such a young age, you know, Alex and I had to hustle
03:04and make money.
03:05In order to achieve greatness, you've got to hustle.
03:08There's no shortcut.
03:09There just isn't.
03:10We've got three kids, Sawyer, Kai, and Ash, and they are everything to me.
03:15Every single day feels hectic, from taking Sawyer to baseball and Kai to hockey, Ash to
03:21soccer, trying to maintain a relationship with Alex, to our clients, to his work, to the store.
03:28This was just a blank space in the beginning, and now after months of hard work, it's becoming
03:33blended living.
03:34It's going to be retail and also our design office.
03:37Right now, I've got about five storage units full of things I've picked up for the store,
03:42and I still thrift all the time.
03:44About 90% of these items have been thrifted.
03:47So for instance, like these pieces, again, I painted and repurposed.
03:51And this is $12.
03:52Like she can see things that nobody else sees.
03:55She can pick up a $2 pot even from like the dollar store, and I don't know what she does,
04:01but like all of a sudden, it's like just the coolest object.
04:04We are really transforming every piece that we have.
04:07So the design side of things is equally as important as blended living.
04:12But we have spent every penny that we have to make this frickin' happen.
04:16And there's huge pressure to grow this business into something much bigger.
04:20We'll be counting on it for our income, so that we can get that down payment for our forever home.
04:25So it cannot fail.
04:27It cannot fail.
04:28And I won't let it.
04:29Come on and dance with me.
04:40Today is one of my favorite days.
04:42We are looking for inspiration at my favorite place in the entire world.
04:46I try to go thrifting a few times a week.
04:48I get the best ideas and pieces to make beautiful spaces without the huge price tag.
04:54Budget in general is something I take very seriously.
04:57And I mean, that's why I get so hands-on and crafty,
04:59because I've never been able to afford all of those things.
05:02I can't walk into that big retail box store and buy whatever I want.
05:07So why would I expect my clients to do that?
05:10We are looking for a new client of mine.
05:12She found me on social media.
05:14I had an online consultation and was blown away by the project.
05:18Allie's a single mom who just bought a 200-year-old house that needs a lot of work.
05:24Her $65,000 budget has scared off other designers,
05:27but I think we might be able to make some magic here.
05:31My name is Allie.
05:32I am a single mom of two kids.
05:35Quiet!
05:36Ready?
05:37We are a super busy, energetic family in 2024.
05:42Due to separation, I purchased my own home in a crazy time.
05:47There was only a few houses in our area in my budget.
05:50It drew my attention because of the old charm.
05:53We used to live out in the country.
05:54So when I saw this house come up for sale,
05:57the bean field out back was obviously a huge asset to the home.
06:00Look at that!
06:03Hi, welcome to our home.
06:05So my main floor, which consists of my family room, my kitchen, my office,
06:10all of my flooring tile is starting to crack.
06:13There's a big slant in my floor and it causes me to have to glue pieces of the floor in.
06:19It also has an office off of the kitchen.
06:21Hey mom, if there is one thing that you could change for your office, where would it be?
06:26Just one?
06:27And then another big thing is just the aesthetic appeal in my home.
06:30It's a great size family room, but it could use some updating.
06:34We love doing puzzles and playing games in here, but right now our space just isn't suited
06:39for that.
06:40Just making this place ours would be a life changing experience for all of us.
06:44This home is a really, really big deal to her.
06:47This is her first home by herself with her kids.
06:49I want to create a space that is just layered with warmth and detail and exciting things that we
06:56thrift.
06:56Everything has a story, and I just feel like that is what makes a house a home.
07:00And that's exactly why I'm here.
07:04Hello.
07:05Hello.
07:06This is my best friend, Sherry.
07:07Hi, nice to meet you.
07:09How are you?
07:09She's going to help me out while we plan my dream home.
07:13Sherry is my rock.
07:15She helped me move into this home.
07:16She's helping me with this new journey.
07:17She is amazing.
07:19Yeah, we're so grateful for her.
07:21Come on in.
07:22So you know exactly what you love, and you know exactly what you don't love at this point.
07:25For sure.
07:26Okay.
07:26Just the functionality of the room, I think, is something that I want to fix.
07:30Okay.
07:30There's a lot of floating pieces in this space.
07:33Nothing flows.
07:34What about, I'm just checking out flooring.
07:36I am noticing that it's different.
07:37Did you notice the slant when you walked in?
07:39I have noticed the slant.
07:41I'm like, do we have a marble that we can just see where it goes?
07:44My son often takes his dinky cards, and this is his ramp.
07:46Oh, so we can't fix this?
07:47No, that one thing we can do.
