Living to DIY with Rachel Metz

Fresh off a heartbreak, DIYer Rachel Metz heads to the high desert with her bulldog, Cali, to claim her first-ever solo home. Rachel tours her rugged 5-acre Joshua Tree ranch and begins transforming the fixer-upper into a dream homestead, starting with a custom bed frame built from natural wood stumps found on her new land.

Rachel tackles her first "official" guest bedroom makeover, facing off against a runaway concrete grinder before finding her flow with a custom plant wall. When a layout snag forces a change of plans, she pivots to build a stunning integrated headboard and a floating bed that lights up the desert night.

Rachel pushes through unpredictable desert weather to install a glass door that connects the guest suite to the ranch's vast views. When tragedy strikes with the loss of her beloved bulldog, Cali, Rachel finds the strength to continue by creating a special outdoor tribute and finishing the guest bedroom, turning a space of transition into a beautiful sanctuary full of memories and hope.

Rachel's vision for a desert farm comes to life as she welcomes Leo the pig to the ranch, complete with a custom-built outdoor habitat and plenty of indoor lounge time. As her home grows, she's joined by her partner, Aaron, a fellow builder who helps her start to blend their lives and styles through collaborative mini makeovers in the kitchen and dining room.

As the desert heat rolls in, Rachel and Aaron find their rhythm, starting the day with a DIY custom hay feeder for their horse, Mouse. Inside, they dive into a massive living room overhaul-tackling popcorn ceilings, painting, and grinding concrete floors before hauling 900 pounds of stone to create a stunning, hand-laid fireplace that anchors their shared vision for the ranch. 

Rachel and Aaron face a design dilemma when their fireplace grout doesn't go as planned. After celebrating a successful second attempt with a sunset hike, they dive into personalizing the living room by building custom floating shelves and a record credenza, blending Aaron's massive vinyl collection with their shared desert aesthetic to bring the space one step closer to completion.