This week on HGTV Obsessed, hosts Kat and Mike Stickler sit down with Maureen McCormick and Dan Vickery to chat about Frozen in Time, the new home renovation show on discovery+. Maureen and Dan talk about what it’s like to give homes stuck in the 50s, 60s, and 70s a modern update and what it’s really like filming those opening car scenes. They share some of the memorable things found in the homes while filming and how they get personally invested in each project and family. Then, Maureen and Dan give their thoughts on the mid-century modern design trend. Finally, Orlando Soria shares his opinion on whether carpet is ever the answer.
This week on HGTV Obsessed, hosts Kat and Mike Stickler sit down with Maureen McCormick and Dan Vickery to chat about Frozen in Time, the new home renovation show on discovery+. Maureen and Dan talk about what it’s like to give homes stuck in the 50s, 60s, and 70s a modern update and what it’s really like filming those opening car scenes. They share some of the memorable things found in the homes while filming and how they get personally invested in each project and family. Then, Maureen and Dan give their thoughts on the mid-century modern design trend. Finally, Orlando Soria shares his opinion on whether carpet is ever the answer.
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Learn More About Frozen in Time: https://www.hgtv.com/shows/frozen-in-time
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Find episode transcript here: https://hgtv-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/renovating-retro-homes-with-maureen-mccormick-is-carpet-ever-okay
KAT STICKLER: Maureen-- well, I also heard your husband call you Mo.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: [GASPS] So maybe I can call you-- Yes. Yeah. Well, you call me Mo, and I'll call you Kat. [SQUEALING]
And Mike, what should I call you? How about-- I call my husband-- well, I'm not going to tell you what I call my husband.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Hi, guys and welcome. I'm Kat.
MIKE STICKLER: And I'm Mike. This is HGTV Obsessed.
KAT STICKLER: Hi, guys and welcome back to another episode of HGTV Obsessed.
MIKE STICKLER: The weekly podcast where we dive into all things HGTV. I'm Mike.
KAT STICKLER: And I'm Kat. And when we aren't watching HGTV, we make funny videos on TikTok about marriage, parenting, and life.
MIKE STICKLER: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. [CRICKET CHIRPING]
KAT STICKLER: No.
MIKE STICKLER: See, I don't know the--
KAT STICKLER: How do they say in the show? Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. I'm trying to get it right. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Or should I say Maureen, Maureen, Maureen?
Because that is who we are interviewing today. We have Maureen McCormick and Dan Vickery on the podcast today. Hosts of the new show on Discovery+ Frozen in Time.
MIKE STICKLER: Yes. They renovate homes that are stuck in a certain time period, the '50s, '60s, '70s, and totally update them. But somehow they stay true to the home's history.
KAT STICKLER: Which I really love this concept. I think it's super fun. It makes total sense to have Maureen on because The Brady Bunch was such an iconic '70s show. And Dan also brings his knowledge of architecture and design. And I think together they are so cute.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, their chemistry is really great. And Maureen is super handy.
KAT STICKLER: Yes, she is. I also feel like when I watched the episodes, I learned a lot about things that happened during those decades, like what was happening in the world during that time to influence the design of the homes, things that are really cool like that.
MIKE STICKLER: OK. Well, let's not waste any more time. And let's get right into the interview with Maureen and Dan.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Maureen and Dan, welcome to HGTV Obsessed. We are so excited to have you here.
MIKE STICKLER: So excited.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Well, I'm so excited to be with all of you guys. This is going to be fun.
DAN VICKERY: Good to see you.
KAT STICKLER: We binge watch all those episodes of Frozen in Time, and we did it on Discovery+. And this show is so fun. It's funny. You both work very well together. The camaraderie and the chemistry is perfect.
So for people listening that haven't had a chance to watch it, tell us about the show in your own words.
DAN VICKERY: We go into houses that are frozen in time, exactly like the title says. And we all know that house, whether it was like our aunts or grandma, like there is some home that we have spent time in that has not aged in the last 30 years. We go in, and we try to take the best parts of the past and make them fresh and cool and relevant. And then also take the worst parts of the past and erase them.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: And what's so great about our show, too, is meeting the families that live in these homes and hearing their stories and trying to make their dreams come true.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so cool. Yeah. I saw with the first episode with the tile in the kitchen floor and how much they loved that, like that was-- it's so fun to see them react to what you guys do. I think it's so cool and so wholesome. Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: And I think I have an appreciation for antiques and things from my mother. Our whole home is antiques.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Oh my gosh.
KAT STICKLER: Everything has a memory. Everything has a place, like, oh, I got that in India. I got that in Egypt. And everything for her brings emotion.
