6 Remodeling ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments and How Designers Solved Them
See how pros used their expertise to convince uncertain homeowners to make the right design decision
Homeowners are the driving force behind their remodeling, building or decorating projects. But sometimes everyone needs a little advice from an expert to make the right decision. Here, six design pros share an “uh-oh” moment they encountered and how they leaned on their experience to persuade an uncertain homeowner to make the best design choice.
2. Choosing the Right Color
Designer: Samantha Schoell of Drury Design
Location: Chicago
Project. An updated kitchen with a modern aesthetic that accentuates the homeowners’ arts-and-crafty personalities. A home bar and beverage station with counter space for serving food when entertaining was a must.
“Uh-oh” moment. “This Chicago home is over 100 years old, and sticking with the style of the home was a huge factor,” designer Samantha Schoell says. “The home incorporated massive amounts of wood, and the homeowner was having difficulty determining the appropriate color they wanted. They were concerned with how to update an older house to a modern Craftsman style.”
Solution. “I made the suggestion to go with a darker blue, as I knew it would pair well with the wood features throughout the home and bring in the fun personality of the clients,” Schoell says.
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Designer: Samantha Schoell of Drury Design
Location: Chicago
Project. An updated kitchen with a modern aesthetic that accentuates the homeowners’ arts-and-crafty personalities. A home bar and beverage station with counter space for serving food when entertaining was a must.
“Uh-oh” moment. “This Chicago home is over 100 years old, and sticking with the style of the home was a huge factor,” designer Samantha Schoell says. “The home incorporated massive amounts of wood, and the homeowner was having difficulty determining the appropriate color they wanted. They were concerned with how to update an older house to a modern Craftsman style.”
Solution. “I made the suggestion to go with a darker blue, as I knew it would pair well with the wood features throughout the home and bring in the fun personality of the clients,” Schoell says.
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3. Investing in Quality
Designer: Shoshanna Shapiro of Sho and Co
Location: Darnestown, Maryland
Project. Create a light and bright bedroom with layers of calming colors and texture for warmth and comfort.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The most challenging part of this project was the decision to invest in high-quality window treatments,” designer Shoshanna Shapiro says. “The homeowner had not purchased window treatments in some time and was a bit thrown by the high investment.”
Solution. “They trusted me and moved forward and they are so happy they did,” Shapiro says. “The treatments are absolutely beautiful and the functionality they provide makes [the client] very happy they decided to move forward with the investment.”
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Designer: Shoshanna Shapiro of Sho and Co
Location: Darnestown, Maryland
Project. Create a light and bright bedroom with layers of calming colors and texture for warmth and comfort.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The most challenging part of this project was the decision to invest in high-quality window treatments,” designer Shoshanna Shapiro says. “The homeowner had not purchased window treatments in some time and was a bit thrown by the high investment.”
Solution. “They trusted me and moved forward and they are so happy they did,” Shapiro says. “The treatments are absolutely beautiful and the functionality they provide makes [the client] very happy they decided to move forward with the investment.”
10 Bedroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
4. Selecting the Right-Size Furnishings
Designer: Mary Slattery of EdenBliss Interiors
Location: Chicago
Project. Update a condo living room in an elevated yet comfortable style fit for hosting out-of-town friends and family.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The built-in fireplace and cabinetry narrowed down the living room area,” designer Mary Slattery says. “The client initially desired a sectional for optimal seating but soon recognized the challenge of fitting it into the layout.”
Solution. “We chose multiple pieces of furniture that are movable and flexible, providing ample seating and adapting to how the guests use the space,” Slattery says.
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
Designer: Mary Slattery of EdenBliss Interiors
Location: Chicago
Project. Update a condo living room in an elevated yet comfortable style fit for hosting out-of-town friends and family.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The built-in fireplace and cabinetry narrowed down the living room area,” designer Mary Slattery says. “The client initially desired a sectional for optimal seating but soon recognized the challenge of fitting it into the layout.”
Solution. “We chose multiple pieces of furniture that are movable and flexible, providing ample seating and adapting to how the guests use the space,” Slattery says.
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
5. Reconsidering a Too-Bold Color
Designer: Kathy Marshall Design
Location: Beverly Farms, Massachusetts
Project. Update an existing home office in a 1935 Colonial Revival for a young mom’s small business. Space for her kids to work alongside her and a comfortable sofa for taking calls were high on her wish list.
“Uh-oh” moment. “Originally the client thought she wanted to use a bright, bold paint color in this office — think hot pink or orange lipstick,” designer Kathy Marshall says. “We tried several samples and even went as far as painting the whole room, but it was ultimately too intense and overwhelmed the small space.”
Solution. “In the end, those bright colors are still there, in the drapery fabric and in the pillows,” Marshall says. “Just in very small doses.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Designer: Kathy Marshall Design
Location: Beverly Farms, Massachusetts
Project. Update an existing home office in a 1935 Colonial Revival for a young mom’s small business. Space for her kids to work alongside her and a comfortable sofa for taking calls were high on her wish list.
“Uh-oh” moment. “Originally the client thought she wanted to use a bright, bold paint color in this office — think hot pink or orange lipstick,” designer Kathy Marshall says. “We tried several samples and even went as far as painting the whole room, but it was ultimately too intense and overwhelmed the small space.”
Solution. “In the end, those bright colors are still there, in the drapery fabric and in the pillows,” Marshall says. “Just in very small doses.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
6. Going With a Less-Is-More Approach
Designers: Sisters Kelcey Huff and Tracy Schlegel of Waterlily Interiors
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Project. Help finish a dining room so it felt styled and complete.
“Uh-oh” moment. “This client loves orange,” designer Tracy Schlegel says. “So much so that we really needed to explain that sometimes you need less of a color to make it really pop out.”
Solution. “The bold drapery includes greens, black, pinks and, yes, orange,” Schlegel says.
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Designers: Sisters Kelcey Huff and Tracy Schlegel of Waterlily Interiors
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Project. Help finish a dining room so it felt styled and complete.
“Uh-oh” moment. “This client loves orange,” designer Tracy Schlegel says. “So much so that we really needed to explain that sometimes you need less of a color to make it really pop out.”
Solution. “The bold drapery includes greens, black, pinks and, yes, orange,” Schlegel says.
More on Houzz
Read more about working with home professionals
Browse photos for inspiration
Find home design and remodeling pros
Shop for home products
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Designers: James McNeal and Rob Hull of James McNeal Architecture and Design
Location: Chaska, Minnesota
Project. An open-plan home with connections to outdoor areas and a kitchen designed for entertaining with a scullery.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The clients, when we were well down the road into the design of their home, were questioning if the ceiling heights were the correct scale for the spaces,” designer Rob Hull says. “Which, changing from what the design was at that point would have entailed a fair amount of work, doing new drawings, etc.”
Solution. “We solved the problem by walking through their home in virtual reality, and that gave them the true sense of the scale of the space and the heights of the ceilings,” Hull says. “After walking through the space in VR, they were able to determine that they thought the scale was correct as drawn, and so we were able to keep moving forward.”
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