Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to be all about the “aesthetic” too, but after living with open shelves and nowhere to stash the mop, I realized function beats form every time. It’s wild how many designers gloss over the practical stuff—like, where do you even put the recycling bin? I’ve started bringing a list of boring-but-essential questions to every meeting. It’s not glamorous, but my wallet (and sanity) thank me later.
Totally agree—function gets overlooked way too often. I always ask about storage for cleaning stuff, recycling, even where the vacuum goes. Designers love to talk about “flow,” but if you can’t stash a broom, what’s the point? I’ve started sketching out where every “boring” item will live before I sign off on any plans. It’s not glamorous, but it saves headaches later.
Designers love to talk about “flow,” but if you can’t stash a broom, what’s the point?
That hits home. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked a site with clients and realized there’s nowhere for the mop bucket or the dog food bin. One time, we had to carve out a little nook under the stairs just for a vacuum—wasn’t in the plans, but it made a world of difference. It’s those “boring” details that end up making life easier down the line. Flow’s great, but real life is messy.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
Funny you mention the vacuum nook—I did a mudroom for a family last year, and it was basically designed around their hockey gear and two giant retrievers. The client was all about “clean lines” until we actually started talking about where the snow boots and dog towels would go. That’s when priorities shifted fast. People always get hung up on those glossy magazine spreads, but nobody ever shows where the litter box lives, right?
I’m with you: flow is nice, but if you don’t have a spot for the ugly stuff, it just gets left out in the open anyway. I’ve seen gorgeous kitchens with nowhere to put a trash can except right next to the island—makes no sense. It’s almost like some designers forget people actually live in these spaces.
Curious—when you’re talking to someone about designing your house, do you start with your “must-haves” or just let them run wild with ideas? I’ve had clients come in with binders full of Pinterest boards, but when we get down to it, the thing they care about most is whether there’s a spot for the recycling bin or if the laundry chute actually lines up with where dirty clothes pile up. Sometimes what matters most isn’t obvious at first glance.
Ever had to make a weird design trade-off just to fit in something practical? I once squeezed a broom closet into what was supposed to be an art niche. Not glamorous, but nobody misses that niche now...
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
That art niche vs. broom closet trade-off is too real. I’ve lost count of how many “statement walls” I’ve sacrificed for something as mundane as a coat hook. For me, it’s always been about starting with the non-negotiables—like, my partner’s record collection needed a home, and I refused to trip over the vacuum for another year. But once those basics are in place, I actually like seeing what creative ideas the designer brings to the table. Sometimes they’ll suggest something I never would’ve considered, like tucking a charging station into a drawer. Have you ever had a designer push back on your must-haves? I feel like that’s when you know you’re getting somewhere interesting...