And so like a good memory. And that's how she decorates the house. So--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: So I could be your mother right now. I'm just telling you, like everything has a memory. I grew up in a home where my mom and dad-- all they did was go to used furniture stores to buy the furniture because they couldn't afford the new stuff, even though actually the used stuff was much better. It was solid wood with beautiful dovetailing when you open the drawers. But that's the way I was raised.
My parents were obsessed with antiques, beautiful old wooden furniture. When they actually started seeing everyone paint everything, they were like, no, don't cover up the wood.
DAN VICKERY: [CHUCKLES]
KAT STICKLER: No, and I feel like it's the way she described it was like everything has its energy. And it's like this desk has helped so many like-- When you sit at this desk, it's not just a desk. Your mother sat in it. Your grandmother sat in it.
This is like the desk where you get things done. It was just like-- it just made--
MIKE STICKLER: There's so much purpose.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, things way more exciting.
MIKE STICKLER: Something that seems so like ordinary. Yeah.
DAN VICKERY: I'm glad you said hippie because that's how I feel. Everything has got kind of a vibration, right? And it's either going to be good for you, or it's going to be bad for you. And if you can find that good vibration, bring it in. I don't care if I sound like a hippie.
It's great, and it influences design.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah. The table that I've got this microphone set up on right now in our kitchen is the kitchen table that I grew up on when I was a little girl. I mean, actually from the time I was a baby. And we ate all of our family meals on this table, and I will never get rid of it. It's a beautiful solid pine table with a ton of leaves, so we can let 20 people sit at this table if we want.
I love it.
MIKE STICKLER: So it kind of, on that note a little bit of good vibrations, right, and just even talking to you two. I mean you two have great chemistry together. Were you guys friends before filming or no?
DAN VICKERY: We had met once before our first day of filming.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yeah.
DAN VICKERY: I was intimidated. I was going out to a lunch with Brian Balthazar, who at the time was working for HGTV in charge of our show, and then Maureen McCormick. I was just sitting like, I don't belong at this lunch. [LAUGHS] But we hit it off right away. And there is just-- I don't know-- something about Maureen that is magnetic.
MIKE STICKLER: Aw.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: So I was so excited when I heard about this show. I just loved what it was all about. It's such a part of my history, old things or vintage things, all of it actually. So I met Dan and was so impressed that he was so down-to-earth. He was from Oregon.
He just had this really cool solid as a rock type of guy. And--
DAN VICKERY: I'll take that, but I've never been called cool. That's not my-- [LAUGHS] Thank you.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Oh, Dan. You are so cool.
DAN VICKERY: Oh, no, no, no. I'm a giant nerd. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Nah.
MIKE STICKLER: Hey, nothing wrong with a nerd.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yeah. I agree. I like nerds myself. Anyway, it was really cool because his mother and his grandmother were quilters, and Dan was a quilter. And I was a quilter.
And he gave me these two books that they had written. And it was just-- so right away, we had a connection. And I just felt so comfortable with you right away, which was really beautiful.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah, likewise, super important. Yeah. I went from nervous to at ease within minutes.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I think that's how I felt on our first date.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I think when people go on dates, I think you can literally tell in like the first 10, 30 seconds if you're connecting with this person. I just could no right then on our first date. It's like--
DAN VICKERY: Yeah. When you got in the car and she got in the car, and she goes, I think we're both nervous. And I was like, yeah, yeah. We're definitely both nervous.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: So wait, I need to hear about this. Where was it? Where did you meet?
KAT STICKLER: So he was a drummer.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: And--
MIKE STICKLER: Still am.
KAT STICKLER: He is still a drummer. And I would go to the front and be like, looking super cute.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Oh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
MIKE STICKLER: She would come to my shows. You would come into my shows and watch me drum. And she would just scream in the back. It was so great.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Oh my gosh, how cute. So you were like an obsessed fan.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: I honestly thought he was cute but like in a childish way. You're so cute, but I would never date you or have a relationship.
MIKE STICKLER: It's probably because I was a band bum, and I didn't have a job. And I was--
KAT STICKLER: Yeah. I was like you're adorable, but that's all that is.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Not husband material.
KAT STICKLER: Yes. Exactly. But then we started dating. I gave him a shot. He's like the actual thing that your parents are like stay away from.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: With his mother. Didn't have a job.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Right.
MIKE STICKLER: At the time. Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: Didn't have a degree like his car was-- I don't mind crappy cars, but this car was unsafe.
MIKE STICKLER: It was bad.
KAT STICKLER: [INAUDIBLE]. The floor was out in the bottom.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I love your story. It kind of reminds me of me and my hubby.
KAT STICKLER: How did you guys meet?
DAN VICKERY: Wait, Mike's a really stand up guy. What are you saying?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Well, no. Yeah. I mean--
DAN VICKERY: I guarantee your parents are behind that marriage. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: My father was right away, and my mother fell in love with him. Michael was her favorite guy. I mean, seriously she fell so in love with him. But it took her some time because she was afraid he was an actor. Actors are always working, or they're bartending.
