Basically, It's Going to be a Nightmare

From interior design expert Maida Korte, author of Gutted: How an Old House Remodeled Me, comes a smart, funny guide to staying sane while remodeling in the vein of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and The Checklist Manifesto.

Remodeling promises transformation but too often delivers cost overruns, missed deadlines, and the sinking feeling that your house (and sanity) may never fully return. Contractors mean well. Designers try their best. Architects draw beautiful plans. And still, projects stall, budgets balloon, and spirits crack. If you’ve ever wondered why remodeling feels stacked against you, you’re not alone.

After forty years spent inside the homes and lives of families across the country, Maida Korte has seen it all: the arguments, the tears, the compromises no one planned to make. She has watched good intentions unravel and learned, the hard way, what doesn’t work. This book—equal parts cautionary tale, insider confession, and hard-earned wisdom—is built from true stories in the field. Maida has been there time and time again, from demo day to finish line.

Each chapter ends with one clear, practical lesson. Simple. Direct. Field tested. Basically, It’s Going to Be a Nightmare is the book every hopeful homeowner should read before the dust, delays, and despair set in. Follow the guidelines set forth in this book and you won’t just survive your remodel—you might even come out happier on the other side.