Home In Progress

Episode SummaryThis week on Home In Progress, Dan dedicates the whole show to bathroom remodels -- why they're trending, and how to think one through before spending anything. He covers the tub-or-shower decision, storage planning, lighting that stops working against you, upgrades worth baking in while walls are open, aging-in-place choices, and a full closing section on painting the bathroom right. A practical episode worth saving if a bathroom is anywhere on your horizon.In This Episode[00:00] -- Bathrooms Are Trending[02:15] -- Start With What Bugs You[05:04] -- Tubs or Showers First[07:45] -- Freestanding Tub Reality Check[10:43] -- Tub to Shower Conversion[13:41] -- Storage That Fits Life[16:15] -- Smart Storage Ideas[18:31] -- Bathroom Lighting Problems[19:25] -- Why Mirrors Make You Cringe[20:22] -- Fixing Harsh Shadows[21:43] -- Layered Lighting Basics[22:14] -- Mirror Task Lighting[23:56] -- Sconce Placement Tips[24:54] -- Shower and Night Lighting[26:02] -- Bulb Temperature Consistency[28:00] -- Remodel Upgrades to Add[30:44] -- Aging in Place Choices[33:52] -- Bathroom Paint Essentials[37:02] -- Paint Cure and Humidity[39:10] -- Prep and Tight Spaces[41:19] -- Ceilings and Caulk[43:05] -- Wrap Up and Store DealsBathrooms Are Trending [00:00]Bathroom remodels aren't overtaking kitchens -- kitchens are still the most popular project -- but bathrooms are closing the gap. They're smaller, usually less expensive, and more manageable. And the daily impact is bigger than most people give them credit for. If a kitchen remodel feels out of reach right now, a bathroom is worth serious consideration.Start With What Bugs You [02:15]Before looking at tile or faucets, walk through the bathroom you have and write down everything that bothers you. Not what you'd love to have -- what actually annoys you about the space right now. A lot of renovations look great but feel disappointing because they didn't solve the actual problems. New finishes don't fix a bad morning. Start with what the bathroom needs to fix, then work forward from there.Tubs or Showers First [05:04]The shower or tub is the biggest decision in any bathroom remodel and where serious money gets spent. Dan breaks it into two parts: what fits your life better (some people love a bath; others haven't taken one voluntarily in years), and what fits your existing bathroom layout. Getting swept up in a vision without looking honestly at the space is where projects get expensive.Freestanding Tub Reality Check [07:45]A freestanding soaking tub is a popular idea that can get complicated fast. Most existing bathrooms have an alcove setup -- tub against three walls, drain in place, plumbing at one end. Switching to a freestanding tub means relocating the drain, addressing the floor and walls after the old surround comes out, and making sure there's enough clearance around the tub for it to look intentional.The alternative worth knowing about: deeper alcove tubs, drop-in tubs, or soaking tubs designed to fit a traditional footprint. These can deliver the soaking experience without requiring a full redesign. Even replacing an older alcove tub with a newer one in the same footprint can be a meaningful gain.Tub to Shower Conversion [10:43]If baths aren't your thing, converting a tub surround to a walk-in shower is often a practical fit for what most bathrooms already have. Plumbing can often stay in roughly the same location, the footprint works, and the project tends to line up more naturally with the existing space than a freestanding tub would.One thing to stop and think about first: is this the only tub in the house? Families with young kids need one. Pet owners often do too. Future buyers may care. That doesn't mean you keep it -- just means the decision should be deliberate.Storage That Fits Life [13:41]Storage isn't the exciting part of a remodel, but it may be the biggest factor in whether a renovated bathroom still feels good two weeks after the job is done. Before choosing a vanity, go back to your list of annoyances and ask honestly whether storage is on it -- and whether it should be.The practical question isn't what vanity looks good. It's what the vanity needs to do. Drawers let you see what you have; deep cabinets swallow things. A vanity drawer with a built-in outlet keeps hair tools off the counter. Storage that matches how you actually live beats storage that just looks organized