Or they're selling something out of their car or-- who knows, right? But she was from Minnesota, which was actually very appealing to me. And he had never seen The Brady Bunch, which I loved. He didn't know who I was, but he was driving this car. And I remember our first kiss was in that not great car.
But it was the best kiss ever. And honestly, it was love at first sight when our eyes first met. It was pretty amazing. I felt like he was the one for me. And he felt the same thing with me, which was so cool.
MIKE STICKLER: OK. We got to get back to the show. We got to get back to the show. We could talk about this for days, I feel like. This is great.
So I have to ask you guys about the cars on the show. And so at the start of every episode, you both are just cruising the California coast in incredible classic cars from whatever era you guys are doing the home in, right? So how much fun was it being in those cars. I mean, that just seems like a total blast.
DAN VICKERY: I mean, I think it's awesome. I feel bad for Maureen because what you guys can't see is on some of those scenes. We've got like three cameras across the windshield, and we're trying to talk. And I can't see the road. And I don't know the car very well.
And it's probably a pretty scary situation for her.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: The first time I got into a car with Dan, I have to say, I was really nervous. And we're driving on streets where there's other cars driving. And we've got these cameras all across the windshield. You have no idea what you look like, first of all, which is a little weird.
But then you just have to forget about it and just have fun. So we were at this beautiful place once, driving along the PCH in California. The mountains over here, the ocean over here, and the wind was just blowing. And the hair was just coming over my entire face. And it was sticking to my lipstick.
And I'm like, OK, this is going to be the most awful shot in the history of television. It was just crazy. And then I had to wear sunglasses because the lights were so bright. And I put them on, and they go like, oh, no. We can now see the cameras reflecting off of your sunglasses. I don't--
MIKE STICKLER: Oh my gosh.
DAN VICKERY: That was quite a date. So that was-- it's a beautiful shot in the show. And we're driving along the beach in-- wait, that was Rancho Palos Verdes. And we were in a Ford Thunderbird.
If you're a car person, this is an exciting day. But the car died what? Like five times--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: 20. 20 times.
MIKE STICKLER: What?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: It was--
MIKE STICKLER: Oh my God.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: --the worst car day ever in my life. Well, one of them, one of them. But--
DAN VICKERY: It's always like this thing that you never say the day is going to go good when you're filming because something happens. And the producer was like, oh, it's going to be such an easy day. And then--
MIKE STICKLER: Ah.
DAN VICKERY: Well, the car showed up basically out of gas. We literally went two blocks, and it ran out. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: And the battery died. I mean, everything that could go wrong went wrong. It smelled so bad. I was starting to get nauseous from all the exhaust. It was insane.
And the whole crew was coming, and it's a small crew. And everyone was trying to make it work. And it was a total nightmare, but I love the car scenes on our show. I really do.
DAN VICKERY: I know. And I feel bad because I'm not a car guy. And I was like, there is somebody out there who deserves to be driving this car so much more than me. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Me, me.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah. Yeah. Whoo. Again, why weren't you ever--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Honey, you're riding shotgun for the rest of the show. That's all I can say.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
DAN VICKERY: [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I'm going to start driving.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, but you can't tell when you guys are doing that. It look super peaceful, fun--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: But of course.
KAT STICKLER: --didn't ever get a hit of a car breaking down--
DAN VICKERY: Well, when things are going right, it is peaceful and fun. [LAUGHS] When the car breaks out on the side of PCH--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: Although--
DAN VICKERY: Thinking twice.
KAT STICKLER: --honestly, when the car breaks down, I don't care. I should say that I do, but I love hanging out with you and our crew. It's fun. It's like, OK. Well, what'd you do last night?
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: So you both do a really perfect job of setting us up to feel like we're in whatever time period the home represents. So we have the '50s. We have the '60s. We have the '70s. Do you guys have a particular favorite decade for home design?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I like every decade. I really do. It depends. Every house that you walk into has a story, and I feel it the moment I walk in a front door. So obviously, there's styles that I like better.
But when it's all done and it's done really tastefully and classic, I love that. So I have a real appreciation for so many styles and so many periods. And usually, it's a feeling I get. I mean, I know my own taste for homes, and it's because of a love that came from my parents of the first home that they bought in Burlington, Iowa.
I swear I want to go back and buy that house one day because it's this beautiful salt box. It's very square, and it has shutters on it. And it's all white and just so charming and traditional. But I love homes. I love all the different styles.
KAT STICKLER: So I do think about this a lot. And Dan, you can let me know what you think. In 50 years, when other people, designers, who have an eye for this stuff look at the homes of the 2000s, 2010s, what do you think they'll think about those homes? You think that it'll be this timeless design still?
