She is a published author, an Instagrammer, a content creator, a business owner, and a muse for all mothers. Jenn Todryk was not a household name just a few years ago. She was a stay-at-home mom with an excellent eye for design and a desire to find a passion project. This spurred the creation of a blog that detailed the ramblings of a funny and vivacious redhead with content revolving around her family and her home.
She had no idea that this site would spur the makings of her Insta success! This trendy Texan sat down with us to answer some questions about her popular television show, her thoughts on how future home styles are taking a page from the past, and how anyone can take their passions and turn them into an opportunity.
What Inspired This Success?
“I started as just a mom on Instagram sharing my own personal home renovations for fun,” Jenn Todryk said. “That’s what took off. I just feel incredibly blessed.” With a background in fashion merchandising and a fervor for giving old homes a facelift, it is actually no surprise that HGTV connected with this mom of three or that she now has over a million followers.
“I love home decorating,” she said. “I love home design. My degree in merchandising is product placement, which is exactly what home styling is – it’s all about spatial awareness and taking those colors, textures, and patterns and spreading them out.” However, coming up with a classic composition is not as easy as it looks, especially when you do not start from scratch. This is actually the theme of her hit series.
“I love the concept of my show,” Todryk said. “It’s called No Demo Reno. Our premise is that we don’t touch anything structural. It’s about working with what we have and not changing the floor plan. So if there’s a wall there when I leave, there will still be a wall there, but you are not going to be able to recognize the house.”
How can Impressive Changes be Made with no Demolition?
Working within a home’s original layout can create quite a challenge, but that is what makes the show so incredibly insightful. Previously owned homes always come with features that the new owners would prefer to live without, and most families do not have the budget to do a complete rebuild. That is where Todryk comes in to work her magic. “I love coming into a home that’s older with all its characteristics and flaws and asking myself, ‘What can I do?’ ‘How do I make this better?’ It is extremely fulfilling.”
Most notably, Todryk makes these dramatic yet practical changes on a budget. “I think being a parent makes me craftier. I’ve always been frugal, and I look for cost-effective options. I’m always trying to sell anything from [my client’s] homes that can give me more money to make their reveal even bigger than they expected.” Needless to say, Todryk is constructive with her construction plans, ensuring that her clients get the most out of their home renovation projects.
What is the Trend for 2023 Home Interiors?
“I think old homes are really making a comeback, and I think it is thanks to Instagram,” Todryk said. “There are very talented individuals on the platform, like designers, and people are finding inspiration from what they are doing in their own homes.” But why would you choose an existing home over a new build? Todryk pointed out that the answer is actually quite obvious.
When you think of home, most people reminisce over the coziness and the character of their childhood abodes. An open concept seems great in theory, but functionality comes with homes that have more traditional floor plans and incorporate smaller spaces into the blueprint.
“People love character and are looking for a little more separation in their homes,” she said. “I think we’re going to see a wave of all the old Colonial classics. Lots of picture frame molding, lots of heavy door trims, more thick baseboards on the walls. There’s something really cool about the ‘80s and ‘90s homes where you walk in, and you feel like you’re at grandma’s for Christmas.”
No Demo Reno makes the best of both worlds by refining the distinct features that make a house a home. “We take that nostalgic feeling that we all love and make it trendier and more up-to-date,” Todryk said. “We look at what is working, and we hone in on that. Some of the best ideas come from little things that are good but just not done super well. We aim to make them better.”
What are the Factors Behind This Social Media Success?
“I literally just did it for fun,” she said. “To create content and to truly connect with people, money should not be the factor. It needs to fill your cup. You need to love it. You need to enjoy it.” Todryk’s story may seem like a fairytale, but it is the result of hard work, determination, skill, and, most importantly, a genuine love for her work. Watching her show, it is clear that she is passionate about people and wants to spread joy to others. This commitment to the community has motivated her to branch out even further, now redesigning more than just houses.
“My husband always wanted to own his own business, and we took the leap. We bought an existing coffee shop and remodeled it in the middle of COVID. It’s called Armor Coffee. We wanted to create a really happy place for people to be able to come together. The heart of coffee is community. It is a place where people can come together for any occasion. We have Bible studies that meet there; we have mom groups that meet there; we have job interviews that happen there.”
Todryk and her husband continue expanding their enterprises and are putting the finishing touches on Armor Brewery, which is set to open this spring. But, for the folks who are hoping to take a page from Todryk’s proverbial book and try their hand at their own entrepreneurial endeavors, she stressed that one thing is always required – “Trust means everything,” she said. “It’s about doing good business and creating safe spots in our community for everyone to join and come together.”
Make sure to follow Todryk’s many pursuits on her Instagram @theramblingredhead and tune in this summer for the newest season of No Demo Reno!
