THE REMODEL STUDIO
20 Plus Years in Renovations
Over 300 Homes Transformed
Manages $100K+ Project Budgets
Construction Management
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Most remodel advice stops at design. This one doesn’t.
The 5-Day Renovation Playbook bridges design and construction—right from the start.
A fast-start system to help you plan with clarity... before you hire anyone.
Does any of this sound familiar?
→ You’ve saved 400+ kitchen pins but still have no idea where to start.
→ Every contractor says something different—and none of it makes sense. Yep--this is intimidating.
→ You don’t even know what decisions you're supposed to be making yet. Or how much a remodel realistically even costs.
→ Research mode? You've researched for months and everything looks incredible.
→ You know you want to remodel, but now what?
The best fast-start remodel planning system that bridges design and construction.
The plan gives homeowners a clear, confident entry point into their renovation before they ever hire a pro.
Limited Time Introductory Offer
Without a real plan, your kitchen remodel will...
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Cost way more than you think (that “simple” kitchen? Add 40% minimum)
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Take twice as long as promised (hope you love microwave meals)
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Turn into contractor drama that makes reality TV look tame
Even if you:
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Read all the blogs
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Watched all the YouTube
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Asked your brother-in-law who “knows a guy”
I’ve watched hundreds of homeowners fall into the same traps:
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Picking finishes before figuring out layout (rookie move)
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Getting quotes before defining scope (disaster incoming)
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Starting demo without permits (hello, stop work order!)
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Not understanding where design ends and remodeling begins.
Assuming anything... doesn't work in remodeling.
After managing hundreds of kitchen projects, I can tell you with confidence--The biggest budget blow-ups don’t happen mid-project.
They happen before it even starts—when no one’s clear on scope, timeline, or what decisions need to happen first.
That’s exactly why I created the Five Day Kitchen Playbook.
It walks you through the first week of preconstruction—the part most homeowners skip (and later regret).
Just the clear, confident foundation of design and construction that every successful remodel scope is built on.
Five days to plan like a pro, impress your contractor, and take control of your remodel.
Beautiful matters. So does buildable.
Most guides stop at design.
This one doesn’t.
The 5-Day Kitchen Playbook blends design and construction—right from the start.
Because what’s the point of a beautiful layout… if it can’t actually be built? Or worse, if it blows your budget before demo day?
By focusing on both sides during pre-construction, you avoid the classic mistakes:
→ Designing a dream kitchen with no plan to afford it
→ Picking finishes without knowing install realities
→ Creating layouts that ignore plumbing, walls, or real-life constraints
What makes the playbook different than any online remodel resources...
Become the confident homeowner every
contractor loves to work with...
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Speak fluent contractor. No more “whatever you think is best”—you’ll ask the right questions and get real answers
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Command respect. Prepared homeowners get faster call-backs, tighter bids, and smoother timelines.
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Decision-making superpower. Clarity kills overwhelm—goodbye analysis paralysis.
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VIP treatment. Trades want your project because you show up organized.
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Stress insurance. Fewer “uh-oh” moments means lower blood pressure (and zero midnight tile regrets).
This isn’t a design guide or a contractor checklist. It’s both.
So...What's Inside?
Day One: Discovery
Grab your inspo folder—let’s sort fact from fluff.
Map it before you demo your kitchen.
→ Kitchen workflow mapping
→ Pain-point checklist
→ Hard-NO list + Must-Have
→ Love it or Leave it Template
At the end of this lesson you will...
…lock in your kitchen’s flow map and pain-point hit list.
You’ll see, in black-and-white, exactly where traffic jams and daily frustrations happen. Suddenly your layout decisions aren’t guesses—they’re laser-targeted fixes.
Day Two: Budget
Grab your calculator (and your coffee)—it's time to face the numbers without the panic. You'll break down real cost ranges, prep for the surprise charges no one warns you about, and sketch out how you plan to fund this thing.
➝ Budget Snapshot: Reface vs. Replace
➝ Funding Prep Notes
➝ Cost Range Reality Check
➝ Surprise Cushion Strategy
At the end of this lesson you will...
