Designing for autism is more than just creating a safe environment, it can actually make everyone in the family feel better. In our world, where we can become overwhelmed by our own selves, we can all gain from using some of the ideas design experts use when designing for people who have sensory issues. Today we're learning about designing for autism from three insightful designers, HGTV 'Design Star' Jennifer Bertrand, triology e-book series author on 'Designing for Autism' AJ...

Also joining Mark & Theresa on this episode is Celeste from Instructables.com. She's sharing some of the pallet inspiration and how-to from the site's recent pallet contest, and their archive of hundreds of DIY pallet projects.DIY pallet projects can be amazing additions to your landscape, but there are a few things you might want to know before you get started. Let's talk. We've proclaimed HGTV host Matt Blashaw as the 'Pallet King' for his creative DIY pallet projects featured on DIY...

Gardening jujitsu is about little things we can do that really make big differences to improve our homes (and our world). So let's do it in the dirt. While a gardening death match might sound interesting, gardening jujitsu is using the simple and awesome power of plants to make your home, your family, and your world more comfortable. Plants can take care of our well-being, nourish our bodies, and they can help keep you warm in winter. Plus knowing more about plants can help combat the...

Getting uncomfortable is where the magic happens in life for Spartan race creator Joe De Sena. The ultimate obstacle course race has to be Spartan race, and there are a milliom people who are taking part every year. Broadcast on NBC Sports, and gaining popularity by the uber-fit to the casual gym goer, the founder of Spartan race Joe De Sena live his life true to the essence of the tenets of Spartan life you'll find one the race's website. Joe really does do hundreds of burpees eveyday, and...

Repurposing ideas are like little gems falling from the sky, and we're talking with two creative experts on this episode. We are sharing repurposing ideas for both the newbie repurposer and the experienced. And on this episode, we put two repurposing experts -- Anitra Mecadon and Tara Dara -- to our unconventional repurposing ideas test. Pop quiz: What could you make out of these? Fishing rodPool cue and billiard ballsSwim floatiesCharcoal barbeque lid (Tweet us your answer for a chance to...

Interior design can be a powerful tool to helping everyone live better, whether it's designing for Alzheimer's, babies, or the rest of us quirky humans. Theresa's dad has Alzheimer's. A few months ago, her family decided that to help preserve the health and vibrancy of her mom, it was time to move dad into a memory care facility. Her parents had lived together for 47+ years, so it wasn't a decision made lightly. Theresa kept coming back to one simple question: How can designers help...

Grab some tips to makeover your clothes closet with Genevieve Gorder, and make a difference for kids with shoes that grow five sizes. Today's guests are helping us get empowered and inspired to downsize Theresa's shoe 'collection.' Designer Genevieve Gorder, first known as the barefooted designer on TLC's 'Trading Spaces,' shares her design talent on HGTV's 'Genevieve's Renovation,' 'Dear Genevieve,' 'HGTV Star,' 'A Hero’s Welcome Home,' and hosting HGTV’s White House Christmas Specials, and...

Today's show is all about your backyard and creating the ultimate party station. If you've been dreaming about a backyard oasis and are obsessed with DIY Network's 'Yard Crashers', we've got a project that will make your dreams come true in just a day or two. It's the party station. Tom Bury, architect and contractor, who is best known for his 24-hour makeover skills shown every week on Food Network's 'Restaurant Impossible.' He worked with Ryobi to create an ultimate party station, and has...

MyFixitUpLife is a the National Hardware Show scouting innovations for better DIY makeovers at the HYDE tools booth with expert friends Sara Bendrick, Cari Cucksey, and Patrick McCombe. We have a little bit of everything for tool geeks and DIY makeovers afficionados on this episode of MyFixitUpLife, broadcast from the National Hardware Show in Vegas. Lucky are we that Cari Cucksey from HGTV's 'Cash and Cari' and the queen of furniture makeovers joins us to talk about flea markets, Country...

We're geeking out on old houses, DIY family life, paint innovations, and project trends at the National Hardware Show. Mark and Theresa have a soft spot for other couples who love renovating old homes, and they might just have fallen hard for Andy and Candis Meredith at the National Hardware Show. On this episode of MyFixitUpLife talk show, hosts Mark and Theresa are checking in with long-time DIY family friend Dan Cary, who is now part of the Woodworker's Journal family. They talk tools,...

Yard crashed, grilled, and painted, let's talk MyFixitUpLife. Today's guests are the ever-fun HGTV's Chris Lambton and Peyton Wright Lambton, Consumer Report's Mark Allwood, and tech expert Gary from Shur-Line. Mark and Theresa are talking tips to paint makeovers, grilling, and landscaping with HGTV's Peyton and Chris Lambton, Consumer Report's Mark Allwood, and Gary from Shur-Line. If you are itching to upgrade your grill or want to know how to find the perfect Father's Day gift, Mark...

Top designers are talking about their strategies for ‘designer diagnosis,’ sleuthing out what people really want in their interior design. Designers tread a careful path when trying to find out your true interior design dreams. What we say we like, isn't necessarily what we really want in our homes. It's the designer’s challenge to decipher, extrapolate, and really compare your taste, style, and day-to-day lifestyle. Being able to translate what you say, who you are, and what you do into a...