07:49We can do, please.
07:50Okay, so we'll definitely have to get some help with that.
07:53All right, this is the office.
07:56Okay, so I work from home four days a week, so I basically live in here during the day.
08:01I thought I wanted it to be a spare room, which is why I have the bed in here.
08:04Also, it's not utilized, so I want this space to be more of like my-
08:08Your zone.
08:09Yeah.
08:09You want to kind of start fresh in here.
08:11I do.
08:12Okay, I love that.
08:13Come on into the family room.
08:15Oh, it's so cute.
08:16It's cute, but it's not homey.
08:18Okay.
08:18Everything here was given to me, or I have purchased secondhand.
08:21To fully renovate a kitchen, office, and living room, a budget of $65,000 is pretty challenging,
08:27especially in an older building.
08:29We should plan for about six weeks to get this done.
08:32I'm so grateful to have you guys with me.
08:34I am so grateful for Sherry for helping me through this, and I have full trust in you,
08:38and I can't wait to see what the outcome is.
08:39I feel so lucky to be a part of it.
08:41Oh, thank you.
08:42Come on.
08:42Come on, Sherry.
08:43Restarting life on my own with my kids, I just see that Emily, she knows that I want
08:48this more than anything for my kids, and she's going to help me make that possible.
08:51Aw, thank you.
08:52No one more deserving.
08:53No, honestly.
08:54Nobody.
08:54The new journey is just beginning.
08:57Honestly, like, this is my zone.
08:59Like, this is actually where I make magic happen in these older homes.
09:03But there's almost always little hidden things that you're going to find when we start demo.
09:07So am I freaking out?
09:09Yes.
09:10Am I always freaking out?
09:11Yes.
09:12When it comes to structural things, we definitely need an expert to tell me what I can and cannot do,
09:17and fingers crossed that that's not going to eat up the majority of the budget.
09:34Allie wants her 200-year-old home to feel elevated for her and her kids,
09:38not a jumble of hand-me-downs.
09:40But first, we have to see what's going on under those slanted floors.
09:50To keep costs in check, I need to be super intentional with the finishes.
09:53This is where projects can get pricey, so I'll have to look at everything to make sure it looks
09:58amazing but is budget-friendly.
10:00I love doing these flat lay mood boards because it pulls so much inspiration.
10:05Let's get into it.
10:06Teaching Chloe the ins and outs of the design side is super important.
10:10I want her to kind of know that side so we can help her guide customers when they come into
10:15the store.
10:16So right now, you enter into the front of the house and you're right into the kitchen.
10:20Right now, the appliances are kind of floating around and Allie's really missing usable counter space.
10:26So I am basically starting fresh.
10:28We're going to take out the old cupboards and table and bring in a big island where she and the
10:33kids
10:33can eat, do homework, and all of that kind of stuff.
10:35We are going to keep her appliances but make sure that they actually feel grounded in a space that is
10:40light, bright, airy, and beautiful.
10:43So this is the cabinet door.
10:46I am going with a prefab cabinet.
10:49So it is a shaker.
10:50It's beautiful.
10:51I'm super happy with this one.
10:53So when I'm choosing the hardwood floor for this space, I'm either picking something that is lighter or darker
10:58but within the same tone so that everything is cohesive together.
11:01Okay.
11:03I feel like this one, okay, let's go with that one.
11:06So these are our paint colors.
11:08We have our countertop.
11:10We have our tile, our grout, cabinets, flooring.
11:13I'm feeling really good.
11:15In Allie's living room, the furniture was just not working for them.
11:18So we're going to let most of that furniture go.
11:21Continue the hardwood flooring from the kitchen and add this L-shaped sofa bed.
11:25We will add some furniture that doubles the storage, nice lighting, and some touches of green
11:29that will go a long way to making the space feel elegant and cozy.
11:33I think that this pillowcase will look really nice.
11:36I love it.
11:37It also brings more depth as well.
11:40I'm very proud of you.
11:41You are learning so quick.
11:42I always feel like it's just a moment you get.
11:45I refer to it as little butterflies.
11:46When things start to kind of piece together,
11:48I just get this feeling inside that it's magic is happening.
11:52And I want her to kind of feel that too.
11:54Okay, so here is her office.
11:56So this is the third space that we're doing.
11:58Yep.
11:59So right now when you walk in, there is a bed in this space.
12:02I'm ditching the bed and most of her furniture
12:05and thrifting a desk in the storage cabinet.
12:07Okay, this is feeling so good.
12:10It's feeling light and fresh and it still has so much character.
12:14I think she's going to be really, really happy.
12:17I think she's going to really like it.
