WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
- I get where you’re coming from—no one wants to live in a magazine spread if it means tripping over your Instant Pot every time you walk into the kitchen. But I do think there’s a bit of a balance to strike here.
- Sometimes, those “statement” features are what make a house feel special or memorable. I’ve worked with clients who were dead set against open shelving at first, but after we talked through how it could work for their favorite dishes or cookbooks, they actually loved the result. The trick was combining it with enough closed storage for the less pretty stuff.
- I’d say don’t be afraid of pushing designers a little out of their comfort zone, but also let them push you a bit too. You might be surprised by how some of those bold ideas can be tweaked to fit your lifestyle. Floating shelves in the mudroom? Maybe not for winter boots, but great for baskets or hats.
- It’s easy to get stuck thinking everything has to be 100% practical, but sometimes a bit of “impractical” design is what makes a space feel inspiring or fun to live in. Of course, you still need somewhere to stash the cereal boxes and dog food...
- I’ve definitely seen projects go sideways when practicality gets ignored—one client had a gorgeous minimalist bathroom with literally nowhere to hang a towel. We ended up retrofitting hooks after move-in. Not ideal.
- At the end of the day, it’s about finding that sweet spot between livability and personality. If you can keep the conversation open (and maybe bring your box of gadgets as backup), most designers are willing to find creative solutions that work for real life and still look great.
I totally get the struggle with balancing looks and function, but I’d add another layer—how much do you talk about energy efficiency or materials with your designer? When we built our place, I kept asking about insulation and window placement, and it honestly changed the whole design. The architect was used to focusing on aesthetics first, but once we started talking about passive solar and low-VOC finishes, the conversation shifted. Sometimes those “impractical” features can actually be super practical if you look at them from a green building angle... anyone else run into that?
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
Totally relate to this. When we started our house project, I thought picking the right “look” would be the hard part, but honestly, it was all the behind-the-scenes stuff—energy efficiency, materials, and just how the place *feels*—that ended up mattering way more than I expected.
I kept bringing up insulation too, and I swear our designer looked at me like I was speaking another language. But once we got into the weeds with things like cross-ventilation and using reclaimed wood for floors, it felt less like just picking finishes and more like designing a space that actually works for us (and isn’t just a Pinterest board come to life).
One thing that surprised me: asking about stuff like where the sun hits in the afternoon or how much glass we really need on each side of the house led to some unexpected changes. Our original plan had these huge south-facing windows, which looked amazing on paper… but would’ve made the living room a sauna in July. Ended up tweaking the roofline and adding some overhangs, which was a win for both comfort and energy bills.
I do think there’s sometimes pushback from designers who want to focus on aesthetics first. I get it—curb appeal is important—but I wanted a home that felt good to *live* in, not just look at. There’s a sweet spot somewhere between “showpiece” and “practical bunker,” and it takes a lot of back-and-forth to find it.
If anything, I wish we’d talked about this stuff even earlier in the process. It’s easy to get distracted by tile samples and paint colors, but things like air quality and natural light make way more difference day-to-day. Not saying you have to go full-on eco-warrior with every decision, but even small changes can shift how your space works (and feels) long-term.
It’s easy to get distracted by tile samples and paint colors, but things like air quality and natural light make way more difference day-to-day.
Couldn’t agree more. I got so wrapped up in “the look” at first, but it’s wild how much the little behind-the-scenes choices end up shaping your daily vibe. I remember fighting for better insulation too—felt like a buzzkill at the time, but now our utility bills are actually manageable. Sometimes the “boring” stuff is what makes you love your home later. Don’t let anyone talk you out of pushing for what matters to you, even if it’s not glamorous on paper.
Couldn’t agree more about the “boring” stuff paying off. I’ve seen folks obsess over backsplash colors but skip on things like cross-ventilation or window placement. You really feel the difference when you live there—comfort’s not as photogenic, but it’s everything.