in the showroom.Smart Storage Ideas [16:15]If the footprint isn't changing, there are usually more options than it feels like. Going vertical -- tall cabinets, shelving from counter to ceiling, built-in storage above the toilet -- can add meaningful capacity without touching the floor plan. Recessed medicine cabinets don't have to look like the metal box from 1978; modern versions are framed, mirror-faced, and look like part of the room. And awkward spots -- a dead corner, a gap beside the vanity -- are worth a second look.Better storage organization inside existing space also counts: drawer organizers, pull-outs, a bottom drawer for towels or toilet paper. Build the answer in. Don't assume things will find a home after the remodel if they haven't found one yet.Bathroom Lighting [18:31]Bathroom lighting is often bad in ways people don't fully notice. One harsh overhead fixture, or a row of bulbs above the mirror, creates shadows on the face -- under the eyes, under the nose, under the chin -- that make people look older and more tired than they are. If you walk into your bathroom every morning and immediately want to look somewhere else, the lighting may be a bigger factor than you think.Why mirrors make you cringe [19:25] -- Most bathroom lighting is designed to illuminate the room, not the person at the mirror. A ceiling fixture in the middle of the room does the former. It doesn't do the latter well.Fixing harsh shadows [20:22] -- Light from both sides of the mirror is significantly better than light from above. Sconces on either side spread light evenly across the face, cut shadows, and make grooming more accurate. If side lighting isn't possible, a long horizontal fixture above the mirror is better than a single small bulb.Layered lighting [21:43] -- Good bathroom lighting usually comes from more than one source. General light -- ceiling fixture, recessed lights, or both -- makes the room usable. Task lighting at the mirror is where the real work gets done. One fixture can't do both jobs well.Mirror task lighting [22:14] -- The goal is light on your face, from roughly face level. That's what reduces shadows. A fixture above the mirror alone usually can't deliver that.Sconce placement [23:56] -- Height matters. Too low creates the campfire-flashlight effect. Too high brings the shadows back. Aim for face-level illumination, and let the person who needs the most help from the lighting make the call on placement.Shower and night lighting [24:54] -- A shower with walls that block the main room's light probably needs its own fixture. A dark shower feels less clean and less comfortable than it should. Night lighting is the thing people forget: a dimmer, toe-kick lighting, or a softer secondary source lets you use the bathroom at odd hours without switching on every bulb in the room.Bulb temperature consistency [26:02] -- Cool bulbs feel sterile; warm bulbs can make whites and skin tones look strange. A warm neutral bulb is a solid starting point for most bathrooms. More important than the specific temperature is keeping it consistent across all fixtures. Mismatched bulb temperatures can make the room feel off in a way that's hard to identify -- paint reads differently in different spots, tile can shift color. Sort out lighting before finalizing paint colors or any other choices sensitive to light.Remodel Upgrades to Add [28:00]When a bathroom is torn apart, some things are much easier to add than they'll ever be again. Worth at least pricing out:Heated floors -- bathroom square footage is small, and if the old floor is already coming up, now is the time to askVentilation -- a weak or struggling fan should be replaced now, not after it causes moisture damage to a freshly renovated roomOutlet placement -- if outlets are always in the wrong spot, fix it while walls are openShower niche -- easier to build in now than to add laterShower lighting -- while the walls are accessibleBlocking for grab bars -- you may not want them now, but blocking costs almost nothing during a remodel and makes installation easy whenever you doAging in Place Choices [30:44]If you plan to be in the home long-term, a remodel is a good moment to make choices that work better as you age. This doesn't have to look like a care facility. Options have improved considerably. A curbless shower can look modern. A wider shower entry feels more open. A shower bench can feel spa-like. A handheld...

