I am excited to have Munir Turunc as our guest today. Munir is the CEO of Marble Systems which was started in 1982. Marble systems brings the finest natural stone to the design & architectural community specializing in high-end residential, commercial and hospitality projects. Munir has led Marble Systems for nearly 40 years, transforming it into one of the most respected and design-forward names in the natural stone industry. Most recently, the company was recognized by Hospitality + Design...
Jun 24, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 24
If you’ve ever dreamed of updating your bathroom and tiling your shower yourself, this episode is for you. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, explains the step-by-step process of tiling a shower from a DIY perspective. Whether you're working on a small stall or a large walk-in, this guide will help you understand what materials and tools you’ll need—and walk you through the job with confidence. Gil lists what tools and materials you will need for this task. He will also explain the 10...
Jun 16, 2025•33 min•Season 10Ep. 23
We all love a clean home but I don't know anyone who has the time to spend hours cleaning. The trick is to design your home with easy maintenance in mind, unless of course you love to clean. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica, joins me in the topic of high design vs low maintenance. We will give you ideas on what to substitute for the following high maintenance items: Crystal and ornate chandeliers High maintenance furniture Open shelving Cabinets not going to the ceiling Complex tile patterns Diffi...
Jun 09, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 22
We’re seeing wallpaper used strategically—in powder rooms, accent walls, ceilings, and even closets. It’s no longer about covering every wall in floral prints. It’s about statement-making, and adding texture, dimension. And personality to your home. Whether you want a bold statement wall or a subtle touch of elegance, the right wallpaper can completely change the look and feel of your room. Today I will explore why wallpaper has made a comeback and where it can be used. Different wallpaper style...
Jun 02, 2025•15 min•Season 10Ep. 21
Welcome back to our special series: Tiling like a Pro. This podcast explains everything necessary for you to complete your tile backsplash project. Of course, Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, is back to give the final instructions for your backsplash project. If you missed previous podcasts on "tiling like a pro, you will find them posted on Designers Circle, Spotify, NancyHugo.com and several other platforms. Gil will explain the following: Materials to use Thin set Grout Sealer Ca...
May 19, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 20
This is being recorded on Mother's Day and as I always say, "Every Day is Mother's Day!" I thought today would be a day to talk about Aging in Place as all the mothers who are still with us are needing help and attention as they age. (Of course, we're not forgetting about the fathers!) I have been hearing about "my forever house" as people who are remodeling would like to stay in their home as long as possible before the possibility of moving in with a child or going to a facility. Reasons for t...
May 13, 2025•22 min•Season 10Ep. 19
Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, Arizona, is back with me to finish the important subject of budgets. We began the discussion on April 7th and decided to continue it today since we had so much to cover and didn't want to omit anything. If you missed the first podcast, I would suggest listening to it before you proceed with today's podcast. The budget is an essential subject for anyone who is going to spend money whether it’s for a new car, a new home or a remodeling project, and man...
May 05, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 18
I am forever getting notices about what's in trend for 2025 which I share on podcasts and Designers Circle. Today I am going to share 6 kitchen trends that designers give a thumbs down to for 2025. Some of these ideas have been on the lists of several designers and most I agree with. Email me and give me your opinion on these design ideas. I will also explain again why I do podcasts and Designers Circle which is to educate the homeowner and DYI. Designers Circle is a short one pager giving you t...
Apr 28, 2025•18 min•Season 10Ep. 19
Welcome back to our Tiling Like a Pro series! In Parts 1 and 2, Tony Scuderi laid the groundwork—literally—by covering tile selection, surface prep, and floor tiling techniques. Now, it’s time to shift our focus upward to a key design feature that can transform any kitchen or bathroom: the backsplash. While backsplashes may seem like a smaller tiling project, they pack a big visual punch and require just as much planning and precision as larger installations. From choosing the right materials to...
Apr 21, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 16
Who doesn’t like to be organized? It could be extremely overwhelming to reorganize closets and storage areas but don't give up. You can have the luxurious master closet you have always dreamed of or the the perfectly organized pantry where everything is easy to find. Today my guest is Jennifer Q. Williams, owner of St Louis Closet Company, in St. Louis, Missouri. Jennifer has experience in organizing every room in her clients' homes. During our interview Jennifer answered lots of questions about...
