Inspired Design Talk

I knew this was going to happen. 😅

The moment my new kitchen hardware went on sale, I realized I needed to figure out which faucet finish would actually work with the rest of the kitchen.

After a trip to Lowe's and Home Depot, I've narrowed it down to two options: Vibrant Brass or Champagne Bronze.

The granite is staying, so I want something timeless that won't feel too trendy a few years from now.

Which one would you choose?

Here’s a smart homeowner tip after 28 years in one house.

Write the paint color behind the switch plate.

When you need to touch up years later, you won’t be guessing.

Small habits like this make long-term homeownership easier — and save you time and money down the road.

Future you will thank you.

I was wrong about this.

Before becoming an interior designer, I spent 23 years designing children's clothing.

Fashion is built on trends. Every season there's something new.

So when we remodeled our house 20 years ago, I designed my home the same way I designed fashion.

I went all in on the Tuscan trend.

At the time, I genuinely believed I was making timeless choices.

The problem?

Fashion trends come and go.

Your kitchen doesn't.

Replacing a shirt is easy. Replacing granite countertops, cabinetry, and backsplashes is not.

That experience taught me one of the most valuable lessons I've learned as both a homeowner and designer:

Find your style before you follow a trend.

It's a lesson I learned the hard way, and hopefully one you don't have to.

What's one design trend you loved years ago but wouldn't choose today?

Running out of money after our renovation felt like a disaster at the time.

Twenty years later, I think it saved us from making expensive design mistakes.

We couldn't afford to furnish our entire house, so we had to live in it first. Looking back, that gave us time to figure out what we actually liked instead of decorating for the trend.

It's the same lesson I'm applying to my kitchen today.

The best design decisions happen when you wait. 💕✨

Nobody talks about this part of a home renovation.

When you decide to do a major remodel, you really have two choices: stay and live through the dust, noise, and chaos... or move out.

Twenty years ago, when we added a second floor and expanded our home, we chose to move out.

We emptied the entire house, packed up everything we wanted to keep, and moved into my mom's basement apartment for four months.

Was it ideal? Not exactly. 😂

But I have friends who lived through renovations while staying in their homes, and honestly, I don't know how they did it.

We moved back in when the house was about 95% finished. Most of the construction was done, but that's when we discovered another expense nobody warned us about.

We'll save that story for Part 8.

What would you do? Move out or stay and live through the renovation?

If you're planning a home renovation, I think the contractor matters more than the design.

Twenty years ago, we added a second floor and expanded our house by 10 feet. The entire project took just four months, from September to December.

The reason it went so smoothly wasn't the countertops, cabinets, or floor plan.

It was the contractor.

Every morning we knew exactly what was happening, what decisions needed to be made, and what was needed to keep the project moving.

Looking back, if my uncle wasn't the contractor, we probably never would have done the renovation.

My advice?

✔️ Get at least three recommendations.
✔️ Talk to people who completed a similar project.
✔️ See the work in person.
✔️ Make sure you trust the person before you sign anything.

The contractor you choose can make or break the entire experience.

And if you're wondering where we lived during construction... that's Part 7.

Before I buy a kitchen faucet—or honestly anything online—I follow the same 3-step process.

1. Check the quality
2. Compare prices
3. Look for less

It's saved me thousands of dollars over the years decorating and updating our home.

Not because I buy cheap.

Because I make sure I'm getting the best value before I check out.

Do you have a shopping trick you swear by? I'd love to hear it.