12:22With demolition continuing at Ali's house,
12:24I'm headed to a local antique shop to find some great pieces.
12:28I'm going for a blend of light, elevated and modern energy
12:31with some meaningful antique touches
12:33that are a nod to the home's history.
12:35We are doing Ali's office,
12:37which I'm really hoping to make it super special for her.
12:40We're also doing her kitchen and the budget is tight.
12:43So fingers crossed.
12:45You and I give us a try.
12:49Oh, frick yeah.
12:52This is absolutely perfect.
12:55It is the perfect size.
12:57The brass finish is gorgeous.
12:59I absolutely love it.
13:00And the taller base is going to make it feel so much more lax.
13:04So obviously we're going to have to add a new shade,
13:06which is perfectly fine.
13:07We can do that.
13:07We might even be able to thrift that, to be honest.
13:10And then we're going to cover this up with some fabric.
13:13And it's only eight bucks.
13:15So we can probably complete this whole lamp for under $50,
13:18which is a steal.
13:20This is a good find.
13:30Thank you so much.
13:32Have a good one.
13:32Take care.
13:33You too.
13:38I brought on a construction manager, Anthony.
13:41He's here to keep these projects on track, on time, on budget.
13:45But he just texted me.
13:46We need to talk.
13:51Hello.
13:53Hello.
13:53How are you?
13:54I'm good.
13:54How are you?
13:55We, uh, it took us all morning to just pull up seven layers of flooring.
14:00Wow.
14:01Take a quick look here.
14:04Oh.
14:04Can you see that?
14:05Yeah.
14:06Oh, my gosh.
14:08Yeah.
14:08I'm just starting to get into it.
14:10Yeah, my heart.
14:10We knew there was lots of deflection in the floor.
14:13Mm-hmm.
14:13But we've opened up a can of worms here, for sure.
14:17OK.
14:17And it's not going to be cheap.
14:19We might be in a little trouble here.
14:21OK.
14:31At Ali's house, Anthony and the team have been pulling up the old flooring.
14:35And it's sounding like there might be something going on under there.
14:46Holy .
14:51The floors are, they're non-existent.
14:54They have been completely wiped out.
14:56Just got real.
14:57You see the oil pans filled with cement holding the back of the house up.
15:02Now that's crazy.
15:03You know?
15:03Yeah.
15:04As I peeled back further and further, there comes a point where there's the point of no return.
15:08And we hit it.
15:09So I had to pull everything out.
15:11And I didn't realize further back, we have to put footings up the center.
15:15We've got to put them down the sides. I thought we were just going to be able to fix
15:19this side, right?
15:20I didn't realize it would be this bad.
15:22So what are you saying?
15:23To be right up to code, it's going to be closer to $15,000.
15:30I know your wheels are turning.
15:31Yeah.
15:32But we don't have a choice but to fix it.
15:33This is going to be a huge hit to the budget.
15:36Every single penny that that woman owns is here.
15:39Yeah.
15:39How am I going to deliver this message to her?
15:42How am I going to let her know that it's going to cost $15,000 to, you know, fix her
15:47floors?
15:48And I felt all the feelings.
15:49I really did.
15:52Hello, Allie.
15:53I'm at your house right now.
15:55Oh my goodness.
15:56Okay.
15:57We all knew that the floors were going to be a bit of an issue.
16:02Um, but they're a little bit more of an issue than we had all hoped.
16:06Okay.
16:07Let me just flip you around.
16:10Okay.
16:11Oh my gosh.
16:13Yeah.
16:14Here, let me.
16:14I'm going to walk around, actually, and I'm going to show you some more down there, okay?
16:17Okay, just one sec.
16:19I know.
16:19It is a big hole right now.
16:22Okay.
16:25What is that?
16:25So these are oil cans filled with cement, and that's holding up your house right now.
16:30Yeah.
16:31So, I mean, I know, I know.
16:34I did chat with Anthony.
16:36They are estimating that this is going to cost about $15,000.
16:40What?
16:42I'm really speechless, truthfully.
16:44I know.
16:44I absolutely just want you to know that this home, when you guys get back here, is safe.
16:51We're just going to have to get creative and safe in other ways.
16:54So that is my main priority.
16:57I'm scared.
16:58I have so many mixed emotions right now.
17:00Can you post it?
17:01I will, for sure.
17:02All right, talk soon.
17:06I just want this to be safe for them, and I don't want there to have to be sacrifices, but
17:12there's going to be.
17:13There is no more room in the budget.
17:15I'm going to have to save on design.
17:17So as soon as I get home, I'm going to be digging through those bins and see what I can
17:21find
17:22so that we can put this house back together in a beautiful way.
