Everything That Has Gone WRONG During My House Renovations 

For future projects if you are using multiple cans of stain, don't test them! Get an empty metal can and dump all the stains together and mix them in one big batch so you know that every single one is absolutely identical. If you just visually match them, they might not actually match when viewed under different light or on different types of word or, worst of all, after you seal them. One giant can eliminates any variables.

I run a hardware store, and honestly it's kind of nice and fun seeing our regulars come in multiple times for things they forgot. Even the professional tradesmen who visit us make second trips often. Its nice sort of vicariously living through people projects and seeing the progress unfold. With certain types of projects its just inevitable and a hassle, but we never judge people for it

As someone a year and a half into reno'ing a 40's place, and we have replaced a lot of the guts (and skull) of the house, and haven't even gotten to really work on the aesthetics of the inside of the house, I deeply, deeply appreciate you and your candid videos on this, and very much enjoy living through you vicariously as you do your place.

I work with professional contractors and all the problems that unpleasantly surprised you also happen to them. Mismatched batches, expired product, color on the swatch not matching color on the surface, old coating not bonding to the new. It's not if it will happen, it's when and how you adapt. And you adapted magnificently.

I never really comment on youtube, but Ariel this video was fantastic. I’ve been renovating a 1969 airstream with my partner and it seems like every step forward sets us two steps back. Watching you renovate your home has helped me stay motivated, but this honesty and discussion of mental health when things go so SO not to plan was exactly what i needed to see. Thank you. We’re not professionals, we’re just doing our best out here!

Ariel, this is literally every project my husband and I have ever done in 33 years of marriage. We now rate projects at the end by how many trips to the hardware store we had to make. Just keep on trucking, girl! You’re doing great and your house just gets lovelier all the time.

As a self-employed handyman, I concur, Frustration management is one of the most important skills in undertaking projects. Mistakes are valuable because they help to educate as well as help to refine the vision of the project. Knowing when to walk away and come back another day is also a good skill to have. Good work,Ariel, i love your videos,

Thank you, Ariel, for your honesty and transparency and your mom's suggestion that you record the video. It is so easy to become frustrated and temporarily defeated, but I continue trying to make small steps toward progress for the place that I call home. Patience, laughter, and grace are the necessary attributes for all homeowners.

You should eventually turn the scary upstairs room into a library. If you fitted it out with cool shelves and a cozy nook that would be perfect!

What a lovely enjoyable reality check 😂

Not sure if this would help at all with feeling pressure to have a "finished product" or needing a simple video out for revenue, but i would enjoy half baked videos just as much, so we can see baby steps of progress in real time over a few different projects. So impressed with how far you've come and your fortitude and perseverance. This was such a great and realistic video ❤. Also, you hair looks FABULOUS like this!

Idea! Paint book spines on the risers of the hallway stairs!

Renovating is single handedly the most satisfying fulfilling thing while also being the most soul sucking frustrating experience ever😭.

Another low stress video idea, you could show us online "window shopping" of home decor or Facebook market place.

I loved the transparency in this; so often when we’re taking on any new endeavor we think we’re the only ones making these “dumb” mistakes when they’re not dumb at all. We all make them and we can all learn something from them, big or small. Even the professionals made these mistakes at one point and it just make them better at their job. Thank you for posting this 💜

We all need to help you $$ by rewatching all your videos. Also do a live show while ripping the kitchen apart..donations during lives help out too!!

When using multiple cans of stain or paint I find it helpful to mix them all together in a 5 gallon bucket, that way the color is consistent throughout.

My husband and I were supposed to buy his grandparents house, but decided against it. They've been the only ones to live there since it was built in 1956, and it showed...We realized it was not worth the stress of having to work full time, come home, and renovate every single room in the house for probably the next 2-3 years. It would have ruined our mental health for sure, and we didn't even really LIKE the house in the first place. I applaud your resilience Ariel, it is not for the faint of heart!

Your mom is brilliant! It’s the whole point of YT to see the hiccups in real time. This whole edited perfect outcome is something we can see on HGTV. We want to know that we can do it too. So all the mistakes, running back and forth to the hardware store, the picking of paint color etc. is exactly what we want to see!

