Marriage Under Construction Episode Guide, Season 1

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Let's Get Moving
Nat and Rodney live in a space they share with friends in what they like to call the Frat House. They want to start a family and are eager to get a place of their own. Pete, a real estate agent has agreed to show them several houses. The first is a dump. It needs a lot of work. The second is perfect - just what they need. However, someone else likes it too and they lose out on a bidding war. The next house is a palace; beautiful, but out of their league. The fourth house is also excellent. It's in a good downtown location. It's big enough and the basement can be converted into an apartment. They decide to put in an offer substantially lower than the asking price. Rodney is skeptical. They've already lost two houses with low bids. Nat suggests they can't go much higher because they're going to need a lot of money for renovations. The offer is accepted. The house is theirs!

Newlyweds Rod And Natalie Are Eager To Move Into Their New Home And Get Started On The Renovations
New homeowners Rod and Natalie are eager to move into their recently purchased home. They decide their first order of business is the renovation. This requires a designer. Rod takes charge of the selection, but Nat has some concerns so she asks friends for recommendations. The couple interview three designers and over pedicures, come to a decision. They arrange a meeting with their selected designer, who introduces them to her contractor, Steve. They go on a tour of the house and the couple express their renovation desires. The last stop is the basement. Here Nat tells the design team this is where they will start; they're to be out of the Frat House in less than a week and they're moving into this space. The pressure is on. Can Steve and Melissa design, renovate and make the basement liveable in just six days?

Time To Design
With the basement out of the way the couple focus on the design of the rest of the house. However, before Melissa, the designer, can formulate a plan she needs a sense of their design style. To help determine their tastes, Nat and Rod view some of Melissa's previous work and visit furniture stores. With all this information, the designer creates a comprehensive design strategy for every room in the house. To help facilitate Rod and Nat's plan to rent out the basement, the crew gets started right away and the demo begins. The couple, hoping to establish a warm relationship with their new neighbors, throws a garage party.

Rodney's Playground
Rod and Nat have a dilemma - which room should they do first? Rod wants to build his dream kitchen; Nat desires a bedroom spa. However, neither of them gets their wish. An engineer determines that some walls they want removed are load-bearing. This means that the beams will have to be installed before any interior construction can begin. Since this will take a week or so, Melissa suggests building a backyard wonderland that includes a big deck, outdoor kitchen and a lanDISCaped yard. Melissa reveals her plan and Steve and the crew set to work. After a heated tennis match between Rod and Nat, Steve and his boys work on the finishing touches of their new outdoor playground. After Rodney & Natalie enjoy their new backyard, Natalie delightfully informs Rodney that they are having a baby.

Weather To Do The Front Yard
Nat is excited to get started on the bedroom master suite, but Rod has a different idea. After seeing what the neighbors have done with their front yard, he feels this should be their next project. Due to the dipping temperatures and diminishing daylight, Steve agrees. Nat accepts Rodney's decision on one condition; he must get her out of the basement. Nat agrees to move back to the Frat House and leaves Rodney to deal with the design plans as she heads to work. The both go shopping for baby books and consider names for their future 'bundle of joy'. They get a first glimpse of the baby at Natalie's ultrasound just before they see their new front porch.

Sweet Master Suite
After months of demolition and construction, Nat finally gets her wish as construction begins on the huge, spa-like, open concept, master bedroom. Meanwhile, Rod finds himself in a bit of a conundrum. His restaurant partner has realized some success playing online poker and wants to move to Vegas and make it a career. Rod must decide whether to buy him out or sell the restaurant. He chooses the latter so he can inject some funds into the renovation and spend more time with Nat and their new baby. In the meantime, construction is going full steam ahead on the bedroom, but will this urban oasis live up to Nat's lofty expectations?

The Best Guest Restroom Eve
Pregnancy and renovations are wearing down Nat's body, and budget overruns are burdening their wallets. Renting out the completed basement should ease the financial strain, but finding a suitable tenant turns out to be a much tougher task than Rod had imagined. With the basement and master suite completed the next logical renovation is the second floor bathroom. Melissa has some great design ideas, but can she pull it all together? Will they find someone they can trust living in the basement?

The Zen Den
The next room up on the renovation agenda is the den. This will be the entertainment hub of the house and the room they will likely spend the most time in. There's a lot of construction in this space. While Rod has some adventures working out, visiting his dentist, and babysitting Melissa's young son, Hudson, Steve and his sub-contractors are busy building cabinets, painting the walls and laying the floor. But when it's finally complete will Melissa meet her challenge? Can she balance Rodney's entertainment needs with Nat's zen style and still make the entire space kid-friendly?

Close The Book On The Library
The next chapter in Rod and Nat's renovation story is the library. With Rod delayed up North due to weather, the design plan meeting has been postponed for a couple of days. Melissa walks Steve through the plans and he gets a jump start with demolition. Melissa wants to spice up the room with some art, but before she can adorn the walls she must get an idea of their tastes. A comic book store visit helps her out. Rod's Dad also contributes to the space with a surprise, belated, wedding gift. Will Melissa's design and Steve's craftsmanship get their approval? Will the couple decide to move out of the frat house (again) or wait until the completion of the kitchen? And, perhaps the most vexing question; will Rod be able to master the skill saw?

Home On The Range, Part One
It's finally off the back burner. The renovation of Chef Rodney's dream kitchen has begun. Will he finally realize his life-long dream of a restaurant class kitchen in the heart of his showcase home? But this monstrous makeover won't be a piece of cake. It could become a case of 'too many chefs in the kitchen.' After Melissa designs an elaborate plan, Rod creates a redesign when he buys a huge wine fridge forcing them to rework the whole room. Meanwhile, amidst the biggest renovation of the season, the couple move back from the frat house and prepare for the arrival of their bundle of joy.

Home On The Range, Part Two
With the arrival of their baby only a month away, and the world's coolest kitchen renovation really heating up, Rod and Nat have an awful lot on their plate. There is furniture to be purchased, fabrics to be selected and cushions to be made. With all this renovation activity Rod realizes he has ignored his role as a a father-to-be. Since he has no idea what's in store, it's time for some homework. The doula sets them up but with more information than Rod ever wanted. A little overwhelmed, Rod goes off to the batting cage while Nat attends her baby shower. When they return, the cookery is complete, but will it meet their grand expectations? And, will Rod finally get to do some thrillin' grillin' in his own kitchen?

A Nursery Time
There's only one space left but it's very special - the nursery. With the house so close to completion, the couple invite some close friends and family over for a tour. Along the way, the two reflect on the ups and downs of their huge first-home makeover. Then the guests experience Chef Rod's scrumptious cuisine, freshly prepared in his sparkling, new, dream kitchen. Nat is doing some cooking of her own and the bun in her oven is well baked and just about ready to come out. With Nat only a month away, some of her friends have decided to take her away on a yoga retreat for a few days. While she's away Rod, with Mel and Steve's help, fashions a wondrous nursery with mushroom stools and an enchanting wall mural. A surprised Nat gets overwhelmed by the magical world the team creates for her bundle of joy - a beautiful end to a spectacular season.