DAN VICKERY: No. I think they're going to look at it and wonder where all the color is. I feel like every house these days is black and white, and that's it. And it's not enough. And I think there's a time and a place for that.
I love a neutral palette. And because we're mostly focusing on houses from the '50s. '60s, and '70s when color was so big then, we're obviously color-focused on a lot of our design. And there's a time and a place to step away from that, but I think that right now, people need to dive into color.
MIKE STICKLER: Do you feel like we're getting back to that then? Do you feel like we're making our-- we're inching our way slowly back into the color or no?
DAN VICKERY: Oh, I think so.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah?
DAN VICKERY: The '80s is a huge influence in design right now. And '80s was all about color.
KAT STICKLER: I feel like color is so hit-or-miss. And I feel like I'm not good at "design," quote unquote, so I would be so scared to do anything other than beige. I think beige is such a safe color.
DAN VICKERY: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: Can't go wrong here.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: You know what's so funny about color is, when you put on clothes that are different colors, you feel a certain way, and you like certain colors more than others on yourself. And in a home, I think certain colors make you feel a certain way and bring a mood. And what I love about design and homes is that everyone has something that they prefer or that they like.
And what's fun about this show is trying to hear what the people in the homes like and trying to bring those colors in there and yet paying attention to a lot of color that was very popular in that period or maybe changing it a bit. But color is so personal. I know I have my favorite colors that always make me feel good, but I love that that everyone has something that makes them feel good.
MIKE STICKLER: It's so subjective. Yeah. So what are some of the craziest things you guys have seen in these homes that you--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: A Jack and Jill shower. Do you know what that is? You guys don't even know, do you?
MIKE STICKLER: I feel like maybe I know but go ahead and explain.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I want to know what your guessing.
MIKE STICKLER: Well, so in our shower, what we just moved into, there's two shower heads.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: [LAUGHS]
MIKE STICKLER: Is that what it is?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Wow. Wow. No. No.
MIKE STICKLER: That was my guess.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I would like to see a picture of that.
MIKE STICKLER: That's a lot more fun.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yeah. So there were two small bathrooms that were connected by the shower. So you could enter the shower from one bathroom or from the other. So can you imagine if you're in this bathroom and you are-- so you're on the loo.
Can you imagine what a nightmare that would be? No privacy. That was really scary right, Dan? But it was cute.
I loved it. I mean, kind of.
DAN VICKERY: Oh, I didn't even think it was cute. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I loved the old tiling it was filled with, so.
DAN VICKERY: Oh. It was connected to a bathroom that was all pink porcelain sinks and, tub which I remember my grandma having. So there's a nostalgia there, but no, it was not cute. That's just dangerous. You don't want to be nervous in the shower.
MIKE STICKLER: Right. I'm trying to understand what the purpose of that would have been. Why would you need that?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Well, maybe if you want to do some things in one bathroom. OK. Wait, I need to think this through.
DAN VICKERY: Actually, they're connected.
MIKE STICKLER: It doesn't make sense.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: What if you do all your drying on one side? So you've got to get out on that side for the towels. But I don't know.
DAN VICKERY: Listen, Maureen has such a love for the past, and it's part of what makes a show so amazing. But this was an idea that should have been left in the past. And that's why we fixed it.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: It was great. What was so great about it was now you've got two bathrooms that are totally private, and they're beautiful. And it's a lot more useful now.
DAN VICKERY: So the favorite thing that I found throughout all of our episodes was actually in the same house. And there was a bathroom cabinet that had a name written on the bottom of the drawer. And this was a house that was now on its third generation, like the house was sold and then the family bought it back. But the current homeowner's mom had written her name in the bathroom drawer at a young age, so young that she spelled her own name wrong. [LAUGHS]
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: It was so cute, you guys. It was carved into the wood. It was amazing.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so cute. That's cool.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah, no, she sat there with a pencil and was like putting her mark on the cabinet drawers.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: And how cool, you guys, that somebody else had bought the house, but they bought it back. And that drawer was still there with all that history.
MIKE STICKLER: Never touched.
KAT STICKLER: Probably my favorite thing about the show is that emotional aspect because these families-- you don't realize it's a home, but it's not just a home. They just are so emotionally connected to this, and I think a good question for this is, how do you balance honoring the home's history and character but also renovating it in a style for the HGTV treatment kind of way?
DAN VICKERY: I think that Maureen and I have both really tried to focus on not what's on trend, not what is going to be cool and flashy for TV but really just what is important to the homeowners. And they all-- whether they inherited the house or they bought the house, they did it for a very specific reason and listening to that purpose and making sure to highlight what they love the most. Because at the end of the show, we're going to walk away.
And we produce a show and hopefully created a great design, but they're going to continue to live there. And we want to respect that.
