Our Story
Hi there! We’re Tessa & Guy—college sweethearts turned DIY renovators who jumped into home renovation nine years ago with zero experience and a whole lot of grit. What began as a dream—to breathe new life into forgotten homes—has blossomed into a beautiful blend of vintage charm, modern comfort, and authentic craftsmanship.
OUR RENOVATION JOURNEY
Guy’s interest in older homes started while earning his real estate license in college. Meanwhile, I—a self-proclaimed “extravagant dreamer”—was captivated by those quiet, storied houses ripe for revival. In 2015, we dove head-first into renovating our first fixer-upper. To our surprise, we completed it in just 10 weeks and sold it within 36 hours... and the renovation bug bit hard.
With each project, we honed our skills, refining both design and technique. In 2017, we purchased our beloved 1920s Craftsman—an opportunity to marry heritage details with fresh, thoughtful updates. Since then, we've dedicated ourselves to crafting spaces that feel timeless, genuine, and deeply rooted.
LAUNCHING KINDRED HOMESTEAD
After renovating—and flipping—13 homes, our passion naturally evolved into serving others. In 2020, we launched Kindred Homestead to bring our houses-to-homes philosophy to life: creating rich, enduring spaces designed to be loved for generations.
As our family growth and parenting rhythms shifted in 2023, I stepped back from the daily hustle to create more margin for our four wonderful kids, while Guy continues to lead the way in thoughtful, high-quality build work. Meanwhile, this space remains my creative refuge—where I share our home’s evolving story, favorite décor finds, seasonal recipes, fashion favorites, and everyday reflections (yes—there’s plenty of sourdough, small-town charm, and real talk here, too).
FUN FACTS ABOUT US
We met at the University of Illinois—me as a diver, Guy as a wrestler.
Our four kiddos are now 12, 10, 8, & 6 - and life is busier and richer for it.
Tessa’s first year of her blog was funded by Joanna Gaines back in 2014, and you can read about that HERE.
Guy hails from Fisher, Illinois; I’m from Plainwell, Michigan—small-town roots us both.
Guy is an avid cross fitter and Tessa prefers to get her exercise in by watching Guy exercise :)
We rescued our sweet pup Frankie in October 2022. His rescue story still gets me every time—I’d love to share it with you — Watch HERE.
Our life on the blog:
This isn’t the story of a dream house — it’s the story of how an imperfect house became one.