17:32When a budget jumps by $15,000, every penny matters even more.
17:37So I've called Alex and my dad as a big favor, using their building skills to help us save on
17:42labor.
17:45I'm going to have to save on labor.
17:46Holy jeez.
17:48They just made it work for as long as they could, anyway.
17:52Well, time's up.
17:53Time is up.
17:54We've got to get these footings out of the way for the new ones to go in.
17:57Holy jeez.
18:14I still need to find a big ticket item to swap out if we're going to save enough money.
18:18The hardwood floors we picked are beautiful, but there are some amazing options out there,
18:24like Luxury Vinyl Plank or LVP that look just as good, but could save our bottom line.
18:30I absolutely love LVP.
18:32It's easy to install, it's easy to clean, and you still get that designer look without the price tag.
18:39For Ali's main floor, I really want something that's going to be airy and light and really grounds the
18:44space.
18:44In particular, I'm loving this one.
18:46It's a little bit darker than the cabinets, which I love, but it still adds a lot of depth and
18:50warmth,
18:51and I think it's going to be a really beautiful option for Ali.
18:54You don't want things to be too matchy-matchy.
18:56Mixing wood tones feels curated and intentional, which feels high-end.
19:01That's a winner.
19:07Now that the oil cans are out of the way, we can actually start making this place safe again,
19:11starting with all new footings.
19:18Swapping out hardwood for LVP will go a long way towards helping us stay on budget,
19:24but I'm still going to have to DIY my heart out to make this work.
19:28I bought a headboard. I pick up the weirdest things all the time, and I don't usually know what I'm
19:35going to do with it yet. Then a project comes along, and the idea sparks, and magic happens. But I
19:41usually
19:42need help along the way. You made it.
19:44I did.
19:45And you brought the headboard.
19:47I did.
19:48My dad is the absolute man. He supported every single crazy idea I've ever had.
19:54I have no idea where I would be without him.
19:56So you were at Ali's place already, so obviously you know the condition of her home.
20:01I do.
20:02And her situation.
20:03Yep.
20:04We need to get super creative, so I'm hoping that we can use this for the island legs.
20:08On the one side we have cabinets, so the other side is all open. So we'll have kind of stools
20:13tucking underneath.
20:14Ah, good idea. Great use of it.
20:16Repurposing things is definitely my secret weapon. I think I use it in every project I've ever done.
20:21And I feel like my rule of thumb is the weirder the better. It's just really cool when you see
20:26your client's face and the money that they've saved is just such a huge win.
20:31Maybe we could even cut these pieces off nicely so I could...
20:35Use them for something else.
20:36Yes, and kind of reuse as much as we possibly can.
20:39Lots of real good wood here.
20:40And what, 65 bucks?
20:42Yeah, it's cheap.
20:43Steel, we like a deal.
20:45Yep.
20:46To get these legs brand new would probably cost a hundred and something dollars.
20:50I can work a drill.
20:54Reverse.
20:54I could have done that, Dad.
21:00Beauty.
21:01Nice.
21:01Yeah, we'll for sure be able to use these.
21:04Yeah.
21:06That's awesome.
21:07These legs are so perfect.
21:08There's so much character.
21:10They are rounded and square and kind of the best of both worlds.
21:15How do you serve this?
21:18Ali's home is 200 years old and it really needs those character pieces to kind of tie it all in
21:24and make it all kind of one cohesive space.
21:27All right, so let's prime.
21:32You would never know that it was a headboard.
21:34No, you wouldn't.
21:35And we're not going to tell anyone.
21:38While we finish that DIY, Anthony's crew is installing the new floor joys at Ali's house.
21:46Getting everything installed properly so the house is safe again and everything is up to code.
21:56Next on my list is Blended Living.
22:08The day is finally here.
22:10We are opening at Blended Living.
22:12I've never been so nervous in my life and I've had three kids so that says a lot.
22:17Did you guys find all the kilns?
22:19I have my whole family here.
22:20I don't know if anyone has gone to bed earlier than like two in the morning for the last month.
22:26I am completely delirious.
22:28Yeah, I'm exhausted.
22:31Over the last few years, I've been hoarding all of these beautiful things.
22:35So it's nice to finally showcase them.
22:37I want people to walk in and be like,
22:39nervous to maybe flip a tag and see a price and then finally see and be like,
22:42oh, I can actually afford this.
22:44I think that's my biggest thing is giving people these lux fines for a fraction of the price.
22:50I'm just thinking now that we never did a float.
22:52I'm sure we're not doing cash.
22:53No cash today.
22:54You need cash.