MIKE STICKLER: How often do you guys come up with ideas that the homeowners disagree with? And do you have advice for compromising when it comes to these sort of decisions? I'd be interested to hear from both of you on this.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Well, hey. How long have you guys been married?
MIKE STICKLER: Coming up on two years.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Don't you have to compromise all the time?
MIKE STICKLER: All the time.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Me, too. Do you, Dan?
DAN VICKERY: Well, yeah. But design is hard because you're going to look at that compromise every day. You don't want to be mad that you compromise. So no, I joke all the time that design is therapy. You've got two people with different ideas, and then you throw money on it, which always makes things more complicated.
And I think that we walk in and just try to listen, a lot of listening, which doesn't always make good TV. So that gets cut. [LAUGHS] We ran into that a couple of times. There was--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Quite a bit.
DAN VICKERY: --the same episode that we were just talking about. It was a generational home, and they always said family photos in front of the fireplace. And we wanted to change it. And that was hard for them. And you read them and know like, OK, I can push this person a little bit more.
And then we have some other clients we presented an idea for a kitchen hood. The hood over this range. And they hated our idea. And there's no pushing them.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Right. One of the homes that we went into-- it's really interesting when one part of the couple wants it one way, and the other one wants it another way. And it is so hard when-- well, first of all, they buy these homes or inherit them. So it's really, really important that they still feel the emotional connection to this home. So you have to be careful.
And I think we've been really lucky because we have talked them into many times something that they did not like. People are usually afraid to tear down a wall or to change a lot of things. And it's really beautiful when they're so happy afterwards. And they're like, I couldn't imagine it. But now, I love it.
Also, we're talking about crazy things in homes. It was so cute. And this reminded me so much of my childhood because my parents loved homes. And my father was a do-it-yourself man. He did everything.
Even if it wasn't done properly, he did it himself because he couldn't afford. He was a school teacher raising four kids. But there was one home that we-- the [INAUDIBLE] home, Dan. And the father cut out this window in the kitchen so that he could pass his-- because they're all about cooking in this family.
And he could pass them the food to everybody in the other room, and it was just so cute.
DAN VICKERY: Oh, no. The intention was good, but he actually cut it through a sheer wall and compromised the structural stability of the house.
MIKE STICKLER: Yikes. That's scary.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah. Sometimes it's worth it to hire a professional. But this is-- so we've got six episodes out. We've got two episodes that we are still finishing and hopefully release soon. And this will be one of them.
So guys, stay tuned for that. And we've got a special guest on that show who's a very good--
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Oh, I'm so excited. So Michael Lookinland, who played Bobby, he is an amazing concrete maker. He builds the most beautiful countertops and benches. He'll make anything you need in concrete.
So he came out from Utah to help us with some beautiful countertops, and it was just so great to be with him. His mother actually was a huge influence in my life, helping me to learn how to craft certain things when we were all on the show together.
MIKE STICKLER: So you're renovating these homes, and you're removing a lot of elements. But are there things that you see from the past that are an absolute keep, a must-have?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I think it really depends on the house and what's happening. So we walk in, and obviously, there's things right away, whether it's windows that are spectacular or a gorgeous fireplace or great old kitchen cabinets that should never go. Every house has something different that you can't remove obviously. And it's wonderful when there's a lot of things that you keep.
DAN VICKERY: Well, I think that there was a certain attention to architecture that we don't necessarily get. Everybody wants to build square footage as cheap as possible, which means you don't end up with that amazing stone fireplace. You end up with the fake facade. You have trusses in your ceiling instead of exposed beams.
So when you walk in, you see those iconic, architectural elements. You don't walk away from them. You don't cover them up. You let them shine.
MIKE STICKLER: I love that.
KAT STICKLER: I love that. That's good. My mom's going to love this. She's like, I told you.
MIKE STICKLER: I told you for so many years.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: You guys, what style do you like?
KAT STICKLER: I think I like the combo of antique and modern because even in our bedroom, I have my desk that I had when I was a little kid, and it's just this like wooden-- it's really pretty. Michael was like, are you sure you want this in our room. I'm like, yes. Going in our room.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I love that combination of modern and antique. I just love it. And I think it's interesting because I could collect everything. And I used to, and that was a problem.
But I think when you're into that and level that stuff, you can get sometimes too cluttered. So you can't even see the beautiful pieces that you have, which is-- there's a real art to making those pieces work and shine.
DAN VICKERY: Well, I think that-- you hit on a couple of different things. On our show, we try really hard not to get stuck in the past, right? It may be a 50, 60, 70-year-old home, but we want to show the history and the progression of that. And when people mix modern design with antiques, the house instantly has a sense of history, right? It's telling a story instead of something that's straight out of a showroom.
And everybody relates to that even if it's not their story. You can see somebody else's life in the design.
