People who work in the construction industry know that it takes a process to complete a project. However, it is amusing, and sometimes disappointing to see how such a cutthroat industry can afford to cut corners, leaving clients badly regretful. And with most of the year spent indoors, it has never been more crucial for people to have a space that gives them more than just a sense of security.

In this podcast, we welcome Monika Zasada as she shares with us the importance of having a comfortable home that stores your most prized possessions and the stories you’ve built there. We also discuss Monica’s roots which shaped her passion of bringing a home to life, the reality behind construction projects, managing expectations in renovations, and the joy of keeping a home that stores her beloved books. 

If you’re looking to get a renovation for your home or if you want to know more about curating construction projects in general, this podcast is for you. Tune in now!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

1. About a girl and her Polish home [3:42]
2. From Poland to the Land of the Free [5:45]
3. Bringing “castles” from books to people [8:33]
4. Homes around the world from the curator’s eyes [9:11]
• A home is not a home if doesn’t make you feel safe [10:27]
5. The flawed process of acquiring a home [13:23]
6. You’re the curator—draw the strings [14:24]
• It’s never too early to talk about the money [14:34]
7. Don’t cut corners—the client deserves the full picture [15:40]
8. Bidding on crooked plans and crooked bidding on plans [16:47]
• The building industry’s uneven bidding field [17:26]
• Losing more on the lowest bidder [18:32]
9. When you’re bidding for quality, you’re not bidding cheap [21:00]
10. Building a sacred space [21:39]
• Let there be colour and light [22:14]
11. Construction is a collaborative work [26:52]
12. Curators direct the orchestra that is construction [28:36]
13. How Monika’s childhood shaped her curating decisions [30:57]
14. Defining quality to the client [32:27]
15. The contracts you need with and for contractors [36:47]
16. The importance of having a team with the same goal [41:24]
17. Making a renovation project a good experience for all [42:27]
18. Books offer thrills because of the ideas they allow one to explore [44:06]
• Watching the scenes—and tasting them [45:10]
19. On American Literature [46:15]
20. How our reading tastes evolve [47:57]

About the Guest:

Leaving Poland, Monika Zasada landed in the United States about two decades ago, with $10.00 in her pocket, her MA in American Literature, and a dream. Monika credits her creativity and passion for construction projects to her Polish childhood home, which she describes as nothing more than just a space where her family was cramped together. She takes pride in having every amount spent accounted for and delivering quality renovations. Like a musical conductor, Monika will assemble, direct, and keep your project’s team of design professionals and crews accountable—or she will.

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.drmichellegordon.com/podcasts/) 
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleGordon)
• Join in on the next beta group (https://bit.ly/betawait) 
• Aim for the renovation you deserve by checking Monika’s website (http://de-mazing.com/)
• Sex & Construction: What do they have in common? Find out now! (https://astounding-experimenter-2394.ck.page/7765250114)
  
  Books mentioned in this episode (also available in different editions)
• The Robert Collier Letter Book by Robert Collier (Paid link: https://amzn.to/34izIA5)
• Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover (Paid link: https://amzn.to/3l6F34t)
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (Paid link: https://amzn.to/2SibPDh)
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville (Paid link: https://amzn.to/3lc4e5P)
• A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway (Paid link: https://amzn.to/2HOUCPY)

Connect with me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleGordon) and Instagram (@drmichellegordon). For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in!