August 17, 2023 • 46 mins
Ready to debunk the myths and misconceptions about interior design and decoration? Join us as we sit down with our special guest, Sarah, an accomplished interior designer, to dissect the intricate world of interior design. She brings to the table more than a decade of experience and shares her expertise on distinguishing between a designer and a decorator, the overlap of real estate and design, and how understanding structural aspects of a home can significantly impact design decisions.
Our conversation doesn't stop at the exterior; we actually climb inside the designer's mind, exploring the art and science of space planning to accommodate diverse tastes and lifestyles. We touch on the sensitive task of blending the old with the new, discussing the delicate balance of respecting a home's original architecture while injecting modern touches to keep it current with recent trends. Sarah also shares her valuable insights on the most common mistakes people make when flipping homes and how to avoid them.
But there's more! If you've ever wondered about the ongoing debate between floating shelves versus no uppers or how to design a practical, functional, and stylish kitchen, then this is the episode for you. We illuminate the critical role lighting plays in enhancing room ambiance and how to choose the right light fixtures. Additionally, we weigh the pros and cons of DIY home design versus professional consultation and discuss the importance of material selection for a cohesive look during home renovations. Don't miss out on this enlightening episode brimming with invaluable tips and wisdom from a seasoned industry expert.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are back with another podcast.
It's been like several weekssince we've had a podcast, but
we are back and I have a guestin today.
I have a designer, a realdesigner, Sarah.
Sarah, how's it going?
It's going great, Great.
So, yeah, no thanks for comingin today.
So you've worked for like majordesigners, right?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yes, design firms.
Yeah, I've had the opportunityto work for some of the larger
firms in the country.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
But you have is like a new path you're going now.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, so I for about 10 years worked for a couple of
different designers in the areaand got to work on a lot of
different projects, differentsize firms, learned a lot, and
now I have decided that I'mgoing to kind of do that for
myself and be my own boss andstart my own firm.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So, and did you come up with like a design company
name?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, so we are a Palm House interior design.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Ooh, I like it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, so kind of playing off some design house
kind of concept.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And yeah, it's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So how long have you been in design?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
A little over 10 years.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
No, so I think we had a earlier conversation about
this.
Is there a?
There's a.
It's a little bit different, Iguess, than the way you would
explain like a designer versus,maybe, a decorator.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, so good, good question.
I get this a lot and I thinkthere's, you know, a lot of kind
of overlap that's used.
But a designer is somebody whohas a formal education, went to
school, has a degree in interiordesign.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
A decorator can be kind of anybody who just kind of
picked it up and decided thatthey are gonna take that path.
So a designer and a decoratorcan do some of the same things.
A designer can decorate, but adecorator doesn't design, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
No, it totally makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So, like with a designer, you're gonna get
somebody who focuses on spaceplanning, interior architecture,
ceiling details, your cabinetryreally like transforming the
whole entire space and thinkingit through from ground up.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Whereas a decorator takes kind of the shell that
you're already working in anddecorates it.
You know they're gonna add yourdrapery and those layers that
makes it beautiful, makes itlook pretty, and so that's why,
like, a designer does that Right, but a decorator doesn't.
Now I can tell you right now.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I've already experienced this.
Like two weeks ago I decided todo my closet, like redo it, and
I'm definitely a decorator, nota designer and I had this
vision of like you know, I'mgonna go to IKEA and I'm gonna
get, like the IKEA pack system,this wardrobe system.
Well, I never really took intoaccount like when you're looking
at it, it's in almost like awarehouse, that's huge.
(03:07):
And I was just like, oh, it'sdefinitely fit.
And I did more like measure thelength, but I never considered
like the height and the width ofit and I was just like, yeah,
it's definitely gonna fit.
And when it showed up, I waslike, whoa, this is a lot bigger
than I planned.
And the handyman doing this work, he was like, did you really do
(03:28):
your measurements?
Because this is gonna be tightand so it all fit, but it fit
within like less than a half ofinch, it just fit.
And he was like, did you thinkabout the doorway?
Like I have to build it insidethe closet, because you didn't
take into account like theactual opening of the door and
we can't get it through.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean that.
Well, you know, designers runinto that sometimes too Right,
and sometimes you know I'veworked on high-rise condos
before and you have to take inconsideration the size of the
elevator.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Because you've got this massive sectional and.
I've had to take furniture upthe side of the building.
Oh my, gosh.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
No, that's gotta be an extra cost.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, and I just had to walk away and not watch, as
my you know sectional got liftedup.
That's insane.
The window cleaner.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Well then, I mean it does make more sense, like when
you broke it down that way aboutthe difference between the two,
because I never thought aboutthat.
I just thought about the prettystuff the, the sofa and the rug
and the paint colors but, I,didn't think about scale and a
lot of people are not good withscale.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Scale I think is a hard thing for a lot of people
to grasp.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And I think that that's where, like having a
designer, any even a gooddecorator you know can kind of
eyeball that.
And I think a decorator youknow has to have good taste.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
But just some of the background you know isn't there
in the little bit of the why andjust some of the extra layers.
You know, you know every.
The only thing that an interiordesigner isn't touching is load
bearing walls.
So we're moving walls around tomake sure that we can
accommodate the way you live inyour space and you know you want
(05:09):
to sit 12 people in a diningroom.
Well, you don't have the spacefor that, so let's shift this.
Take some room from here,because you don't need it in
your foyer.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And it's better used in your dining room.
So it's that kind of likethought process that a designer
can get you versus a decorator,and I think there's a place for
both.
But you just have to decide,kind of.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
What you brought up something was like really good,
because I bring this up in classall the time to new and
seasoned agents, which I thinkthere's like overlaps with when
you think about real estate andwhat design is.
I think they, when they cancome together, it's like really
good, happy, kind of marriage ofthe two, even though you don't
sell real estate and we don'tdesign rooms, but when the two
(05:51):
really do meet well.
But you brought up about loadbearing walls and I'm always
telling the agents like becareful.
We're real estate agents and alot of times you'll show
property to buyers and they'relike, ah, this would be like the
perfect room if I could justtake that wall out.
And every once in a while anagent will say, yeah, that wall
can come out, no problem.
Yeah, no problem at all.
(06:11):
And I'm like you gotta becareful.
And I was telling my class.
I'm like, yes, that wall couldcost $500 to come down, but it
could also cost several thousand, right?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yes, yeah, I mean, it can always come down for a
price, for a price, for anyprice, but you know even without
looking at an architect's plans, even a builder or somebody
that does it every day, like Ican tell you sometimes like, oh
yeah, you can't touch that wall,or sometimes you have to get in
there and look at it, but we'reworried.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
And that's what I always tell the agents.
I'm like, be careful about thatstuff.
We're real estate agents, we'renot designers, we're not
architects, we're not evencontractors.
So at minimum you need to be acontractor.
But going in and telling buyerswhat can and can't be done with
a room is super dangerous onour part.
Because, we don't have thetraining.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, somebody buys into an idea and then, you know,
crushes their dreams.
When it can't be done, yeah,and that's the thing.
It's a bad look.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, it's a bad look .
But I also tell the agents likehow much danger there is.
There is that they relied onyour opinion as a professional
and you're licensed, and thenthey buy that space and then
they find out they can't do whatthey wanted to do with it
because you told them incorrectinformation.
That's how you get sued.
So I'm like, be careful, leaveit to the professionals.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Don't make a definitive answer unless you're
positive and you can't bepositive about this and I always
tell them I'm like the house Ibought.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I bought a house a little over a year ago and
during my inspection period Ihad my inspector come in and
like listen, I'm gonna gut thishouse anyways, the only thing I
need you here for is this wall.
If this wall can't come down, Idon't want to buy the house.
And so he's like oh, you'regood.
But I wanted to make sure Ididn't want to risk it because
it looked like it might havebeen a load bearing wall.
(08:01):
And he was like no, you're fine, you're good.
Again, I don't have althoughI've sold a lot of homes, I've
looked at a lot of homes.
I don't have knowledge of that.
Now, exterior walls, yeah, thatkind of makes sense, but the
interior ones, that's where I'mlike mm, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, it must be the way the trusses run in the house
, and unless you're an expert,so that's good.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I mean.
So that starts us into howthere's, like, I guess,
correlations between the two anda lot of our agents and a lot
of agents around the world,whether it's in the US or around
the world.
They work with a lot ofinvestors who are buying
property and sometimes you willget investors who maybe they
don't have the vision of what isneeded to be done to the space
(08:44):
or what could be done with thespace.
Do you think that's like greatopportunities for investors and
realtors to bring designerstogether?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Definitely.
I think that every realtorshould have a designer in their
pocket.
And it might not be for everybuyer, but if somebody really
wants to do, a full gut butthey're like overwhelmed by it
let the designer step in and saylet me take that off your plate
.
I see what you want to do atthe space.
(09:12):
Let me make it a reality and doit in a way that is timeless,
and you're going to get thatmoney back out of your property.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That's probably the biggest.
It's, like you just said, likea key thing.
I would say that's like superimportant for agents to pay
attention to is that you knowwhether we're working with
buyers or sellers.
It's like be careful the moneyyou spend.
You want to get the money outof it.
And I'll have the buyers whowill look at a $400,000 home and
they'll see the bathroom isdated.
(09:40):
Well, this bathroom is going tocost us $35,000.
And I'm always like that mathdoesn't make sense.
And, of course, a client willsay like, why not?
You're overspending.
Have you ever had that for anyclient you've ever worked with
about their dreams, theirvisions, overspending?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Definitely.
You know I have clients tobring the architectural digest
as their you know inspirationphotos and but they're like my
overall budget's $100,000 forthe entire house and it's like,
okay, well, we can accomplishthis feeling.
