Meet our new featured blogger, Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind. She and her husband moved from Los Angeles to the Midwest, where they bought an auction house and are transforming it from a rancher to a Scandinavian cabin. Erin says:
“I should start off by saying that when Husband and I decided to tackle a fixer-upper, we weren’t prepared for a total gut renovation (TGR, if you’re fancy). In my mind, a fixer-upper meant just that: fixing up. In Husband’s mind, it meant the opposite: tearing down.”
Along the way, Erin will share their experience with everything from architects to paint colors to mold remediation (yuck!). And since Erin and I share a love of Suzanne Susanka’s Not So Big House philosophy, we’ll also get her inside scoop on how they used it in their 1,500 sq ft space.
Now I’ll step aside and let Erin introduce herself and take us on a tour of her house. Look for Erin’s posts every Wednesday as we follow her mega-renovation from start to finish.
Wow, I can't believe how much you've done since the last time I was there. It looks great, and good luck with with the new blog.
How cool! I can't wait to see the big reveal (and hear all about the process as you go)!
Congrats Erin. Best of luck with your reno & don't forget about the little guys when you get your own HGTV show (you're a natural)!
Ha — you are sweet, guys! Thank you!
ohmygosh! this is going to be a BLAST! and, man! you're so good in front of the camera! i smiled the entire time.
and now my face hurts.
looking forward to this series…
Congrats Erin! Looking forward to following along.
congrats!
This is a very cute video–great job you two!
You guys are really living in the midst of a major redo – so awesome! And I'm so excited for you. I can't wait to see what you're up to each Wednesday!
I am so glad we all get to go on this adventure with you and your husband!
Erin, I am so happy for you! I can't wait to read about your reno (and get some tips for my own in-flux home, perhaps!) Congratulations, munchkin:) And PS: you look completely gorge here!
thank you, all! and nicole: we're not actually LIVING there. we're fairly off-site. ha. how else would Husband get his locks so luscious?
Congratulations!
Is the video only viewable to those in the US? I keep getting a "video not found" when I try and play it.
so interesting! can't wait to know more!
Wow, congrats on your spot here on HGTV, that's so incredible and you're great on camera! I can't believe what a major reno you're into- how do you guys do this and work too?!? Well I'll def. be checking in to see your progress. Go Erin!
Fabulous! Cannot wait to watch your progress.
Wednesdays are now filled with a new WOW! factor! Congratulations to both you and Husband on the first video….so much fun to tour the house with you…can't wait to see it in person. I'm sure many of your ideas will be found in 70's homes throughout the Midwest by the time of the big reveal!
Congrats Erin.
Ha —- thank you again, guys (especially Library Lady!).
Very nice! This is exciting. I'm in the Midwest too and am interested in buying homes and rehabbing them but have always been intimidated by the "TGR", heh. I will really enjoy seeing your progress and hearing your stories! Love the video. Where are you living while all of this is going on?
Oh, no…..I have been wanting to see this and I cannot get it in the UK!!!! I will just have to move back then.
Looking forward to your posts!
Erin, you guys are total rock stars! I cannot wait for next Wednesday. You are a born HGTV megastar.
[...] news! Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind is HGTV’s newest blogger. Every Wednesday you can tune into HGTV and watch Erin and her husband Ken’s [...]
Yipppeee! Yip! yip! Erin! You two are so gorgeous and adorable and I am so incredibly excited! You betcha sweet patootie I will be here every wednesday to see your soon to be gorgeous redo! It is going to be so much fun seeing the progress along the way! And if I didn't love you before(which I did) I sure do now after seeing more of your beautiful self "in person". YEAH! Congrats you two , I am so happy for you!
xoxo
Melis
it's possible that I got a walk through today with Husband. Is it cheating to see the work in progress? Anyway, looking forward to the finished product!
you guys are great and i love that growl ken makes when erin calls him the 'burly carpenter fixer-upper man' – so cute. i already love the half wall idea and it would be great to see a floor plan of the house at some point to see how it all flows. maybe at the beginning of each segment you could show the area you're working on highlighted on the plan – just an idea and i look forward to seeing the entire transformation. i think you're going to be big tv stars with a gorgeous home to boot!
congrats erin! excited to watch you transform the space
Ahh! Congrats, Erin!! You're such an inspiration!
Good luck with the renovation – I'm excited to follow along!
Ha — you are all so kind!
Kristi: We're living offsite at the moment, as we still don't have running water!!!
[...] our tiny little renovation diary over here and will be joining the fun! Every Wednesday, check out Design Happens, where Husband and I will be posting videos, photos and more tracking the progress of our lovely [...]
[...] yes?:-The Tunnel House at ReadyMade Mag (image above) -Matchmaker, Matchmaker at ReadyMade Mag -Mega-Renovation, Start to Finish at HGTV (my new Wednesday column!) -Guest Curator: Design for Mankind at Etsy -Quirk: Cutting Boards at The [...]
Wow! I admire you for taking on such a huge project but I can't wait to see the results. I agree with everyone else-you're a natural on the camera!
Yah!!! Got to see the first video introducing the big project!!! Mucho fun, Loechners, with you as the captivating hosts, I must say. I agree with Sheila about the unfortunate circumstance of not receiving abroad, though. Felicitaciones on the coup (sorry to mix languages, but oh well). AJ thinks you guys are awesome/fantasticos!
congrats erin…can't wait to see the house come to life!
oh no!! I can't watch the video
BOo hoo 
Anthea.
spoonfulzine.com
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Congratulations Erin! You are pretty much the cutest ever! It's going to be awesome to watch the whole process!!
Rockford is bucolic? Who knew?
Got interested when I saw that you guys are doing a "Scandinavian" style home. I'm Norwegian "up to here", so I'm anxious to see the final product. By the way, I assume, Erin, you're the Scandinavian in this family…correct?
I can picture your make over home in my mind . It will be a jewel I'm sure of it! I'm relieved that you aren't living in the house as it is being remodeled! I married an architect and we moved into our home when it just had nothing but studs in the walls. I had 2 young children ages 6 and 8 when we moved in there wasn't even a toilet or running water for us to use for about a month. we built our home from scratch all by ourselves.the only thing we had to farm out was the concrete for the slab and driveway and the stucco for the outside. we hired someone to place the AC and heating in. and apart of the roof. we had very few people to come and help us .we occasionally would have a friend or 2 who would help my husband do the plumbing or a little bit of the electrical.we still haven't completely finished our home but we love it and it is beautiful! someone told me that if you marry an architect you will always live in a house that is unfinished! and so far they have been right! We have lived in our home since 1992. I do hope that you finish your home and enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine! You both have taken on quite a load of responsibility there but I'm confident that you will see it through! There will be times when you will be ready to give up from being so frustrated with how things are going! just keep that faith that you'll see this to the end and if you haven't killed your self or your husband or filled for divorce in this process then you both will be exceptional individuals! Our favorite saying about building a house is that it usually takes an arm or a leg!
Well, hi there "neighbors" ! (Ft. Wayne is a mere 10 minute drive from my home – which my hubby and I got through a forclosure as well– a blessing for sure) How fun for you guys to be on the HGTV website! I hope the remodeling journey is a fun one. Great "meeting" you and looking forward to the final reveal!
Can't wait to see the finished results. Looks like it will be so beautiful and very spacious.
[...] for several popular blogs such as Design For Mankind, AOL’s Shelter Pop, DIYLife.com, and now HGTV’s Design Happens. Already a busy lady, Erin and her husband are undergoing their own home renovation project. With a [...]