Fortitude, persistence, tenacity, these are the muscles of our character. We are cheering for you!

I don't know what led me to your channel but I have been ENGROSSED for months! I love seeing your progress on the house but most of all I just love watching you and your amazing personality shine. You truly seem like the girl next door that we all want to be friends with and invite into our lives. 💜

Ah, the struggles of an old house. Our house was built in the 1920s and all we do is constantly fix things lol the people that lived here before replaced broken things with cheap alternatives 😂 already replaced the roof, the boiler, the driveway, the floors & staircase

It’s such a funny coincidence that you’re posting this video today and talking about the stain because I stained my bookshelves last year (inspired by you hehe) and I went to add more shelves to them this week and realized that the stain has changed DRASTICALLY because of the sun 😂 so I guess we’re in the same predicament 😌❤️ also sending you the biggest hug!!!

This is exactly the video I need right now! Staining is the bane of my existence and I keep ordering stuff that doesn't fit/work out the way I envision it 😆

The running joke in every DIY house renovation channel is that the hardware store is their second home, that they could navigate the aisles blindfolded at this point. You’re not doing anything wrong at all lol. I so appreciate your vulnerability and honesty in this video, Ariel. I’ve done my fair share of renovations on a limited budget with limited skills and sometimes I watch renovation videos and think, “Well, I guess I’m just not as psychologically robust as them because I have never done a project without a few moments of utter despair and frustration but they seem to be gliding through it effortlessly and cheerfully.” But that just cannot be the case. There’s a reason why moving is cited as the most stressful event next to a death in the family and I think major renovations has to be up there. It’s such a disruption, it costs so much in time, money, and effort ….. You’re doing an amazing job with your home. It’s beautiful, personal, and inviting. Owning a home is a never ending list of “to do” projects. Once you get “done” it’s time to start all over again with repairs, updates, etc. But the confidence, skills, and perspective grow as well, so it does get easier. And it’s deeply satisfying to make it into a nest where your heart and soul can come to rest ❤

Paint is such a struggle. I painted a bathroom a "beautiful" blue color I saw on pinterest. It was hideous in our house. I went and picked a light seafoam and ended up loving it. As I was admiring the room I realized the paint was the exact same color as our master bath I painted a year earlier. Lol. Ever since, I stick to what I know I love.

I am a new homeowner of an old house that needs some work and I really appreciate this video. I constantly beat myself up because I get discouraged easily with projects even as small as shelving! You gave me some perspective that these things happen to everyone!!

Ariel, I think I can speak for most of us when I say we love to learn along with you! 💚💚💚 Your health and happiness are a priority! And, in saying that, I love videos about the ongoing stages of a project without a start and stop points. In fact, some of my favorite RU-vidrs just take us along for the long ride... and every once in a while do an overview video showing progress with before and afters... 💚💚💚

Ariel! I’m so glad your mom gave you this content idea! I’m sure you just made soooo many new homeowners feel less alone. I’m still renting, but your videos make me look forward to filling a house with my books, picking paint colors, and being patient and creative with renovations. 🤗

Hi Ariel, we built our house ourselves and multiple trips to the hardware store in the same day is just part of the territory especially the plumbing. The hardware store people know us really well! Also if you take the rugs off your wood floors, they will change and end up matching the parts that were exposed to sun from the git go. We didn't use stain on ours so maybe you might have a different outcome, but I kind of doubt it. We have really come a long way and are HIRING the pros to refinish the original floors in the first 24 X 24 foot structure! Amazing! Spent the last few days getting everything out those rooms and are so grateful that we don't have to now refinish. The DYI is exhausting so take care of yourself and allow yourself some fun. And you are the only person who notices all those mistakes - everyone else is super impressed!

It is nice to know I’m not the only one. All these things and more have reached a critical mass in my brain and in my reno. For the first time ever I have unfinished projects, no vision for the rooms, and I’m mentally and physically spent. Been taking a break and I’m finally ready to jump back in. Thanks for sharing!