These elements, yeah, but thehand carved marble sink that's
(10:22):
backlit and, right, you know,got 100% brass fixtures on it
are not going to be in yourprice point, but you know, when
you get into it it's like thatbathroom could cost you $35,000.
Right, or it could cost youhalf of that.
And, and I think, having adesigner that can help steer you
in the right way of where tospend your money Right and where
(10:44):
to maybe save.
I think is like a you know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So you think it's possible to get really good
design and not, or I would say,like a big concept?
Do you think everybody,regardless of budget, could have
good design in their home?
Yes, okay, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think there's, you know, so many affordable lines
now that have kind of opened upthe possibilities at every price
point.
Right, you know?
Maybe you know full serviceinterior design is a luxury
service.
Right, you know, if you'rebuilding a house from the ground
up and you want to bring in adesigner and have them just run
(11:21):
with it, and if I come in to dothat, that there's a price tag
on that.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And not everybody can afford that.
However, there's a lot ofeveryone's fingertips of like.
I've done virtual consultationswhere there's a design fee
involved and you come to me withmeasurements, pictures,
inspiration.
The more you bring to me, themore I can share with you and we
(11:45):
just like do a brainstorming of.
You know there's a set time thatwe're going to spend on this
and we're going to come with alot of ideas and then you can
implement them oh, you know, inphases or what you can afford
but big picture, we're going toget some inspiration, get some
ideas and and kind of I can helpyou spell out how to accomplish
(12:05):
that.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
So for any client coming to you, what would be the
first step like if you had aconversation on their phone and
you said bring me ideas.
Where do you suggest they startcollecting those ideas?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Most people have these.
Now have Pinterest board.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Something like that, like Instagram, you know,
there's so many designersposting their work on.
Instagram, and it's just such abeautiful place to share.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Pinterest is amazing yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I mean, you can even like pin things from Instagram
and there's just a lot of gooddesign out there.
And sometimes people bring mepictures and I'm like it's not
that you know, we can make itbetter, right.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So what?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I have them do is bring me pictures and then I
will bring some inspiration tothe table too.
And when you start speaking andpictures, you know everybody's
on the same page.
Because, if you start sayingyou know I like a moody space,
but right, you may think moodyis different than I think moody,
yeah, so speaking in photos isthe way you kind of get on the
(13:02):
same page.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So do you ever have problems when you're working
with clients?
And you have either, you know,two partners.
They come to you for one room,but both are at different
spectrums.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yes, I am also a therapist.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I've witnessed, you know, marriage quarrels.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah Well, yeah, I would think that's gotta be like
wedding designed in a room.
They're both gotta be stressful.
There's nothing that will testyour relationship like a remodel
, you know Cause I'm surethere's always gonna be one
person that's gonna be like Iwant it my way.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
There's usually one person that takes the lead and
that's where you know we getprobably the best end result.
But I really like to get toknow my clients so that they
trust me and I try to.
You know, I don't try to pushthat other voice aside.
I really want to come up with aspace that both people are
happy with, cause at the end ofthe day you're both living there
(14:00):
.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, you're gonna use it every day.
You're gonna see it every day.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, I would say I'm not one of those designers.
That's like I have a vision andthis is what it's going to be.
You know, at the end of the day, you're living in the house,
you're enjoying it, this is yourspace and I just want to make
it beautiful.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now, do you ever get anybody who's just like
absolutely indecisive, like theyjust don't care.
They just want a pretty space,but they don't know which way
they want to go.
They don't care.
Right, yeah, I've had that, butyou have like full reign, full
freedom.
They're just like whatever yousee.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, yeah, but I like to, even with the people
that think they're open toeverything.
I like to speak in those photosand kind of come up with a
direction.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Before we even start pulling finishes or fabrics or
any of that.
So Kind of like to get us onthe same page and get like a A
verbal sign off for kind of thedirection we're going in.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
So if you ever had anybody that you're doing a
project and maybe like halfwaythrough they're like you know
what.
I'm just not feeling thatanymore.
I want to change.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
I think I've had a little bit of everything You're
going to talk back.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
No, you just had a bad night of sleep like relax,
right and.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I, maybe not so much that they just don't like the
whole direction.
But I've had people you knowWe've designed the whole house
and then they're like, hey, Imet with my architect and you
know we've got a differentfootprint, we're going to use
the house a little differently.
Can we just like translateeverything we pulled into the
new house?
I'm like, no, it doesn't workthat way.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
You can't make changes like this.
But you know, we go on and getit done, and so would you say
it's like it is important tobecause I do remind a lot of
buyers when I'm working withthem is that you know it's
really hard, regardless of yourbudget, to have the perfect
space because, like our needsare always changing, like what
is great today, next month youmight find, like you know, I
(15:56):
really don't like open spaces, Iwould rather have compartmental
little areas, but so no spaceis truly going to ever be
perfect because it's alwaysevolving, right, or would you
agree?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You agree, I think that's where like a designer
helps.
You know, I think that having aseasoned designer that has, you
know, worked in spaces beforekind of guiding you on that,
then right, then you don't havethat, you know, change of heart
so quickly because you've workedthrough all the, the ifs, you
(16:26):
know right.
And well, if you do that, thenyou're not going to be able to
fit this, or if we do take outthat wall, you will be able to
use it this way.
So we really like talk throughall of those potential issues or
potential changes.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah so that's not like you know, do you?
You work with the client andkind of paint.
Like you know you don't havekids now, but in five years you
will, and you kind of plan thespace for what could change in
their life.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, we do.
Like I like to just really getto know my clients and how they
live.
Do you have kids?
Do you have dogs?
Are you going to have kids,like just kind of getting into
your entire life?
Now, where do you spend themost time Are you?
Do you take naps on the couchor you like you perch?
Or you know, do you, do youentertain, do you spend time
(17:14):
outside?
You like the doors open?
You know, all of those thingsreally dictate how we treat the
space.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
So on a different direction, when we're starting
to we're kind of diving into allthis, I'm sort of think, like
as a designer, and you payattention to what's going on,
like we pay attention to what'sgoing on the market with housing
, housing prices, trends, as faras, like, what people are
building on your side, do yousee any mistakes on the part of
(17:46):
builders and people who aredoing flips?
You ever see like mistakesthey're making, that you're like
that could have been done somuch better.
What do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I've definitely walked into some flips that I'm
like, oh, I wish she wouldn'thave flipped it.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I wish.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I wish you know we would have kept some of the
original things.
I think the thing that I wishbuilders and people who flip
kind of step away from theirformula and I know that there's
like a budget in place and theyknow that they can get this
material at this cost.
But I think sometimes, likewe're in Winter Park, these
(18:25):
houses have tons of character,some of them are a little quirky
and they need to be transformedinto how we live our lives now.
But I think the biggest mistakeis stripping away all the
character and just doing thisformula for every house and you
can look through photos.
You know Zillow that's a hobbyof mine, flipping through Zillow
(18:46):
and I think you can tell what aflip is.
It's got, unfortunately, thegray vinyl flooring Stop it.
It's got a glass tilebacksplash and a white
countertop and white shakers andthat's the formula and I
understand that.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
That's a safe formula .
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Yeah, but I think the formula should kind of I think
we should pay attention to thearchitecture of the home Right
when the home was built and kindof leave some of those special
moments.
And maybe it's taking out thegreen and pink tile that's in
the 50s bathroom, but let's dolike a little ode to it, you
know like do it in a more modernway, because those tiles are
(19:29):
still inexpensive, like you canget the look for less, but keep
some of the character.
I think people are appreciatingthe character because I think
we're kind of correcting fromlike making everything really
clean, yeah, and kind of addingthat back in.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah, I agree and I always tell like a lot of, a lot
of my friends and a lot ofdesign not designers, but a lot
of builders and investors I workwith and, like you really have
to pay attention and I want tosee if I'm correct on this.
I'm always like you know, youneed to be careful about looking
at what's popular in Floridaright now, because I feel like
we're kind of like the end oflike trends or what's going on
(20:07):
around the world.
Like you know, should they lookat other parts to see what's
going to slowly trickle our wayas far as what's popular and
like gray, was gray popular inother parts of the world or in
California before it got to us?
I feel like everybody had alittle bit of gray moment and I
think we're all kind of shiftingaway from that and kind of
(20:30):
adding that warmth back in thatwe're getting yeah if I see one
more builder designer home thatdoes a gray floor, gray cabinets
, gray backsplash, a gray andwhite counters it's all gray,
gray, gray and gray walls Idon't think it's too much.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yeah, I have some like investors that I've worked
with that are like I don't wantto see one gray thing in this
house.
Because it's just, you know,it's had, it had its moment,
it's great, and now we're likedesigning for the future.
So the next stage of everything, and even if you go back in
like history of design.
I mean everything's like acorrection of what happened
(21:07):
before.
So you have your likeminimalist and then we did like,
and you know I'm not sure whichcame first, but the minimalist
or the correction of that, andlike going overboard.
But you know, it's always, italways works that way.
So it was like everything wasgray and now nothing is gray.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, and I always tell people to.
I tell a lot of like my theseinvestors I'm working with now.
I'm always telling them, likegot to be careful, because you
know you can look at homes andI'm sure you see.
This too Is that I can look atcertain homes that are whether
they're in Winter Park or theirdowntown, and they're using like
these brown cabinets with likea Baltic kind of brown granite
(21:44):
and I'm like, oh, it's 2008 or2007.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Oh, you can.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, and people are like, how did you know?
And like, because this was whatwas popular, everything
everyone used, and Travertine,it was all used at the same time
.
And then I was like now you gotto be careful because
everyone's going to know thatkitchen was remodeled in this
period, because it's all gray.
So it's like on our gray momentwe had our brown moment now in
(22:08):
a gray moment.
So what do you see as a newtrend?
