Remodeling is a big investment, and homeowners have a lot of decisions to make along the way. What is worth splurging on? Where can you save? Which trends will actually stand the test of time?
We created a design profile for each of our OHi designers and asked them some of the questions we hear most often from homeowners. Their answers give you a glimpse into how they approach design, what they prioritize, and sometimes the advice they wish every homeowner knew before getting started.
Next up is Susan, whose design philosophy is equal parts thoughtful, practical, and honest. She isn't afraid to tell you when a trend might not age well, but she'll also listen when you tell her you love it.
This is going to sound crazy, but if I were remodeling a kitchen, I would spend the money on the stone. Natural stone is so eye-catching, especially compared to quartz that you are seeing over and over again. I think it can really make a space special.
For a bathroom, I would say plumbing fixtures. That is not something I would skimp on because quality really matters. If you buy inexpensive fixtures with plastic parts, they can fall apart. Metal fixtures will hold up better and are worth the investment.
That does not mean you have to spend the most on everything. You have to decide where your money will make the biggest difference.
Cabinet accessories are one area where you can save. Some of those organizational features can actually be added later. You can have a cabinet modified or have something cut to fit and add an aftermarket accessory down the road.
There are also different levels of materials, so sometimes it is about finding that middle ground. Hardwood flooring, for example, has a lot of options now, and many of the more affordable products are getting better and better at giving you the look you want.
There are always give-and-takes. It really depends on what you are willing to give up.
It is a lot. It is a lot of decisions, it is a lot of money, and your life is going to be disrupted.
There will probably come a point where you hate it. You are going to want to leave. Everyone has a freak-out moment during a remodel.
The important thing is knowing that it is normal. You are living through a temporary disruption to get to a home that is going to work better for you in the long run.
I am constantly asking questions. Especially in a kitchen: Who is cooking? How do you use this space? How often do you entertain?
I also think about resale. If someone has a very specific idea in mind, I want to make sure they understand how that choice might affect the home's value down the road. You can absolutely make your home personal. I just want homeowners to understand which decisions are easy to change and which ones are going to be much harder to undo.
This is always fun. Half the time, I think they are actually saying the same thing. They just feel like the other person isn't listening.
Sometimes we end up acting like therapists and trying to figure out what they are really disagreeing about.
Our job is to listen, ask the right questions, and find a way to bring them together. Usually, there is a way to pull the different ideas into one cohesive design. Sometimes people just need someone neutral to help them get on the same page.
Don't do too many trends, especially when it comes to color. Colors come and go. I like finding something the homeowner loves that can also act as a neutral foundation. Think about what is easy to change and what is not. A backsplash is relatively easy to replace. Countertops and cabinets are not.
I like to warn people when something is very trendy. If they still love it after we talk about how it might age, then we move forward. At least they know what they are getting into.
Brass is a good example. It is definitely a trend, but I think it has staying power. And if it eventually feels dated 20 years from now, hardware is relatively easy to replace.
It depends on the house. Something can look incredible online because the entire house has been designed around that trend. But if you are remodeling one room at a time, year after year, you have to think about how everything is going to flow together.
A very modern aesthetic might look beautiful on its own, but if the rest of the home is traditional, it may not feel cohesive.
I always want to look at the bigger picture.
As I mentioned before, Brass. I think it will still have staying power.
And I would also say wainscoting, although I almost hesitate to call that a trend. I have always loved it.
To me, it is one of those details that has been around for a long time and will continue to be around.
Arches. I like them. They're cool. But I don't think they are going to be cool forever.
If you love an arch, we can absolutely find a way to use one. I just would not build your entire house around the trend.
Stone, marble, and wood. The colors and finishes may go in and out of style, but the materials themselves have staying power.
I always tell people to think beyond the current color trend and focus on the quality and longevity of the material.
Wainscoting. It shows craftsmanship. When you see beautiful wainscoting or detailed woodwork, you can immediately see the work of a skilled carpenter or woodworker. It adds architectural interest and makes the space feel more custom.
It really depends on what is making the room feel small.
Sometimes paint can help, but sometimes the answer is more structural. Removing soffits or opening up a ceiling can make a kitchen feel significantly larger. Making a window larger can also completely change how expansive a room feels.
You have to figure out what is visually constraining the space before deciding how to make it feel bigger.
Opening up the kitchen. A lot of older homes, especially homes from the 1970s, were designed with the kitchen as an enclosed room. But the way we use our kitchens has changed.
People entertain in their kitchens. They gather there. They want the cook to be part of the conversation. So, when we can remove walls and reconfigure the kitchen around the way people actually live today, it can make a huge difference.
I think a lot about the cook's flow, too. Where are you going to prep? Where are you going to store things? How are you going to move through the kitchen every day?
Those decisions can completely change how much you enjoy the space.
For me, the two really have to work together. A beautiful kitchen that does not function well is not a successful kitchen. I want to understand how someone is going to use the space first, and then we can make those functional decisions beautiful.
Three-drawer banks. I almost always want to have them. I prefer drawers over rollouts because I think they are easier to use. With a rollout, you have to open the cabinet door and then pull out the tray. It is an extra step.
A drawer gives you direct access. You get essentially the same amount of storage, but the drawer is just more straightforward.
Aisle spacing. I see a lot of kitchens where the aisle is either too big or too small.
There are also smaller details that can throw off the overall design. Sometimes the hood is too small, or you have a strange combination of cabinet door sizes, like two 12-inch doors next to two 30-inch doors.
Those details might not sound important individually, but when you look at the kitchen as a whole, they affect the visual balance.
You have to look at the entire composition, not just each individual piece.
Susan's approach to design is practical, honest, and rooted in experience. She knows where it is worth investing, where homeowners can save and, perhaps most importantly, which decisions they may want to think twice about before making them permanent.
She is also not afraid to tell homeowners the truth about remodeling.
But with thoughtful planning, good communication and a designer who is willing to ask the right questions, the temporary chaos can lead to a home that is more beautiful, more functional and much more suited to the way you live.