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Want to Turn an Unfinished Basement into Your Dream Living Space? Here’s Why Early Fall is the Time to Start the Project

Posted on August 26, 2026August 26, 2026 by Amanda

If you’re a home owner and you’ve ever looked at that unfinished basement filled with clutter and wished it could instead be your dream living space, now is the time to do something about it. Although we can use them as an area to keep holiday decor and those forgotten toys kids have outgrown, a basement can also be the perfect place for an entertainment area, your dream master suite, dwelling for aging relatives, a home office, or just about any other space that can add to the functionality of your home.

Architectural draftsman and designer Brandon Bretz, owner of Freelance Services, a residential architectural drafting and design business, advises that late summer to early fall is the ideal time to start a basement addition project. Doing the work during the early fall and into the winter puts home owners in a sweet spot, since the outdoor projects that many contractors are tied up with throughout the spring and summer are wrapping up, and may even place some contractors in a slight lull.

Floor plan drawing of a basement with a great room, bathroom, and home gym area. — An example of a basement addition project drawn by Brandon Bretz. The drawings for this project depict the existing basement with the planned renovations of a great room, bathroom, and home gym area. *Document credit: Brandon Bretz_Freelance Services*

“I like to help my customers get the most out of their projects, not just from a design perspective, but also when it comes to timing,” Brandon shares.

Besides the possibility of finding contractors with a lighter workload during this season, there’s another reason to get started on that basement project now. That’s because the basement project would be fully completed before the weather breaks in the spring, a time when many contractors can be slammed with everything from roofing projects to spring storm repairs and other jobs that require good weather to complete.

“Having a finished design drawing before reaching out to a contractor makes good sense from a lot of different perspectives. It helps contractors get a better scope of the work, and can help them provide a more accurate bid as well as a more precise project timeline,” Brandon explains.

Another thing that can slow down projects before they’re even started is that people will often go straight to a contractor with their ideas about the project, but some contractors want to see drawings that outline design intent before they’ll bid a job and start working on the project.

Working with Brandon on a design means clients will have drawings that show design intent to a perspective contractor. These drawings can help contractors provide a more accurate bid and project timeline. *Photo credit: Amanda Bretz_The Socialite.*

“By reaching out to a design professional like myself first, I can work with the client to find out what they want to do, I can get that design down on paper, and then the client has the project drawings in hand to take to a contractor to get accurate project bids.”

Basement finishes or other indoor renovations can often take longer in the summer and a shorter amount of time to complete in the winter and early spring when contractors’ workloads can be slower. And if your project requires incorporating access from the existing house into the project design, such as the case if a client wishes to finish their walkout basement and also add a patio or overhang feature, it’s important to remember that can also add to the project’s completion timeline.

Brandon describes possible project scenarios and why timelines can be crucial to meeting a customer’s needs. Video credit: Produced by Alex Don Media Group

If you’re thinking about finishing your basement, designing an addition, or building your dream home, view Brandon’s portfolio of work on his website. Want to learn even more about Brandon, his professional background, and why he started Freelance Services? You can find out more about him in this advertorial that was published last month.

You can also connect with Brandon on Facebook or call/text him at 314-799-9272.

More Than Punches and Strikes -Everything I Learned at a Women’s Self-Defense Seminar at American Street Edge

Posted on August 20, 2026August 22, 2026 by Amanda

I’ve wanted to attend a women’s self-defense class for years, but was hesitant to actually register and go through with it for a few reasons. My resistance stemmed from the instructors I saw offering the classes. No shade to any particular instructor or school, but I had a real worry of being stuck in a class with an instructor who’d bark orders similar to a drill sergeant, or someone who would make me feel less than if I wasn’t able to physically do the moves or pick them up right away. And as a woman, I don’t think I’m alone in those feelings.

When I was approached by Timothy Fancher, owner of American Street Edge, a self-defense school in St. Clair, about attending a women’s self-defense seminar in exchange for writing an article about my experience, I immediately said yes.

