WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
Honestly, I think you nailed it—if you don’t plan for the boring stuff, you end up tripping over your own shoes every day. I’ve lived in a place that looked straight out of a magazine, but I swear, I spent more time hunting for a spot to stash the mop than actually enjoying the “character.” It’s funny how quickly you stop caring about exposed beams when you can’t find a spot for the recycling bin.
I get the temptation to focus on the fun details first. Who doesn’t want a cool reading nook or some quirky built-ins? But if you don’t have a spot for the vacuum, or your kitchen cabinets barely fit a cereal box, it gets old fast. I’m all for personality, but if it means sacrificing basic function, it’s just not worth it. Learned that the hard way after a few too many stubbed toes and nowhere to put the winter coats.
If you’re hiring someone, I’d say make sure they actually listen to how you live, not just what looks good on Pinterest. Some designers get so caught up in aesthetics that they forget people actually have to, you know, live there. I had one try to talk me into open shelving everywhere—looked great in photos, but I don’t want to dust my plates every week.
At the end of the day, I’d rather have a house that works for me than one that just looks good in pictures. You can always add charm later with paint or art, but you can’t magic up a closet where there isn’t one. And yeah, hidden storage is a lifesaver... but it’s way easier to plan for it up front than try to wedge it in after the fact.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
You bring up a good point about designers pushing for looks over function. I always wonder—how do you even figure out if someone’s actually going to listen to your day-to-day needs, not just their own vision? Is it just trial and error, or are there red flags you watch for before hiring? I’ve had folks promise the moon, but when it came down to the nitty-gritty (like where the laundry basket goes), they just didn’t get it.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
Totally get what you mean about the “promise the moon” types. When we started our build, I was so overwhelmed by all the portfolios—everything looked gorgeous, but I kept thinking, “Where do their kids’ shoes go? Where’s the dog bed?” I actually ended up asking designers straight-up about stuff like mudrooms and laundry baskets. Some would kind of brush it off, which was a red flag for me. The one we went with actually asked about our routines—like, who wakes up first, where do we drop our bags, that kind of thing. It felt like they were designing for us, not just for their Instagram.
I guess my advice is to pay attention to how much they ask about your life, not just your style. If they seem more interested in your Pinterest board than your daily chaos, maybe keep looking. It’s not foolproof, but it helped us dodge a few headaches.
If they seem more interested in your Pinterest board than your daily chaos, maybe keep looking.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d push back a bit on this. Sometimes, those “Pinterest board” convos aren’t just about style—they can actually help you figure out what you *really* want, even if you don’t realize it yet. I’ve had clients who thought they needed a giant mudroom, but after talking through their inspiration pics, it turned out they just needed better shoe storage near the door.
- Portfolios matter. If a designer’s work doesn’t vibe with your taste, all the practical questions in the world won’t fix that.
- Asking about routines is great, but don’t discount designers who start with aesthetics—they might circle back to function once they know what excites you visually.
- Sometimes people don’t know what their “daily chaos” even is until they see a few options mocked up.
Just saying, there’s value in both approaches. The best fit is someone who can balance your lifestyle *and* your vision, not just one or the other.
Sometimes people don’t know what their “daily chaos” even is until they see a few options mocked up.
That’s honestly so true. I thought I was super practical until I saw my dream kitchen in a mood board and realized I’d been settling for “good enough.” It’s a process—don’t stress if you don’t have it all figured out upfront.