Apr 14, 2025•34 min•Season 10Ep. 15
Gil Olachea is back with me right on time. Gil, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, AZ, joins me the first week of every month to talk about anything and everything that would be of interest to homeowners. Our subject today is your budget. An essential subject for anyone who going to spend money whether it's a new car, a new home or a remodeling project. Our topics today: Why is a budget important How will the project/purchase be financed How to establish a budget This topic will continue when Gil ...
Apr 07, 2025•31 min
Dan Huggins, Monogram's Senior Sales Manager, is back with me to talk about his busy schedule with Monogram. He attended two of the biggest events in the design world: Modernism Week 2025 in Palm Springs and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. If you have never heard of Modernism week, it's the ultimate celebration of mid-century modern architecture, design, and culture offering many events including bus & walking tours and more open to the public. Dan was excited to attend beca...
Mar 31, 2025•29 min•Season 10Ep. 13
The big question when talking about appliances is always about the finishes. Stainless Steel remains classic but yet people are embracing bolder, more personalized options. Andy Welemin with Arizona Appliance and Home, tells me that colorful ranges, hood and refrigerators have been the choice of many who are remodeling their kitchen. Let's just delve into the topics of color: Neutral tones are taking a backseat to bold, statement-making hues. Kitchen appliances in vibrant colors or custom finish...
Mar 24, 2025•29 min•Season 10Ep. 12
As I mentioned in the February 16th podcast, tile is a popular choice in home design because it’s durable, stylish, and versatile. From kitchens and bathrooms to living spaces and outdoor patios, tile is everywhere! Today is the second podcast in a series on everything to know about tile including installation. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a homeowner looking to understand the process before hiring a pro, this series will cover everything you need to know. Tony Scuderi, a Flooring Design a...
Mar 17, 2025•36 min•Season 10Ep. 11
Thinking about updating your bathroom? In this episode, we explore the top bathroom design trends for 2025 —what’s hot, what’s not, and how you can create a stylish and functional space. Ryan Young, co-owner of Lux Kitchen & Bath Gallery in Scottsdale, Az is my guest today. We will talk about everything you need to know before beginning your project. Some ideas you might consider: Freestanding tubs – Statement bathtubs in sculptural shapes for a luxurious feel. Wet rooms – Open, seamless sho...
Mar 10, 2025•31 min•Season 10Ep. 10
When you are planning a move, you usually have a choice between an older resale home or a new construction home. Buying your home is an important financial and lifestyle decision, which means you have to do research and planning. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, Az, and I will explore the pros and cons of both options to help you make an informed decision. The choice of a new or used home is ultimately a matter of preference and necessity. Along with location, housing needs and pric...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min•Season 10Ep. 9
We all know how important it is to have a doctor who we can count on when we need one. The same goes for a plumber. You don’t need one until you need one. It would be great to have a plumber friend or someone who can help with problems at any given time.. I don’t have a plumber to chat with today but I do know what Plumbers wish you knew about your Kitchens & Baths. That’s our subject today. These topics will be so helpful to anyone with plumbing issues: Garbage Disposals Dishwashers Hard Wa...
Feb 25, 2025•16 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Tile is a popular choice in home design because it’s durable, stylish, and versatile. From kitchens and bathrooms to living spaces and outdoor patios, tile is everywhere! Today is the first of a series on everything to know about tile including installation. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a homeowner looking to understand the process before hiring a pro, this series will cover everything you need to know. My guest for the series is Tony Scuderi, a Flooring Design and Installation Consultant ...
Feb 16, 2025•37 min•Season 10Ep. 7
This podcast is all about the new Designers Circle just for the homeowners and do-it-yourselfers. After 16 years of publishing for designers, builders and architects, Nancy made the move to give Designers Circle a new look. I am now focusing Designers Circle on Homeowners and DIY's with posts about Design Trends for 2025, Design News, Things to Know and, of course, all the educational podcasts for home design. This information will be sent to everyone who puts their email on the DesignersCircleH...
Feb 11, 2025•13 min•Season 10Ep. 6
My guest today is Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica, a beautiful, wholesale only, tile showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our topics will cover tile trends for 2025 and what is not popular moving into this year. Gil is extremely knowledgeable on tile, its properties and installation. Additionally, due to Gil's vast background, he will be my guest monthly to chat about various subjects. If you are planning on remodeling or replacing tile, know what's popular in today's market: Lots of color Porcelain ...
Feb 03, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 5
Last week I spoke about planning your kitchen remodel and continuing with that thought I am going to talk about cabinetry, one of the more expensive items in a kitchen remodel. The homeowner/DIY should know as much as possible about the components that go into their kitchen or their bathroom or whatever area being remodeled. Everything you should know about cabinets: Types Construction Cabinet box construction Drawers Hardware Door Styles Trim Heights This podcast sponsored by Monogram Applia...