So true that extensive renovating/decorating takes a toll on our bodies, mind and spirit. And when bodily and mental exhaustion slip in...it can really mess with one's mental health. And sap all our willpower and creativity. Sooo grateful you lifted the curtain on this particular subject. I hope we all, who are in similar situations, can give ourselves Grace in & under those difficult circumstances ✌🏻❤️❤️❤️.

Yes! Renovation has it's challenges! Im glad you can vent! 😊 a tip for any time you're using more than one container of paint or stain. Keep an empty contractor's 5 gal. container on hand and pour both containers of paint or stain into it and mix them together. If you're using quarts, keep an empty gallon bucket. I get your frustration. Energy for restoration ebbs and flows. Be easy on yourself. Go do some fun things for yourself! And keep posting! I love hearing about your life and thoughts! It doesn't always have to be about the house. Love you! ❤❤❤❤

Don't worry about the discoloured floor in the coastal room! If it bothers you, you won't have to sand and restain it, you can just remove the carpet and then the area will keep up and darken like the rest. ☺️

This resonated with me so much...to all the other people also going through renovations - we got this! We'll get through it! Eventually!

It is not only when stuff goes wrong that is nerve-wraking, but just the fact that there is SO much decision making involved... That alone is really stressful for me, and I've been tackling a much more tame and easy renovation with my appartment. So mad props to you for having the courage and will power to carry such a massive renovation through, while also making content for us all. One day you'll look back and you will know all of it was worth it. ♥

I feel your pain, woman. My house is a 1932, small farm house. When I bought it the bathroom floor was almost half gone, the toilet--forget it, my son put biohazard tape on the door way so no one would go in. I had to be the brave one. So much money went into this house just to make it livable, I had to forgo the air conditioning and heating for two years. I I've totally made mistakes with paint colors and had huge swatches on my walls for a long time, too, lol. This year I retiled the kitchen counter for the first time and used these dime sized white circle sheets, they're adorable, but I don't think they're for kitchen counters, the grout gets so dirty, ugh, I think they were meant for bathroom walls, lol. Stay Strong, life has its ups, downs and its ins and outs. I find sometimes if I just do something fun like decorating with a new chair, or new art, I get motivated to do the harder work. All the best!

My dream has been to own an old house in New Hampshire. 8 years ago we bought a greek revival (1847) farmhouse in about the same condition as your place. This is a great video! Really enjoy following you. We got 90% of the way through a massive 2 year project and just couldn't do any more. We were exhausted and burnt out and needed a break. I am a painter and art teacher and did just those two things for a few months. I am the primary house renovator. My husband has a less flexible work schedule. He still isn't really ready to get back into house projects. I am doing what I call "chunking" I decide on a small project and chunk through it. Never more than 3 or 4 hours right now every few days. The last one was mudding, taping, priming and painting a hall ceiling. I want my enthusiasm for old house restoration back. I think this is a way to manage what needs to get done while increasing my sense of accomplishment and excitement for the next thing, whatever that might be. You are smart to pace yourself. Have you decided on a plan for your kitchen? I would love to see a video of you just chatting about how you are thinking about the renovation. No tools required!

I’m so impressed with everything you have done to this home and now your vulnerability. I honestly wouldn’t have the courage to do any of these renovations or repairs to a home because I would have a fear of feeling stupid even though everyone struggles to learn something when they are brand new at it. I’m nervous to even paint my townhome because it’s something I’ve never done before and I don’t want to make a ton of mistakes. Anyway, I wanted to comment say how much I enjoy your channel and have now for many years and to thank you for the content you put out.

Staining my room furniture took a full year because the paint got messed up, I didn’t have time and energy to handle it. So the fact you have continued your renovations for so long is really amazing!

Ariel i loved this video! I too bought a home in nova scotia over the pandemic that i’m renovating. Was so consoling to hear you having the same frustrations and breakdowns as me lol I feel like my energy just came back a month ago after a few months of not being able to accomplish much. It’s a process. You’ve done a great job, excited for the kitchen.

Good to pull back the curtain on the other side of home renovations for a DIY life! Great job! very glad to hear you're feeling better! I love the house and can't wait for your next project no matter what it is! This summer in NS has been wet and hot!