What do you think the newtrends are?
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I would say definitely we're going to a
warmer color palette.
When I say warm, it's not thecherry warm.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Not cherry, we're the golden version of it.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
But, it's just like a nice organic, warm space,
adding those wood tones back inthat were kind of stripped away
and then like a handmade natureto things like the organic, so
not everything's so perfect.
Like Subway Towers was in everybacksplash and a flip.
(22:50):
Now it's like a handmadeversion of that.
So maybe the edges aren't likeperfectly squared off.
It's like embracing theimperfection and the beauty of
that of like a handmade item.
I think that adding all ofthose elements kind of like I
said, bringing the characterback into a space.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
So that's one thing.
Now do you think in likekitchen designs for the 23, 24
and so on?
Do you think it's going to bepopular for builders and people
when they're doing flips if theyhave the space to do kitchens
with larger working pantries?
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yes, yeah, I think that there's.
I think people want to see abeautiful kitchen and they don't
want to see all theirappliances on the countertops,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
They want to see the beautiful cutting boards that
you never cut on and thosethings on your kitchen counters,
and not Now, do you design somespaces, do you design stuff
when someone goes in and they'relike you know, this never gets
used, right, it just lookspretty, it's kind of going into
that, like knowing your client,like do you cook in your kitchen
?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Do you cook in your kitchen?
Do you entertain?
When you entertain, do you cookor do you have food brought in
kind of?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Okay, you got.
You got bougie clients.
I love it.
I've had the opportunity to workwith kind of that whole
spectrum of clients and I lovethat, though so, like I do think
it's important that investorsand when builders, especially
builders and I went on like arant the other day about this
that I was like you know,builders are making great money,
(24:27):
even even like the it doesn'thave to be custom Even the, the
marriage and the madame and youknow all these like good level
builders that people are buying.
I think even for those you'remaking great money.
Hire people to tweak thesekitchens and you don't have to
go and blow the budget.
There is ways.
Right the tweak stuff that youdon't have to use custom
(24:48):
cabinetry all the time.
Kitchen designs are a littlebit different.
It's not the standard big giantisland with as many cabinets as
possible.
But I'm also and I'm seeingbuilders kind of creep into this
a little bit the unrealisticparts of like floating shelves
in kitchen.
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
I think it all goes to how you live.
You know if you're the personthat you know, you use the same
coffee mug in the same bowlevery day and you're able to
just leave those shelves styledyou know, then I think it's
great.
But if you are somebody that'slike tossing Tupperware in one
cabinet and and lids in another,like that's not going to work
(25:29):
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Yeah, I showed.
I showed a property a fewmonths ago to a client and they
were just like I love thiskitchen and it had absolutely no
uppers.
It was nothing but floatingshelves and it looked cute
because it was vacant.
There was nothing staged, andso I was like yeah, yeah it's,
it's cool, I love it.
(25:51):
But I kept thinking the back ofmy head like this is so not
practical unless you have likeamazing dishes that all match.
Or maybe it's just me beinglike really anal.
But I was like I would walk inand be like there's too much.
It's too much clutter it's.
Is there a science?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
to that too.
I think it can be done well.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, I think like styling with larger items is
always a way to like a decoratorversus a designer kind of thing
, like just something we'regoing to throw it on there.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I think, I think a decorator can still style.
I think that's kind of whatthey're.
They're doing every day youknow, is styling things.
So I think that they can.
They can accomplish that, but Ithink that A designer is going
to make sure that you have thatstorage elsewhere.
Yeah, like okay, so we tookaway your uppers because it's
beautiful and we want toshowcase, you know, your all
(26:44):
white handmade dishes.
Yeah, but we need to make surethat your island has storage.
You have that working pantry,that all of your appliances go
in all of your drinkware, allthe stuff is stuck away.
The sippy cups, the you knowboxes of cereal, that kind of
thing.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Yeah, and I always tell agents and I've taught a
couple of my clients I saidthere's a term that we learned
in school.
In real estate it's thefunctional obsolescence, and I'm
like it's not really functional, basically Like it's it's
pretty to look at but it's notfunctional.
And I do think like maybethat's it's just my real estate
side of me coming out.
I'm like, oh, there's going tobe a lot of flips that were done
(27:22):
in the past, like five, sixyears, where people were like,
oh, it's so great that I havefloating shelves and I'm like
those are going to come down andcabinets are going to go back
up, because they're going tofigure out like all my stuff
looks ugly, because I have likemix and match and I just throw
stuff and and I don't have timeto stack the plates a certain
way, I just want to throw themup there.
(27:43):
And then I always think to himlike, if you don't have someone
who's clean in the house, wheredoes your desk sit?
It probably goes and sits onthis place.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
But you're not using this place because you're not
allowed.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
You're not allowed.
But that's where I was like Iwas looking at the ones like in
pantries and like floatingshelves are amazing, but in a
kitchen and this is all you havelike a little 10 by 10 quick
kitchen and that's what the roomI was looking at.
It was like a 10 by 12 kitchenand I was like it has no uppers
and there's no pantry.
This is crazy, this is.
(28:15):
But my buyers were like so intothe moment they didn't think,
oh, there's no pantry, Where'syour canned goods going to go?
They're going on the floatingshelves.
This is not good.
This is not good.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, you know, it's all about how you live and in
the way you use the space.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
And so it's a risky move for a flip because you're
trying to appeal to the masses.
But for me, you know, if I, ifmy client, expresses that they
just want a really beautifulkitchen right then it's a good
way to mix it up and not havethe formula of like all uppers,
all lowers.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
What are three trends you would love to see more of
in 23?
Personally, maybe.
I'm a fan of wallpaper and it'sa mixed, you know it's a mixed
bag.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Either you hate it or you love it.
But you know I want to see morewallpaper, more textures, like
and they make it where it'seasier to install and take it
down Right.
It's not like old 19, like 50wallpaper.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah, it uses to the drywall and you have to pull the
drywall down.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
But I do hate, you know, Florida, we have these
textured walls.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
And it's such a shame .
Why can't we, you know?
Now is that something that Imean buyers.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Probably a lot of homeowners don't really think of
that's something they wouldhave to address, right if they
were going to put wallpaper up.
It depends on the type of wallcovering but it does make it a
little more difficult, sowallpaper.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
I like adding texture into the space, so wall
covering, kind of that texture.
Decorative lighting I thinkthat, like people don't add
enough decorative lighting intheir homes and I think that
that's something as a homeowner,even without a designer, you
can swap out your light fixturesand the impact that it has on
the space is huge Now are youtalking about just like lamps?
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Are you talking so the average person out there who
might be listening?
What do you mean by likedifferent types of lighting?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Like well, there's kind of different levels, you've
got your overall lighting andthen you've got, like, your
hanging fixtures, yourchandeliers, your pendants.
You know, not every room needsa fan.
I know it's Florida, but youdon't need a fan.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
I saw a fan in a kitchen over the weekend and my
buyer was like what is that?
I'm like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, yeah, we shouldn't do that.
But like why you know you'rehanging lights and then in then
your task lights, like your,your lamp, so that you don't
always have to have thoseoverhead lights on.
You know, I think that addinglayers of lighting right warms
up a space.
It adds, like some dynamicenergy to the space.
(30:58):
You know, you have like.
Your lighting come from, comingfrom above, from kind of like
face level when you're thinkingabout the lighting.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You said so overhead and then you said more like
lamps or yes, I think that youknow swapping out your fixtures.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
You know a lot of.
You know like you're mentioninglike builder grade homes.
They're great and that's likethe majority of what people have
.
You know, swapping out thosefixtures and giving some
characters and personality tothe space is really great.
And then even lamps, you knowhaving having being able to turn
off the overhead lights andturn on that like ambient light
(31:33):
makes a big difference in thespace, so I think people should
pay attention to their lighting.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Absolutely.
I always make one of my friendslaugh at the like when I got
into my adult world and I got myfirst home and and then I kind
of figured out what my style was, I had one of my my
girlfriend's come over and shewas like I love your house.
And I'm like, yeah, there'slike nobody looks great in full
lighting.
Everything should be.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Everything should be warm.
Yes, candlelight, Can I just.
Can you put it on?
Speaker 1 (32:02):
a dimmer.
Please Can I have a dimmer?
Like going into a room and shewas like some.
Now, even like 40 years later,she's like.
I just love the fact that Stevesaid that nobody looks good in
full light.
I'm like it's rare, like I'msorry, it's just rare.
You got to be like a stunninglybeautiful person, that full
light coming at you, but if it'sdimmed, exactly everyone's got
(32:24):
a nice glow to you.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Nobody wants the, the LED, the white lights.
Yeah, we got to.
We got to pay attention to thewarmth of our, our bulbs.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, I, I I messed up in the home I remodeled.
I went and I bought lightsonline.
I went to like Amazon, which Igot a great deal, but I bought
these like recess lighting and Ididn't really pay attention to
like.
It was like daylight, right,one of the options, and I'm like
, well, that sounds good, likelet's get it, it's going to be
bright.
Well then they installed allthese lights and literally when
(32:55):
I had to swap them out about amonth later, because when all
the lights were on you coulddrive down the street and I was
like that's Steve's house.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
You can see it from outer space.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Yes, it was so much light and I'm like whoa, this is
a lot of lighting and I think Imade a mistake.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yeah, like rule of thought.
I mean you should always kindof stay between like 2700,
kelvin's and 3000.
That's kind of my.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I swear, I think you just went into like a scientific
role and I'm like I've, I'velooked at that and I was like
what does?
Speaker 2 (33:25):
that mean Kelvin's is like the warmth of the bulb.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right, I'm the one who has to go to like the Home
Depot and I'm like where's thelight exhibit?
All right there.
So that's too yellow, that'stoo white, that one looks just
right.
