Designing your own home sounds like a dream… until you’re the one making every single decision. Back in January 2025, I got the opportunity to work with a builder on designing a semi-custom spec home. And I took it. I’ve designed homes for countless clients, so I know the process inside and out. I understand […]

The biggest misconception in a new build or renovation? That hiring an interior designer is an “extra” something you add at the end if there’s room in the budget. In reality, professional design shapes every decision from the very beginning of the project, long before anyone considers furniture. The truth is, designers aren’t just pulling […]

When people renovate, their focus naturally goes to the big decisions first.They tend to allocate more of their budget to the “larger” elements like the sofa or the type of stone for their countertops. And while those choices absolutely matter, they’re not what make a home feel finished. That’s what happens in the final layer. […]

Let me say this with love and a smile.I don’t work with clients who want to handle their own purchasing.Not because I’m trying to be difficult. Not because I want control for the sake of control. But because I care far too much about the final result to let the process fall apart halfway through.The […]

There is a very specific moment in every renovation or new build where the energy shifts. At first, it’s all dreamy. You’re saving inspiration, texting screenshots, walking through empty rooms imagining Christmas mornings and late-night kitchen chats. You can practically hear your kids running down the hallway or see your friends gathered around the island […]

Spring gets all the attention when it comes to home projects. It’s the “spring cleaning” and “let’s redo everything” kind of energy. But if I’m being honest, the real magic happens before spring arrives. Late winter is when people stop romanticising their homes and start seeing them clearly. You’ve lived in the space through winter. […]

We talk a lot about relationships around Valentine’s Day.  But something that rarely gets mentioned is the space you’re actually living all of that in. Your home is part of the relationship too. Not in a dramatic way, but in a very real, everyday one. It’s the backdrop to your mornings, your evenings, the conversations […]

The idea of a “forever home” sounds great in theory. Find a nice house, design it once then ever touch it again. But in real life, (unfortunately) it rarely works like that. Most homes aren’t meant to stay exactly the same forever, because life doesn’t stay the same forever. Your routines shift, families grow, kids […]

Who to Hire First? Understanding the Right Order for Your Home Build or Remodel Many homeowners ask the same question when starting a new build or home remodeling project:“Who should be hired first, a designer, a builder, or an architect?” In my five years as an interior designer, I’ve watched many projects unfold from start […]

“Designing for real life” is a phrase you’ll probably hear designers say, and if you don’t, that’s your first red flag. It sounds simple, but it’s actually pretty specific. Of course aesthetics matter. They should. And yes, seeing a finished space photographed after a project is easily one of my top ten feelings. Watching a […]