Thank you for this video! It is refreshing to see someone on social media talk through the things that have gone wrong and the anxiety that renovations can cause. Renovating is stressful in and of itself and I can’t imagine also dealing with the added pressure of filming it and meeting those deadlines. 😮. I also appreciate that you mentioned that paint and stain are expensive. Many decorating videos say how it is such an inexpensive upgrade. Of course, in comparison to ripping out walls or replacing floors it is cheaper but hundreds of dollars in paint is not something one wants to mess up! You are doing a beautiful job and I look forward to watching more videos.

This made me think of how a lot of the quirks that I absolutely love about my grandparents' house are things that have gone wrong. Like all the marks on the floor that show even when you re-paint them, mismatched kitchen cupboards, slightly wonky stairs, that sort of things. All of them kinda have a story (and I might be a part of the story of the marks on the floor, oops). You can see the marks of the people who made everything and the people who lived in the house. Your house seems to have a lot of that sort of charm.

It's always good protocol to combine the cans of paint or stain and mix them thoroughly when you know you'll be using more than 1.

This is incredibly relatable. I’ve had so many moments of frustration and outright breakdowns while renovating my house. Soooooo many.

Ariel, I don’t know that you’ll ever see this but, I have wanted to say this: I started watching your house videos in a time of my life when me and my partner were looking to buy a house. Months & months went by and nothing had changed about our living situation and it felt like we were stuck. Meanwhile, my mental health was declining because of how unhappy I was in our apartment. I went into a pretty deep depression for me and during that, I found comfort in your videos. The days of laying in bed, watching your videos and snacking on seaweeds snacks, live vividly in my mind. As a creative, your use of colors and creativity with personalizing your home began inspiring me again and I started playing with color again and you planted little seeds of joy back into my life again. I’m happy to report we’re in a new house now and I finally feel like we are home and I want to thank you for your videos during that time. I still very much enjoy your videos, but hearing your “behind the scenes”- if you will- in this and your “Tidying & Resetting for Spring” video really resonated with me. Mental health can be so invisible and I can only hope that your videos, the production behind them, the work and stress of renovating your home, is seen and not taken for granted from your viewers. Please take your much deserved rest when needed and we will be here happy to greet you when you are ready. I wish and send nothing but happiness your way and a big hug for being there for me when you didn’t know you were, and for you, when maybe you need a hug too. 🩷

Love you girl for keeping it real... I feel this so hard as a professional "DIYer" lol. Thanks for sharing cuz you are certainly not alone in all the madness that is renovation. Well said!

As someone who's been having a lot of panic attacks recently thank you for opening up and sharing about yours

The hardest I cried was when my shower stopped working while I was in it. The need for mental fortitude you described is so real!!!

Thank you for making this video! I'm about to buy a house and plan to do as much as I can on my own. Hearing someone talk about the hard parts of home renovation is reassuring and refreshing.

This video was so refreshing!I was honestly a bit intimidated by your videos because they all seemed so seamless and flawless as you just transformed the house room by room. I would certainly appreciate seeing more "behind the scenes" or process-oriented videos rather than just "before-after" style videos. And it sounds like that may take some of the pressure off for you too! Thanks to your mom for the suggestion and to you for making another lovely video!

I think you are doing such a great job. Be happy with yourself and give yourself grace. Enjoy your content.

The mental health stuff is SO REAL. It's so frustrating to feel like you just can't drag yourself to your projects. And running a business, which you're also doing, obviously, takes an equal amount of mental fortitude. Thanks for being so real!

forgetting the pain of renovation is like forgetting the pain of childbirth. 😂 your house is very unique. for paint color choices, may I recommend painting a large piece of white poster board to check to see if you like the paint color first?