I'm going to take you.
That's why it's there, or thatare I told one of my friends.
I was like I got really lucky.
I found these bulbs and they'vegot all the settings, so I'm
just going to buy them and thenthe my contractor will install
(33:51):
them and I'll just have themplay with it until I'm like
that's the right light, I likethat one.
So when you're starting tothink about suggestions that, as
a designer, you're ready to seeno more of in 23, what would
you say your top three of?
Like?
I've seen enough.
I don't want to say it again.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
The gray flooring gray wine, yes, the the.
I would say that three things.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
And you won't offend anybody.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
I had the gray in my mind, do you think?
Speaker 1 (34:24):
like I don't know, like open spaces,
compartmentalized farmhouse.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
I mean, the shabby farmhouse can can kind of make
its way out.
Is that a thing anymore?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I remember like back in the day when I would see like
shabby chic and I'm like, whatis that?
Oh, that's just like a lot offrilly stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Yeah, it's like chalk paint and that kind of thing.
But you know I have really greatclients that have good, great
taste and you know I'm seeingthere's a lot of great things.
That are people.
I think people have a lot ofaccess to good design now and it
can be a, you know, blessingand a curse that, like all of
(35:04):
this really great design, is ateveryone's fingertips, like it
used to be.
You had to find, go out and getan architectural digest or a
interior's magazine, but now youknow it pops up on your feed.
You know it pops up everywhere,especially if you're doing a
renovation.
You know they'll.
They seek you out yeah, netflix, youtube and they start
targeting you with everything.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
You've got plenty of access.
I think I definitely agree thatif buyers are going to work
with homeowners, are going towork with a designer, that
you've got plenty of access.
So at least when you go to meetwith you, I could bring you,
like my iPhone and my keyer.
Here's all the stuff I love.
Now put it together for me,because I think there is a
(35:45):
difference of like finding allthose cool pictures and then
find it out what's realistic.
Like I was looking at somethingand you brought it up about that
stone, that marble kind of likesink, and I was doing I'm
remodeling a bathroom now.
But I went and I was like Iwant to do all marble.
It's going to look so cool andI had all these like Pinterest
(36:06):
pages done.
Well, that got shot down realquick as soon as I went and I
was like so I want to do thisand I picked and it was just the
marble alone and I'm like, holycrap, like I can't do that.
I would be over in pervy and itsounds great.
But yeah, I just picked out allthis marble tile work and they
were like, okay, based off thesquare footage, and they gave me
(36:28):
like it was like $5,000 in justmarble, just for the shower,
and I was like yeah, nevermind,like is there a porcelain towel
that looks like this?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Well, and that's where, like we talked about
earlier, like the designer canhelp you accomplish that in a
way that's not only lessexpensive but is more
maintenance friendly.
You know marble is notnecessarily.
You know it looks good, right?
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Yeah, it's like, it's like black floors ebony floors
where I've gone into like modelhomes or homes that like I did
the parade of homes this pastyear and I went into a home in
Winter Park and it was anunbelievable home, definitely a
particular type where it's likea lot of gold and black and
(37:18):
ornate and it looked reallypretty.
But I was like the first thingI guess it's the real estate
agent side of me as soon as Iwalked in I was like black
floors, not practical.
It's just not practical, wouldyou agree?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
The darker the floor is, the more it's going to show.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yeah, like, I'm like clearly people don't have kids
or dog or walk and the morepolished, it is, it's going to
show more.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
So anytime you're doing like a darker floor, we
should have like some movementin it.
Right, try to hide some of the.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Yeah, yeah, that's where I want, because when you
do work with a lot of clients, alot of them they start talking
out when they're working withtheir agent and they're going
through the process of buyingthe home and they're telling the
agent like I envision and a lotof times I think that if the
agent doesn't have that site,they really should.
At that moment I do encourageagents, say you know what,
(38:11):
before you start doing this,because it's like you're doing
the biggest purchase you'reprobably do and now you're going
to revamp that purchase, getwith a professional, spend the
extra money at least for aconsultation and see what they
suggest.
Would you agree?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
That's kind of I was going to say it's probably not a
trend, but something that Ilove to see kind of like.
Less of is like the DIY worldhas kind of spiraled out of
control.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
I know I'm like I'm like sighing right now on the
DIY stuff yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
And I think, I think it's a little deceiving because
I think some of the people thatare, you know, marketing
themselves as DIYers.
They're professionals.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
They are, they are not stopping this together on a
weekend in a one trip to HomeDepot.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
So you mean these TikToks that I'm watching of,
like paint your cabinets, paintyour countertops, paint
everything.
There's professionals.
I think that, if it seems, toogood to be true?
Speaker 2 (39:02):
it probably is.
I think a lot of that stufflike looks great in a photo but
when you get into it, it's itlooks like you painted your
backsplash, you know.
And I think if it's a temporaryand it makes you happy to not
have the brown for Micahcountertops anymore, then sure
go for it.
But it's a temporary fix andit's not.
(39:24):
You're not gonna get the resaleout of it, you know.
So like consulting aprofessional when necessary and
I think that there's so manyways to do that in an affordable
way let's like source out thetile work, let's source out the
countertops and things like that.
Like let's and I think, lookingat your house as a whole, too,
(39:44):
so many times I go to a houseand every single room has a
different flooring and I thinkthere's so much value in.
Okay, I know you wanna redoyour kitchen so let's take a
step back and like what is theflooring that you want to run
through your kitchen and let'scontinue that through the house?
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Exactly, and I was gonna say, like you see it from
that perspective.
As a real estate agent, Ialways tell people when I go in
I see a home that's got multiplefloors.
As an agent, I'm trying tofigure out which one was the
first one.
Because then I'm like, oh, theydid this in steps as they
renovated and then, obviously,whatever they did, if it was
tile, they did a transitionbecause they couldn't find the
(40:23):
same tower, they couldn't matchit up, or they decided they
didn't have the budget, or thebudget they got better.
So maybe they started with likea low floor and then they kept
building up from there and I'mlike, why wouldn't you just rip
it all out?
Have some continuity.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
I think there's value in just like maybe you have to
wait a little longer to do thatrenovation, but like let's do it
right.
You know, and I think rule ofthumb is like there should
really only be a transition frombehind a door, like at a door
threshold, and with that said,like another kind of thing I see
(40:57):
a lot is like somebody will runlike a wood look porcelain
throughout their home becauseit's durable and they like the
look of wood but they don't wantthe maintenance of wood.
But then in the bedrooms theywant to splurge and do a wood.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Well then, when your bedroom door's open you've got
the thing that's supposed tolook real next to the real
material, and that's kind of forme, I'm gonna one up you, I'm
gonna one up you on that one theas agents, we show these
properties when they use likethe 12 by 20 or the 24 by 24
(41:31):
tile and then they transitioninto the bedroom and they want
wood and I'm like why they don'teven speak to each other.
They're totally different looksand if there's one step worse,
it's like we're gonna use beigetile throughout, but we're gonna
use dark wood in the bedroom.
Why, why, I don't get it.
And it just it always like.
(41:51):
I think from a buyer'sperspective, they immediately go
through and I wanna know, aslike a designer, do you ever get
this as well?
Is that a lot of times buyerscome in and they look at a space
and immediately like thiskitchen's gonna cost us a
hundred thousand because theydon't have a concept of like?
Do you ever get that?
Where people, even the people,have budgets, they maybe
(42:13):
sometimes go to the high endbecause they're like they don't
know they're not in that world.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Yeah, and I think renovations in general are just
overwhelming to people.
So, like whether it's thevision or the budget, or the
amount of time that they thinkit might take.
I think it's all overwhelming.
So, they'd rather like shrinkthe size of the project and
(42:38):
focus on one room and in theirmind, the previous owner had
different flooring in thebedroom.
So let's just do the bedroombecause that's doable and it's
affordable and whereas, like, ifyou just at least get somebody
to come and tell you what theythink the project is gonna take
Right and do it right and do itkind of more cohesively, I think
(42:58):
that you're always gonna getyour money back out of that more
than kind of piece-melling ittogether.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I love that and it's like good words to end our
segment on, but I wanna thankSarah for coming in today.
Every one of our podcasts, wealways end with a rapid fire of
questions.
It gives our viewers like alittle bit more insight into the
person we're having in today.
So are you ready for your 12questions?
I think so, all right, so let'sget started.
(43:25):
This is 12 questions with Sarah, and the first question is and
I'm curious about this one aswell is what is one of the like
overly used words you wishdesigners would just stop using.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Oh, maybe not overly used, but overly cringy.
Like that a space is sexy.
Makes me, don't just die.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Favorite color Green Light wood or dark wood Dark
Favorite architectural style.
Speaker 2 (44:00):
Love a like craftsman , arts and crafts Kind of All
right.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
What designer would you like to have dinner with?
Could be famous, could be aliveor not alive Amber.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
Lewis, I just want to live in all her spaces.
So I just want to.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
What about a designer you'd like to have breakfast
with?
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Iris April.
She seems like a little crazy alittle kooky Breakfast dinner,
maybe Farmhouse in or out.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
On its way out.
On its way out.
I love that Favorite movie, ohgosh.
Speaker 2 (44:39):
Mmm, not a big movie, not a big movie.
Okay, I fall asleep in everymovie.
So clearly there's not a movieon your list.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Are you a dog or cat person?
Dog TV now I'm interested aboutthis one TV over a fireplace or
no?
Speaker 2 (44:58):
No, unless it's your only spot, I guess.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
Okay, and if you had a superpower, what would it be?
Oh, I want like 10 arms thatlike stretch to do multiple
things so you can be like allplaces at all times.
I love that.
Well then, sarah, I want tothank you for coming in.