The group of ladies in attendance at the women’s self-defense seminar at American Street Edge in St. Clair. *Photo credit: American Street Edge*

This past spring I connected with Tim to write an article about the school, which opened in March of this year. During our initial conversation it was evident he had a calm demeanor and loads of expertise (he’s got 40 years in martial arts, and is a fourth-degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate). Immediately following our initial interview in March, I was able to stick around and watch him teach a group of kids.

Part of being a writer is being an observer and after 20 years as a journalist, I’d like to think I’m pretty darn good at observing people. When I watched Tim teach a class full of elementary school aged kids I noticed that he’s not just a patient instructor, but that he also had a way of explaining the techniques and strikes to kids that were relatable and easy to understand.

Now that I’ve been a part of the women’s self-defense seminar I can see that Tim instructs adults in the same way. The difference in his instruction comes down to multiple factors: his diverse professional background and martial arts experience, years of real street defense, and his distinctive, academic approach to guiding students on ways to manage fear, and together, these elements help make up the American Street Edge system that Tim has developed.

The seminar is a mix of physical self-defense techniques and verbal instruction – and the two modalities work hand in hand, explained using real-life scenarios, that will help you gain not only practical skills, but the “why” behind the techniques. Since you’re using those movements, either with a partner or on the school’s self-defense dummies Bob and Ivan, you start to build muscle memory right in the seminar through repetition.

And, because not all forms of self-defense are physical, there were several instances where Tim helped us all understand steps to not only stay calm, but how to stop certain scenarios quickly. One such instance is how to stop a verbal bully in their tracks. As far too many of us have experienced, bullying isn’t something that stops at the playground. Today people are bullied online and in their workplace, among other places, and during the verbal portion of the seminar, we learned a simple yet effective method to stop a workplace bully before the situation takes a toll on your mental or physical well-being.

man and woman in self-defense school having heated discussion — Tim asked me to act like a workplace bully for a toxic workplace scenario, and let’s just say, *I understood the assignment*. He’s lucky he has thick skin! Also, Tim, I’m sorry for what I said during improv 🙂 *Photo credit: American Street Edge*

I learned a ton that evening and even though I was in a group of seven other women, six I’d never met before (my sister attended with me), I instantly felt comfortable. Here’s a run down of the things I learned in the 2.5 hour class:

Multiple techniques to defend myself in a variety of scenarios
How to carry myself so I don’t look like a victim
Ways to increase my environmental awareness
How to shut down a conversation with “twitchy strangers” that may approach me in a public place
Practical ways to be “better at violence” than those who might want to do me harm
An easy breakdown of the techniques I learned and an explanation of how to practice them at home, like using a wall for a certain move to make sure I’m keeping proper form
A verbal method to shut down a bully, while remaining composed and respectful
Bonus – channeling my inner improv skills (and mean girl) by being selected to be the “workplace bully” in a toxic workplace scenario

I can’t stress enough the amount of skills and knowledge that’s presented to attendees in the seminar and the incredible value offered. There are plans for additional women’s self-defense classes this fall, so be sure to follow American Street Edge on Facebook to learn more about any upcoming seminars. In addition, there are weekly, no contract adult classes, and you can even take a trial class first to be sure it’s a good fit, so you have nothing to lose. Find the schedules for all the classes offered along with other helpful information on the American Street Edge Facebook page. The school is also offering a variety of freebies the week of Aug. 24-28, 2026, details on the free offerings are outlined in this post.

Advertorial Feature

Get to Know Brandon Bretz, Owner of Residential Architectural Drafting Business Freelance Services

Posted on July 8, 2026July 7, 2026 by Amanda

With increasing construction prices and interest rates, more people are opting to add on to their existing home rather than looking for a new home. This decision not only makes financial sense since they’re reinvesting equity directly into their property, they’re also ensuring they stay in their current neighborhood, school district, or current acreage.

