What does it actually take to design and build your forever home — without losing your patience (or your mind)?

In this episode, I’m joined by a former client, Mandy Wilkinson, a homeowner who spent 2.5 years turning her Pinterest-perfect colonial dream into a real, living home. From navigating COVID delays and truss troubles to rethinking design decisions mid-build, Mandy shares the truth about the emotional, financial, and creative journey behind a forever home.

So why does her story matter? Because behind every “dream home” is a thousand micro-decisions — and knowing how to make them (and when to ask for help) is what separates a beautiful build from a stressful one.

💡What You Can’t Miss:

🏠 Pinterest to Blueprint:

How Mandy’s deep research, Pinterest boards, and product binders set the foundation for her design vision, and what other homeowners can learn from her process.

🏠 Patience Through the Process:

From concrete shortages to truss do-overs, discover how she navigated 2.5 years of construction challenges and stayed grounded along the way.

🏠 Designing for Longevity:Why thinking ahead — wider hallways, single-level layouts, and smart storage, can make your home functional for decades.

🏠 When to Call in the Pros:

Mandy handled her own interiors but shares why most homeowners should bring in specialists to save time, stress, and money.

If you’re designing, building, or dreaming about your own forever home, this episode gives you a real-world look at what it takes — from first sketch to final nail.

🎧 Hit play to learn how to plan smarter, build better, and create a home that’s truly yours.

🔗 Helpful Tools + Resources for Home Builderswww.dostudios.co/resources