Hold on tight—we're spilling the tea on a trend that flips the script: empty nesters upsizing. I'm Eric G., and Wendy Glaster and I race through a story that sounds like lifestyle porn for people who suddenly find themselves with extra square footage and a newfound love of entertaining. We walk you through a couple who decided not to gut and cling to their old house but to buy big instead—carriage house, outdoor kitchen, Olympic-size pool, acres of lawn. Seriously, they went full social-hub: Bible studies, baby showers, grandkid blowouts—their place is basically the community’s favorite hangout. Wendy and I geek out over the practical choices too: one client wanted a shower on the first floor (because stairs are a thing), and we debate when a remodel is just throwing money at a problem versus when moving on is the smarter move. I tell you how that gut-job on their former house would’ve been a waste if it didn't actually get them where they wanted to be. You’ll get the feel of what it’s like to design for lives that shift—from private nests to public living rooms—and we share the kinds of layout, outdoor-living, and seating decisions that make a home actually work for big-family living. By the end you'll either be jotting down notes for your own dream entertaining palace, or quietly admitting you’re happy with your modest but efficient floor plan—no judgment, promise.
Takeaways:
We dig into the surprising trend of empty-nesters upsizing instead of downsizing, seriously.
I talk through the practical wins of adding a first-floor shower for accessibility and everyday convenience.
They ended up with massive living and dining rooms, outdoor kitchen, Olympic-size pool — we talk about how that turned their house into the family's social hub.
We riff on fall decor — deep greens, rusty reds, cozy velvets — and warn against matchy-matchy color overload if you copy nature too literally.
I remind you lighting becomes crucial when days shorten; we cover layering lights so evenings feel warm, functional, and Instagram-friendly.
We're politely begging you to subscribe, follow our YouTube channels, leave reviews, and join us Saturday for laughs, tips, and questionable DIY decisions.
We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/
Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.
Transcripts
Speaker A:
Hold on tight.
Speaker A:
We have a great around the house show coming up this weekend.
Speaker A:
Help us out and subscribe on your favorite podcast player.
Speaker B:
In the first hour, Eric G. Has Wendy Glaster back in the studio as they discuss the new trend of empty nesters upsizing their homes.
Speaker B:
Instead of the traditional downsizing, there's just.
Speaker C:
One change that I'd like to make.
Speaker C:
In one of the bathrooms, I'd like to add a shower so it's on the first floor because there's no shower on the first floor currently.
Speaker D:
I get that.
Speaker C:
But that's it.
Speaker C:
And it's so much fun because now they have this giant living room where they can host Bible studies or community meetings or anything at all that they would like.
Speaker C:
They have more than enough seating.
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They have a huge dining room.
Speaker C:
They have beautiful outdoor spaces, this whole outdoor living room out past their, they call it their carriage house.
Speaker C:
It has an outdoor kitchen.
Speaker C:
They have a beautiful Olympic sized pool, a huge lawn area.
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They've had multiple events for their children and grandchildren, baby showers, everything.
Speaker C:
And it's a place now where everyone loves to come.
Speaker C:
And it's really become the center of so much of what's important to them in their lives.
Speaker C:
And I'm just so happy that it turned out like that for them.
Speaker C:
I mean, the job of a gut job remodel on their former home was obviously a good sized job, but it really wouldn't have served them and it didn't make sense for them to spend that money if it really wasn't get going to get them to where they want to.
Speaker A:
In the second hour, Eric G. And.
Speaker B:
Wendy Glacier dive into the latest trends in fall decor.
Speaker B:
If you are just getting things ready for fall, this is an episode for you.
Speaker B:
They talk about what's hot right now and what's not.
Speaker D:
Let's say for you, if you're up that way, there's so much green outside.
Speaker D:
If you do too much of that in your house, it gets lost because now it's just matchy matchy.
Speaker C:
It does.
Speaker C:
It does.
Speaker C:
Yeah.
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In our own cabin, I painted all the walls a deep dark green.
Speaker C:
But all the other colors are the rusty reds and navy blues and those deep cozy velvet browns and like the leather tufted chairs and the whole.
Speaker C:
And I, yeah, when I think about fall, it really is the cabin.
Speaker C:
Everything turns.
Speaker C:
You can see all the colors up there probably better than you see them down here in the valley.
Speaker C:
So it's always nice up there around Thanksgiving time.
Speaker C:
It's fun.
Speaker D:
Oh, yeah.
Speaker D:
And then here too, lighting is big because we go from the sun, like getting dark outside.
Speaker D:
It can be:
Speaker D:
And then we get into December, January and it's 4:15 and it's dark.
Speaker B:
All that and more on Saturdays around the House with Eric G. We do this show every week to help you make your home a better place and you can help us keep it going.
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Leave us a review wherever you listen.
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Follow both of our YouTube channels and subscribe to the podcast.
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Everything's linked@aroundthehouse online.com thanks for being part of the around the House family.
Speaker A:
If you want to hear more, listen right here on this podcast player to find out the answers.
Speaker A:
That's a wrap folks.
Speaker A:
Another wild ride of home maintenance, mayhem and project starting Swagger in the books.
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Huge thanks to our awesome audience for tuning in.
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You're the real MVPs keeping us on air while we dodge rogue ladders and those ancient website crashes.
Speaker A:
Catch you this Saturday for more laughs, tips, and maybe a few questionable DIY decisions.
Speaker A:
Until then, keep your hammers swinging and your WI Fi strong.