You should consider converting that attic or what you called it “creepy room” a library. Create floor to ceiling shelves for all your books

I've spent the last 2 yrs renovating our 60s ranch and we recently had a massive water leak and as a result our floors in most of the house and some of the walls had to be removed.. let me tell you I totally understand the feeling of seeing your hard work messed up. My home went from nearly finished to gutted in the span of days and I have sobbed many times even though I know it'll be ok. Thank you for sharing the hard parts of home ownership

What a helpful video. Thank you for sharing other sides that we don't always see, but that make up a huge portion of what that experience is actually like

This is so great. I love the inclusion of missteps and stresses. It's so easy to watch reno or crafting videos and feel like the only person struggling. So nice to have some transparency on the ups and downs. Also a great reminder that desperately trying to complete something when you're too hungry or too tired is always going to make things seem worse than they are

You have no idea how much this video has helped me. I watched a ton of DIY and renovation videos on RU-vid, because I’m always looking for ways to update my space. But every time I do something on my own, I end up feeling so incompetent because things go wrong or it’s not perfect. It’s so nice to know that other people have the same issue, and I’m not stupid. I just need to problem solve, Lol 😮😊 thank you for this.

I’ve always been infected by the I-can-make-that gene. Mine primarily rotates around fiber arts, but I work in theatre, so I’ve also dabbled in construction DIYs. My recent motto I’ve developed based on all my adventures is “it’s not that deep.” I’ve always been a perfectionist, I’m very particular, I set myself unnecessary parameters, and often expect myself to do something well the first time I try. This has made me extremely emotionally fraught, and I realized that almost every time, I am the only one who cares. It is unhealthy for me to care about messing up something anything less than life-changing, so I just don’t do it anymore. Certainly harder to apply this motto than it is to say it, and it’s taken some time, but I’m more sane for it.

You have a wise mom! Life is frustrating, and stress does drain one. It is good to share both the ups and downs. You're doing a great job!

You should buy an extra long runner in a fun pattern for your stairs. No more paint chipping and it will make it feel cozier. It could be a real statement peice.

Thank you so much Ariel for being so vulnerable and open in this video, it was really cathartic to hear about the the physical obstacles and how your handling the emotional side effects. It related to how I am currently feeling and I appreciate you sharing, it made me a lot feel less alone. Sending peace and love, thank you for hosting my favorite corner of the internet.💞

OMG! The hardware store! 😂that's me. Last weekend the lady at the cash register just randomly applied a $5 off coupon. She is my best friend.😂😂😂😂

I feel if your kitchen takes 10-12 videos to complete, we all win. Breaking down a task into little steps is good modelling for mental health

Your mom is one smart cookie.

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for these videos. You're doing an amazing job, and overhauling a house is SO MUCH WORK. This entire series is so thoughtful, beautiful, and informative. Please take care of yourself in the process

Mental health is such an important aspect of renovation and lot of people don't realize how straining renovation can be. I can totally relate to the way you described your panic attack, sometimes it just takes some seemingly minor setback to push you over the edge and as you said mistakes happen all the time in renovation. I think before starting a big task like renovation, it's crucial to have a realistic idea of how the process can be.

I live in Florida and the first thing I did was to put UV film on the windows to protect the walls, floors, furniture and curtains. It is a do it yourself job.

Here for your vulnerability and authenticity. We'll be here. Self care is so vital. ❤❤❤

Every time i'm starting a makeover i'm telling my boyfriend "You know that we won't finish it on time? You know that something will go wrong? I'm wondering what it will be this time" and it makes going through every fail easy. Because as we starting we already know that something will go wrong and it's so funny when it happens again... :D Ariel You are my favourite person here! I keep my fingers crossed for You. And I absolutely looove Your entryway. I think it's my favourite space so far :D

You are the single most relatable person on the internet 💜 Happy to know you are feeling better, take care!

Hi Ariel- I got emotional when you talked about working so hard on something for it to fall to shit/experiencing a panic attack because of things not working out over and over. Sometimes when I’m decorating my space I feel those terrible overwhelming feelings where I never think I’m going to figure it out- and then you do after a good cry (or slight freakout lol). I’m so happy you were able to finish the dining room floor because I know how frustrating it is for things to not pan out repeatedly.

I feel so seen, and so much better about my house and alllll the work/stress/tears I have put into it. I just have felt like a failure so many times about the same sort of problems so seeing that I'm not alone in it and that other people feel the same way I do really helps.