KAT STICKLER: I feel like I'm really inspired in how you get in there with the homeowners. And you're gardening. You're making art. You're shopping for the vintage furniture with them. It's a very hands-on process.
Do you feel because of this? I felt this aspect different from other shows. Do you feel like personally invested in these homes and with the connections you make with the people and the families that live in them?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I know I am right away. I mean, we have been so lucky with every story and every family, and they've been amazing. You really care about them and want them to just fall in love with their house even more. And to be able to really, what's so cool you guys is just-- you can change a few things, and all of the sudden this wonderful piece is so much more useful.
And you can see them now wanting to entertain in these houses because they are more functional. I love that.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah. That's huge.
KAT STICKLER: It's really exciting.
MIKE STICKLER: I guess we can relate from like a square footage aspect even just-- it's not a design, right? It's not anything to do with the design, but we just went from-- it's just the space you live in, right? And we went from 600 square feet, our first apartment, to 1,100 now to I think 2,200. And we were just from that big jump.
It's like, oh my gosh. We can finally have people over and not worry the whole time about like, what are they thinking? Is it too cramped in here? It's like now, it's just so much more relaxing. It's functional.
You said the word functional. I feel like that hit a nerve, a good nerve.
DAN VICKERY: Well, functions changed so much, right? Cooking used to be something that was considered like secondary to entertaining. And now, it's all infused, right? We want to be involved with whoever is cooking, and the party starts as soon as the meat hits the grill. And all their homes don't allow for that to happen.
So by blowing up walls and creating this sense of a great room whenever possible, we allow people to live today but hopefully not forget about yesterday.
MIKE STICKLER: Good quote.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Wow. Dan!
MIKE STICKLER: [INAUDIBLE]
DAN VICKERY: Trademark Dan Vickery.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Check.
KAT STICKLER: So as a viewer, I did feel invested in the relationships you guys made with them in the homes, and I think I felt a connection, especially because of how I was taught to value antiques and structured everything from the past. It all has-- it all means something. I was super sad when I ran out of episodes, but you guys have a Frozen in Time special on HGTV. So tell us about your special Frozen in Time, Flashback that is now airing on HGTV.
DAN VICKERY: Well, obviously, we're not the first show on HGTV to walk into a house that was frozen in time. So we've collected a bunch of clips from other HGTV favorites, where your favorite HGTV stars have run into the same situation. And we try to not only pay homage to what they have done with the space but to add a little bit of history that our show focuses on that maybe not every other show does.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yeah. I can't wait to see it because it's been a little bit since we filmed it. And we hosted it from The Brady Bunch house, which was really fun.
DAN VICKERY: Absolutely. That was a magical moment--
KAT STICKLER: Probably the best part.
DAN VICKERY: --to be in The Brady Bunch house with Maureen McCormick, the original Marcia Brady. What?
MIKE STICKLER: So crazy.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: It was really fun.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah. Did that bring back a lot of memories for you?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Well, honestly, I just feel like-- it just feels really good. It just does. I mean--
MIKE STICKLER: That's so cool.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: --because when I go there, I see my mom and dad. And I see our teacher Frances Whitfield, who was such a big part of inspiration in my life. I have to say I think every other Brady was better in math and history and science, biology than I was. And I loved this teacher because she loved the arts and the crafts. And those were my favorite subjects.
But yeah, I see the crew. I feel so many people when I'm there.
MIKE STICKLER: So we're going to transition real quick to one of our favorite. This is kind of one of our favorite parts of the podcast. It's called Defend the Trend.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Today, we have a big one. It's mid-century modern design. So throughout the show, you both saw your fair share of original mid mod style in these older homes, but it's also a trend that came back the past few years and has been thriving. So do you think this Mad Men style is here to stay, or is it on its way out?
DAN VICKERY: I'm not one for historical preservation. I think that we've evolved, but I think that there are so many awesome pieces. We actually, in one of the shows, almost bought the bar that was used in Don Draper's office in Mad Men. We had to change at the last minute, but there are just certain iconic pieces that were popular then that are going to be popular forever. And if you can put them in your house, do it.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: I definitely believe that they will always be here to stay. I think everything comes and goes. But there are certain classics-- and I believe that time period is a classic. I mean, it was sexy and sleek and cool, so I think it's definitely here to stay. It might go away a little bit and come back.
And I mean, that's what everything does, right?
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah. And time will tell. But I think you guys made great points.
MIKE STICKLER: I think you nailed it.
KAT STICKLER: Yes.
MIKE STICKLER: Those are perfect answers.
KAT STICKLER: They really were very nicely done. So before you go, tell us where we can find you on social media and where we can watch Frozen in Time and Frozen in Time, Flashback?
