The deeper Marcel Dagenais got into fixing up a mid-1940s red-brick Cape Cod bought with his partner in Bay View in 2020, the more he envisioned a narrative-style DIY show.
“I wanted to document the process,” says the creator of Brew City Builds on YouTube, who has filmed 85 videos as of early March. “I grew up with parents who flipped homes. I grew up scraping wallpaper off walls when I was a kid.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The California native splits his time between Milwaukee and New York City. And he’s no stranger to amping up aesthetics, working as the hair department head for TV shows including “Broad City.” Later this year he’ll be coiffing Natasha Lyonne for season two of “Poker Face.”
“It takes about 3 weeks to make a video since I have to do the renovation work, then edit it down to something consumable to watch,” he says. “It’s really shown me the power of the Internet with some of my subscribers being from all over the world. It’s pretty cool to see how broad my audience is becoming.” Most viewers simply enjoy witnessing the renovation process and then comment or ask questions about their own projects.
“I’m a minimalist with an art-forward aesthetic. I like to keep things simple with a mix of midcentury and modern furniture pieces, while showcasing interesting photography or artwork,” he says. “I don’t think maximalist will ever describe my design style.”
His partner, Sheboygan native Ben Trager, introduced him to Milwaukee. “Every time I came to Milwaukee, I thought ‘This is so cute,’” says Dagenais. Renovating homes helped form his social circle. Recently, he documented his quest to give a couple’s guest bedroom “a little bit of love” – with a black ceiling and Keith Haring-esque rug. “I feel like I’m starting to build a little community here and making some friends along the way,” he says.
