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PODCAST

Home: The Second Story

Sheri Scott, Marilyn Moedinger

Everyone talks about how hard it is to do a major renovation or custom home building project, but we are here to take the guesswork and fear out of it. Join two veteran architects: Sheri Scott of Spring House Architects, and Marilyn Moedinger of Runcible Studios, as they sit down with folks who have been through the renovation or building process. Our guests will offer their best tips and tricks, and answer the key question: "What do you know NOW that you WISH you"d known when you

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All Episodes

00:46:15

The Kitchen Was Perfect. The Process Wasn't.

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/09/29

Homeowner Beth joins us with her designer Linda to talk about a kitchen renovation that turned out beautifully, even though the process was far more difficult than expected. Beth had lived in her Lancaster, Pennsylvania home for 29 years and had wanted to remove the wall between her small kitchen and dining room for a long time. Once her husband agreed, she and Linda began interviewing builders. Beth chose the builder who seemed calm, reasonable, and willing to listen. The initial pricing was also

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00:22:46

Non-Traditional Construction: Things to Consider

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/09/22

Sometimes, a homeowner wants to use a construction method that is not common in their area. This could mean SIP construction, ICF, modular, masonry, post and beam, or another system outside of standard stick framing. The point is not to compare every building technology or decide which one is best. The real issue is how to know whether a different construction type makes sense for your project.The first step is building the right team. Most residential construction in the United States is stick

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00:47:46

Save Costs, Hire Right and Move Out During...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/09/15

In this mailbag episode of Home: The Second Story, we answer three common questions about residential construction and renovation. We start with what happens when homeowners feel like they are managing the builder instead of the builder managing the project. We then talk about whether it is realistic to live in a house during a major renovation. Finally, we cover the early design decisions that can have the biggest impact on construction cost.We first respond to a homeowner who feels like building

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00:23:53

How To: Find a Builder for Your Project

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/09/08

How do I find a builder? In this snack size episode of Home: The Second Story, we start by making one thing clear. Clients do not need to come to an architect with a builder already picked out. Some people arrive with a builder in hand. Others come with no names at all. Both are fine. A good architect helps guide that decision and can share builders who have done strong work on similar projects. We also clarify that architects do not build the house, and we do not have financial partnerships with

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00:56:00

Simplifying Home Technology with Caleb Fetter of RMS

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/07/21

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, Sheri Scott and Marilyn Moedinger talk with Caleb Fetter, President and Managing Partner at RMS in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. RMS is an electrical services provider, lighting specifier, and technology integration company. As Caleb puts it, they are “not just the AV guys.”Caleb explains why electrical, lighting, and technology planning need to happen much earlier in a custom home or renovation project than many homeowners expect. He says the ideal time is

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00:21:43

Navigating Uncertainty in Home Projects

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/07/14

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk about uncertainty and how much of it shows up when homeowners are deciding whether to renovate, build new, or take on a custom residential project. Big projects come with big unknowns. There is uncertainty in the market, in the environment, in pricing, in interest rates, and in our own lives. No one has a crystal ball. No architect can predict exactly what will happen with school systems, real estate, gas prices, construction costs, or a

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00:45:24

One Year of Interviews: Best Advice, Biggest Lessons

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/07/07

In this one-year anniversary episode of Home: The Second Story, we look back at what the podcast has taught us about homeowners, custom projects, and the conversations people need before they begin. The show started as a way to let past clients talk to future clients, because a homeowner’s voice lands differently than advice from an architect. Over the past year, that format has expanded to include homeowners, industry professionals, snack episodes, and mailbag questions. The goal is still the same:

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00:54:16

Mailbag 3: Builder Interviews, Bid Comparisons, and...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/06/30

In our third mailbag episode, we answer three listener questions about hiring a builder, comparing bids, and knowing when plans are detailed enough for pricing. The first question asks what homeowners should ask builders beyond cost and schedule. We explain that homeowners need drawings before they interview builders, even if those drawings are preliminary. A builder cannot give meaningful feedback without seeing the scope. The interview should feel like a conversation, not a questionnaire. Good

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00:19:37

Trendy vs Timeless Residential Architecture (Snack...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/06/23

In this snack-sized episode of Home: The Second Story, we talk about the difference between trendy and timeless design, and why that question comes up so often for homeowners. Clients often arrive with inspiration images, social media saves, and a real concern about making the wrong choice. When a renovation or new home takes major time, money, and resources, it makes sense to want the result to last. But timelessness is not as simple as avoiding trends. Marilyn points out that many things now

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00:44:54

How To: Shop for Windows for a Custom Home or Renovation

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/06/16

In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we welcome Craig Hyson and Nick Blessing from Pella Windows & Doors of Cincinnati. This conversation is for homeowners who are starting a custom home, a large renovation, or even a production build and want to understand how to make better decisions about windows and doors before they order anything.Craig and Nick start with one of the most important points of the episode: the window itself matters, but the installation matters just as much. A high quality