22:55I don't think it's a big deal.
22:57It's a huge deal.
22:58You've got to finish cleaning.
22:59We don't have time.
23:00I got 20 bucks in my wallet actually.
23:02I'm nervous to see people's reaction.
23:04Like are people going to be as excited as I am or as thrilled or are they going to be
23:08like
23:08let down when they come in?
23:09I don't know.
23:10I am freaking the frig out.
23:20We're crossing the finish line and we're making magic happen.
23:24But there is a lot on the line.
23:25So let's all cross our fingers that this isn't an epic fail.
23:30Hello, welcome to Michael Vivian.
23:32So excited to see you guys here.
23:34I'd love to welcome you in.
23:41My old store used to sell out in a day.
23:44And that's what I'm counting on with this one.
23:46Okay, it's beautiful.
23:48I am super excited for Emily and I've been following her for years.
23:51And the fact that she actually landed in Strathroy, like I just would not be more excited.
23:58Blended living is amazing.
24:00I've been on the hunt for these for a while.
24:03And I really like the size of it and also the price of it.
24:05Because most of them are like $300, $400.
24:07This is more reasonable.
24:08This is $69.
24:10Well done.
24:16This is why I stay up all night.
24:18This is why I do what I do.
24:19The comments people are making, the conversations I'm having, it makes all of this just worth it.
24:25But of course, I'm very nervous about the kids coming for the first time.
24:28It's like I'm doing all of this.
24:29This is for them.
24:34Yeah, it's like it's like all of this is for them.
24:40So.
24:43Hello, my people.
24:48It's been so long.
24:50How are you?
24:51Good.
24:51What do you think?
24:53It's pretty sweet.
24:54It is a big, huge, fat check mark that we are open.
24:59That is done.
25:00And I just feel like it's just going to keep getting better from here.
25:03Okay, let's go grab some lunch.
25:04I'm super hungry.
25:05Haven't eaten all day.
25:19Same.
25:20In Ali's 200-year-old home, the foundation is finally rock solid and the new floor joists are in.
25:26The new subfloor is installed throughout the entire main floor.
25:29So now the crew can begin laying down the LVP flooring.
25:32It's great that we're finally moving forward, but I need to see how it's looking before
25:37we can start rebuilding her kitchen.
25:38I don't have time.
25:40I'll see you when I want.
25:48We have floors.
25:51There is flooring.
25:52Like there was just a hole here.
25:54There was.
25:55It feels great to be on the other side.
25:56It really does.
25:57We're finally at ground zero.
25:59It's insulated now, which is great.
26:01And the flooring goes in both hallways in the oppa.
26:03So it's all one floor right through.
26:05I think it was a really good choice.
26:06But I'm freaking out because we have the island, the countertops, backsplash.
26:11We have trim work, painting.
26:13Well.
26:14I mean, yeah, there's a lot.
26:16We're behind by at least two weeks.
26:18So we have a lot to do.
26:20And of course, to top it off, I have another DIY for Anthony.
26:24With all the DIYs on this project, I need his help.
26:28Well, I'm hoping you're going to be able to do something with this.
26:30It's all solid wood.
26:31And then I brought some other legs I'm hoping you can help with, too.
26:34Okay.
26:34So just one more thing on his list, but I think it's going to be so worth it.
26:39What are we doing to it?
26:40I'm almost nervous to tell you.
26:42Okay.
26:43So I'm thinking of taking this table.
26:46All right.
26:47You're taking this table.
26:48I know when you say I.
26:50And turning it into a puzzle table.
26:53Okay.
26:54Ali loves puzzles.
26:55Okay.
26:55I found this table.
26:57It was $50.
26:58It's solid wood.
26:59But we need to do some tweaking.
27:01If we were to leave the frame.
27:03Okay.
27:04Cut out the inside.
27:06And basically adding like a tray underneath.
27:09Okay.
27:10Something thin.
27:10It just needs to hold the puzzle pieces.
27:12Sure, yeah.
27:12I was thinking it would be nice to kind of use this as kind of like a top.
27:16Something solid underneath.
27:17Ultimately, yes, it's this awesome puzzle table.
27:20But at the end of the day, it is a coffee table.
27:22That's right.
27:22What are these?
27:24Maybe one more.
27:25I brought those finials off of the headboard that were left over from the island pieces.
27:30That's cool.
27:30What I'm hoping you're going to turn into an awesome little plant stand.
27:34I asked Anthony if he could save some of the wood in Ali's old floors because I have an idea.
27:40Here's the wood.
27:41So this stuff.
27:42That is amazing.
27:43This is the actual 200-year-old floor joists from Ali's house.