…know what this project actually costs—and whether your wishlist fits inside it. You’ll walk away with a clear budget range, a 20% buffer plan, and zero illusions about what you're getting into. That’s how you avoid sticker shock and start making confident money decisions.
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Day Three: Measurements
No design degree required. Today, you’ll learn how to do a simple sketch of your kitchen with basic dimensions—just enough to hand off to a cabinet company, countertop fabricator, or designer so they can give you an initial estimate without guessing.
➝ Step-by-Step Sketching Instructions
➝ What to Measure (and What Doesn’t Matter Yet)
➝ Ceiling Heights, Wall Lengths, Door & Window Placement
➝ Countertop and Backsplash Measurements
At the end of this lesson you will...
…have a complete snapshot of your kitchen’s current layout. You’ll see exactly where things are—and where they can’t go—so your next layout isn’t a Pinterest dream. It’s a functional, accurate plan.
Before you start making decisions, you’ll figure out your role and your renovation strategy. Whether you’re DIYing or hiring it all out, you’ll learn how to speak the lingo, understand wait times, and prep smarter—not later.
➝ First Call Guide (What to Ask Pros)
➝ Contractor/Designer Role Planner
➝ Management Fees
➝Solo Contractors VS Teams
At the end of this lesson you will...
…know who you need, when to bring them in, and what to ask them. No more fumbling through phone calls. You’ll step into every conversation with clarity and control—and a game plan that makes pros take you seriously.
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Day Four: Management
Walk into the showroom knowing what to say yes to. Grab your inspo folder—let’s get off the screen and experience the
details in person. A kitchen is the most touched room in the home--you open
drawers, wipe countertops, grab a cabinet knob. That cannot be done digitally.
→ How to prepare for a walkthrough
→ My number one rule you must not ever forget when visiting a showroom
→ Regroup, reorganize your design lists
→ Organize final details in your design brief and prepare for next steps
At the end of this lesson you will...
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Day Five: Experience
It’s field-trip day. You’ll walk real showrooms—countertops, tile boutiques, plumbing galleries—so you can touch finishes, spot quality differences, and see lead-time labels for yourself. No buying yet—just informed scouting. By the end of Day 5, you’ll know exactly which materials deserve a quote and which brands to skip, saving you weeks of back-and-forth later.
$697 Value...$47 limited time
Inside the Playbook: bite-sized video lessons, printable planning tools, and real-world checklists—plus exclusive access to VIP FastTrack support and the Remodel Selects Sourcebook, available only when you purchase the Playbook.
Plus bonus guides, checklists and templates crafted to support both design vision
and construction execution, guaranteeing a seamless remodel experience!!
+ Kitchen Mapping
Most people design their dream kitchen without ever stepping foot into their real one. This mapping guide helps you track actual routines and find out what your space really needs before wasting a dime.
Value $27 / INCLUDED!
+ Budget Snapshot
Most people have no idea what a remodel actually costs—until it’s too late. This side-by-side snapshot gives you real-world budget ranges for both refacing and full replacements, so you can plan smarter, avoid sticker shock, and stop guessing what’s possible.
Value $27 / INCLUDED!
+ Essential Measurements
You don’t need to memorize every measurement—but you do need to understand them. This guide gives you the must-know dimensions that separate smart layouts from daily frustration, so you can stop designing in a vacuum and start making decisions that work.
Value $37 / INCLUDED!
+ First Call Guide
Stop inviting the wrong contractors or designers into your home. This guide gives you the exact questions to ask on that first call—so you don’t waste time (or money) on someone who can’t deliver what you need.
Value $27 / INCLUDED!
+ What I Love...
Turns out, the key to your dream kitchen isn’t just fixing what’s broken—it’s doubling down on what you already love. This guide helps you spot the wins worth preserving (and the real reason you love that Pinterest photo).
Value $27 / INCLUDED!
+ Kitchen Paint Points
Your remodel problems aren’t ‘a vibe’—they’re fixable flaws. This checklist turns vague frustration into a hit list of what’s not working, so you can stop guessing and start solving.
Value $17 / INCLUDED!
$47 for a solid plan?
Yes--and it's all yours
**Price increase to $297 after launch
Simply because I’m tired of seeing smart homeowners get burned on both the design side AND the construction side.
