How to Realize you Hired the Wrong Designer

Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy. I’m Nancy. Today’s episode is going to be a little different because, instead of talking about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, design trends or all the other things we normally talk about, I have a little announcement to make. I’ve decided to put Home Design Chat with Nancy on hiatus. It’s time for me to take a little pause. I’ve been doing this show for quite a while now, and when I started Home Design Chat with Nancy, I never imagined how many conversations we would have or how many people would eventually listen. And I have to tell you — I have loved doing it. I’ve loved talking about design. I’ve loved having guests join me. I’ve loved discussing everything from kitchens and bathrooms to flooring, windows, outdoor spaces, remodeling mistakes, design trends and all those little things homeowners don't always think about until it’s too late. But sometimes, even when you love something, you need to step back and take a breath. This is not goodbye. It’s a pause. I want to take some time to think about what I want the next chapter of Home Design Chat with Nancy to be. Maybe it will come back exactly as it has been. Maybe it will come back a little differently. Maybe there will be some new ideas, new conversations and some subjects I haven’t tackled yet. I’m not going to make any promises about exactly when I’ll be back — because I’ve learned that sometimes the best things happen when you don't put yourself on a deadline. But I do want you to know that I’m not disappearing. There are still plenty of ways to find me and my design ideas. And if you’re new to the show, this is actually a great time to go back and listen to some of the previous episodes. There are a lot of them! You can find Home Design Chat with Nancy and my other design information through NancyHugo.com and Designers Circle. You can also find my list of podcasts on Spotify, iHeart radio and apple to name a few. And to all of you who have listened over the years — thank you. Thank you for spending part of your day with me. Thank you for listening to my opinions, even when you didn't necessarily agree with me. And thank you for trusting me to talk about something I have been passionate about for a very long time — making homes beautiful, functional and, most importantly, right for the people who live in them. I've always said that good design isn't just about what looks good. It's about how you live. And I hope I’ve helped you look at your home a little differently. So, for now, I’m going to take a little break. I’m going to step away from the microphone, give myself some time to think, and see where this next chapter takes me. And who knows? I may surprise you. So this isn't goodbye to Home Design Chat with Nancy. It’s simply… “See you later.” Until then, keep designing, keep asking questions, and remember — your home should work for you, not the other way around. Thank you for listening. And when I’m ready to start talking design with you again…

Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy and I’m Nancy! today we're continuing our conversation about something every homeowner has to deal with at some point—window treatments. If you listened to Part 1 of our conversation, you already know there is a lot more to choosing window coverings than simply picking something that looks pretty. We talked about the different types of window treatments, materials, custom versus ready-made, privacy, light control, and some of the choices homeowners need to think about before they make a purchase. Today, we're continuing that conversation with Jack Kim with Arizona Blinds Company, about something I think every homeowner needs to hear about: the mistakes people make when choosing window treatments. Because you can spend a lot of money on beautiful shades, shutters, blinds or draperies—and still end up with something that doesn't work for the room. Maybe the curtains are hung too low. Maybe the rods are too short. Maybe the fabric isn't right for the amount of sunlight coming through the window. Or perhaps nobody thought about privacy, furniture placement, or even how the window treatment is going to look when it's completely open. And then we're going to get into some of the things homeowners are asking for right now—including motorized window treatments, natural materials, new styles and what's beginning to look dated. So if you're thinking about replacing your window coverings, remodeling a room, or building a new home, you're going to want to hear this part. Our topics today are: Top 5 design mistakes homeowners make What's Trending for window treatments in 2027 Best choice for a tight budget Dated window treatments I hope you enjoyed today’s topic. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]. And please share these podcasts with your friends. Everyone can you a little education in design. If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠ You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website as a tab. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. In addition, Home Design Chat with Nancy can be found on Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple and many other platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen to podcast.

Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy.. and I’m Nancy! A our subject today is something that I think every homeowner can relate to. It’s those little design mistakes that you don't necessarily notice when you're looking at your plans, when you're shopping for your house, or even when your remodel is brand new. But then you start living in the space. And suddenly you think: “Why did we do that?” What were we thinking? Have you ever had that happen? But before we begin please subscribe on the platform you are using to listen to my podcasts. As I chat about design mistakes you don't notice until you live in your home, I want you to think about your own house as we're going through these. You may hear something and say, “Oh my gosh. I have that problem." Common Mistakes: Not thinking about how you really live Not having enough storage Putting beauty before function Not thinking about lighting Not having enough outlets Doors that fight with each other Not thinking about where things go The wrong size furniture Forgetting about maintenance Designing for today and not tomorrow Not paying attention to the kitchen workflow Ignoring the little annoyances Good design is about creating a home that works. It should support the way you live. It should make everyday activities easier. It should be comfortable. It should be practical. It should be beautiful, too. But beauty and function don't have to compete. The best homes bring the two together. Good design is about creating a home that works. It should support the way you live. I hope you enjoyed today’s topic. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected] And please share these podcasts with your friends. Everyone can you a little education in design. If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠ You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website as a tab. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. In addition, Home Design Chat with Nancy can be found on Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple and many other platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen to podcasts.

Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy, and I'm Nancy. Before I get started on the topic of the day, I would really appreciate it if you can you please subscribe to my podcast. As I have said many times, I do podcasts to educate everyone about design & more. Most people will look at models home, cabinet showrooms or pinterest and quickly notice the cabinet style and color. The cabinet is more than a pretty door. Construction is very important and so is the manufacturer who produced the cabinetry. Jeff Hunt, co-owner of Hunt’s Kitchen & Design in Scottsdale, AZ. is back with me because we have more to discuss about cabinets. Just to summarize the first podcast we did on August 24th, we discussed wood species, face-frame cabinets vs frameless, Custom vs semi-custom vs stock cabinets. I suggest you go back to listen to that one if you haven’t already. At the end of this podcast, with Jeff’s help, you the homeowner should be able to open the cabinet door and drawer and decide the quality. And what to look for. Topics of discussion: The cabinet mistakes that are expensive to fix after installation Cabinet Shelving - what to look for Cabinet hardware finishes Knobs vs handles Is the Kitchen triangle dead?

Hi Everyone, Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy, where we talk about the things that make a home look great—but also make it work better. Today the subject is pavers. If you don’t know what a paver is, you will be glad you listened because pavers are a very interesting product, but before we begin, please subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen. I would really appreciate it. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, is back with me today. He will explain everything you should know about pavers. Our topics covered are: What exactly is a paver Were can pavers be used Can pavers be used in the home What types of pavers are available The advantages & disadvantages of using pavers What is the difference between porcelain & stone pavers Does climate effect pavers Can installing pavers be a do-it-yourself project