DAN VICKERY: So Frozen in Time is available on Discovery+. We've got six episodes out now. Two more episodes hopefully coming your way very soon. And then you will see us on Frozen in Time, Flashback on HGTV. I think we're airing now, when this podcast airs, right? We're like, yay.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yay. I can't wait to see it. Social media-- I don't even know.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah, we're both bad at that.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Honestly, I'm so bad. You guys, I want to learn how to TikTok. That's all I know.
MIKE STICKLER: Listen, I tagged you in an Instagram post, Maureen. You want me to tell you what your Instagram handle?
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: OK. Sure. OK. What is it?
MIKE STICKLER: Oh. You didn't-- OK. Yeah. OK. momccormick7.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Mo. OK, there you go.
DAN VICKERY: I'm not good at social media, but I am good enough to know that I shouldn't have an underscore. And I'm dan_vickery. That's really aging me. [LAUGHS] But it's too late to change it.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: OK, Michael has an underscore.
DAN VICKERY: All right. Thanks, Michael.
MIKE STICKLER: Underscore club for life. I will never get rid of the underscore, It's timeless.
KAT STICKLER: Well, Dan and Maureen, thank you so much for joining us today. In honor of one of our favorite parts of your show, we made a couple of cocktails to toast you guys. And cheers to you both. You can pass me mine.
DAN VICKERY: You guys should have warned us. We could have cheers you back.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Yeah. Cheers, you guys.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah, cheers.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: You're so cute.
DAN VICKERY: Yeah. Thanks for having us.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: So cute.
MIKE STICKLER: We appreciate you guys so much.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Cheers, Dan.
DAN VICKERY: Cheers. I know it.
MAUREEN MCCORMICK: Have fun.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: If you could freeze any moment in time, what would it be?
MIKE STICKLER: That's good. I feel like I would freeze when we ga-- when you gave birth, not we, when you gave birth to MK in that little moment that we got to share together.
KAT STICKLER: Aw.
MIKE STICKLER: It was very sweet. And it was epic. What about you?
KAT STICKLER: I was going to say I think the moment in time I would freeze would either be our first date or you asking me out for the first time.
MIKE STICKLER: Aw, that's sweet. I like it.
KAT STICKLER: Or just like random moments with MK. I feel like just-- it's a good lesson to just be aware of all these moments that are happening in the present. You can freeze them in time.
MIKE STICKLER: It's nice. I'm freezing this moment here with you.
KAT STICKLER: Oh, you're so sweet. A little charmer.
MIKE STICKLER: All right, I love you. Let's get into our next segment HGTV to the Rescue.
KAT STICKLER: Yes. Let's knock it out of the park.
MIKE STICKLER: HGTV to the Rescue.
KAT STICKLER: Brr. It's cold in here.
MIKE STICKLER: Is it? I feel fantastic.
KAT STICKLER: I say there must be some Orlando in the atmosphere.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, there is.
KAT STICKLER: I say, oh. Hey, hey. Oh. HGTV to the Rescue.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK, you guys, it is time for one of our favorite segments. So this is HGTV to the Rescue. And today, we have the one, the only Mr. Orlando. Soria. I literally have the best interview with him.
ORLANDO SORIA: [LAUGHS]
KAT STICKLER: Orlando is answering a question from one of our listeners, Anna, and it's all about carpet. So Anna asked, hey, Orlando. We just bought our first house, and it's covered in gross carpet. That is definitely coming out. But what to replace it with is the real question.
Hardwood floors get all the glory, but is carpet ever OK?
ORLANDO SORIA: This is a very good question that is very near and dear to my heart. So I also just moved into a giant house with a bunch of ugly carpet in it. And I have to tell you it's been like-- there is like a single tear that rolls down my cheek with every room that I take the carpet out of because it is very lush and it feels very good on your little toesies. I understand people's hesitance with removing carpet.
First things first, I actually don't have a blanket rule against carpeting, I think, especially in bedrooms. It can be really nice. There's a lot of positive things to say about carpet. Number one, it is probably the least expensive thing to replace your current carpet with is a more attractive, more modern version. I'd say like a really simple go-to would be kind of like a beige Berber carpet, which kind of like has the same warmth and neutrality as a hardwood floor but has a lower pile.
And you can put a flat woven rug on top of it and still have that sort of design accent while not giving up on the comfort of having the wall-to-wall carpet that you want. I don't think it's for every space. So I really think you have to think about how long are you going to live in your house, do you want something that you're going to need to replace every 5 to 10 years, or would you rather spend the money up front and replace it with hardwood flooring that you could have probably for a lifetime?
But I think there are going to always be people who like carpeting in their houses, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. A hack that I came up for my house and sort of like a temporary fix is that I've been taking the carpet out. And you can actually paint the subfloor, which has kind of like a really nice modern rustic look to it while you wait to kind of save money to replace everything with hardwood flooring. So that's depending on what your subfloor is. Mine is just basically plywood.