It's been great, and I hopethat agents if you're listening
this is a great opportunity toreally take part in what she's
(45:22):
saying that there is going to bea union right Between designers
and a lot of our clients.
That's really helping them maketheir space into beautiful
spaces.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
right, yeah, use us as a resource, you know.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
And Sarah.
If anybody wanted to reach out,how could they contact you?
Speaker 2 (45:38):
You can contact me through my website, which is
palmhousecom.
It's P-O-M-M-E.
Housecom.
I'm on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
Same thing, Palm House and yeah, all right, check
her out.
All right, guys.
Thank you so much for listeningand I hope you're having an
amazing week.
Bye everyone.
We are back with another podcast.
It's been like several weekssince we've had a podcast, but
we are back and I have a guestin today.
I have a designer, a realdesigner, Sarah.
Sarah, how's it going?
It's going great, Great.
So, yeah, no thanks for comingin today.
So you've worked for like majordesigners, right?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yes, design firms.
Yeah, I've had the opportunityto work for some of the larger
firms in the country.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
But you have is like a new path you're going now.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, so I for about 10 years worked for a couple of
different designers in the areaand got to work on a lot of
different projects, differentsize firms, learned a lot, and
now I have decided that I'mgoing to kind of do that for
myself and be my own boss andstart my own firm.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So, and did you come up with like a design company
name?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, so we are a Palm House interior design.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Ooh, I like it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, so kind of playing off some design house
kind of concept.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And yeah, it's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So how long have you been in design?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
A little over 10 years.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
No, so I think we had a earlier conversation about
this.
Is there a?
There's a.
It's a little bit different, Iguess, than the way you would
explain like a designer versus,maybe, a decorator.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, so good, good question.
I get this a lot and I thinkthere's, you know, a lot of kind
of overlap that's used.
But a designer is somebody whohas a formal education, went to
school, has a degree in interiordesign.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
A decorator can be kind of anybody who just kind of
picked it up and decided thatthey are gonna take that path.
So a designer and a decoratorcan do some of the same things.
A designer can decorate, but adecorator doesn't design, if
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
No, it totally makes sense.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
So, like with a designer, you're gonna get
somebody who focuses on spaceplanning, interior architecture,
ceiling details, your cabinetryreally like transforming the
whole entire space and thinkingit through from ground up.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Whereas a decorator takes kind of the shell that
you're already working in anddecorates it.
You know they're gonna add yourdrapery and those layers that
makes it beautiful, makes itlook pretty, and so that's why,
like, a designer does that Right, but a decorator doesn't.
Now I can tell you right now.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I've already experienced this.
Like two weeks ago I decided todo my closet, like redo it, and
I'm definitely a decorator, nota designer and I had this
vision of like you know, I'mgonna go to IKEA and I'm gonna
get, like the IKEA pack system,this wardrobe system.
Well, I never really took intoaccount like when you're looking
at it, it's in almost like awarehouse, that's huge.
(03:07):
And I was just like, oh, it'sdefinitely fit.
And I did more like measure thelength, but I never considered
like the height and the width ofit and I was just like, yeah,
it's definitely gonna fit.
And when it showed up, I waslike, whoa, this is a lot bigger
than I planned.
And the handyman doing this work, he was like, did you really do
(03:28):
your measurements?
Because this is gonna be tightand so it all fit, but it fit
within like less than a half ofinch, it just fit.
And he was like, did you thinkabout the doorway?
Like I have to build it insidethe closet, because you didn't
take into account like theactual opening of the door and
we can't get it through.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean that.
Well, you know, designers runinto that sometimes too Right,
and sometimes you know I'veworked on high-rise condos
before and you have to take inconsideration the size of the
elevator.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Because you've got this massive sectional and.
I've had to take furniture upthe side of the building.
Oh my, gosh.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
No, that's gotta be an extra cost.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, and I just had to walk away and not watch, as
my you know sectional got liftedup.
That's insane.
The window cleaner.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Well then, I mean it does make more sense, like when
you broke it down that way aboutthe difference between the two,
because I never thought aboutthat.
I just thought about the prettystuff the, the sofa and the rug
and the paint colors but, I,didn't think about scale and a
lot of people are not good withscale.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Scale I think is a hard thing for a lot of people
to grasp.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And I think that that's where, like having a
designer, any even a gooddecorator you know can kind of
eyeball that.
And I think a decorator youknow has to have good taste.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
But just some of the background you know isn't there
in the little bit of the why andjust some of the extra layers.
You know, you know every.
The only thing that an interiordesigner isn't touching is load
bearing walls.
So we're moving walls around tomake sure that we can
accommodate the way you live inyour space and you know you want
(05:09):
to sit 12 people in a diningroom.
Well, you don't have the spacefor that, so let's shift this.
Take some room from here,because you don't need it in
your foyer.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And it's better used in your dining room.
So it's that kind of likethought process that a designer
can get you versus a decorator,and I think there's a place for
both.
But you just have to decide,kind of.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
What you brought up something was like really good,
because I bring this up in classall the time to new and
seasoned agents, which I thinkthere's like overlaps with when
you think about real estate andwhat design is.
I think they, when they cancome together, it's like really
good, happy, kind of marriage ofthe two, even though you don't
sell real estate and we don'tdesign rooms, but when the two
(05:51):
really do meet well.
But you brought up about loadbearing walls and I'm always
telling the agents like becareful.
We're real estate agents and alot of times you'll show
property to buyers and they'relike, ah, this would be like the
perfect room if I could justtake that wall out.
And every once in a while anagent will say, yeah, that wall
can come out, no problem.
Yeah, no problem at all.
(06:11):
And I'm like you gotta becareful.
And I was telling my class.
I'm like, yes, that wall couldcost $500 to come down, but it
could also cost several thousand, right?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yes, yeah, I mean, it can always come down for a
price, for a price, for anyprice, but you know even without
looking at an architect's plans, even a builder or somebody
that does it every day, like Ican tell you sometimes like, oh
yeah, you can't touch that wall,or sometimes you have to get in
there and look at it, but we'reworried.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
And that's what I always tell the agents.
I'm like, be careful about thatstuff.
We're real estate agents, we'renot designers, we're not
architects, we're not evencontractors.
So at minimum you need to be acontractor.
But going in and telling buyerswhat can and can't be done with
a room is super dangerous onour part.
Because, we don't have thetraining.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, somebody buys into an idea and then, you know,
crushes their dreams.
When it can't be done, yeah,and that's the thing.
It's a bad look.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, it's a bad look .
But I also tell the agents likehow much danger there is.
There is that they relied onyour opinion as a professional
and you're licensed, and thenthey buy that space and then
they find out they can't do whatthey wanted to do with it
because you told them incorrectinformation.
That's how you get sued.
So I'm like, be careful, leaveit to the professionals.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Don't make a definitive answer unless you're
positive and you can't bepositive about this and I always
tell them I'm like the house Ibought.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I bought a house a little over a year ago and
during my inspection period Ihad my inspector come in and
like listen, I'm gonna gut thishouse anyways, the only thing I
need you here for is this wall.
If this wall can't come down, Idon't want to buy the house.
And so he's like oh, you'regood.
But I wanted to make sure Ididn't want to risk it because
it looked like it might havebeen a load bearing wall.
(08:01):
And he was like no, you're fine, you're good.
Again, I don't have althoughI've sold a lot of homes, I've
looked at a lot of homes.
I don't have knowledge of that.
Now, exterior walls, yeah, thatkind of makes sense, but the
interior ones, that's where I'mlike mm, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, it must be the way the trusses run in the house
, and unless you're an expert,so that's good.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I mean.
So that starts us into howthere's, like, I guess,
correlations between the two anda lot of our agents and a lot
of agents around the world,whether it's in the US or around
the world.
They work with a lot ofinvestors who are buying
property and sometimes you willget investors who maybe they
don't have the vision of what isneeded to be done to the space
(08:44):
or what could be done with thespace.
Do you think that's like greatopportunities for investors and
realtors to bring designerstogether?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Definitely.
I think that every realtorshould have a designer in their
pocket.
And it might not be for everybuyer, but if somebody really
wants to do, a full gut butthey're like overwhelmed by it
let the designer step in and saylet me take that off your plate
.
I see what you want to do atthe space.
(09:12):
Let me make it a reality and doit in a way that is timeless,
and you're going to get thatmoney back out of your property.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That's probably the biggest.
It's, like you just said, likea key thing.
I would say that's like superimportant for agents to pay
attention to is that you knowwhether we're working with
buyers or sellers.
It's like be careful the moneyyou spend.
You want to get the money outof it.
And I'll have the buyers whowill look at a $400,000 home and
they'll see the bathroom isdated.
(09:40):
Well, this bathroom is going tocost us $35,000.
And I'm always like that mathdoesn't make sense.
And, of course, a client willsay like, why not?
You're overspending.
Have you ever had that for anyclient you've ever worked with
about their dreams, theirvisions, overspending?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Definitely.
You know I have clients tobring the architectural digest
as their you know inspirationphotos and but they're like my
overall budget's $100,000 forthe entire house and it's like,
okay, well, we can accomplishthis feeling.
These elements, yeah, but thehand carved marble sink that's
(10:22):
backlit and, right, you know,got 100% brass fixtures on it
are not going to be in yourprice point, but you know, when
you get into it it's like thatbathroom could cost you $35,000.
Right, or it could cost youhalf of that.
And, and I think, having adesigner that can help steer you
in the right way of where tospend your money Right and where
(10:44):
to maybe save.
I think is like a you know.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So you think it's possible to get really good
design and not, or I would say,like a big concept?
Do you think everybody,regardless of budget, could have
good design in their home?
Yes, okay, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think there's, you know, so many affordable lines
now that have kind of opened upthe possibilities at every price
point.
Right, you know?
