Hiii, it’s Remi!

Did you all see our new and improved home gym? I honestly couldn’t be happier with it. Everything came together so seamlessly from the demolition to installing 2 brand new doors, to building out all the custom cabinetry. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my vlog and blog where I documented the whole process — everything from the design stage to the reveal!

Today I wanted to answer all the questions I got on the home gym remodel from you guys. You can also watch the video here <3

What Was Your Inspiration for the Design?

Nate and I wanted a design that was timeless and clean but was able to accommodate all of the potential storage and clutter that might occur when owning a gym (e.g. multiple types of equipment, loose weights, and resistance bands — basically loose random pieces that don’t exactly stack or group well together because they’re so different). In the end, we achieved this by building out cabinetry around the equipment we already owned.

OWIU design initially proposed doing light wood cabinetry but after going over it- Nate and I found a happy medium between elegant and mancave and went with walnut ash.

Lastly, we wanted to properly utilize the space. Since the outdoor area was basically just wasted space, we decided to make it an extension of the gym and install a rig. In the end, we had enough room to train outside as well. Above all, we wanted the home-gym design to be functional!

How Did You Find Your Contractors, and Who Are They?

Neto (Ernesto Garcia) is our contractor, and he works for INFLEXION Builds. He has had 8 years of experience, and he’s super keen on trying out new ways of resolving construction details!

We also worked with OWIU design which is an abbreviation for “The Only Way Is Up.” They are a full-service architecture and design office located in the heart of Los Angeles. They did such an amazing job coming up with the design plan and showing us renderings (drawings of what it would look like once complete) to make sure our dreams came to life!

Besides going with a darker cabinet color, I had zero changes to what they have proposed. It was absolute perfection. The renderings were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. OWIU worked very closely with INFLEXION Builds to make their designs come to life, and the best part was that I had to do basically nothing!

Quick tip — when finding a contractor, ALWAYS go with word-of-mouth recommendations. When I remodeled the kitchen, I went through Yelp, and I had no idea that those were fake reviews.

What Was Their Pricing for Individual Steps of the Process?

OWIU and INFLEXION handled the project together from design to construction so there were no discrepancies from start to finish in material or labor costs. They held each other accountable for time efficiency and quality of work.

OWIU design prices range from 2K to 20K depending on how big or small the project is, and it also depends on whether you need permits or not for your product. After deciding the design, they make full construction documents so they can have INFLEXION start the construction process, taking into consideration the budget that you start with and making adjustments accordingly.

It was a hundred percent necessary that I worked with both! I didn’t have to make any hard decisions.

What Was the Whole Cost of the Gym?

The entire cost of the gym was 50k. Everything was accounted for when they gave me this price— including what could go wrong. It was super transparent from the start and I just made sure to keep track of it via Google Spread Sheets as the project rolled along.

How Do I Start My Own Remodel Product?

You can start by hiring an architect!

Save yourself the headache and have them spearhead the project if it is within budget.

The architect/designer will compile a list of your priorities, communicate with you in coming up with a design, come up with visualizations/renderings, draw up official/universal construction drawings that are then translated by the contractors and the sub-contractors, and then oversee the work to make sure that the whole project is done right.

What Type of Flooring Did You Use?

We used concrete flooring for our gym with a feathered finish, which is pretty much three different coats of concrete in slightly different colors, making the floor look more textured. We love it! (We briefly thought about wood floors, which are supposed to be ideal for weight lifting.)

We also laid down some mats we can use if we need more support with weights — but most weight-lifting will be outside (where the bamboo used to be).

How Much Do You Usually Have to Budget for a Project Like This?

The cost depends on your finishes and the materials/fixtures you choose. I would say 20K on the low range and 50K on the high range. We did our first gym with a $2K budget.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the costs:

$5k for the design fee
$5k for construction management
40k for the cost of construction (custom cabinets cost about 12k-15k, doors $12K, the custom mirror was about $2k, electricity $2K)

What Would You Have Done Differently?

We put a stone finish on top of a wooden bench that turned out really elegant, but one thing I would have changed was to stack it on top of the wood, giving it a lip over the stone. If I had done this, it would look more like a countertop than a sandwich.

It’s honestly such a minor detail that no one will notice except me!

If You Were Working with a Smaller Budget, What Would Have Been Your Top Three Priorities?

Here’s what I would have prioritized if working with a smaller budget:

Strong, supportive flooring with heavy-duty mats
TRX system
Mirrors

With those three things alone, you will have a fully functional home gym!

How Was the Whole Experience? What Was Your Favorite Part of the Renovations?

The whole experience was absolutely amazing, and I think my favorite part of the renovation was literally looking back at the renderings and seeing how it looked exactly like they said it would!

How Long Did It Take to Renovate from Design to End-of-Construction?

We got delayed because the shipment of the second door was late because of COVID-19. But for a home gym like ours, design and sourcing take about 2 weeks, and then construction takes about a month.

How Big Is the Space?

The interior of the gym is about 400 square feet, but 600 square feet in total when you include the exterior.

What Was the Trickiest Part of the Renovation?

I think the trickiest part was figuring out how to provide privacy from the neighbors into our backyard because we took down the bamboo wall completely. Our contractor went back and forth on how to create privacy while also being cost-efficient, so we came up with an idea!

We built a very simple and chic wall that was made of wood (painted black) which would match the black framing of the doors. It turned out great!

So Does the Gym Have AC or Heating?

No, it does not. That would have been way more costly and kind of unnecessary because we have a Dyson in there that provides plenty of heat when it's cold. During the summer, we’ll open up both doors and let the breeze in! Plus Nate loves his sun — he loves being hot and sweaty!

What Are Some Key Tips You Have for a Remodel Project Like This?

Here are some tips you can use for your next remodel project!

Don’t be afraid to ask your contractor for a timeline and make sure they’re accountable to that timeline.
Keep your budget tracked on Google Sheets so that you can know the cost of everything.
Do your research and find a great architect!

Start Planning Your Own Home Gym Today!

When you have the right team who supports your vision, the remodeling process is so enjoyable. I absolutely loved seeing my design come to life, and it was a pleasure to work with OWIU and INFLEXION Builds.

If you want to see the process from start to finish, be sure to check out the vlog! You can also read the blog where I outline the whole thing!

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! It’s never too early to start planning your own home gym — just don’t do it by yourself!

LOVE YOU LOTS!