Real estate expert and HGTV's 'Property Virgins' host Egypt Sherrod is sharing what you need to know before you buy your next home. HGTV's "Property Virgins' host Egypt Sherrod is sharing her time-tested secrets and tips to staying happy when buying real estate. You'll want to tune in. There is so much to know and understand before starting on a search for your next home. If you've started browsing and fantasizing about your dream home, you'll want to pause the search and read Egypt's new...

We're talking about tools on MyFixitUpLife. Forget the must-haves and the innovations, let's just drill down to it: The likelihood you have enough tools is not likely. You know what tools you like. You know what tools you want. And you definitely know tool-drool...Come on...You know...Walking down the aisle, envying the be-jeezus out of that table saw and what you can make with it. So join us to talk tool dreams, tool fantasies and tool stuff, all of which we're just calling tool...

We're talking with the experts HGTV's Chris Lambton and This Old House's Roger Cook: What makes a grass become a 'lawn'? Tune in. Green grass rules most lawns, but is that the only thing that makes a lawn? Mark started his career in home improvement as a landscaper in Cape Cod and has strong opinions about grass, yards, and lawn equipment. He's often seen 'walking the property' and loves to care for their yard. Theresa is not a lawn expert, and sees a landscape as art in terms of color,...

So, how would you build Stonehenge today? We're asking expert builder and craftsman Paul Dimeo and blacksmith Carley Eisenberg. Stonehenge is probably the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. What seems to have started as an earthwork enclosure, it developed into the ring of stones that is highly recognizable by architecture and history geeks alike. So how did the Neolithic people build Stonehenge? It's a topic that has been discussed and discussed. We're fascinated by the...

What happens when high-energy experts talk design and construction trends? A lot of advice surrounded by silliness. MyFixitUpLife talk show is thrilled to be part of the Wellborn Cabinet's showplace at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Vegas. Broadcast live from their booth, hosts Mark and Theresa talked about everything with expert guests. There were selfies. There was crocheting. There was live music and belly laughs. (We can't wait for next year.) Guests on this episode include...

Finding a home improvement contractor just got a whole lot easier. If you have ever thought about remodeling your home, you know that it could get complicated in a hurry. And while we're licensed contractors and have been banging around in the remodeling world for more than a decade, we still run into situations where we need to find a reputable electrician or plumber. So Mark and Theresa were psyched to learn about HomeAdvisor's solution. It's like Tindr for construction. Mark and...

Like most American designers and remodelers, we're obsessed with kitchen and bathroom design trends. Here's what cooking this year. We were lucky and honored for Formica Corporation to host our talk show at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Vegas. Surrounded by amazing designs from nature-inspired to bold graphics from Jonathan Adler's new collection with Formica Corporation, we talked with the trendsetters in kitchen and bathroom makeovers. Guests on this episode include National...

Live from the International Builders' Show, we're talking trends from the Spax booth. Join us. It's not every day we get to find out innovations in the building industry, so we're like kids in the candy store when it comes to our annual pilgrimage to the International Builders' Show in Vegas. And we're not alone geeking out on tools, gear, and more. There were an estimated 160,000 other building geeks with us. And we were lucky enough to hang out with our friends at Spax to talk with some...

Live inside the LampsPlus booth, watch on YouTube and Google+ as MyFixitUpLife talk show hosts Mark and Theresa take you inside the show. You won't want to miss the unveiling of new innovations in lighting, and interviews with experts and celebrities about the hottest trends in kitchens, baths, and lighting. Guests include designer Michael Murphy, Laurie March, Lauren Hunter, David Grey and Karl Mutchnik. And you never know who else will stop by. Michael Murphy is an interior design and...

Grab your crystal ball, we're looking into the future to share what will be hot as 2015 DIY trends. So, we've been hearing some mainstream news sources talk about what's going to be hot as 2015 trends, and we're skeptical. If the mason jar and pallet obsession hasn't faded by now, will there be something to knock those longtime favorites off the top spot of choice DIY fixations? What will take the top spots as the 2015 DIY trends? We're dishing with some of our favorite experts about what...

The 2015 Pantone color of the year is Marsala, and we're wondering why. Let's talk. This year, we're not quite sure. So we're talking through the Pantone color of the year choice Marsala with some of our favorite color and design experts this week on MyFixitUpLife talk LIVE! We'll be talking about how the Pantone color of the year selected, why was Marsala selected for 2015, and if Marsala is going to affect what we're doing in home decor and interior design. Amy Wax is an artist and...

We're getting our host skills geared up to serve up the ultimate holiday parties...drinks included. We love holiday parties, especially when we're surprised and delighted by little special touches created by the hosts. From custom-designed cocktails to gorgeous decor, as guests it's always fun to have something unique to discuss with the other guests (especially if we don't know each other). And honestly, it makes us feel more special as guests that the hosts took time out of their busy...

We try to live healthy and provide a healthy environment for our kids. But, the conveniences of modern living offer so many temptations, and well, it's hard to know if those things that claim to be good for us, really are good for us. Tracy Hutson is a designer and author of the book 'Feathering the Nest,' where she shares ideas for creating kid-spaces that are mentally stimulating, emotionally comforting, and environmentally smart. For several years, Tracy shared her design ideas as part...