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, the conversation continues around organizing memories—this time shifting from digital clutter to physical photographs, with practical advice on how to curate, preserve, and store them without feeling overwhelmed.The show also explores the very real impact of the winter blues and why colder months can actually be an ideal time to tackle small home projects. We dig into the psychology behind why getting things done—especially around the home—can help improve mood, motivation, and a sense of control during the winter season.You’ll also hear practical tips for building a simple but smart emergency kit for an older vehicle, along with guidance on interior painting during winter. From managing humidity and temperature to working around forced-air heat and ventilation, the episode breaks down how to get professional-level results indoors—even in the middle of winter.Episode Timeline00:00 Introduction & episode overview00:47 Building a simple emergency car kit08:20 Understanding and coping with the winter blues12:09 Why home projects help your mental health16:13 Small projects with surprisingly big impact18:16 Behavioral activation: doing first, feeling better later19:17 Interior painting in winter—what really matters20:17 Common winter painting concerns (and why they’re manageable)20:33 Why winter is actually a great time for indoor projects21:17 Easier access to pros and resources in winter22:12 Humidity, dry time, and paint performance23:38 Temperature considerations when painting indoors25:16 Forced-air heat and ceiling painting tips26:41 Ventilation concerns and simple solutions27:35 Winter painting tips recap28:37 Organizing physical photographs31:29 Step-by-step photo organization and digitizing35:03 Creating a “greatest hits” photo collection36:15 Long-term storage and backup strategies38:26 Next week: organizing kids’ artwork

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, the conversation starts with a teaser from the Winter Wood Shop series—then takes a sharp turn into one of the most unexpected topics we’ve covered yet.The show opens with real-world painting questions from new homeowners, including whether dark paint really covers bright pink walls better, how to temporarily paint a tile kitchen backsplash, and what to consider when tackling large trim projects in older homes where lead paint may be present. Along the way, we break down how paint bases and primers actually work, why the order you choose colors matters, and when extra caution is required for health and safety.From there, the episode pivots into a surprisingly fascinating deep dive on shellac—what it is, how it’s used, and why it’s still relevant today. We explore both clear shellac and white pigmented shellac, its role in woodworking and finishing, and its long, strange history. That includes the origin story most people never hear: shellac’s connection to the lac bug, how it shows up in everyday products, and why it sometimes sparks debate in the vegan world.It’s a practical, informative episode with a twist—grounded in real home improvement advice, but ending with a topic you probably didn’t expect to hear on a painting show.ResourcesMake Your Own Shellac (Video)Episode Timeline00:00 — Introduction & Winter Wood Shop Teaser00:41 — Painting Questions from New Homeowners02:08 — Paint Coverage, Bases, and Primers Explained05:56 — Can You Paint a Tile Backsplash?08:31 — Lead Paint Concerns in Older Homes13:26 — Choosing Paint Colors in the Right Order17:49 — How RepcoLite Helps Homeowners Get It Right18:29 — Meet the Lac Bug19:18 — The Secret Life of Lac Bugs21:28 — Lac Bugs in Everyday Products24:49 — The Vegan Debate25:56 — From Bug Secretions to Shellac27:04 — Shellac in Woodworking32:15 — Shellac’s Historical Role35:58 — Modern Uses (and Limits) of Shellac39:04 — Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

In this special Best Of episode of Home in Progress, Dan Hansen blends craftsmanship, practical paint advice, and motivation to kick off your next project with momentum. First, he dives into the story of the legendary H.O. Studley Tool Chest, exploring its remarkable construction and what it can teach us about quality work, organization, and efficiency. From there, Dan shifts into paint know-how—breaking down why dedicated primers still matter, when “paint-and-primer-in-one” products fall short, and how the right prep steps can save time and frustration. The episode wraps with a practical, encouraging segment on setting goals and actually sticking with them long after the initial New Year’s motivation fades.Episode Timeline00:00 — Introduction and 400th Episode Announcement00:32 — Reflecting on 400 Episodes02:56 — Today’s Historical Focus03:37 — The Story of the Studley Tool Chest13:07 — Lessons from the Studley Tool Chest18:59 — Why Primer Still Matters20:24 — Paint + Primer Combo Products: What They Really Do23:23 — The Truth About “Paint and Primer in One”24:20 — When You Need a Dedicated Primer27:02 — Special Offer on Quicksand Primer29:44 — Setting Goals That Actually Stick38:08 — Maintaining Long-Term Success with Goals