Newlyweds Fred and Natasha Ruckel take on an ambitious project. They dare to build their dream house in New York's Catskill Mountains while juggling their busy careers. As the project starts, a nasty neighbor threatens them, they hire questionable contractors and they're robbed, leaving them wondering if the dream is worth all the trouble.
After many setbacks, Fred and Natasha Ruckel move ahead with their plans to build their dream home. Just as progress is being made, the Department of Environmental Protection shuts down construction. With the floor pulled out from beneath them, the Ruckels have to contend with Catskill Mountain weather that wreaks havoc on the schedule, sending them in a downward spiral.
A freak nor'easter puts the house in a state of disrepair and the crew crumbles from the pressure. Fred and Natasha Ruckel try to keep their sanity and bring on new blood to help get the project back on track. The initial house inspection proves frightening as the Ruckels discover that matters are far worse than they anticipated.
After battling the elements and a crew that couldn't follow plans, Fred Ruckel takes matters into his own hands. A set of master carpenters are brought on board only to discover all the work done before was substandard. The crew gets busy on building the deck, only to discover more problems and setbacks. As if things couldn't get any more problematic, the Ruckels have a major problem that leaves them barely treading water.
Some fearless four legged friends ruin Natasha and Fred Ruckel's first chance at serenity. As the fire trucks roll up the driveway, one has to wonder if this is a dream or a nightmare. A spa, a landslide, and a flood all stand in the way of getting their dream off the ground. Not to be derailed, Fred and Natasha push ahead with plans for the garage, only to encounter more delays that leave them out in the cold.
Left in the cold, the Ruckels face more challenges as deliveries fall short. Luckily Mother Nature has a gift of her own to warm them up from the inside out. One man down and a long haul ahead make for tough times as the couple battles with the realization that their dream home might not be done in time. The interior finishing proves difficult as a mountain of boxes stand between them and their dream. Tight quarters create a near meltdown with the new crew. Problem after problem, call after call, Fred simply cannot handle it all. With just a week to go, can the Ruckels get everything done in time?
With so much already behind them, the Ruckels still have one big challenge ahead -- finishing their dream home before Natasha's parents arrive from England. Fred refuses to fail as he frantically takes on one project after another. In a last-minute push, Fred brings on longtime friends to lend a hand. Will their dreams be put on ice, or will it all go up in flames as Fred pushes the envelope with some last-minute additions that break the budget? And as the project comes to a close, one has to ask -- was building the dream worth the nightmare?