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00:21:31

How To: Battle Decison Fatigue (Snack Sized Episode)

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/06/09

We talk about decision fatigue in home renovation and custom building, and why it catches so many homeowners off guard. The core issue is mental exhaustion. People already have full lives before a project starts, and then they are asked to make a long series of choices over many months. Some of those choices are big, like layout and room count. Others show up during construction and feel urgent. That steady pressure wears people down. In a build or renovation, these are not simple or neutral

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00:51:19

Brooklyn Gut Renovation: What Patrick Wishes He Knew...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/06/02

We talk with Patrick Paul about a Brooklyn gut renovation that began as something much smaller and turned into a much bigger project. Patrick bought a two-family home in a historic district in New York City after years of searching. He and his family used an FHA loan, lived with the risk of an as-is purchase, and took on a house that came with both DOB and landmark violations. The project started in November 2024, reached completion in July 2025, and, like many homes, still has work happening around

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00:23:28

What To Say When Things Start Going Wrong (Snack...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/05/26

In this snack-sized episode, we lay out three simple phrases that help when a construction project starts to feel tense or disorganized. The focus is not on winning an argument. It is on getting everyone back to the same set of facts so the team can move forward. The first phrase is, “Let’s look at the contract.” When communication breaks down or stress rises, the contract is often the best place to start. It defines what counts as completion, what counts as a delay, how payments work, and what

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00:50:41

Building a Multi-Generational Forever Home

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/05/19

In this episode, we talk with John and Lauren Katzman about building their custom multi-generational home in Powell, Ohio, just north of Columbus. Their project was a new build on five acres near a pond and woods. They began working with Sheri and Springhouse Architects well before construction started, and they broke ground in February 2020. About a month later, the pandemic hit. Even with that timing, they moved in by August 2021 and came away feeling supported and safe throughout the

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00:25:55

HVAC Basics and Design Impacts (Snack Sized Episode)

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/05/12

Today we focus on why HVAC design matters far earlier in a project than most homeowners expect. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning shape more than temperature. These systems affect comfort, humidity, indoor air quality, and even the long-term durability of a home. We stress that when HVAC is treated as an afterthought, the result is often awkward soffits, dropped ceilings, poor airflow, and systems that do not perform well. Our hosts also push back on the idea that modern homes are too

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00:49:42

Mailbag: Hidden Costs, Site Risks, and First Steps...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/05/05

In this mailbag episode of Home: The Second Story, we answer three questions that come up early in almost every home project. First, we talk about the fear of missing hidden constraints before buying a property or committing to a renovation. We walk through the kinds of issues people should investigate early, including zoning, setbacks, easements, drainage, septic limitations, wells, and utility concerns. We explain that these questions often involve multiple layers of rules and that what looks

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00:24:23

Project Costs: Figuring Things Out Early (Snack Sized...

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/04/28

We open this snack size episode by asking a simple but critical question. How do we estimate the cost of a renovation or new home when the design is still evolving? We explain that the conversation starts before someone even becomes a client. In our first discovery call, we ask three questions. What is the scope of the project, what is the timeline, and what is the budget. Most people say they do not know their budget because they do not know what things cost. We clarify that cost and budget are not

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00:52:35

Why Skipping a Designer Made This Kitchen Remodel Harder

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/04/21

We talk with Cami Pinsak about a kitchen remodel in her 1950 ranch home in Camarillo, California, and the conversation turns into a very clear lesson about what happens when a homeowner tries to manage too much of a renovation alone. What began as a simple kitchen update, driven in part by the need for a new refrigerator, quickly expanded into a larger project with more decisions, more coordination, and more stress than expected. Cami explains that she and her husband had lived with a dated 1990s

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00:23:54

Do I Need an Architect? (Snack Sized Episode)

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/04/14

In this episode, we take on a question we hear all the time: do you really need an architect? We explain that the answer is yes and no, because it depends on the type of project, the location, and what the homeowner is trying to achieve. Some jurisdictions require an architect for certain residential projects, especially when zoning analysis, change of use, or larger homes are involved. In places like Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and some municipalities in Ohio, even smaller projects may need an

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00:54:01

Our First Mailbag Episode!

Home: The Second Story ·

2026/04/07

In our first mailbag episode, we answer four questions that come up all the time for homeowners who are trying to make smart decisions before starting a renovation or new build. We start with a question about whether a $300,000 renovation budget is realistic for a family hoping to update a kitchen, family room, and primary bath. We explain that there is no honest way to answer that without some level of professional input. A builder or architect needs real information before giving a meaningful

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