Podcast for Homeowners Preparing to Renovate
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09: Don't Make this Mistake! The #1 Thing Homeowners Overlook in Their Home Renovation
Why a Pretty Remodel Isn’t Enough (And How to Design for Real Life)
I want to start with something I see all the time.
Homeowners get to the end of their remodel, the space looks beautiful…
and yet something feels off.
They love the countertops.
They love the cabinets.
They love the finishes.
But daily life?
Still frustrating.
And that’s when the regret creeps in.
Not because the space isn’t pretty — but because it doesn’t function the way they need it to.
In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I want to slow things down and talk about the piece that gets overlooked more than anything else: how your space actually works for you.
The Biggest Remodel Mistake I See Homeowners Make
Here it is, plain and simple:
👉 We design for looks first — and function second.
Pinterest boards get built.
A vision gets cast.
Finishes get chosen.
And only after all of that do we stop and ask:
“Wait… does this actually work for how we live?”
The truth is, function should come first.
Because at the end of the day, if you invest a lot of money into your home and it only looks good — but doesn’t support your life — then we’ve missed the most important piece of the puzzle.
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Why “It Feels Bad” Isn’t Always About Being Outdated
A lot of homeowners tell me:
“I just don’t like how this space feels.”
And they assume it’s because:
The cabinets are old
The finishes are tired
The style feels dated
But very often, that feeling has less to do with aesthetics — and more to do with poor functionality.
A drawer in the wrong spot.
No place to set groceries.
Laundry with nowhere to land.
Storage that doesn’t match real life.
Those little frustrations add up — and they impact how you feel in your home more than you realize.
Why “It Feels Bad” Isn’t Always About Being Outdated
A lot of homeowners tell me:
“I just don’t like how this space feels.”
And they assume it’s because:
The cabinets are old
The finishes are tired
The style feels dated
But very often, that feeling has less to do with aesthetics — and more to do with poor functionality.
A drawer in the wrong spot.
No place to set groceries.
Laundry with nowhere to land.
Storage that doesn’t match real life.
Those little frustrations add up — and they impact how you feel in your home more than you realize.
What’s Working Well?
Start here.
Ask yourself:
What do I love about how this space works?
What feels easy or efficient?
Where do things naturally land?
Pay attention to:
Where groceries get dropped
Where keys and bags go
Where laundry piles up (or doesn’t)
Where your body naturally moves first
If something is working well, we protect it.
The worst thing you can do is spend money on a renovation and accidentally remove something that was already functioning beautifully.
2.What Drives You Crazy?
This one usually comes easily.
What cabinet makes you batty?
What item never has a home?
What routine feels clunky or inefficient?
This is often why you’re remodeling in the first place.
Write it all down — because this list becomes the roadmap for what needs to change.
3. What Would Make It Better?
Now we start connecting the dots.
For every frustration, ask:
What could improve this?
Is it storage?
Is it layout?
Is it a small accessory or adjustment?
Sometimes the solution is big.
Sometimes it’s surprisingly small.
But if you don’t ask the question early, you’ll miss the opportunity entirely.
4. Observe How You Actually Live
This is the step most people skip — and it’s the most important.
For a week, pay attention.
Watch:
How your family unloads groceries
What happens during bedtime routines
Where toys migrate
How laundry moves through the house
Where clutter naturally forms
Your life has rhythms.
Your remodel should support them.
Not the way you wish you lived — the way you actually live.
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“But We’re Keeping the Layout to Save Money…”
I hear this all the time.
And yes — keeping plumbing, electrical, and walls in place does save money.
That part is true.
But here’s the real question I want you to ask:
👉 Is it still worth the cost if the space doesn’t work better when it’s done?
Even a “cosmetic” remodel is still a big investment.
And if you’re still frustrated afterward, that money didn’t work hard enough for you.
Sometimes moving one thing — a wall, a sink, an appliance — can dramatically improve function and make the entire project feel worth it.
Function Is What Prevents Remodel Regret
This is why I care so much about this topic.
I don’t want you to:
Rush decisions
Design only for looks
Get caught up in Pinterest
Finish your remodel and think, “I wish I had thought that through”
Because once the remodel is done, it’s too late.
When your home:
Works well
Supports your routines
Makes daily life easier
You don’t just love how it looks —
you love living in it.
The Takeaway
Before you choose:
Finishes
Colors
Cabinet styles
Do this first:
✔️ Audit how your space functions
✔️ Observe how you live
✔️ Design for real life
🎧 In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I walk you through this exact function audit step-by-step so you can apply it to your own home — before costly decisions are made.
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