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2. Unrealistic Expectations
Terry Vinn of Totus Construction says he finds clients can be influenced by television renovation shows. “This can result in a costly mistake as clients have often already paid fees for an architect’s drawings or planning,” he says. “They realize they’re way off in terms of their budget.”
Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management agrees, saying she often finds a budget is too low for the client’s aspirations in terms of scope and finish.
Solution: “Showing clients the best options and the reality of these costs is the best we can do to inform their choices,” Spencer says. “We always let our clients know they can purchase suggested items over time to spread the cost too.”
Encouraging clients to consider phasing the work is another option — tackling phase one now with the initial budget, then phase two a year or so later when the budget has recovered.
Vinn underlines the value of getting clients to engage with the builder at the concept stage of the project. “Builders can explain the cost differences between various design options, preventing the need to go back to the drawing board at a later stage, which would equal additional architect’s fees.”
Hoad agrees with starting the conversation early. “One of the first bits of paid work is to set up an outline budget,” she says. Her outline will have headings with the approximate cost for the various professionals involved and estimated costs for each part of the second fix.
“The total can, of course, change dramatically, but it’s a means for the client to see clearly how their money is likely to be spent, and it helps them to make decisions and prioritize accordingly,” she says.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Comfortable Sofa
Alison Felstead, owner and interior designer at Naibu Design, says, “When designing a living room, I’d recommend you select the sofa first as it is generally the largest piece of furniture in the room. It needs to be proportionate to the space it’s going into, and very comfortable. I will often choose an easy-to-clean fabric in a neutral color that’s simple to update with cushions.”
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, adds, “I’d recommend specifying custom-made upholstery pieces from local makers. Not only does this support local manufacturing, but it’s generally easier to customize pieces to your clients’ needs, you can easily follow the progress of the manufacture, there’s often more flexibility with timing, and you won’t have the hassle — or cost — of relying on overseas shipping.
“If you consider the quality and life span of custom pieces, they are not necessarily more expensive than imported retail pieces. Superior frames and fill types guarantee a long-life product. If you choose a piece with clean lines and comfortable proportions, it can last your clients for years, with the option to update the look and feel with new upholstery or filling down the track.”
Should You Go the Custom Route in Your Projects?
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Comfortable Sofa
Alison Felstead, owner and interior designer at Naibu Design, says, “When designing a living room, I’d recommend you select the sofa first as it is generally the largest piece of furniture in the room. It needs to be proportionate to the space it’s going into, and very comfortable. I will often choose an easy-to-clean fabric in a neutral color that’s simple to update with cushions.”
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, adds, “I’d recommend specifying custom-made upholstery pieces from local makers. Not only does this support local manufacturing, but it’s generally easier to customize pieces to your clients’ needs, you can easily follow the progress of the manufacture, there’s often more flexibility with timing, and you won’t have the hassle — or cost — of relying on overseas shipping.
“If you consider the quality and life span of custom pieces, they are not necessarily more expensive than imported retail pieces. Superior frames and fill types guarantee a long-life product. If you choose a piece with clean lines and comfortable proportions, it can last your clients for years, with the option to update the look and feel with new upholstery or filling down the track.”
Should You Go the Custom Route in Your Projects?
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Comfortable Sofa
Alison Felstead, owner and interior designer at Naibu Design, says, “When designing a living room, I’d recommend you select the sofa first as it is generally the largest piece of furniture in the room. It needs to be proportionate to the space it’s going into, and very comfortable. I will often choose an easy-to-clean fabric in a neutral color that’s simple to update with cushions.”
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, adds, “I’d recommend specifying custom-made upholstery pieces from local makers. Not only does this support local manufacturing, but it’s generally easier to customize pieces to your clients’ needs, you can easily follow the progress of the manufacture, there’s often more flexibility with timing, and you won’t have the hassle — or cost — of relying on overseas shipping.
“If you consider the quality and life span of custom pieces, they are not necessarily more expensive than imported retail pieces. Superior frames and fill types guarantee a long-life product. If you choose a piece with clean lines and comfortable proportions, it can last your clients for years, with the option to update the look and feel with new upholstery or filling down the track.”
Should You Go the Custom Route in Your Projects?
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
“Everyone wants an island in their kitchen — the bigger the better. It is the most requested kitchen must-have we receive,” says Chad Kahle, president of Kitchen Vision of the Carolinas in Denver, North Carolina. And islands are getting bigger than ever, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Of the 1,780 homeowners Houzz surveyed about their recent or planned kitchen renovation projects, more than half (52%) were opting for islands longer than 7 feet. That’s up 10 percentage points from 2024.