Maybe you know full serviceinterior design is a luxury
service.
Right, you know, if you'rebuilding a house from the ground
up and you want to bring in adesigner and have them just run
(11:21):
with it, and if I come in to dothat, that there's a price tag
on that.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And not everybody can afford that.
However, there's a lot ofeveryone's fingertips of like.
I've done virtual consultationswhere there's a design fee
involved and you come to me withmeasurements, pictures,
inspiration.
The more you bring to me, themore I can share with you and we
(11:45):
just like do a brainstorming of.
You know there's a set time thatwe're going to spend on this
and we're going to come with alot of ideas and then you can
implement them oh, you know, inphases or what you can afford
but big picture, we're going toget some inspiration, get some
ideas and and kind of I can helpyou spell out how to accomplish
(12:05):
that.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
So for any client coming to you, what would be the
first step like if you had aconversation on their phone and
you said bring me ideas.
Where do you suggest they startcollecting those ideas?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Most people have these.
Now have Pinterest board.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Something like that, like Instagram, you know,
there's so many designersposting their work on.
Instagram, and it's just such abeautiful place to share.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Pinterest is amazing yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I mean, you can even like pin things from Instagram
and there's just a lot of gooddesign out there.
And sometimes people bring mepictures and I'm like it's not
that you know, we can make itbetter, right.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So what?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I have them do is bring me pictures and then I
will bring some inspiration tothe table too.
And when you start speaking andpictures, you know everybody's
on the same page.
Because, if you start sayingyou know I like a moody space,
but right, you may think moodyis different than I think moody,
yeah, so speaking in photos isthe way you kind of get on the
(13:02):
same page.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So do you ever have problems when you're working
with clients?
And you have either, you know,two partners.
They come to you for one room,but both are at different
spectrums.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yes, I am also a therapist.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I've witnessed, you know, marriage quarrels.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah Well, yeah, I would think that's gotta be like
wedding designed in a room.
They're both gotta be stressful.
There's nothing that will testyour relationship like a remodel
, you know Cause I'm surethere's always gonna be one
person that's gonna be like Iwant it my way.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
There's usually one person that takes the lead and
that's where you know we getprobably the best end result.
But I really like to get toknow my clients so that they
trust me and I try to.
You know, I don't try to pushthat other voice aside.
I really want to come up with aspace that both people are
happy with, cause at the end ofthe day you're both living there
(14:00):
.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, you're gonna use it every day.
You're gonna see it every day.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, I would say I'm not one of those designers.
That's like I have a vision andthis is what it's going to be.
You know, at the end of the day, you're living in the house,
you're enjoying it, this is yourspace and I just want to make
it beautiful.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now, do you ever get anybody who's just like
absolutely indecisive, like theyjust don't care.
They just want a pretty space,but they don't know which way
they want to go.
They don't care.
Right, yeah, I've had that, butyou have like full reign, full
freedom.
They're just like whatever yousee.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, yeah, but I like to, even with the people
that think they're open toeverything.
I like to speak in those photosand kind of come up with a
direction.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Before we even start pulling finishes or fabrics or
any of that.
So Kind of like to get us onthe same page and get like a A
verbal sign off for kind of thedirection we're going in.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
So if you ever had anybody that you're doing a
project and maybe like halfwaythrough they're like you know
what.
I'm just not feeling thatanymore.
I want to change.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
I think I've had a little bit of everything You're
going to talk back.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
No, you just had a bad night of sleep like relax,
right and.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I, maybe not so much that they just don't like the
whole direction.
But I've had people you knowWe've designed the whole house
and then they're like, hey, Imet with my architect and you
know we've got a differentfootprint, we're going to use
the house a little differently.
Can we just like translateeverything we pulled into the
new house?
I'm like, no, it doesn't workthat way.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
You can't make changes like this.
But you know, we go on and getit done, and so would you say
it's like it is important tobecause I do remind a lot of
buyers when I'm working withthem is that you know it's
really hard, regardless of yourbudget, to have the perfect
space because, like our needsare always changing, like what
is great today, next month youmight find, like you know, I
(15:56):
really don't like open spaces, Iwould rather have compartmental
little areas, but so no spaceis truly going to ever be
perfect because it's alwaysevolving, right, or would you
agree?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You agree, I think that's where like a designer
helps.
You know, I think that having aseasoned designer that has, you
know, worked in spaces beforekind of guiding you on that,
then right, then you don't havethat, you know, change of heart
so quickly because you've workedthrough all the, the ifs, you
(16:26):
know right.
And well, if you do that, thenyou're not going to be able to
fit this, or if we do take outthat wall, you will be able to
use it this way.
So we really like talk throughall of those potential issues or
potential changes.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah so that's not like you know, do you?
You work with the client andkind of paint.
Like you know you don't havekids now, but in five years you
will, and you kind of plan thespace for what could change in
their life.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, we do.
Like I like to just really getto know my clients and how they
live.
Do you have kids?
Do you have dogs?
Are you going to have kids,like just kind of getting into
your entire life?
Now, where do you spend themost time Are you?
Do you take naps on the couchor you like you perch?
Or you know, do you, do youentertain, do you spend time
(17:14):
outside?
You like the doors open?
You know, all of those thingsreally dictate how we treat the
space.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
So on a different direction, when we're starting
to we're kind of diving into allthis, I'm sort of think, like
as a designer, and you payattention to what's going on,
like we pay attention to what'sgoing on the market with housing
, housing prices, trends, as faras, like, what people are
building on your side, do yousee any mistakes on the part of
(17:46):
builders and people who aredoing flips?
You ever see like mistakesthey're making, that you're like
that could have been done somuch better.
What do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I've definitely walked into some flips that I'm
like, oh, I wish she wouldn'thave flipped it.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I wish.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I wish you know we would have kept some of the
original things.
I think the thing that I wishbuilders and people who flip
kind of step away from theirformula and I know that there's
like a budget in place and theyknow that they can get this
material at this cost.
But I think sometimes, likewe're in Winter Park, these
(18:25):
houses have tons of character,some of them are a little quirky
and they need to be transformedinto how we live our lives now.
But I think the biggest mistakeis stripping away all the
character and just doing thisformula for every house and you
can look through photos.
You know Zillow that's a hobbyof mine, flipping through Zillow
(18:46):
and I think you can tell what aflip is.
It's got, unfortunately, thegray vinyl flooring Stop it.
It's got a glass tilebacksplash and a white
countertop and white shakers andthat's the formula and I
understand that.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
That's a safe formula .
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Yeah, but I think the formula should kind of I think
we should pay attention to thearchitecture of the home Right
when the home was built and kindof leave some of those special
moments.
And maybe it's taking out thegreen and pink tile that's in
the 50s bathroom, but let's dolike a little ode to it, you
know like do it in a more modernway, because those tiles are
(19:29):
still inexpensive, like you canget the look for less, but keep
some of the character.
I think people are appreciatingthe character because I think
we're kind of correcting fromlike making everything really
clean, yeah, and kind of addingthat back in.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah, I agree and I always tell like a lot of, a lot
of my friends and a lot ofdesign not designers, but a lot
of builders and investors I workwith and, like you really have
to pay attention and I want tosee if I'm correct on this.
I'm always like you know, youneed to be careful about looking
at what's popular in Floridaright now, because I feel like
we're kind of like the end oflike trends or what's going on
(20:07):
around the world.
Like you know, should they lookat other parts to see what's
going to slowly trickle our wayas far as what's popular and
like gray, was gray popular inother parts of the world or in
California before it got to us?
I feel like everybody had alittle bit of gray moment and I
think we're all kind of shiftingaway from that and kind of
(20:30):
adding that warmth back in thatwe're getting yeah if I see one
more builder designer home thatdoes a gray floor, gray cabinets
, gray backsplash, a gray andwhite counters it's all gray,
gray, gray and gray walls Idon't think it's too much.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yeah, I have some like investors that I've worked
with that are like I don't wantto see one gray thing in this
house.
Because it's just, you know,it's had, it had its moment,
it's great, and now we're likedesigning for the future.
So the next stage of everything, and even if you go back in
like history of design.
I mean everything's like acorrection of what happened
(21:07):
before.
So you have your likeminimalist and then we did like,
and you know I'm not sure whichcame first, but the minimalist
or the correction of that, andlike going overboard.
But you know, it's always, italways works that way.
So it was like everything wasgray and now nothing is gray.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, and I always tell people to.
I tell a lot of like my theseinvestors I'm working with now.
I'm always telling them, likegot to be careful, because you
know you can look at homes andI'm sure you see.
This too Is that I can look atcertain homes that are whether
they're in Winter Park or theirdowntown, and they're using like
these brown cabinets with likea Baltic kind of brown granite
(21:44):
and I'm like, oh, it's 2008 or2007.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Oh, you can.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, and people are like, how did you know?
And like, because this was whatwas popular, everything
everyone used, and Travertine,it was all used at the same time
.
And then I was like now you gotto be careful because
everyone's going to know thatkitchen was remodeled in this
period, because it's all gray.
So it's like on our gray momentwe had our brown moment now in
(22:08):
a gray moment.
So what do you see as a newtrend?
What do you think the newtrends are?
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I would say definitely we're going to a
warmer color palette.
When I say warm, it's not thecherry warm.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Not cherry, we're the golden version of it.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
But, it's just like a nice organic, warm space,
adding those wood tones back inthat were kind of stripped away
and then like a handmade natureto things like the organic, so
not everything's so perfect.
Like Subway Towers was in everybacksplash and a flip.
(22:50):
Now it's like a handmadeversion of that.
So maybe the edges aren't likeperfectly squared off.
It's like embracing theimperfection and the beauty of
that of like a handmade item.
I think that adding all ofthose elements kind of like I
said, bringing the characterback into a space.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
So that's one thing.
