I wish everyone peace and hope you have a fabulous year ahead. I wanted to send a short note to everyone to say thank you for your support. It’s been an incredible year. I got a lot out of writing this newsletter, and I hope you found it helpful. I wanted to say thank you, share what I learned and how I plan to evolve this year.
I had to pivot quickly from my original vision
When I started this substack, I had a vision of sharing all the mishaps from my never-ending renovation saga. I had stumbled my way through a lot of things I never saw myself doing, such as tracing mice, finding the cause of water leaks, calculating heat loads, etc. I was told I couldn’t do any of these things, but I did. Hold onto that thought before you decide she's smart. My tenacity can sometimes makes things so complicated and create so much work that it can be really quite dumb.
I also started this newsletter in the midst of suing the contractor. Initially I thought I could make it less personal until the legal case blew over. But the case meandered on and has now outlived Covid. Pivoting entailed a lot of work. I couldn't use anything that could be identified and many of the images I needed to demonstrate didn’t exist on other websites so I had to make them.
Happiness came from some unexpected places
I believed that writing would make me happy. Up until this point I hadn’t written anything other than work presentations in about two decades. Writing was enjoyable, but what really made me happy was figuring out how to move forward when the initial plan couldn't be realized. Being able to apply my skills brought me joy as well. I frequently don't give myself credit for my years of design education or my postgraduate degree in design. The newsletter is where I can apply what I learned.
Happiness also came from discovery. Soon after I started writing, I was drowning in my case. I had to prepare loads of paperwork and really didn’t have time to engage with other writers here. Once I started to connect with other writers, I discovered kinship in shared success and struggles.
I learned to let go of the renovation that made me un-fun
Years of battles have worn me out. I am in a half-finished house that has not changed in years. The price of this is the toll it take on your life. I'll find out if I win or what I win when the litigation is resolved. But one cannot predict legal outcomes or control certain aspects of life, so I have begun to let go. Along with reconnecting with old acquaintances, I've started regular meditation and am working with a very kind person on a new business idea. (Doug if you are reading, thank you.)
Why I chose to write and how I plan to continue
I understand that people don’t want to subscribe to renovation content that they believe is freely available. There are a lot of sites about home renovation yet I had a very hard time finding the solutions I needed. While some websites identify which trim is Victorian, few provide information on how to match it precisely, where to find the correct match, or how to install it while taking energy efficiency into consideration. Websites that offer fragments of information are not very helpful because you will be kicking yourself afterwards for things you should have done.
My writing comes from experience, research, and conversations with a variety of specialists. I wouldn't be writing if I could have found the content anywhere else. No one told me there are energy codes published by the government, or how to construct my addition with the right wall layers based on site constraints. Not a single contractor has ever stated that there have been significant fatalities related to the foam insulation. Numerous websites actually claim that foam is completely safe. So things aren’t as clear-cut or as easy as one may expect.
My plan for this year
While writing has been enjoyable, certain topics take a great deal of work and research. I also realize the posts are long and each post could probably be split into several. And it has often been difficult to find the time and energy to write because of my life, recurring home issues, and case preparation.
Currently, I avoid sending content with paywalls because it can be annoying to start a post and then discover you need to pay for it. It is entirely up to you if you wish to convert. I'll keep writing as much as I can despite the pressures of other aspects of my life. It may be a combination of shorter, more frequent pieces or one lengthy free post (equal to multiple shorter entries per month) until the case is over in April. Subscribers who pay will continue to receive the same amount. You can see all the posts here and paywalled posts have a lock icon.
The New Year is a time to acknowledge
I appreciate all of your support. I am grateful to my father for inspiring me to pursue a career in design. I'm grateful that my family and friends subscribed to support me.
(I might write serious posts because there isn’t much that can make insulation funny. But I’m totally kidding about the next part. They are still my friends and I probably need to be told those things so I don’t send out garbage. And it’s 100% ok to tell me anything. I don’t take myself seriously.)
So a thank you to my ex-friends, Norman and Heidi for telling me every post is crap. I have blanked out their worst feedback but past comments have included “That photo sucks! Kill me.” “This post is way too long. No one wants to read an encyclopedia.” “We need more drama.” and “Where are all the juicy bits?”
Prior to their ex-communication, the feedback on this post was ”If this post was an academy award acceptance speech, the band would be playing” and “New year’s resolution- lose weight lol.”
Ouch and haha.
If it weren’t for the kindness of the writers here, I’d have PTSD. Thank you, in no particular order, to:
You will always have a good time reading Michael and he’s provided many thoughtful comments based on his experiences.
Fabulous interiors all made with AI plus a delightful instagram.
An architect, she always has great tips and comments.
Because I grew up in Fairfax county and he’s been a source of support. He’s writes unique and interesting historical content.
for being helpful and allowing me to interview him. I can only dream of his subscriber base.
Heart-warming posts about home and living in the US and Italy.
I knew I forgot an important one:
You’ll enjoy this one as it’s so thorough and I really enjoy how it’s written and presented.
Happy 2024 and welcome to a new year!
The Three Rings of Hell: A Money Pit, Unending Trauma, and a Decade of Debris –Renovating a Townhouse is Not the Dream You’d Imagine.
In the Fall of 2020, a familiar yet discomfiting sound reappeared. It wafted up the stairs, a tearing noise followed by a silence, at a regular cadence. Evening arrived disconcertingly quiet. A mold vacuum hummed. Rain quietly splashed against the building. I stood amidst the bare concrete, ro…
State & Country Resources For Building Guidance And Compliance
In case you haven’t come across this post, I’m sharing it via email. Most countries and US States have regulations that guide the construction of safe, energy efficient and resilient structures. Below are links that may help advise you on how make your building more comfortable, ensure that systems are properly installed and that your contractor is comp…
Do people not understand they can scroll past things they don't like, or unsubscribe from them without being pains in the ass. No, they don't. That's rhetorical, but le sigh.
Wow. I so appreciate hearing this backstory! And I'm truly sorry to hear that the case continues to drag on.
You clearly DO know your subject - so much more than the average person out there giving advice on social media. Would you consider writing a more personal piece as a guest post on Finding Home? How you chose the house you're still trying to renovate - or - what it's like to live in a home with renovation in limbo (do you feel your life is also in limbo somewhat?) - or - with all you know, in the end, what IS home for you? (just some ideas) Thanks for the shout-out. Hey, if nothing else, home is knowing you're not alone!
Glad you exercised the power of ex-communication. No one needs that kind of negativity! Here's to a new year and movement forward!