HGTV Obsessed Podcast Episode 21: Jennifer Todryk and Tamara Day | ‘HGTV Obsessed’ Podcast
Marianne talks to two designer moms about creating functional spaces that are stylish and kid-friendly.
First up is Jennifer Todryk, host of No Demo Reno and mom of three. Marianne starts the conversation by asking Jennifer why she chose to have a white couch with three kids and a puppy. Jennifer says the puppy — Gary the Golden Retriever, check out his Instagram — is more of a problem than the kids when it comes to keeping the sofa clean. But she confesses that the sofa has a machine-washable slipcover on it, and to help keep it clean, she doesn’t allow food out of the kitchen.
Even though she does instill a few rules, Jennifer is a big proponent of letting kids decorate their own spaces. She also believes in not hiding the kids’ stuff; instead, she embraces the primary and bright colors that come with all that stuff. When it comes to nurseries, she suggests using neutral colors on the walls then changing out the furnishing and decor as the kids get older. Jennifer says her 8-year-old son has an Americana look in his bedroom that has been easy to update as he matures.
On the Defend the Trend segment of the show, Marianne asks Jennifer if she is a fan of washable rugs or if she prefers traditional rugs made from various fabrics. Jennifer is a big fan and has two in her home. Marianne is not so convinced, but Jennifer gives her the perfect scenario where a washable rug is the most practical solution. “I love the look of a rug underneath a kitchen table and that’s the only way I’d be able to do it,” says Jennifer.
Marianne is then joined by Tamara Day, a mom of four, and host of HGTV’s Bargain Mansions. Tamara is known for her laid-back luxe style and her ability to upcycle old furniture into new pieces.
Tamara talks about working with her dad and how he gave her a strong DIY work ethic. “We grew up on a farm, [and] we didn’t have the hire-someone-to-fix-it mentality; if you broke it, you had to figure out how to repair it,” explains Tamara. Her first bargain mansion was her own home that she and her husband bought 12 years ago while three of their kids were babies.
She goes on to say: “The place was a disaster; it had been foreclosed on three times … and was just trashed, holes in the walls, full of dirty diapers and massive amounts of junk that were left by squatters.” Tamara confesses that the renovation of the 6,000-square-foot home is still in progress, but it’s a labor of love and she still loves all the work that they’ve done to the place.