Now do you think in likekitchen designs for the 23, 24
and so on?
Do you think it's going to bepopular for builders and people
when they're doing flips if theyhave the space to do kitchens
with larger working pantries?
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yes, yeah, I think that there's.
I think people want to see abeautiful kitchen and they don't
want to see all theirappliances on the countertops,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
They want to see the beautiful cutting boards that
you never cut on and thosethings on your kitchen counters,
and not Now, do you design somespaces, do you design stuff
when someone goes in and they'relike you know, this never gets
used, right, it just lookspretty, it's kind of going into
that, like knowing your client,like do you cook in your kitchen
?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Do you cook in your kitchen?
Do you entertain?
When you entertain, do you cookor do you have food brought in
kind of?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Okay, you got.
You got bougie clients.
I love it.
I've had the opportunity to workwith kind of that whole
spectrum of clients and I lovethat, though so, like I do think
it's important that investorsand when builders, especially
builders and I went on like arant the other day about this
that I was like you know,builders are making great money,
(24:27):
even even like the it doesn'thave to be custom Even the, the
marriage and the madame and youknow all these like good level
builders that people are buying.
I think even for those you'remaking great money.
Hire people to tweak thesekitchens and you don't have to
go and blow the budget.
There is ways.
Right the tweak stuff that youdon't have to use custom
(24:48):
cabinetry all the time.
Kitchen designs are a littlebit different.
It's not the standard big giantisland with as many cabinets as
possible.
But I'm also and I'm seeingbuilders kind of creep into this
a little bit the unrealisticparts of like floating shelves
in kitchen.
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
I think it all goes to how you live.
You know if you're the personthat you know, you use the same
coffee mug in the same bowlevery day and you're able to
just leave those shelves styledyou know, then I think it's
great.
But if you are somebody that'slike tossing Tupperware in one
cabinet and and lids in another,like that's not going to work
(25:29):
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Yeah, I showed.
I showed a property a fewmonths ago to a client and they
were just like I love thiskitchen and it had absolutely no
uppers.
It was nothing but floatingshelves and it looked cute
because it was vacant.
There was nothing staged, andso I was like yeah, yeah it's,
it's cool, I love it.
(25:51):
But I kept thinking the back ofmy head like this is so not
practical unless you have likeamazing dishes that all match.
Or maybe it's just me beinglike really anal.
But I was like I would walk inand be like there's too much.
It's too much clutter it's.
Is there a science?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
to that too.
I think it can be done well.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, I think like styling with larger items is
always a way to like a decoratorversus a designer kind of thing
, like just something we'regoing to throw it on there.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I think, I think a decorator can still style.
I think that's kind of whatthey're.
They're doing every day youknow, is styling things.
So I think that they can.
They can accomplish that, but Ithink that A designer is going
to make sure that you have thatstorage elsewhere.
Yeah, like okay, so we tookaway your uppers because it's
beautiful and we want toshowcase, you know, your all
(26:44):
white handmade dishes.
Yeah, but we need to make surethat your island has storage.
You have that working pantry,that all of your appliances go
in all of your drinkware, allthe stuff is stuck away.
The sippy cups, the you knowboxes of cereal, that kind of
thing.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Yeah, and I always tell agents and I've taught a
couple of my clients I saidthere's a term that we learned
in school.
In real estate it's thefunctional obsolescence, and I'm
like it's not really functional, basically Like it's it's
pretty to look at but it's notfunctional.
And I do think like maybethat's it's just my real estate
side of me coming out.
I'm like, oh, there's going tobe a lot of flips that were done
(27:22):
in the past, like five, sixyears, where people were like,
oh, it's so great that I havefloating shelves and I'm like
those are going to come down andcabinets are going to go back
up, because they're going tofigure out like all my stuff
looks ugly, because I have likemix and match and I just throw
stuff and and I don't have timeto stack the plates a certain
way, I just want to throw themup there.
(27:43):
And then I always think to himlike, if you don't have someone
who's clean in the house, wheredoes your desk sit?
It probably goes and sits onthis place.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
But you're not using this place because you're not
allowed.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
You're not allowed.
But that's where I was like Iwas looking at the ones like in
pantries and like floatingshelves are amazing, but in a
kitchen and this is all you havelike a little 10 by 10 quick
kitchen and that's what the roomI was looking at.
It was like a 10 by 12 kitchenand I was like it has no uppers
and there's no pantry.
This is crazy, this is.
(28:15):
But my buyers were like so intothe moment they didn't think,
oh, there's no pantry, Where'syour canned goods going to go?
They're going on the floatingshelves.
This is not good.
This is not good.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, you know, it's all about how you live and in
the way you use the space.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
And so it's a risky move for a flip because you're
trying to appeal to the masses.
But for me, you know, if I, ifmy client, expresses that they
just want a really beautifulkitchen right then it's a good
way to mix it up and not havethe formula of like all uppers,
all lowers.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
What are three trends you would love to see more of
in 23?
Personally, maybe.
I'm a fan of wallpaper and it'sa mixed, you know it's a mixed
bag.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Either you hate it or you love it.
But you know I want to see morewallpaper, more textures, like
and they make it where it'seasier to install and take it
down Right.
It's not like old 19, like 50wallpaper.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah, it uses to the drywall and you have to pull the
drywall down.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
But I do hate, you know, Florida, we have these
textured walls.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
And it's such a shame .
Why can't we, you know?
Now is that something that Imean buyers.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Probably a lot of homeowners don't really think of
that's something they wouldhave to address, right if they
were going to put wallpaper up.
It depends on the type of wallcovering but it does make it a
little more difficult, sowallpaper.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
I like adding texture into the space, so wall
covering, kind of that texture.
Decorative lighting I thinkthat, like people don't add
enough decorative lighting intheir homes and I think that
that's something as a homeowner,even without a designer, you
can swap out your light fixturesand the impact that it has on
the space is huge Now are youtalking about just like lamps?
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Are you talking so the average person out there who
might be listening?
What do you mean by likedifferent types of lighting?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Like well, there's kind of different levels, you've
got your overall lighting andthen you've got, like, your
hanging fixtures, yourchandeliers, your pendants.
You know, not every room needsa fan.
I know it's Florida, but youdon't need a fan.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
I saw a fan in a kitchen over the weekend and my
buyer was like what is that?
I'm like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Yeah, yeah, we shouldn't do that.
But like why you know you'rehanging lights and then in then
your task lights, like your,your lamp, so that you don't
always have to have thoseoverhead lights on.
You know, I think that addinglayers of lighting right warms
up a space.
It adds, like some dynamicenergy to the space.
(30:58):
You know, you have like.
Your lighting come from, comingfrom above, from kind of like
face level when you're thinkingabout the lighting.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You said so overhead and then you said more like
lamps or yes, I think that youknow swapping out your fixtures.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
You know a lot of.
You know like you're mentioninglike builder grade homes.
They're great and that's likethe majority of what people have
.
You know, swapping out thosefixtures and giving some
characters and personality tothe space is really great.
And then even lamps, you knowhaving having being able to turn
off the overhead lights andturn on that like ambient light
(31:33):
makes a big difference in thespace, so I think people should
pay attention to their lighting.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Absolutely.
I always make one of my friendslaugh at the like when I got
into my adult world and I got myfirst home and and then I kind
of figured out what my style was, I had one of my my
girlfriend's come over and shewas like I love your house.
And I'm like, yeah, there'slike nobody looks great in full
lighting.
Everything should be.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Everything should be warm.
Yes, candlelight, Can I just.
Can you put it on?
Speaker 1 (32:02):
a dimmer.
Please Can I have a dimmer?
Like going into a room and shewas like some.
Now, even like 40 years later,she's like.
I just love the fact that Stevesaid that nobody looks good in
full light.
I'm like it's rare, like I'msorry, it's just rare.
You got to be like a stunninglybeautiful person, that full
light coming at you, but if it'sdimmed, exactly everyone's got
(32:24):
a nice glow to you.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Nobody wants the, the LED, the white lights.
Yeah, we got to.
We got to pay attention to thewarmth of our, our bulbs.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yeah, I, I I messed up in the home I remodeled.
I went and I bought lightsonline.
I went to like Amazon, which Igot a great deal, but I bought
these like recess lighting and Ididn't really pay attention to
like.
It was like daylight, right,one of the options, and I'm like
, well, that sounds good, likelet's get it, it's going to be
bright.
Well then they installed allthese lights and literally when
(32:55):
I had to swap them out about amonth later, because when all
the lights were on you coulddrive down the street and I was
like that's Steve's house.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
You can see it from outer space.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Yes, it was so much light and I'm like whoa, this is
a lot of lighting and I think Imade a mistake.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Yeah, like rule of thought.
I mean you should always kindof stay between like 2700,
kelvin's and 3000.
That's kind of my.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I swear, I think you just went into like a scientific
role and I'm like I've, I'velooked at that and I was like
what does?
Speaker 2 (33:25):
that mean Kelvin's is like the warmth of the bulb.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right, I'm the one who has to go to like the Home
Depot and I'm like where's thelight exhibit?
All right there.
So that's too yellow, that'stoo white, that one looks just
right.
I'm going to take you.
That's why it's there, or thatare I told one of my friends.
I was like I got really lucky.
I found these bulbs and they'vegot all the settings, so I'm
just going to buy them and thenthe my contractor will install
(33:51):
them and I'll just have themplay with it until I'm like
that's the right light, I likethat one.
So when you're starting tothink about suggestions that, as
a designer, you're ready to seeno more of in 23, what would
you say your top three of?
Like?
I've seen enough.
I don't want to say it again.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
The gray flooring gray wine, yes, the the.
I would say that three things.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
And you won't offend anybody.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
I had the gray in my mind, do you think?