27:47That's wild.
27:48Holy crap.
27:49That is so heavy.
27:50That kid is really heavy.
27:51That is crazy.
27:53No, I love this.
27:54So I'm thinking we'll do a nice circular little table, like a plant stand, something lower.
28:00I think it will look really, really good.
28:02And I absolutely love the character of this and the story behind it.
28:06Yeah, I think it's a really nice piece for her.
28:08That is a great idea.
28:16Now that the floors are in, everything else can finally move forward.
28:20Cabinets are going up, giving Ali a big, beautiful island and so much more storage space.
28:34I want to create some finishing touches that will help the space feel custom without costing a ton.
28:38Sometimes the best way to keep costs down is to do it yourself.
28:43I picked this bowl up for Ali for $8, and my goal today is to turn it into a pedestal
28:50bowl for her kitchen.
28:52And these bowls go for upwards of $100 if you're buying it anywhere else in a retail store.
28:57These bowls were all under $5 each.
29:01I'm going to go with the wooden bowl.
29:02I think it's going to be easier to work with.
29:04And I like the height of this.
29:06Okay, so step number one, take some glue.
29:10Now this glue is more of like a concrete adhesive, so it works long term.
29:14Be quite generous with it.
29:16And then I'm just going to do my best to press this down in the center.
29:21I'm going to add a small bead along the edge here just to really make sure that we've sealed this
29:27in.
29:27And we're going to let it sit for a little bit just so that it can fully dry.
29:32Next step is priming.
29:38You just want to make sure that you have nice, even strokes.
29:42If you hover in one spot too much, you're going to get a lot of drips, which we do not
29:46want.
29:46The biggest reason we're doing this is because when we go to plaster, it will not adhere without the primer.
29:51So I just want to make sure that everywhere has an even coat.
29:59The pedestal bowl is dry and it is time for plaster.
30:04I'm actually using just like a spackling right now, but you can use any type of compound.
30:09It always goes on pink and then it dries white.
30:12The whole goal of doing this is just to add layers and different textures until it's exactly the way you
30:18want.
30:19Once that's done, I'm going to let it fully dry.
30:21And then I'm going to lightly sand it and put that final coat of paint on and it's ready for
30:26alley space.
30:27I feel like these nighttime projects where I get to kind of be alone in the studio and be creative
30:33and be in the zone,
30:34this is my favorite time of day for sure.
30:37I cannot wait to see what it's going to look like in her kitchen.
30:47New quartz countertops are budget friendly, but will look and feel amazing.
30:51Not to mention how durable they are.
30:53They're going to last a lifetime.
31:01It's crunch time, so I'm stopping by after hours to check on some finishes.
31:07I'm hoping to see a huge amount of progress.
31:09With this project behind schedule, there's no room for error.
31:13Oh my gosh.
31:23Allie's house has come so far.
31:25It's incredible.
31:26Oh my gosh.
31:27This looks so good in here.
31:29But tiling starts tomorrow, so I need to make some quick decisions.
31:34I'm thinking we should go with a nice bricklay.
31:40Yeah, I love that.
31:41I also have some hardware I need to check.
31:46Perfect.
31:48Yeah, Allie is going to break out.
31:50What a difference this space is.
31:56Ever since opening day, people have been reaching out,
31:59saying the most kind things, and it makes me so happy.
32:03Hi, Emily.
32:04I just wanted to show you some of the beautiful pieces I picked up at your store.
32:07I have this bowl.
32:09It just fits the space perfectly.
32:11And then some pottery pieces.
32:14This oil dispenser.
32:16Love it so much.
32:17A beautiful lamp, as well as a little saucer.
32:20So that's all for now.
32:22See you soon.
32:23So good.
32:24I put a lot on the line opening the store.
32:27So hearing this lets me know that I'm doing things right.
32:40Okay, home stretch.
32:42That new backsplash will give the kitchen a light, bright look that Allie wants.
32:46But there's still so much to do.
32:48And we're two weeks behind.
32:53Anthony sent pics of the puzzle table.
32:55It's coming together really nicely.
32:57And I'm shopping my own store to find some more pieces for Allie and save money.
33:03I'm always looking for colors and textures and pieces that really create a story.
33:08So immediately when I saw this, I thought of her.
33:11I think it's so dainty and cute.
33:13And I can just picture some beautiful stems in it.
33:16And it has some crackle effect in it, too.
33:18So it just really creates a unique piece.
33:20I really, really like this one.
33:24I kind of like this one, too.
33:26The size of it, the shape of it.
33:29Uh-oh.
33:30Okay, so this does happen often where I will find multiple pieces that I really like.
