The ones who dig into your routines and ask about the nitty-gritty details are worth their weight in gold.
Totally get what you mean. I always end up asking clients about stuff like where they drop their keys or if they fold laundry in the living room. It’s those little things that make a space actually work for you, not just look good in photos. Funny how often people forget about the “muddy boots” problem until it’s too late...
Funny how often people forget about the “muddy boots” problem until it’s too late...
I get the value in digging into routines, but sometimes I think there's a risk of getting too granular and missing the bigger picture.
- Site orientation, drainage, and traffic flow matter just as much as where you drop your keys.
- If the layout doesn’t work with the land or future expansion, no amount of “where do you fold laundry” will fix it.
- I’ve seen projects where everyone obsessed over closet placement, but then realized the driveway was a nightmare.
Balance is key—details are great, but don’t lose sight of the fundamentals.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
You nailed it—I've seen folks get so deep into the weeds about cabinet hinges or mudroom cubbies that they forget about, you know, sunlight and water runoff. It's wild how often people overlook things like where the snow piles up or how the wind hits the house. I always tell friends: if you can't walk from your car to your door without a detour through a puddle, no amount of fancy storage is going to make up for that. The big stuff sets the stage for everything else.
if you can't walk from your car to your door without a detour through a puddle, no amount of fancy storage is going to make up for that.
Couldn’t agree more. People get fixated on the little stuff and forget how much the “boring” things matter. I’ve seen houses with gorgeous kitchens but you freeze your tail off getting to the front door in winter. It’s all about the big picture first. The rest is just icing.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
I get the point about the big picture, but honestly, the “little stuff” can make or break daily life too. Sure, you want a dry, easy walk from the car, but I’ve seen people regret not thinking through storage or kitchen layout just as much. It’s not really either/or—good design should handle both. Sometimes it’s those details that end up driving you nuts after you move in.