Some remodeling decisions get more attention than others. Tile, countertops and cabinet colors are exciting, but the choices that determine how a room actually works are not always the obvious ones.
For the August edition of The Edit, we asked Damian seven homeowner questions about design, trends, function and where experience can change the answer.
Q1: Can a shower be too big?
Damian: Absolutely. I understand why homeowners want larger showers, especially when they are replacing a tub they rarely use. But the shower still has to fit the bathroom.
If making it larger compromises the vanity, storage, circulation or simply makes the rest of the room feel cramped, we’ve gone too far. I look at the bathroom as a whole. The goal isn’t to build the largest shower we can fit. It’s to create a bathroom remodel where the shower feels right for the room.
Q2: What kitchen trend would you skip?
Damian: Anything that doesn’t work for the homeowner.
Large islands, open shelving and kitchens with fewer upper cabinets can all look great. But if you need the storage, removing cabinets for a cleaner look doesn’t make much sense. The same goes for squeezing an oversized island into a kitchen that doesn’t have enough room for it.
I don’t have a problem with trends. I have a problem with sacrificing function for one. That’s why I think homeowners should consider whether changing the kitchen layout actually makes sense before designing around a feature they saw somewhere else.
Q3: Tile or cabinetry first?
Damian: Either can work. I just like having something lead the design.
If you find a distinctive tile you love, we can build the other selections around it. If the cabinetry is going to define the room, start there instead.
The mistake is choosing everything separately because you like each piece individually. Beautiful materials don’t automatically create a beautiful room. They still have to work together. The same thinking applies when deciding how much kitchen storage you actually need before cabinetry is finalized.
Q4: What decision gets made too late?
Damian: Sometimes it’s the smaller functional decisions because everyone is focused on the big selections first.
Homeowners naturally start with cabinets, countertops, tile and fixtures. But how you actually use the room matters just as much. Where do things need to be stored? What do you want within reach? What bothers you about the room you have now?
Those questions are much easier to address while we’re planning than after everything has already been selected. That’s part of why our remodeling process starts with understanding the existing space and what needs to work better before we get too far into selections.
Q5: What details do homeowners overlook?
Damian: Usually the small finishing details.
Where does the tile end? How are exposed edges finished? Where will the cuts fall? How does one flooring material transition into another? Are the proportions right?
Those aren’t usually the exciting decisions, but you see them everywhere when the room is finished. Good tile installation isn’t only about the tile itself. Layout, cuts, transitions and finishing details all contribute to how the completed room feels.
Q6: Is spending more always worth it?
Damian: No. Price and value aren’t the same thing.
Sometimes spending more gets you better quality, better performance or something you genuinely love. Other times you’re paying considerably more without improving the finished room.
I would rather decide where the budget will actually make a difference. Expensive materials won’t fix poor proportions, a bad layout or careless installation. That’s one reason it helps to understand what really determines the cost of a kitchen remodel rather than looking at individual material prices alone.
Q7: When should something stay?
Damian: When changing it doesn’t give the homeowner enough in return.
Remodeling doesn’t mean everything has to be removed or relocated. If something is in good condition, functions well and works with the new plan, I’ll tell a homeowner that.
Every change costs something — money, time, space or additional work. Sometimes a more focused kitchen update makes more sense than replacing parts of the room that are still working well. I’d rather put the budget toward improvements that will actually make the room better.
Damian’s Take
A good remodel isn’t about changing the most things or following every new idea. It’s about understanding what will make the room work better for the people who live there.
Trends, beautiful materials and larger features can all have a place. They just need a reason to be there. That’s also at the heart of planning a remodel for the home you want to stay in — making choices around how you actually want to live in the space rather than simply changing it for the sake of change.