33:34So I think what I'll do is put both in the space and then decide what I'm going to do.
33:39I love the idea of playing with brass candle holders.
33:44We have a lot of brass accents in the kitchen.
33:46So I think they'd be the perfect addition.
33:48I actually love that they don't match.
33:50I like that they have different finishes on it.
33:53You can also play with the different taper candles inside of it.
33:56And whether or not we put it in the living room or in the kitchen.
33:59It could also work in the office.
34:01It just adds so much character to the space.
34:03Thank goodness I have so much inventory.
34:09And the things I can't find, you better believe I'm going to build them myself.
34:14I am finishing up Allie's house this week,
34:16which means I have to get this cabinet done for her office.
34:23She doesn't have a lot of space so we can't do anything really big.
34:25So I found the perfect piece.
34:27I'm painting it a neutral white so that the office feels cohesive.
34:31I'm taping off the glass so I don't paint them here.
34:35The drawers are done.
34:37Come with me, my friends.
34:39So we have the cabinet.
34:43Because there's going to be the linen curtains on the inside of the doors,
34:47I'm not going to paint the inside.
34:48So I'm just going to kind of tape off a nice clean line so that it doesn't look sloppy.
34:53And then I'm going to get a coat of primer on and then start the paint.
35:01I feel like I've been super emotional throughout this entire project.
35:04I just know how much this means to Allie.
35:07This is her first really big purchase after being separated.
35:10It's a really big deal.
35:11The biggest challenge on this project was obviously budget.
35:14I have had to work my butt off to thrift and source pieces for this home
35:19to kind of bring that money back.
35:20You did such a good job.
35:22All right.
35:23It was fun to build, actually.
35:25And one of those projects is the puzzle table that Anthony finished.
35:28I couldn't be happier with it, except for maybe one last tweak.
35:32You know that I did not love the legs.
35:34Yeah.
35:35On this table.
35:36I love the legs, yeah.
35:36Now, this was $50.
35:38So I feel like I could justify getting new legs for this table.
35:42I think they were like $50, but they're solid wood.
35:45Yeah.
35:45So this brings the table to, what, maybe $150.
35:48If you wouldn't mind switching these out, I feel like it still adds a little bit
35:54of detail, but it keeps it a little bit more modern.
35:56It's those little details, especially at the last minute.
35:58At the, I mean, that's what I do.
36:00I tend to notice everything, and when something isn't right, it matters to me.
36:04But if we can fix it, we fix it, because the results are always worth it.
36:08So I am just finishing up these beautiful bowls, and these were the DIY Flaster Finish.
36:15It makes such a huge impact and transformation.
36:18It makes it look so expensive, and now I'm just kind of finishing it with some paint,
36:23and I'm using the same wall paint that I put on the walls just to make everything very cohesive,
36:27and then we'll use the objects inside the bowl to kind of give it that pop of colour,
36:31which will be so beautiful in Ali's kitchen.
36:34In her office, I'm putting as many extra touches as I can to make it feel grown up and elevated.
36:39I'm not stopping until the last second.
36:42These finishing touches will make Ali's home feel high-end without the high price tag.
36:46I cannot wait for her to walk through the door and see the transformation,
36:50because it looks so fricking good.
36:52It's come such a long way.
37:02It's been eight weeks, and we're finally going back. How are you feeling?
37:05Oh my gosh, I'm nervous. I'm so excited. I don't even know what to expect right now.
37:12Today is the fricking day. Ali gets her house back. I swear I did not sleep last night.
37:17It's been a bit of a roller coaster with this home. A lot of ups and downs,
37:20but I cannot wait to get her in there. You ready?
37:24Yes, let's go.
37:25This doesn't really feel real yet to me, and here we are. It's happening.
37:29I never dreamt that this would actually happen. I can't wait to see it. I really can.
37:34Get in here.
37:35What?
37:42Get in here.
37:43Come on.
37:49Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. This is beautiful.
37:58This is amazing. The last time I think we spoke, it was a hole. It was a hole. Literally.
38:04I can't believe this. This is way more than I was ever dreaming of. Oh my gosh, look at this.
38:10This is so big. It's all yours. This is wild.
38:17I didn't think I was going to cry. Oh my gosh, this is so nice. It fits. It fits so
38:23perfectly.
38:24I know that we had taken out the dining table, but look, there's so much space.
38:28There's so much space. There's so much space. It was like it was always meant to be this way.
38:32I cannot get over this either. Everything was floating and now it's just built in. Your pantry is massive.
38:38And how cool that we were able to utilize your appliances. I love that. Oh my God.