Speaker 1 (34:24):
like I don't know, like open spaces,
compartmentalized farmhouse.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
I mean, the shabby farmhouse can can kind of make
its way out.
Is that a thing anymore?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I remember like back in the day when I would see like
shabby chic and I'm like, whatis that?
Oh, that's just like a lot offrilly stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Yeah, it's like chalk paint and that kind of thing.
But you know I have really greatclients that have good, great
taste and you know I'm seeingthere's a lot of great things.
That are people.
I think people have a lot ofaccess to good design now and it
can be a, you know, blessingand a curse that, like all of
(35:04):
this really great design, is ateveryone's fingertips, like it
used to be.
You had to find, go out and getan architectural digest or a
interior's magazine, but now youknow it pops up on your feed.
You know it pops up everywhere,especially if you're doing a
renovation.
You know they'll.
They seek you out yeah, netflix, youtube and they start
targeting you with everything.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
You've got plenty of access.
I think I definitely agree thatif buyers are going to work
with homeowners, are going towork with a designer, that
you've got plenty of access.
So at least when you go to meetwith you, I could bring you,
like my iPhone and my keyer.
Here's all the stuff I love.
Now put it together for me,because I think there is a
(35:45):
difference of like finding allthose cool pictures and then
find it out what's realistic.
Like I was looking at somethingand you brought it up about that
stone, that marble kind of likesink, and I was doing I'm
remodeling a bathroom now.
But I went and I was like Iwant to do all marble.
It's going to look so cool andI had all these like Pinterest
(36:06):
pages done.
Well, that got shot down realquick as soon as I went and I
was like so I want to do thisand I picked and it was just the
marble alone and I'm like, holycrap, like I can't do that.
I would be over in pervy and itsounds great.
But yeah, I just picked out allthis marble tile work and they
were like, okay, based off thesquare footage, and they gave me
(36:28):
like it was like $5,000 in justmarble, just for the shower,
and I was like yeah, nevermind,like is there a porcelain towel
that looks like this?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Well, and that's where, like we talked about
earlier, like the designer canhelp you accomplish that in a
way that's not only lessexpensive but is more
maintenance friendly.
You know marble is notnecessarily.
You know it looks good, right?
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Yeah, it's like, it's like black floors ebony floors
where I've gone into like modelhomes or homes that like I did
the parade of homes this pastyear and I went into a home in
Winter Park and it was anunbelievable home, definitely a
particular type where it's likea lot of gold and black and
(37:18):
ornate and it looked reallypretty.
But I was like the first thingI guess it's the real estate
agent side of me as soon as Iwalked in I was like black
floors, not practical.
It's just not practical, wouldyou agree?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
The darker the floor is, the more it's going to show.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yeah, like, I'm like clearly people don't have kids
or dog or walk and the morepolished, it is, it's going to
show more.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
So anytime you're doing like a darker floor, we
should have like some movementin it.
Right, try to hide some of the.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Yeah, yeah, that's where I want, because when you
do work with a lot of clients, alot of them they start talking
out when they're working withtheir agent and they're going
through the process of buyingthe home and they're telling the
agent like I envision and a lotof times I think that if the
agent doesn't have that site,they really should.
At that moment I do encourageagents, say you know what,
(38:11):
before you start doing this,because it's like you're doing
the biggest purchase you'reprobably do and now you're going
to revamp that purchase, getwith a professional, spend the
extra money at least for aconsultation and see what they
suggest.
Would you agree?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
That's kind of I was going to say it's probably not a
trend, but something that Ilove to see kind of like.
Less of is like the DIY worldhas kind of spiraled out of
control.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
I know I'm like I'm like sighing right now on the
DIY stuff yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
And I think, I think it's a little deceiving because
I think some of the people thatare, you know, marketing
themselves as DIYers.
They're professionals.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
They are, they are not stopping this together on a
weekend in a one trip to HomeDepot.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
So you mean these TikToks that I'm watching of,
like paint your cabinets, paintyour countertops, paint
everything.
There's professionals.
I think that, if it seems, toogood to be true?
Speaker 2 (39:02):
it probably is.
I think a lot of that stufflike looks great in a photo but
when you get into it, it's itlooks like you painted your
backsplash, you know.
And I think if it's a temporaryand it makes you happy to not
have the brown for Micahcountertops anymore, then sure
go for it.
But it's a temporary fix andit's not.
(39:24):
You're not gonna get the resaleout of it, you know.
So like consulting aprofessional when necessary and
I think that there's so manyways to do that in an affordable
way let's like source out thetile work, let's source out the
countertops and things like that.
Like let's and I think, lookingat your house as a whole, too,
(39:44):
so many times I go to a houseand every single room has a
different flooring and I thinkthere's so much value in.
Okay, I know you wanna redoyour kitchen so let's take a
step back and like what is theflooring that you want to run
through your kitchen and let'scontinue that through the house?
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Exactly, and I was gonna say, like you see it from
that perspective.
As a real estate agent, Ialways tell people when I go in
I see a home that's got multiplefloors.
As an agent, I'm trying tofigure out which one was the
first one.
Because then I'm like, oh, theydid this in steps as they
renovated and then, obviously,whatever they did, if it was
tile, they did a transitionbecause they couldn't find the
(40:23):
same tower, they couldn't matchit up, or they decided they
didn't have the budget, or thebudget they got better.
So maybe they started with likea low floor and then they kept
building up from there and I'mlike, why wouldn't you just rip
it all out?
Have some continuity.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
I think there's value in just like maybe you have to
wait a little longer to do thatrenovation, but like let's do it
right.
You know, and I think rule ofthumb is like there should
really only be a transition frombehind a door, like at a door
threshold, and with that said,like another kind of thing I see
(40:57):
a lot is like somebody will runlike a wood look porcelain
throughout their home becauseit's durable and they like the
look of wood but they don't wantthe maintenance of wood.
But then in the bedrooms theywant to splurge and do a wood.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Well then, when your bedroom door's open you've got
the thing that's supposed tolook real next to the real
material, and that's kind of forme, I'm gonna one up you, I'm
gonna one up you on that one theas agents, we show these
properties when they use likethe 12 by 20 or the 24 by 24
(41:31):
tile and then they transitioninto the bedroom and they want
wood and I'm like why they don'teven speak to each other.
They're totally different looksand if there's one step worse,
it's like we're gonna use beigetile throughout, but we're gonna
use dark wood in the bedroom.
Why, why, I don't get it.
And it just it always like.
(41:51):
I think from a buyer'sperspective, they immediately go
through and I wanna know, aslike a designer, do you ever get
this as well?
Is that a lot of times buyerscome in and they look at a space
and immediately like thiskitchen's gonna cost us a
hundred thousand because theydon't have a concept of like?
Do you ever get that?
Where people, even the people,have budgets, they maybe
(42:13):
sometimes go to the high endbecause they're like they don't
know they're not in that world.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Yeah, and I think renovations in general are just
overwhelming to people.
So, like whether it's thevision or the budget, or the
amount of time that they thinkit might take.
I think it's all overwhelming.
So, they'd rather like shrinkthe size of the project and
(42:38):
focus on one room and in theirmind, the previous owner had
different flooring in thebedroom.
So let's just do the bedroombecause that's doable and it's
affordable and whereas, like, ifyou just at least get somebody
to come and tell you what theythink the project is gonna take
Right and do it right and do itkind of more cohesively, I think
(42:58):
that you're always gonna getyour money back out of that more
than kind of piece-melling ittogether.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I love that and it's like good words to end our
segment on, but I wanna thankSarah for coming in today.
Every one of our podcasts, wealways end with a rapid fire of
questions.
It gives our viewers like alittle bit more insight into the
person we're having in today.
So are you ready for your 12questions?
I think so, all right, so let'sget started.
(43:25):
This is 12 questions with Sarah, and the first question is and
I'm curious about this one aswell is what is one of the like
overly used words you wishdesigners would just stop using.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Oh, maybe not overly used, but overly cringy.
Like that a space is sexy.
Makes me, don't just die.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Favorite color Green Light wood or dark wood Dark
Favorite architectural style.
Speaker 2 (44:00):
Love a like craftsman , arts and crafts Kind of All
right.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
What designer would you like to have dinner with?
Could be famous, could be aliveor not alive Amber.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
Lewis, I just want to live in all her spaces.
So I just want to.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
What about a designer you'd like to have breakfast
with?
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Iris April.
She seems like a little crazy alittle kooky Breakfast dinner,
maybe Farmhouse in or out.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
On its way out.
On its way out.
I love that Favorite movie, ohgosh.
Speaker 2 (44:39):
Mmm, not a big movie, not a big movie.
Okay, I fall asleep in everymovie.
So clearly there's not a movieon your list.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Are you a dog or cat person?
Dog TV now I'm interested aboutthis one TV over a fireplace or
no?
Speaker 2 (44:58):
No, unless it's your only spot, I guess.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
Okay, and if you had a superpower, what would it be?
Oh, I want like 10 arms thatlike stretch to do multiple
things so you can be like allplaces at all times.
I love that.
Well then, sarah, I want tothank you for coming in.
It's been great, and I hopethat agents if you're listening
this is a great opportunity toreally take part in what she's
(45:22):
saying that there is going to bea union right Between designers
and a lot of our clients.
That's really helping them maketheir space into beautiful
spaces.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
right, yeah, use us as a resource, you know.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
And Sarah.
If anybody wanted to reach out,how could they contact you?
Speaker 2 (45:38):
You can contact me through my website, which is
palmhousecom.
It's P-O-M-M-E.
Housecom.
I'm on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
Same thing, Palm House and yeah, all right, check
her out.
All right, guys.
Thank you so much for listeningand I hope you're having an
amazing week.
Bye everyone.
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