Hiii, it’s Remi!

Today, I’m SO EXCITED to share with you all about our new HOME GYM!

A couple of months before COVID-19, Nate and I had turned our garage into a mini home gym with a $2000 budget. You can watch that VLOG here. Since then, we built HōmeBodies a 365-day at-home workout program so we could create a sense of normalcy and routine during lockdowns- all from the comfort of our living room.

HōmeBodies has shown us — and hundreds of other people — that working out at home can create REAL results! If you dread the thought of working out, feel like you’ve lost motivation, and are constantly falling off the “workout wagon,” then HōmeBodies may be right for you! Working out shouldn’t feel like you have to do mental backflips just to start. You should feel like you’re craving more and excited! (You can read more about HōmeBodies here!)

After months of teaching HōmeBodies, Nate and I decided we would never need to go back to the gyms again. Instead, we revamped the garage gym and had OWIU Design completely reinvent the space.

We were so impressed with their work, and today, I want to share the entire process with you.

To watch everything in action, don’t forget to watch the vlog! And stay tuned for PART II where I answer some of your most pressing questions about the home gym… breakdown of costs, budgeting, finishes, etc. (or you can read the blog here).

Coming Up with a Plan

Before we could begin breaking down walls and installing new equipment, the first step was to come up with a master plan. Would we keep the concrete flooring? What color would we paint the walls? Where would we install the TRX hooks? What about mirrors? How much equipment did we need to store away? How could we utilize the outside area? These were all things we had to consider with the designers at OWIU.

Here are some of the changes they suggested:

Custom cabinets to store away all existing equipment
Build out a bench with storage underneath (so we can grow into it)
Add more mirrors
Dedicate space for the Tonal machine
Add track lights for ample lighting
Demo the right side of the garage and install a bi-fold door
Lay cement on the outside area
Remove all greenery
Re Stucco the outside w smooth texture
Take out the garage door and replace with sliding doors
Install a rig outside

In order to make these changes, they presented us with a full design package with renderings of what the gym would look like once complete. It was such a fun meeting going over all the textures and finishes they chose and being able to envision what it would end up looking like with drawings was just icing on the cake. Nate and I wanted the garage to feel elevated and minimal and most importantly, unisex.

Once, we gave them the go-ahead on design, they spent the next week turning the idea into construction documents.

From there, we worked with Inflexion Builds to turn our ideas into reality.

OWIU Design worked with Inflexion builds to come up with a detailed schedule of each phase (demo, framing, drywall, cement, install, electricity, etc) and they held each other accountable. It was really nice to be hands-off on this project.

We began demolition and renovations on November 6, 2020!

Day 1 - 2: Let the Renovations Begin!

Inflexion Builds managed the construction aspect of the renovation from start to finish. (You know how my luck with contractors goes.)

On Day 1, they started by demo-ing the wall adjacent to the outdoor area— with all the greenery and vines over it — and removed the garage door.

On Day 2, they framed the old opening (the one where the previous garage door was) and installed the first sliding door. It was so cool to watch them construct everything! They were very efficient on time. Since the 2nd door (adjacent to the outdoor area) was not coming until one month later, they had everything prepped and framed- ready to be installed as soon as it arrived. They didn’t waste a second.

Construction wasn’t the only aspect of the renovations, though!

Day 3: Don’t Forget About Landscaping!

We went back and forth on the outdoor landscape. On one hand, the bamboo was nice… but it was also a rat’s nest. We ultimately wanted this area to be free of dried-up leaves and dust so we ended up removing it all. In doing so we added about 4 feet of extra space but it also took away privacy from our neighbors.

Thanks to Neto, our head contractor - he had the idea of just building a simple all-black wall that was over 9ft tall for privacy. The landscaping expert chose the plants and OH MY GOSH, it all turned out sooo nice in the end. Also by day 3, the electricity was already in and the framing of the ceiling was complete.

Day 4 - 30: Choosing the Paint, Adding Stucco, the Second Door Arriving, and Drywall on the Ceiling!

We decided to paint the interior of the gym with Venetian plaster. The guy that did this is literally an artist, feathering in each color variant and creating texture by hand… much respect. It came out beautiful,

Next came the smoothed stucco on the exterior wall and then patching up the drywall on the inside. I loved watching everything come together so seamlessly!

Before we knew it, the second door (that would go on the left side) arrived. This was a big deal — OWIU had ordered it about a month ago. It is a bi-fold door that opens all the way out and closes in an elegant, satisfying way. It feels so inviting! Plus, both doors that we ordered are made of glass, so it brought in loads of natural light.

The Outdoor Rig Area

In addition to updating the home gym, we also added a new section of the gym outside which has a 12-foot rig for weight lifting and muscle-ups. But before that, they laid in concrete which had to dry for a few days.

The way that we set up the rig gives us lots of extra floor space outside to do circuit training. The best part is when the bi-fold doors are open, you can actually see yourself in the mirror to check form, and you don't have to worry about overhead presses because there is NO ceiling! Our gym really feels like it doubled in space!

The Final Home-Gym Touches…

The cabinets were one of the last things the design and construction teams worked on — and they turned out beautifully!

This was a challenging task for the woodworker but they pulled it off and finished it in one week. They used walnut wood stain and applied a sealer which helped deepen the color. I love that the refrigerator and storage are all tucked behind cabinets and aren’t exposed.

In addition to installing cabinets, they made custom shelving to store some other equipment as well as a bench along the entire mirror for storage that we grow into.

Nate and I really liked how the concrete wall was exposed with the shelving — imagine an industrial look mixed with some textured elegance. Watch the video to see what I mean!

The last touches with the home gym were finalizing the flooring with a feather finish, adding the custom mirror to the left side of the garage, and installing a stone finish to the bench.

When everything was said and done and we began moving equipment back into the garage, it actually made the space look even bigger!

We Love Our New Home Gym!

Nate and I are so delighted with the end result of our new and improved home gym! We now have room to store our equipment in a more organized way, which gives us more space to work out! Plus, everything just looks so modern and chic — which makes working out even more fun!

We also loved working with OWIU Design Company and Inflexion Builds. They were both so professional and working with them was an absolute joy. Would 1000% recommend them. I was truly amazed with how efficient they were on time and the quality of work is next level. If you’re in the LA area, definitely consider them for your next big home design project!

Definitely check out the vlog to see everything come together! And if you want to learn more about the process, you can watch this Q&A video or read the blog! Some of you sent in some questions, including:

What was your inspiration for the design?
How did you find the contractors?
What was the entire cost?

I answer all these questions and more, so make sure to check that out! And if you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, @rrayyme. Let me know if you like the design and what your dream home gym looks like!

One last thing — if you’re interested in ditching public gyms and working out at home check our HomeBodies. Our members show up consistently and model a #noexcuses mindset that creates accountability to help everyone show up daily — including us!

You can choose the plan that suits your budget and goals HERE! We’re ready for you, stoked about taking this journey with you. Thanks for reading this blog post, let me know if you have any other questions about the gym!