Whether you choose to add a larger addition such as a new master suite or a smaller project like a four seasons room, it’s important to work with an experienced design professional that can help guide you through the process. Freelance Services is a growing Franklin County drafting and design business owned and operated by Brandon Bretz, a residential architectural draftsman with over 25 years of experience.

Brandon grew up in Arnold and attended South Tech High School, a tech school that gives its students real-world experience in hands-on career fields like welding, construction, graphic design, and more. It was at South Tech that he was introduced to drafting and reading architectural blueprints.

Under the school’s program, he learned how to draft blueprints by hand as well as through using the two-dimensional drafting software AutoCAD. After drafting at South Tech, Brandon knew he wanted a career in residential architecture and once he graduated high school, he pursued an associate degree in drafting and design, while also balancing a full-time career in the drafting field.

Freelance Services is a growing Franklin County drafting and design business owned and operated by Brandon Bretz, a residential architectural draftsman with over 25 years of experience. Photo credit: Alex Don Media Group

Over two decades of experience

In the early 2000s Brandon landed his first full-time job and quickly began gaining practical drafting experience. Over time he stacked his knowledge base through the various jobs he held as a production draftsman at decorative fence and metal railing companies, architecture firms, and design build firms. Although he’s worked on commercial projects like multifamily units, shopping centers, and commercial corridors, his passion has always centered on residential architecture.

After a decade of doing architectural drafting projects on the side of his full-time job, in 2023 Brandon began his entrepreneurial journey and went all in with Freelance Services. The transition from working a full-time job as a production draftsman at an architectural firm and working on projects for his own clients on the side was a big leap, but one that Brandon welcomed when he realized it was an opportunity to make a bigger impact.

“Since I’ve gone out on my own, I’ve done a lot of professional networking to get my name out there and find clients. The reputation I’ve built professionally and with my clients has allowed me to help more people.”

Services provided

Due to the experience he gained working at a variety of firms, Brandon is as comfortable working with an individual homeowner as he is working with contractors. He can assist contractors who are having issues pulling a permit, draw plans for firms that don’t have in-house drafting personnel, or help out firms that need drafting support from time to time.

“What I’ve noticed over the past three years is that more local municipalities are requiring permits and are adopting a more thorough review process for residential projects, even when they typically haven’t in the past,” Brandon explains.

“I have helped several clients recently work through what has been a six-to-eight-month ongoing permit process. Because of my experience working with permitting departments, I’ve been able to get contractors their permits so their teams can get back to building the project.”

His services include custom home plans that are tailored to the client’s lifestyle and budget, and he can adapt existing plans to fit a client’s needs or design something from scratch. And in circumstances when a client has outgrown their house due to a growing family, Brandon can help with renovations, additions, and remodels – everything from renovating a kitchen to adding a new room or completely remodeling a home to make it fit a client’s life.

A couple other ways Brandon can help a client maximize the space in their existing home is by providing finished basement plans and designing patios, decks, and other outdoor living spaces.

In this video, Brandon shares how his goal is to execute the customer’s vision on each project. Video credit: Alex Don Media Group.

Brandon’s process

“What sets me apart from others in my field is the individual relationships I form with my clients as well as my dedication to each one of my projects,” he says.

Finding the right person to help you through your project’s design process can feel like a daunting task. One way Brandon aims to eliminate the guesswork in this stage is by first meeting with a perspective client to get a clear picture of what the project entails, followed by putting together a design proposal based on the information he’s gathered in that initial client meeting.

“I begin the design process with a preliminary design proposal which allows clients to see how I work, and ensures we work well together,” he shares.

Another advantage of the preliminary design proposal is that it gives the client, Brandon, and any engineers involved a clear scope of work, which means more accurate bids for the work provided, so there’s no surprises when it’s time to move forward in the process.

