15 “Questions I Have For The Man Who Built My House”

Joanna told Bored Panda that she started the 'Questions I have for the man who built my house' video series on a whim because her house is "truly one-of-a-kind and very, very quirky." While walking up the stairs, she realized just how hilarious it was that they had so many outlets. "I was curious to see if anyone else would find it comical and apparently many people do!" she shared.

"During the buying process of this home, I accidentally found the man who did in fact build it! Our town is a very remote, small community and I was searching online for a contractor to provide an estimate... and found him as the only one out here!" Joanna told us. "When I called, he recalled building the house in 1987, but said he's now retired. He wasn't especially friendly, so it was a quick call. Now, as we discover more and more 'features' of the house, we jokingly shout his name and ask WHYYY (for example the 17 outlets in our bedroom). I hope to meet him one day, but people really keep to themselves out here so I'm not holding my breath."

The digital influencer revealed to us that she's gotten two types of responses to her videos. Some people completely don't realize that the videos are satirical and think that she and her husband shouldn't have bought the home. Meanwhile, others are grateful that someone's posting realistic content about buying a real home. It acts as a nice contrast to the overly-polished, shiny pictures and videos found on social media. We think the truth is beautiful. With all of its imperfections.

"After owning a house that was 110+ years old prior to this one, we very much know that no home is perfect... nor is it ever fully finished/renovated. Especially in this housing market where it can feel like the only option is the rundown fixer-upper," she said.

Joanna stressed just how key inspections are during the buying process. They're vital when it comes to knowing what you're getting into. "Our buying process was pretty standard since we aren't in an area that's overwhelmingly desirable like city real estate is. I know that this step of the home buying process is often skipped now and can be challenging in competitive housing markets though. We had our home inspected and even brought out a trusted contractor to confirm a few things and provide an estimate. Then we were able to negotiate the buying price based on that info," she shared.

"Because we're handy and confident DIY types, our main focus during buying is to make sure that the big-ticket items are good: the roof, the plumbing, the well and septic (in this case), etc. Pretty much everything I've mentioned in the video series is something we can fix ourselves. Or it's something that we are learning to live with, like the multitudes of outlets and switches and the varying floor levels. It comes down to a cost/benefit ratio... is it worth it to dig into the crawlspace/concrete slab to put the plumbing underground in order to remove the steps up to the bathrooms? For us, the answer is no," she explained where the line between something that's a real issue and a quirk lies for her.

Bored Panda was interested to get to know Joanna even better, so we asked her about her background, what keeps her passionate about she does, and what it feels like to have so many online fans.

"I've been working in the digital world since 2009 back when it was primarily just blogs... so I've been around! As more social platforms were created, my community grew and my content evolved as I purchased my first home, got married, and now as we have tackled cabin renovations. I'm lucky to be able to do what I do every day and am extremely grateful to everyone who's chosen to follow our journey and be part of it," she told us that her fans make her very happy.

Nature and being in the mountains are what fuel Joanna's creativity. It's also a major part of why she and her husband left city life to move to the middle of nowhere.

"I'm happiest without phone service and usually come up with my best ideas while swimming in alpine lakes, hiking, or rock climbing. Couple that with being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Birt-Hogg-Dubé and we knew we wanted to make a major life change. Thankfully, sharing this personal journey on my blog and social media channels have resonated with other people and inspired them while allowing me to continue creating content that I feel passionate about sharing!"

Joanna is a major powerhouse over on Pinterest. She has a whopping 3.8 million followers on the image-sharing site, and odds are that you might have stumbled across one of her posts without even knowing it.

The influencer lives in an "extremely remote" cabin outside of Seattle, with her husband and two dogs. And they also have a flock of “fancy chickens and geese,” which sounds downright idyllic. Who wouldn’t want that? Joanna is remodeling a cabin in the North Cascades from the ‘80s, which is the focus of her ‘Questions I have for the man who built my house’ videos, though she posts about a lot of different things.

According to Ariane, the editor at 'These Three Rooms,' there can be a range of reasons why builders make decisions that homeowners might feel totally don't make sense. Not all of them are the hallmarks of villainous intent. Though... some definitely might be.

"Certain materials might be unavailable so they decide to use an unsuitable substitute, or they might have a surplus of the substitute that they want to use up. They might be misinformed and not very good at their job and think they're doing the right thing. Or they might be trying to save money and end up cutting corners as a result," she told Bored Panda.

Some red flags that indicate that corners are being cut include builders using materials that aren't fit for purpose. Ariane explained that an example of this would be using non-weather-resistant woods like oak, ash, and pine outdoors.

"Or not following the correct process during an installation, such as not tanking a wetroom to ensure it's waterproof. I also had a builder who fitted decking on top of my garden but didn't put down a thick heavy-duty membrane over the original garden, so to this day weeds still grow through the decking. I learned from that mistake and now advise that you should always use licensed and vetted trades for this reason," she said that it's essential you work with professionals you can trust.

In Ariane's opinion, no house is ever truly 'finished.' "There's always some problem, something to fix or replace that would make it better. Realistically, as long as there's nothing major such as a faulty boiler or leaking roof, it's up to the homeowner what they're willing to live with," she told Bored Panda.

"I personally want to make my house as beautiful and well-functioning as possible because I'm obsessed with interiors and architecture, but other people may have zero interest in decor. Only you can decide what's right for you."

A bit of quirkiness can add charm to a home. It’s easy to embrace some mistakes that don’t impact our day-to-day lives. However, other flaws are far harder to forgive, like the use of cheap or inadequate materials, or simply cutting one corner too many during the building process.

However, some homeowners and architects fully embrace the weirdness and go all out. A while back, Bored Panda spoke to an urban planning expert from Sweden, who shared her philosophy and views about how public and private buildings look.

“Most of the time, the elements of the built environment should be in harmony amidst each other and with the surroundings. However, sometimes, something bolder and out-of-the-box might form an engaging contrast,” she said that, in her opinion, built environments should strive to stimulate our minds and senses, and should engage us. For her, one of the most powerful aspects of architecture is its ability to make us think.

“There are circumstances where the architecture should create a sense of calmness and safety, yet there are instances in which it is not bad if the architecture provokes us and makes us think, ‘Why don't I like the look of this building?’” the urban planning expert said that when it comes to private property, people should have the freedom to express themselves as they like. Nearly everything is allowed, according to her.

“Quirky architecture comes from our innate desire to demonstrate our uniqueness. However, not everyone who has the means has an average taste for aesthetics. Yet, as long as it is for the people who inhabit or use their private space, I mean why not?” she shared her thoughts with Bored Panda.

“But, I think that we should not cross that thin line where architecture becomes reserved for only the wealthy and for those with ‘good taste’ (whoever decides that). I’m only talking about private property here, though. When it comes to public space, there should be a consensus between the public and the professional about the design,” she said.

The expert shared some of her thoughts about design, too. “Firstly, even though I often advocate for unconventionally looking buildings, I do not encourage purposefully provocative architecture. The building should be designed with the intention to accommodate and protect society. It should create a sense of safety but not be boring,” said that there has to be a balance between what the designer wants and what the community might need.

Accessibility, inclusiveness, and empowerment should all ideally be key parts of any architectural project. “Also, I prefer somewhat complex but systemic designs. Minimalistic and box-like floor plans are good in some cases where easy access is necessary (for example, hospitals) yet they can be completely mind-numbing while more complex floor plan designs are more mind-stimulating (for example, good for schools, in my opinion).”