Back in 2018, social media sensation Jenn Todryk received an unexpected email inviting her to host an HGTV show. Initially dismissing it as a scam, the Burleson native deleted the message. However, persistent calls from HGTV prompted Todryk to reconsider.
Eventually, she agreed to a conversation, leading to the creation of “No Demo Reno,” a show where Todryk transforms North Texas homes without major floorplan demolitions. The series premiered in 2021, and the first episode of its third season is set to air on September 14. At the time of HGTV’s outreach, Todryk had already amassed a significant following on Instagram, where she shared insights into her life and family. In 2016, she began highlighting her family’s custom home building and renovation journey, discovering a passion for the home design and décor niche that resonated with her followers.
Initially, she curated her Instagram, @theramblingredhead, with impeccably staged, magazine-worthy images of her home, amassing a substantial following of 1.3 million. However, this perfection became taxing for Todryk. She found herself redoing shots if there was even a hint of imperfection, such as a stray finger in the frame, as she aimed for a flawless portrayal of home life.
Frustrated with this curated approach, Todryk decided to reveal the reality behind the scenes. She began sharing “unfiltered” videos showcasing the chaos and authenticity of her daily life—sans makeup, engaging in playful antics with her family. Her followers embraced this unconventional content, drawn to both her distinctive feed and her lively personality.
Carrying this unpretentious mindset into her role as an executive producer on No Demo Reno, Todryk injects humor and camaraderie with her building crew, Manta Construction, all while crafting visually stunning spaces for her clients. She actively spearheads the design planning, making final decisions on the aesthetic of each space. Filming spans approximately six months, with pre-production and casting commencing several months in advance—a meticulous process.
Casting for the show involves sifting through hundreds of applicants via social media and word of mouth. However, Todryk limits her client selection to those within a specific radius of her Allen home. This strategic choice ensures her proximity to her three children, a priority that aligns with her desire to contribute to and assist the community she calls home.
In anticipation of the upcoming season, we engaged in a conversation with Todryk, exploring topics such as the true meaning of “no demo,” her perspective on work-life balance, her opinions on popcorn ceilings, and more.
Question: How did you develop the concept of No Demo Reno back in 2018?
It underwent a transformation during the height of Fixer Upper’s surge in popularity, right? Fixer Upper was all about overhauling floor plans and investing substantial sums, moving in the opposite direction. No Demo Reno emerged as a counterpoint, aligning with my personal approach of dealing with an older home and making transformations within the existing walls.
Question: So what does “no demo” actually mean?
I’m not doing any structural demo. So, anything that has to do with the walls and the support and the original floor plan, I’m not touching it. We’re not adding on, we’re not moving walls over. Is there one per season that we acknowledge and break a rule for a specific need? Yes, there is one usually every season, like taking out a half wall or whatnot. But, again, we’re not changing the initial floor plan. That’s the biggest thing. It’s working with the rooms that we have, the way that they are, and then just changing the stuff on the inside.
Question: Considering that work-life balance, you do feature your kids on No Demo Reno. How do you balance how much you show your kids versus how much you keep private?
The kids love the camera. I want that to be noted. My littlest is a little shy. She’s not in it as much this season because she doesn’t love it. I have a very strict rule: I don’t care what we had planned for filming, if my kids don’t want to film, they don’t film. And I will never ask them to do that if they don’t want to film.
This is my thing, not their thing. And I’d love for them to be a part of it. But they get a choice. And so, my four-year-old is not in it much anymore. But my older two love it. I’m glad they love it, because I get to share it and enjoy it with them. They think it’s fun to watch it on TV. There’s no negative for them. It’s just fun and happy. And so, I’m just careful. I see everything that goes into the episodes being an executive producer, and so I can gauge if I like something or how they’re portrayed or whatnot with views.