(And it costs less than a gallon of paint. )
I wanted to create an unbeatable introductory offer for you---yes, this price will increase soon.
Once you use this system, you’ll probably want the entire Remodel Roadmap system from Preconstruction to Project Wrap up... But your first step.... starts here.
VIP OFFER #1
Five-Day Fast Track Session
Want expert eyes on everything you just created?
This is a focused 1:1 call where I review your notes, sketches, layout ideas, and priority list—together.
I’ll walk you through the next steps, help you avoid costly missteps, and make sure your plan is solid before hiring anyone.
The only remodel session that connects your design ideas to real construction strategy.
✔️ Personalized feedback on your Five-Day Playbook
✔️ Get clarity on budget, layout, or selections
✔️ Action plan delivered within 24 hours
Regular price $300 | Special launch price at checkout
ONLY AVAILABLE DURING LAUNCH
ONLY AVAILABLE DURING LAUNCH
VIP OFFER #2
Stop second-guessing every material decision.
Remodel Selects is your shortcut through the noise.
A vetted, categorized, clickable sourcing guide built from two decades of installs, contractor feedback, and design experience.
If you’ve ever thought “I don’t have time to research all this”—this guide is the time-saver.
✔️ Top brands in every category—cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting, and more
✔️ Organized into “Good, Better, Best” tiers so you can splurge where it matters and save where it doesn’t
✔️ Every listing is linked—explore specs, price ranges, and discover what’s worth it
✔️ Start learning material lingo fast—without sifting through Google rabbit holes
✔️ Understand what quality really means by seeing what’s out there—and why it costs what it costs
No fluff. No guesswork. Just smart selects.
Regular price $49 | Special launch price at checkout
Clarity made simple and it covered a few areas I didn't even consider...
"The Playbook helped me realize I didn’t need a contractor yet—I needed clarity. The ‘Wants vs. Needs’ exercise was a lightbulb moment. It gave me confidence to say, ‘This is what matters to us,’ and not get swayed by what a vendor or Pinterest says. I walked into a showroom knowing what to look for. That alone saved me time, money, and a ton of stress." - Alicia, California
Budgeting actually made sense for once.
“We were totally overwhelmed by the numbers—we had no clue what a realistic budget looked like. Julie’s Playbook broke it down in a way we could finally understand. Seeing the cost ranges and thinking through function first made everything feel doable. We’re not guessing anymore. We’re making smart choices that work for how we actually live.”-Marcus + Jen, Texas
The checklists were everything!
“I’m a list person, and the Playbook totally delivered. From measuring the kitchen to the function lists, everything was laid out step-by-step in a way I could actually understand and follow. No fluff. The ‘Material Vendor Visit’ guide saved me from showroom overwhelm—I knew what to ask and what to skip. I felt confident, and that changed everything. Ready for the entire program to launch” -Danielle, Georgia
Why the Playbook works....
I’ve planned, designed, and built hundreds of kitchens and homes over the last 20 years (Yes, I am a fossil--I started in the year 2000) —and I can tell you this:
The clients who start with a clear plan always save money, time, and stress. Always.
Built to give you remodel wins from day one—without waiting for a pro to guide you.
Built to give you remodel wins from day one—without waiting for a pro to guide you.
→ Swap Endless Scrolling for Real-Time Progress
→ Feel Calm Around the Numbers
→ Earn Instant Cred with Pros
→ Experience the Materials in Real Life
→ Talk the Talk—Without the Jargon Overload
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Kick off in five days.
Ahead by 6 months.
Your remodel isn’t starting tomorrow—
but if you delay your planning, you’re inviting chaos.
You deserve a remodel that feels calm, clear, and full of possibility—because you're not just changing your kitchen. You're creating an intentional home that supports the experiences you want to live.
That’s why starting now matters—because peace of mind doesn’t happen by accident. You plan for it.
Questions? let's dive in!
Q. “Will this actually save me money—or is it just more ‘kitchen inspo’ I’ll never use?” A. Inspo scrolls are free; mistakes aren’t. The Playbook is a five-day crash course in not losing thousands on the wrong layout, faucet, or worse---flaky designers and contractors. If you comeback on even ONE decision with confidence, it’s paid for itself!