You can also paint it. And that is kind of like a fun, easy DIY thing you can do if you really don't like the look of your carpet. But I would say there's no rule against carpeting. I would just get some swatches, make sure that what you're choosing is neutral so that you can make other accents in the room. And yeah, just make sure that it aligns with the sort of style of your house.
MIKE STICKLER: Wow. Expert.
KAT STICKLER: You're so good. I was like, this one's going to stump him. I feel really bad he got such a hard question.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
ORLANDO SORIA: Oh. Well, carpet is-- yeah, I get it. I understand why people want carpet. I don't think it's a great long-term solution, but there's always going to be places where it would be nice to have carpet.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MIKE STICKLER: I think I'm a carpet guy. It's super cozy living in my office.
KAT STICKLER: Can you believe how many bathrooms and kitchens had carpet on Frozen in Time?
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah. There's a lot of them.
KAT STICKLER: I think I would actually like that, though, like you're sitting on the toilet, and you just open up your toes. And you squint in the carpet.
MIKE STICKLER: You run your little toesies through the fuzzies?
KAT STICKLER: Also, it didn't look that cute. But also, maybe we're missing out on something, you guys. Do we really know how it feels to go to the bathroom with carpet on our toes constantly?
MIKE STICKLER: I mean, honestly, I feel like you would be in there for quite some time. You probably wouldn't come out.
KAT STICKLER: You already are in the bathroom for quite some time.
MIKE STICKLER: Literally, I knew you were going to say that.
KAT STICKLER: Guys, Michael tells me--
MIKE STICKLER: I just get roped into TikToks and Instagrams and Twitch. I like--
KAT STICKLER: He says, babe. I'm going to go to the bathroom. And that's our cue. He's going to be gone for 30 minutes. So if the baby needs something, if I need-- no, 30 minutes.
That's where he is.
MIKE STICKLER: Listen, I think the soft carpets all over would be great for MK. I feel like she would have a blast.
KAT STICKLER: Oh, yeah. MK fell off the couch, but there was carpet. So I didn't feel that bad. I mean, she's got a pretty big bump here on her forehead.
MIKE STICKLER: I feel pretty bad.
KAT STICKLER: But you weren't even there.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh, yeah. But--
KAT STICKLER: All I saw was her feet just up in the air. She was stuck between the beanbag and the sofa.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh my gosh.
KAT STICKLER: But yeah, MK also makes messes, so the hardwood floor would be way easier to clean. I can see her just like putting stuff in the carpet. Have you guys seen those TikToks where it's like a shag carpet and people take stuff out of it, and you don't even know it can be in the carpet.
MIKE STICKLER: Gross.
KAT STICKLER: I thought it was cool.
MIKE STICKLER: You found like a person in there?
KAT STICKLER: No. Not that big. No.
MIKE STICKLER: Uh-uh. OK.
KAT STICKLER: OK. So we did have some good clean fun today with our guests. Honestly, how great were Maureen and Dan. And if you want to know more about their show, head over to hgtv.com/podcast to check out the show notes and be sure to binge Frozen in Time on Discovery+ and check out Frozen in Time, Flashback on HGTV.
Also, huge thank you to Orlando Soria for answering today's HGTV to the Rescue question. And don't forget to lift your spirits with his show, Build Me Up, streaming on Discovery+ now. If you want to ask HGTV stars your own question, hit us up on the HGTV Instagram account. Just look for our post on Thursdays.
KAT STICKLER: And as usual, if you like what you're listening to, please head over to Apple Podcasts to rate and review HGTV Obsessed. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcast so you never miss an episode. And head over to hgtv.com/podcast for the show notes on today's episode.
MIKE STICKLER: Lastly, if you want even more of us, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @mikeandkat. See you next Thursday.
KAT STICKLER: Bye, guys.
MIKE STICKLER: Peace.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MIKE STICKLER: And now it's time for-- for some reason, Kat and Mike can't say, brr. It's cold in here. Brr. It's cold in here. Just kidding, sorry. Thought it would be funny.
KAT STICKLER: How do I say brr? Brr.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, like that. Brr.
KAT STICKLER: [LAUGHS]
MIKE STICKLER: Brr. [CHUCKLES]
KAT STICKLER: [INAUDIBLE]
MIKE STICKLER: Brr.
KAT STICKLER: Brr.
MIKE STICKLER: Pick it up from the I say, oh.
KAT STICKLER: No, let me go. Brr. It's cold in here. HGTV to the Rescue.
MIKE STICKLER: [LAUGHS] I love you. You're so funny. I'm crying.
KAT STICKLER: I thought it was a chance, like, oh, [VOCALIZING].
MIKE STICKLER: [VOCALIZING]. Oh my God.
KAT STICKLER: That'll work. Good. That's the last take. There we go.
MIKE STICKLER: Cool.