As kitchen islands increase in size, so do the possibilities for customization. So what should homeowners be including to make the most of this popular kitchen feature? We canvassed kitchen design professionals to find out.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
A statement headboard is another way to draw attention. “It serves as a focal point in the bedroom and can significantly impact the overall vibe of the space,” says design-build pro Michael Rezek of Chi Renovation & Design. “Whether it’s through intricate designs, bold colors or unique shapes and patterns, a statement headboard is a feature that can elevate the bedroom’s design, making it more visually stimulating and personalized.”
An upholstered headboard versus a hard, solid material will add function to your room. “I always recommend an upholstered headboard,” says designer Heather Hanley of The Tin Roof. “Not only is it an elegant look and timeless, but it’s functional for those of us that love to read in bed, watch TV or work in bed. I love to lean up against the headboard and spread out a project and work while sitting in bed. It’s cozy and seems somewhat like resting, even if it’s not.”
In this Tampa, Florida, bedroom by Debra Ackerbloom, a scalloped channel-tufted headboard elevates the serene style.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Construction and design professionals are heading into 2026 with a cautiously optimistic perspective, according to the Q1 2026 U.S. Houzz Pro Industry Barometer. Many firms anticipate stable demand and growth opportunities for the year, but ongoing cost pressures, labor constraints and broader economic uncertainties are prompting businesses to adjust strategies to protect margins.
A majority (56%) of firms in the construction sector are expecting a good to very good year, 28% are anticipating stable conditions, and 16% foresee weaker performance than in 2025. In the architectural and design services sector, half (50%) expect a strong year, 35% report a neutral outlook and 15% anticipate declines in business performance.
Construction firms’ expectations are more subdued for the first quarter of 2026 — after a softening in late 2025 — than for the year overall. Architecture and design firms are on a stronger footing in the first quarter of 2026, buoyed by increased business activity in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“Construction and design businesses are heading into 2026 with a measured but resilient outlook,” says Marine Sargsyan, head of economic research at Houzz. “While expectations for the broader national economy remain subdued, and cost and labor pressures persist, many firms anticipate stable demand for their projects. To drive revenue growth in 2026, businesses are adjusting their strategies by raising prices, prioritizing larger and higher-value projects and investing in employee productivity, reflecting broader industry interest around AI-enabled software tools such as Houzz Pro.”
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
2. Block Out Segments of the Day, Including Rest Time
Once you have your plan for the day, it’s a good idea to work out an effective timeline. “I block out time in meaningful chunks, so I know I can achieve something and make progress in whatever area I’m working on at that time,” Higgins says.
Take into consideration factors that influence the best time for each task. This could be the need to work around the schedules of clients or contractors, but it could also be influenced by how your productivity ebbs and flows throughout the day. If you’re a morning person, perhaps schedule tasks that require concentration earlier on, for example.
“I find using an online [calendar] keeps me organized, not just for appointments, but tasks too,” interior designer Ann Cope says. In addition to setting aside blocks of time to work on your business, she also recommends scheduling breaks away from the desk.
6 Proven Time Management Tips for Home Professionals
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7. Buy Once, Buy Well
Patricia Butler, interior designer at Patricia Butler Interiors in Kentucky, is guided by the words of two design visionaries. “First, ‘Fashion fades, only style remains the same,’ which is a quote from Coco Chanel. It reminds me to be true to myself,” Butler says.
“The second is, ‘Buy the best and you will only cry once,’ from interior designer Miles Redd. I love this one for its practicality.
“Years ago, I saw two torchieres that I desperately wanted but were just outside my budget,” Butler says. “So I purchased two from an online discount company. When they arrived, I was terribly disappointed in the quality. I tried to return them, but the return would have cost more than what I had paid. Eventually, after waiting and saving, I purchased the original torchieres. Moral of the story: It is better on your pocketbook to wait and save for the real deal.”
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Counters help define an outdoor kitchen’s style. “Choose a stone [or other material] that ties the whole look together or provides a fun accent,” says Kara Gorski of Landed in Alexandria, Virginia.
Practical considerations. Add plenty of countertop area around the grill. “No matter how small an outdoor kitchen is, it needs to have adequate counter space,” says landscape designer Deborah Gliksman of Urban Oasis Landscape Design in Los Angeles. Douglass recommends leaving enough room for utensils as well as cooked and uncooked food.
Pros say you’ll probably need to seal the countertop when it’s installed and then reseal it every few years, as food spills and metal contact can stain it. If your counters are completely exposed to weather, the elements can also cause wear.
Finally, make good use of the cabinetry the counters sit on. It’s a prime space for storage as well as other amenities, such as an undercounter refrigerator.