Le Piano dans la forêt

Even for a veteran contractor like Bryan, knocking down a house is not as straightforward as it appears. Can Bryan control the building of his dream home from spiralling into a nightmare?

With the house’s foundation set and the wall framing on deck, the construction site is quickly transforming from a two-dimensional design plan, to a three-dimensional-dream home. On site, Bryan is battling issues like running out of materials and conflicting opinions with his wife Sarah concerning the exterior finishes for the house. Off site, Sarah has also recruited Bryan to help build a stage for her dance studio’s end of season recital. See how Bryan copes with the overwhelming demands and whether he gives in to the temptation to give up before he’s barely begun!

After the house is framed, the mechanicals of the home are ready to be roughed in and installed. Even with Bryan’s pick of trusty tradesmen by his side, a recent change in plumbing code is throwing a wrench in plans to forge ahead. Any delay drives cost upwards and with time ticking away, the house now more than ever demands Bryan’s full attention. But a previous commitment to Habitat for Humanity pulls Bryan away from site leaving his apprentice Adam to prove to Bryan that he can be trusted to oversee the site while his boss is away. Things don’t go according to plan and Bryan returns to a huge dilemma that takes priority over building his house.

Though the elements have been against Bryan, he still plans on surprising his wife Sarah with a pool in the backyard. But can he keep his savvy wife from catching on?

During a routine walk through of the house, Sarah and her designer Rebecca suggest switching the layout of the house, a change Bryan strongly disagrees with. The overwhelming pressure mounts and things are about to hit a wall.

Now that the drywall is complete, Bryan is looking forward to begin work on the outside of the house. But when Bryan realizes the measurement of a concrete footing is off, his plan to build an elaborate deck doesn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped. Bryan’s stress level soars when he realizes there has been a delay in ordering interiors and he puts more pressure on his wife Sarah and designer Rebecca to get moving. Things get a lot tenser when Bryan takes matters into his own hands and a tiny bathroom tile causes some big headaches.

Bryan and Sarah have to face up to the financial realities of building a house, creating tension in the Baeumler household. Meanwhile Bryan has a whole backyard to landscape. Adam gets a lesson in how to build a fence while Rebecca finds ways to cut Sarah’s spending. It all ends with a stunning reveal of the backyard and a lesson learned on budgeting.

Bryan and Sarah plan their ideal Kitchen, but things don’t go according to plan when Bryan discovers how much Sarah spent on the appliances. Adam learns how to install hardwood flooring, and then learns how to pull it all up again as Bryan discovers a serious flaw. To make amends Sarah helps Bryan install the backsplash.

Bryans gets to do his space in the house, the basement or as he calls it the “mancave”. Not content with the usual big screen TV , Bryan installs a huge projection home theatre, complete with retractable screen. He also builds his own private steam room, using soap stone and a lot of Adam’s hard labour. Rebecca helps Sarah choose colours for the walls, it almost goes according to plan.... almost.

Bryan's done with the downstairs and now he can start work on the final part of the house the master bedroom and ensuite. Once a huge fireplace is installed, Bryan and Adam get work tiling the bedroom wall. While Sarah and Rebecca try and sneak a paint colour past Bryan.

One space that Sarah and Bryan didn’t agree on was how the laundry room should be laid out, Rebecca has to referee, while Bryan has to figure out how to fit the oversize washer and dryer with the standard size cabinets. The stair case arrives and Adam, gets to install glue down wood floors. It’s also time up on the rental home and Bryan Sarah have to move into the in-laws.

The house is almost done, the front yard and the garage are the last places to be finished, but Bryan is going away and not going to have time to complete the space. Sarah comes up with a plan to surprise Bryan as long as Adam agrees to help.