If you’re thinking about making an addition, updating your outdoor living space, or are ready to build your dream home, view Brandon’s portfolio of work on his website. You can also connect with him on Facebook or call/text him at 314-799-9272.

Advertorial Feature

Meet Julia Weitzel, the Eureka-based Real Estate Agent with a Vision to Give Back to Area Youth

Posted on July 1, 2026July 22, 2026 by Amanda

When it comes to buying or selling a home, it’s important to work with an agent that has your best financial interests and lifestyle needs in mind. Both buying and selling situations can be exciting as well as stressful since there’s a lot of things out of your control, like market conditions, interest rates, and available home inventories. Having a skilled real estate agent on your side means someone will be there to share their knowledge of the local market, help you negotiate the best deal, find your dream home, or the best buyer for the home you’re selling.

One such area realtor is Eureka-based residential real estate agent Julia Weitzel. Julia has been in the industry for five years and during that time she has built a reputation of being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies through expanding her experience helping clients in the St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles, and Lincoln County markets.

She’s had a thriving career so far, and has helped dozens of clients purchase their first homes, their forever homes, and their dream properties. Although she’s found success in the field, real estate is a career she came upon purely by happenstance.

Real estate agent Julia Weitzel has a reputation for being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies. Photo via Julia Weitzel on Facebook.

Before real estate she volunteered at a children’s hospital and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Her original career trajectory was to become a child life specialist working with children and families in hospitals. After she earned her bachelor’s degree she got a job working in a title company in order to earn some money and take a little time off before going back to school to earn her master’s degree in social work.

Instead, through her job at the title company, Julia found her way into real estate when she met her now husband, Michael, who was working in real estate at the time. Today, Julia works closely with her husband, now a mortgage lender, and the couple often help people through the buying process with Julia handling the real estate portion and Michael walking buyers through the lending and loan approval process.

She grew up in nearby Cedar Hill, located in Jefferson County, and looking back at her childhood, Julia points to attending home showings with her mom as a situation that stands out.

“My mom did real estate part-time when I was a kid and I went with her to show houses sometimes. I thought it was so cool,” she recalls.

Helping local heroes save money

Giving back to the community is important to both Julia and Michael, and the Weitzels participate in Homes for Heroes, a nation-wide program which helps active duty military members and veterans, teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS receive significant savings when buying or selling a home, or when refinancing a mortgage. The program partners with local real estate agents who give back a portion of their commission to the hero at closing, and participating mortgage lenders provide a credit toward the buyers’ finances for the loan, which also comes out of the lender’s commission.

However, giving back to the community doesn’t stop at the Homes for Heroes program. The Weitzels, who have two young children, are thinking about future ways they can help provide much needed resources for area youth.

A vision for area kids and families

Although she loves her career in real estate and helping people find a home that fits their lifestyle, Julia says the desire to do something for children is still something that’s on her heart.

“My motive for continued success in real estate is to save funds to put toward a nonprofit organization for youth. Although, I do not plan on leaving the real estate industry, I have a desire to organize something special for the youth in the community and I am hoping that finding success in my business in real estate will provide me with the ability to do this down the road,” she shares.

“This desire is inspired by someone very special to me. I believe that many children find a positive outlet in life through sports, music, and other arts. I would love for the organization to be centered around providing these outlets for free to all children along with mentors and coaches that would provide valuable leadership and sportsmanship guidance that will be helpful to children succeeding in life. The goal would be to provide a healthy outlet for children while also building valuable skills at no cost in an easily accessible place.”

The idea is still in the developing stages and there’s still a lot that has to happen until her dream comes to fruition. Right now Julia and Micheal are in the beginning stages of saving funds to go towards startup costs of the organization. She knows that the organization will serve kids in the more rural counties, and could see it being needed in Jefferson or Franklin County, or possibly in a location that’s accessible to families in either county.

If you’d like to learn more about her or you’re looking for a realtor to work with, connect with Julia on Facebook, Instagram, or on her website.