What I Wish Every Homeowner Knew Before Their First Design Consultation
I've sat across from a lot of homeowners at the very beginning of a project. And almost every time, there's a moment early in the conversation where I can see it on their face — a mix of excitement and pure overwhelm. They've been dreaming about this renovation for months, maybe years, and now that it's actually happening, they're not sure where to start or what they're even supposed to bring to the table. So if you're getting ready for your first design consultation — whether it's with me or anyone else — here's what I wish every homeowner knew going in.
You Don't Need to Have It All Figured Out
This is the biggest one. People often think they need a fully formed vision before they walk in — a Pinterest board, a color palette, a clear sense of "modern farmhouse" versus "coastal grandmother." You don't. Part of my job is helping you find that vision, not grading you on whether you already had one. Some of the best projects start with nothing more than "I don't love my kitchen and I don't know why."
Bring the Real Constraints, Not Just the Wish List
Budget, timeline, how long you plan to stay in the home, whether you have kids or pets, how you actually use the space day to day — these details matter more than anything on a mood board. A gorgeous design that ignores how your family actually lives isn't a good design. I'd rather know upfront that you have three kids and a dog that sheds than find out after we've already picked a pale linen sofa.
A Good Consultation Is a Conversation, Not a Sales Pitch
You should leave feeling like you were listened to, not like you were shown a catalog. If a consultation feels like it's rushing you toward decisions, or if you feel like you can't ask a question that seems "too basic," that's a sign to slow down and ask more, not less. There's no such thing as a silly question about your own home.
It's Okay to Change Your Mind
Sometimes what someone thinks they want in the first five minutes shifts entirely by the end of the conversation, once they've actually talked through how they use their space. That's not indecision — that's the process working. A good designer should welcome that shift, not push back against it.
The Goal Is Clarity, Not Perfection
You're not being asked to make irreversible decisions in a single sitting. The goal of a first consultation is to walk away with a clearer sense of direction — not a finished plan. Clarity first, details later.
One Last Thing…
Whatever you're picturing for your home — or, increasingly for me, for a restaurant or hospitality space — the process starts the same way: with an honest conversation about how the space needs to work, and what it should feel like once it does.
Ready to have that conversation?Get in touch to schedule your first design consultation.