38:44And even like the quartz countertop as well. It's going to last you forever. It's beautiful.
38:49It's beautiful. It's so easy to clean and maintain. And the colors are so neutral.
38:53They are so nice. And the backsplash. Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful. What am I going to put in
38:58here?
38:58Look at all your storage. You're like, where do I start? Oh my gosh. And look at your floors.
39:04The original plan was to go with the hardwood. We ended up pivoting to an LVP, which is a luxury
39:09vinyl plank. Okay. Which is so great for kids, long-term cleaning. Excellent.
39:14It was not a sacrifice because as you can see, they look so beautiful. They do. Yeah. So that is
39:20cohesive throughout the entire space. Oh my gosh. Okay. So another really cool thing are these island
39:26legs. This is cut from a headboard from a local thrift store. Okay. There's so much character and I
39:34had so much fun doing it. It was really special. Those are really beautiful. And the boards from the
39:39floor. Okay. I had Anthony create this really cute plant stand. No way. So it's a 200-year-old
39:45piece of wood. That's amazing. From the foundation. It matches so perfectly to it. It does. I love how
39:50it's tied in together. And even the color of the wood. This is incredible. This is incredible.
39:55Okay. Let's go look at the living room. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my gosh. This is beautiful.
40:00Oh my god. This is so nice. Oh my gosh. This couch. It's huge. It's massive. I need to join
40:09you guys. This is so cozy. And the coolest thing is that it pulls out into a bed. I can
40:15sleep over.
40:16The pictures. What? Those are so sweet. Every detail is perfect. We were able to get some more
40:24lights in here because I know that was an issue. Yeah. And so they're just battery powered. We didn't
40:30have to spend all the money having anything hardwired in. Yeah. I still don't think this is real. It never
40:35has felt like a home. Yeah. I can relate to Ali so much. You know, she took a huge leap
40:40of faith
40:40buying this house. All she cared about was giving her kids a fresh start. And I am so happy to
40:45be able
40:46to give her that. Okay. So this is a really special piece. Okay. So this was an online find. We
40:52painted it,
40:52changed the legs, and he also turned it into... Stop. A puzzle table for you. You're kidding me.
41:00I kid you not. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. That is so you. Oh my gosh. You guys are
41:05so amazing.
41:07You guys were sitting on the floor. Playing the game. Playing games. And now you guys can be comfy
41:12on your couch. You can watch your movies. You can puzzle all day long. Yes. And now it's going to
41:17be
41:17a special place for all of you. God, I don't want to ugly cry. No. Ugly cry all you want.
41:23Shall we look at the last room? Yes. Yes, we should. Okay. Come on, girls. Oh my gosh.
41:31This is so cute. It's huge. Look at that desk. This is so nice. This desk is adorable. There's no
41:39random bed in here anymore. As soon as that bed was out, I was like, this is huge. Yes. But
41:45there's
41:45still storage, which is nice. This hutch was like the perfect size. I didn't want you to feel like you
41:51had to make everything pretty inside. So we ended up doing like a DIY curtain. Oh, it looks so cute.
41:58It's like
41:58a vibe of like pure calm in here. You can work. You can read. You can shut the door and
42:03have a
42:04space that's yours. What you've put into this home for me, like it is a dream come true. I've never
42:10had a home that's mine. Walking in there today was the first time I can say that I'm proud to
42:14call this
42:15space ours and it's safe and it's beautiful. It's gorgeous. Okay. So our original budget was $65,000
42:22and then we got the surprise of the floors. So that ended up making it about $15,000 more. But
42:29we were
42:29able to find all of these incredible pieces and thrifted and headboards and turning things into
42:33different things. And everything has been thrifted except for your bar stools and your couch. I love
42:40it. We ended up coming in at $70,000. Wow. So $5,000 over. Yeah. But you still get that
42:48exact look that
42:49you wanted and deserved. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. This project was incredibly special
42:55from the second I met Ali. I knew how much this house meant to her and her kids. Enjoy your
43:03new
43:03home. Thank you. And it means a lot to me to be a safe space. But I also want it
43:09to be beautiful.
43:09And I think that we can check that right off because it is both of those things. This was just
43:15such a wonderful project. I feel so incredibly grateful. This is exactly why I do what I do.
43:21And yeah, we're on to the next project.
43:26I'm so grateful to have experienced this. Emily has brought every piece of me into my home. And I
43:31get to see that now through what she has done. Hi, Mom.
43:35How's it going? Hi, Mom. Hi, sweetheart.
43:37Being able to bring my kids back into our home that is beautiful. And I will cherish this for the
43:42rest of my
43:42of my life.
43:43You
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