For someone who has no interest in renovating a house and has obviously never done it before this video was by far my favorite of yours Ariel because it allows perfectionist like myself to remember that things go wrong and it's okay in nearly every other area of your life as well. This I can apply to projects that I take on with the children that I teach I can also apply it to things that I might do in terms of when I choose the apartment I live in it can apply to so many aspects of life in general that I really really really appreciate you being open and honest about the process because to be honest I never thought anything went wrong for you when you did all of these things and I think that sets us up for failure when we are comparing in that way. So from one perfectionist to another and it's not a bad word thank you thank you thank you thank you!!! 🙏 🎉🎉🎉🎉

If you don't have a project to film, these little chats are nice as well. Little life/house updates. When I follow a channel, I have to like the host as well as the project. So I'm here for your delightful personality just as much as the amazing old house. Never feel nervous to post a shorter video just updating us all on whats happening and how the plans have changed

Your hair looks FABULOUS in a high ponytail! The volume and curls are beautiful.

Part of the joy of watching your house videos is watching you accomplish room after room, task after task. You should be proud of yourself!

Your channel has been such a safe space and really makes me look forward to owning and upgrading my own home one day. Also I think a pretty runner rug would look beautiful on those stairs and would solve the chipping problem haha

It's so wholesome honestly to see the "what went wrong" and "it wasn't all glitters and rainbows and sunshines". I'll be doing some renovations on my first house and even if I'll be using contractors I'm SO stressed and overwhelmed by how many decisions and the money it's going to cost and all that. Yes, you end up having a house - and hopefully a lovely one at that - but it definitely has a toll on mental health and not everything will be perfect, particularly not in the beginning. Loved this video so much, thank you for sharing all this!

Ok just remember to get some drop cloths and plastic for the kitchen Reno. Put the drop cloths down leading to the kitchen so when people walk threw they don’t scuff and leave dirt and such. And use plastic to block off areas that you don’t want dust and such. Also if you have floor vents cover those so you don’t have to go back and clean them out.

I know the feeling all to well during the never ending repairs & renovations in my 1930 dutch colonial home, & you have put it into words perfectly, the mental & physical exhaustion can be overwhelming & sometimes crippling, especially when making mistakes, However, it's important to realize that much of it is a learning experience, & it's also important to give yourself a break, you're not wrong for going away or feeling like you can't continue for a while. I hope all goes well for you as you move along into future projects, & Thank you for sharing the true feelings that are involved in home projects.

One thing that would reduce your stress would be to post videos about the progress on a project. I think it would be great for us viewers as well to see more of the process than when there is a half hour episode of the whole thing crammed in. It would give more realistic viewpoint and I`m sure there are more people like me who like to see the mundane tasks getting done and not just the end results 😊

I feel you, I've had things go wrong in my house fixing process - you are an inspiration as you attempt so many renovation projects - we get frustrated with the mistakes but the joy that our creations bring us is wonderful - as perfectly imperfect as they may be! 👍👏😊Glad to see you back!

Thank you for making this video! I'm currently doing renovations, and everything is going wrong, and hearing you talk about it made me feel a lot better!!

New video idea: you should do a title / deed search of the house and find out more ab the home's history!

Every time I see your gothic window I think of this restaurant in a neighboring town (Independence Oregon) it’s called the Pink House and it’s gothic style and I adore it.

On the part of the stairs that chips. I have seen people use wallpaper or tile on their stairs in that area. It was even in an issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

Everyone that has done reno is nodding along in recognition. Don't get discouraged, you're doing great!

watching this to calm down from a multi-hour bathroom reno breakdown. impeccable timing

Thank you. I needed this today.

We have remodeled eight houses. I am always formulating plan B and C before we even start because things never work according to plan. You never know what you will find when you open that can of worms.

I’ve been reading the comments here and they’re so inspirational 😊 When I’m stressed about my house, I’m going to re-read these comments. Or, better yet, frame some. Thanks everyone 🙏

Thank you for sharing and good luck on the next project!

Thank you so much for sharing. These videos of yours help everyone.

Thank you for making this video. This is so relatable!

i love watching all the books accumulate behind you :) can’t wait to see the new shelves

Love love love your videos because you are so real😊❤️

I love this video so much! 🥰