Q. “I’m already knee-deep in Pinterest boards. Am I too far along (or not far enough) for this?” A: Whether you’re just day-dreaming or six quotes deep, the Playbook plugs into any stage. Think of it as Google Maps for remodels: punch in “Start” and it recalculates. Still stuck? Book the 1:1 Work Session and we’ll reroute together—coffee included (virtually).
Q: I’ve never done a remodel before. In fact, I know nothing about construction. Can I really pull this off with The Five Day Playbook? A: Absolutely! The playbook is tailored for everyone—from first-time remodelers to seasoned DIYers. It breaks down the process into easy-to-follow tasks over FIVE days, so you’ll feel confident every step of the way.
Q. “Is this everything I need before ordering cabinets?” A: No—this Playbook is the off-ramp from the research carousel, not the whole highway. In five days you’ll lock in accurate measurements, a reality-checked budget, and a step-by-step plan that keeps your design vision matched to what can actually be built. Result: a broad range budget number, a solid design brief to hand to a designer, vendors and contractors, and weeks trimmed from pre-construction rework. The remaining 4–7 week phase (quotes, tweaks, permits) runs smoother—and stays on budget—because your investments are allocated correctly from day one.
Q. “How much time does this really take? My schedule is already chaos.” A: Plan on one focused sprint per day—45 minutes to 1½ hours, tops. That’s a fraction of the hours most homeowners burn weekly Googling and second-guessing. Swap late-night scrolling for laser-targeted tasks and you’ll often shave weeks off the front-end planning timeline—freeing up brain space and calendar space for the fun stuff.
Q. “I’m not a designer or contractor. Will the Playbook get too technical for me?” A: Plain English only. We translate spec-sheet jargon into everyday language and hand you plug-and-play templates (budgets, measurement sheets, vendor scripts). You’ll walk into showrooms speaking the right lingo—avoiding costly miscommunication and keeping your vision intact all the way to install day. It's designed so homeowners who have never even hired a contractor feel confident.
Q. “What if I get stuck or want a sanity check on my plan?” A: I got you! Book a 1:1 Work Session directly with me. In 60 minutes we focus 100% on your remodel and what is keeping you up at night. Flag budget creeps, timeline landmines, and design misalignments before you cut a single check—saving you from blown budgets and weeks of back-and-forth. It’s the fastest route from “I think this is right” to “I know this is ready.”
Back in 2005, we found it—a peaceful acreage surrounded by quiet Iowa farmland.
Serene.
Private.
Exactly what we’d been dreaming of.
There were eight offers. We rushed to make ours—and we got it.
And just like that, one of my biggest remodeling regrets began.
Hi, I'm Julie!
I created the playbook from experience—and a few hard-earned lessons.
The house had been under a slow-motion renovation for over 20 years—and still wasn’t finished--a dream, right (not.)
We jumped in without a real plan, without understanding the scope, the budget, or what it would actually take to bring it to life.
And even though I was already working in construction—managing trades and running projects—I still didn’t start this one the right way.
You fall in love with the potential—the view, the quiet, the feeling...I mean... this was my driveway. An old, dusty country road. (At the time, I thought: how romantic.)
But wishful renovation dreaming can cloud your judgement, and rushing leads to decisions you can’t take back...
I made a lot of mistakes in that remodel—ones I’d never let a client make today.
And that’s when it clicked.
If I wanted to do this right—for myself and for the people I was guiding—I needed a better way to start.
So I built one.
Once I began using this exact system, everything changed.
Projects ran smoother. Budgets held. Clients felt calm and clear.
And I finally found the rhythm between construction and design that no one teaches you—until now.
I finally bridged the gap between construction and design—the way it should work. Lessons learned.
This Playbook is the start of that system.
And let me be clear:
If you're in a rush, this isn’t for you.
But if you're ready to slow down just enough to get it right—to avoid the costly, chaotic lessons I learned the hard way—then this IS for you.
Because I’ve learned:
this right here is the most important part.
The plan. The clarity. The groundwork.
And it’s where your remodel truly begins.
See you inside.
—Julie
