Shows / Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Welcome to Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time with Big Dog Construction. The podcast you didn't know you needed. Join Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini as we explore the stories, expertise and projects shaping the future right here in Mid-Illinois. Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way. And some laughs too.
Episodes
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Kitchen Refresh vs Kitchen Gut
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the critical decision homeowners face when considering a kitchen remodel: whether to refresh the existing…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: First Time Homebuyer Regrets
Summary In this episode, Chris, Kaitlin, Lisa, and Lydia discuss the journey of first-time home buyers, highlighting common regrets, the importance of…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Avoiding Curb Confusion
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the critical aspects of curb appeal and how to avoid curb confusion when designing the exterior of a home…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: All about Loans
Summary In this conversation, Chris, Kaitlin and guest Lisa Miller discuss the intricacies of the mortgage process, focusing on the role of Brooke Drum, a…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Deciding DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the pros and cons of DIY home improvement projects versus hiring professionals. They explore the risks…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros
Summary In this engaging conversation, Chris, Kaitlin, Lisa Miller, and Lydia Emmons discuss the challenges of balancing a real estate career with family life…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through The Big Dog Game Plan Part 2
Summary In this episode of the Designing Building podcast, hosts Chris and Kaitlin delve into the intricacies of setting a remodeling budget, emphasizing the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros
Summary In this episode of the Realtor Segment, Chris, Kaitlin, Lisa, and Lydia discuss the current dynamics of the real estate market, emphasizing the shift…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through The Big Dog Game Plan Part 1
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the essential steps for planning a successful home remodel. They…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros
Summary In this episode, Chris Hartsook discusses the comprehensive process of listing a home with real estate experts Lisa Miller and Lydia Emmons. They…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Revisiting Energy Efficient Windows
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini Trader discuss the often-overlooked importance of…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: Tips for Home Buyers
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, Chris Hartsook discusses the essential steps for home buyers with Lisa Miller and Lydia Emmons…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Robert Ferriell and the Power of the 10X Business Summit
Summary In this dual drop of Elevate Springfield and Designing and Building Mid-Illinois One Home at a Time, Robert Ferriell and Chris Hartsook discuss the 10X…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realty segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: 10 Tips for home sellers
Summary In this conversation, Chris and Kaitlin welcome back Lisa and Lydia from 1st Choice Realty Pros to discuss essential tips for home sellers in the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Health and Wellness Starts at Home
Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the critical aspects of health and wellness within the home environment. They emphasize that a home is not just a…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Introducing our New Realty Segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris and Kaitlin welcome Lisa Miller and Lydia Emmons from 1stChoice Realty Pros. They…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Crystal Rivali from Willow Lane Spa
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin sit down with Crystal Rivali, the owner of Willow Lane Spa, to explore her journey in the aesthetics industry, the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: 2026 Trends from Sustainable Materials to Multi-generational Homes
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin explore the top remodeling trends for 2026, focusing on sustainable materials and multi-generational designs. They…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: What a Contractor Notices in the First 60 Seconds of Walking into Your Home
Summary In this episode, the Chris and Kaitlin discuss the key observations contractors make when entering a home for the first time. They cover various…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with a Spring Home Refresh
Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss spring home updates, focusing on windows, decks, siding, and bathroom refreshes. They share expert tips on…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with AI
Summary This episode explores how AI is revolutionizing disaster preparedness, storm prediction, and home safety. It covers the latest in weather forecasting…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with Protecting Your Family When it Matters Most
Summary In this episode, we explore the critical importance of safe rooms and storm shelters for protecting families during severe weather events, particularly…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois with A Look Back to the Beginning
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini discuss the importance of local businesses, the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Exceptional Customer Service
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the often-overlooked aspect of customer service in remodeling and construction projects. They emphasize the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Quinn Reiher and Ryan Dixon
Summary Over the coming weeks, voters will be making an important decision in the race for Macoupin County Sheriff. Our goal with this episode is simple: to…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Energy Efficient Windows
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini Trader discuss the often-overlooked importance of…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Smart Home Tech
Summary In this episode, hosts Chris and Kaitlin dive into the rapidly evolving world of smart home technology. They discuss the various DIY-friendly smart…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Planning, Prioritizing, and Knowing When to Call a Professional
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris and Kaitlin discuss the importance of setting home improvement goals for the new…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Tamara Day with trends for 2026!
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris and Kaitlin explore the evolving landscape of interior design with special guest…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Interior and Exterior Design
Summary In this episode, Chris, Kaitlin, and Clara discuss the importance of interior design and how it can be a high-impact DIY project. They explore various…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Family Traditions
Summary In this episode, Chris and Kaitlin discuss the significance of family traditions during the holiday season, particularly Christmas. They explore how…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through Winter Energy Efficiency Tips
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris and Kaitlin discuss practical DIY home improvement projects focusing on energy…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through DIY Flooring and Lighting
summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini discuss practical DIY home improvement projects that…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Blake Middleton
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini welcome Blake Middleton from Elite Roofing…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois featuring Tamara Day
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, host Chris Hartsook and co-host Caitlin Borgini welcome Tamara Day, a renowned home renovation…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through DIY Kitchen Makeovers
Summary In this episode, hosts Chris and Caitlin discuss various DIY kitchen updates that homeowners can implement to enhance their spaces without breaking the…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Mid-Illinois through DIY Painting and Trim
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, Chris Hartsook and guest co-host Robert Ferriell discuss practical DIY home improvement…
- Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time
Designing and Building Community through Local Business and Construction
Summary In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, hosts Chris Hartsook and Kaitlin Borgini discuss the importance of local businesses, the…