In this episode of Home: The Second Story, we sit down with Rich and Ilana from Richboro, Pennsylvania, to hear how they transformed a 1977 split-level house into a modern, functional family home. What started as a plan to build an addition over their garage snowballed into a full-house renovation, driven by necessity, creativity, and resilience.

They purchased the house knowing it was a fixer-upper — leaks and all — but were drawn in by the neighborhood's charm and school district. Rich and Ilana began demoing the upstairs, revealing the bones of a home that would evolve dramatically over the next two years. Thanks to a neighbor and a local architect who understood the nuances of split-level design, they reimagined the layout, flipping bedrooms and designing a spacious master suite above the garage.

As a software developer by trade, Rich took on the role of general contractor, coordinating tradespeople and managing timelines while doing much of the work himself, alongside his brother, a master plumber and seasoned house flipper. The process wasn’t without setbacks — a sewer backup flooded their lower level, and months later, their untouched living room ceiling collapsed. These events forced them to accelerate plans and tackle more than originally intended.

Throughout, they emphasized the importance of living in the space before making design decisions. For example, an unused gated-off staircase was removed entirely, which improved the home’s flow. They also reconfigured their split-level layout by removing interior walls, closing off unnecessary access points, and adding new elements like a slider door to the backyard — changes that made daily life smoother with two small children.

Rich and Ilana highlight how they approached design intentionally, choosing bold features like black cabinets and colorful tiles, instead of falling back on trends. They also learned about budgeting for furniture at the end of a renovation and shared their tips on tracking finishes, materials, and decisions with detailed spreadsheets.

By doing much of the work themselves and leveraging their network of family and friends, they managed to keep costs down, though at the expense of time and energy. They stress the value of hiring professionals when possible and how crucial it is to have a strong support system — both emotionally and logistically — during a renovation.

Now, with the renovation complete, they reflect proudly on what they’ve built together.

Bonus: Rich and his brother's YouTube Page: Jews WIth Screws https://www.youtube.com/@JewswithScrews

Have questions? Want to be on our show? Email us! admin@htsspodcast.com

Learn about our hosts:

Taylor: TPD Architecture and Design: https://tpdarchitect.com

Marilyn: Runcible Studios: https://runciblestudios.com

SherI: Springhouse Architects: https://springhousearchitects.com