WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
- 100% agree on the “day in the life” thing. It’s wild how fast clutter piles up if you don’t plan for it.
- Budget talks are awkward, but skipping them just makes things worse down the line. I learned that the hard way—ended up with a gorgeous kitchen but had to cut corners on storage because I didn’t speak up early.
- Pretty is nice, but if you can’t find your shoes in the morning, what’s the point?
- Don’t be afraid to push back if something feels off. Designers are creative, but you know your routines best.
- At the end of the day, function beats fancy finishes every time... at least for me.
Honestly, the budget convo is the most awkward part, but skipping it bites you later—been there, done that. My tip: before even talking to designers, jot down your must-haves and “nice to haves.” I once got dazzled by fancy tile samples and forgot I needed, like, actual places to put my laundry baskets. It’s easy to get swept up in the pretty stuff, but if you can’t live in it comfortably, what’s the point? Don’t be shy about saying what you really need... even if it feels boring.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
That’s such a good point about getting distracted by the fun stuff—been there, too. I’d add that if you care about energy efficiency or using eco-friendly materials, it’s worth bringing that up right away, even if it feels a bit “extra” at the start. When we did our remodel, I was all about reclaimed wood floors and low-VOC paints, but I didn’t mention it until halfway through. Ended up having to backtrack and rework some choices, which was a hassle and definitely not cheap.
My little checklist now always starts with the basics: how many people need to live here comfortably, what spaces actually get used every day (like, do I really need a formal dining room?), and then I layer in my “green” priorities. It’s not always glamorous to talk about insulation or solar orientation when everyone else is picking out backsplashes, but honestly, those decisions make way more difference in how happy I am with the house long-term.
It’s easy to feel like you’re being picky or difficult for insisting on certain things, but if you don’t say it up front, nobody can read your mind.
You’re spot on about bringing up energy efficiency and materials early. I see a lot of people get caught up in the aesthetics, but things like insulation, window placement, and HVAC choices have a much bigger impact on comfort and long-term costs. It’s not always obvious how those decisions affect the design down the line—like, if you want passive solar, that can change your whole floor plan. Have you thought about how your daily routines might influence the layout? Sometimes people realize halfway through that they need a mudroom more than a fancy entryway... and by then it’s tricky to adjust.
WHERE DO YOU EVEN START WITH HIRING SOMEONE TO DESIGN YOUR HOUSE?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think people stress way too much about energy efficiency and materials upfront. Sure, those things matter, but if you don’t actually like the layout or the feel of the house, you’re not going to be happy living there—no matter how low your utility bills are. I’ve seen folks end up with homes that check all the “green” boxes but just don’t work for their lifestyle. Sometimes it’s better to focus on how you want to live first, then figure out how to make it efficient after. Otherwise you risk designing a house for an engineer, not a family.