Jan 27, 2025•27 min•Season 10Ep. 4
The holidays are over so now is the time to plan your remodel, right? If you don't know where to start this is the perfect podcast to guide you through this overwhelming task . If you are planning to work with a general contractor or do the work yourself, you have to have a plan. Nancy talks about the important steps that must be done before you lift that hammer for DIYers, or sign that contract with a remodeler. Why do you want to remodel Have a realistic budget Contact a Kitchen Designer Have ...
Jan 21, 2025•31 min•Season 10Ep. 3
One of the common questions on homeowners’ minds is how long will it take to remodel a kitchen. It is probably the most complicated room in your home to remodel. This is not HGTV…no, it can’t be done in a day or a week. Today Nancy answers that question and more: Lots of moving parts to the project Planning Is Key Average Timeline by Kitchen Remodel Type Factors That Affect the Kitchen Renovation Timeline This podcast sponsored by Monogram Appliances email comments to [email protected]...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Happy New Year 2025! One of my resolutions for the new year is to not work on Sundays. Well, maybe just a little, but the result is to publish Home Design Chat with Nancy on Mondays, not Sundays. Not a big deal but Mondays works great for me and also for Chris, my tech guy. Another change, as I mentioned last week, is to publish DesignersCircleHQ.com for homeowners and DIYers. This online publication has been around for 16 yrs focusing on the Builders, Architects and Designers of the Arizona Des...
Jan 07, 2025•26 min•Season 10Ep. 1
2024 is just about over and I can't believe how fast it flew by. The new year brings lots of exciting changes and this year will be definitely bring many great one. Every January I always plan on organizing everything. . . my files, my closets, my kitchen, the garage. Of course, these are all on my list but can I get it done is the big question. Many people create a list of resolutions that seem unreachable, but if we take one thing at a time, like the elephant, most of it will eventually get do...
Dec 30, 2024•10 min•Season 9Ep. 52
Last week I mentioned that I would talk about the 8 kitchen trends that will be popular in 2025. Well, here you are listening to my last podcast of 2024 because you have been a loyal listener or because you want to know what the 2025 kitchen trends are? Whatever the reason, I am excited to say that I will continue doing podcasts on home remodeling for 2025. I am going to discuss what a handful of designers (3 to be exact) predicted for the kitchen trends in the coming year. There are thousands o...
Dec 23, 2024•19 min•Season 9Ep. 51
The Holidays are here and everyone is excited about gift giving and menu planning but there are some homeowners who are planning to remodel their kitchen which will most likely start after New years . Even if you plan to remodel in the next several months, here are some hints and ideas that might help. Why do you want to remodel? Outdated Appliances don't work Not enough storage or counter space Not enough lighting Kitchen Trends out for 2025 Flat black cabinets Black matte hardware Polished fin...
Dec 16, 2024•24 min•Season 9Ep. 50
We are a few weeks away from celebrating 2025, the year of change. For the past 16 years I have published Designers Circle an online magazine for the Design Community. As of January 2025, Designers Circle will be focused on Homeowners….remodeling, trends, new items, before and after projects and more. My website, NancyHugo.com, is 20 plus years old and has gone through several changes to stay fresh and interesting. We do the same to our homes! Designers Circle will be added to the tool bar along...
Dec 09, 2024•11 min•Season 9Ep. 49
What better way to kick off the new year than with a fresh new look for your home? Whether it’s refreshing your living room, cozying up your bedroom, or adding bold energy to your kitchen, the secret lies in choosing the perfect colors. Sarah Jones, Designer Services Rep with Dunn-Edwards, joins Nancy to chat about all the exciting, new trending colors for 2025. Sarah will talk about the color of the year and how to pair colors. Dunn-Edwards' color experts created ten distinct color palettes tha...
Dec 02, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 48
I am going to assume that everyone listing to this podcast has a roof, and of course, I am sure that everyone hopes they never experience a leaky roof . How do we know if the roof is going to leak before it causes damage? Charlie Holquin with Roof King, is back with us to explain how leaky roofs can be avoided. Yearly roof inspections Different kinds of roofs: Clay tiles, shingles and flat foam How to recognize problems that might cause leaks How the problems can be solved This podcast sponsored...
Nov 24, 2024•33 min
