It's that time of year where all the new colors are being introduced for 2022 so Nancy welcomed back Laurie Clark, Senior Design Account Executive to chat about color, of course! How do trends come about? What is the Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast 2022? Color Groups Method Opus Dreamland Ephemera Website: www.swcolorforecast.com This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances, Monogram Appliances Studio 41 email comments to [email protected]...
Dec 01, 2021•29 min•Season 4Ep. 46
According to a new survey from Trulia, 90 percent of all American homeowners plan to remodel their house at some point. Nearly 40 percent of those homeowners are planning a renovation in the next two years. Most homeowners are setting their sights on the kitchen (50 percent of those surveyed) or the bathroom (45 percent). Before you invest in your remodel, listen to Adam Litberg, Manager of Studio 41 in Scottsdale, talk about some of the products most popular for bathrooms. Smart Toilets Bidet S...
Nov 24, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 46
Nancy welcomed back Jan Rutgers, founder of Vestabul School of Design , Jan and Nancy usually talk about design but this time Jan shared her experience during the British Columbia's Okanagan Valley wild fires . Being evacuated from her home with short notice was a scary experience and worse is not knowing if she and her husband would have a home to return to. Listen as Jan details the evacuation and gives suggestions to people who might be in this horrendous situation in the future. This podcast...
Nov 17, 2021•36 min•Season 4Ep. 44
The holidays are fast approaching and many of us are excited to enjoy this time of year with friends and family. LoriAnn Harnish, an independent ambassador for the Boisset Collection, is back with us again to help you get ideas for your wine pairings and gift giving. If you want to learn more about wines and exciting ideas for your holiday experience, listen to our podcast. Points of discussion: Holiday wine favorites Creating the perfect pairings for dinner Perfect wines to pair with desserts M...
Nov 10, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 43
If you are wondering what the differences are between a convection oven and a steam oven, listen to Nancy's guest, Deron Rensen, Senior Sales Manager for Monogram. Deron will explain how each appliance works and, in addition, explain Monogram's SmartHQ appliances. How Does a Convection Oven Work? Convection Oven vs. Conventional Oven Convection Oven vs. Air Fryer When to Use a Convection Oven What You Shouldn't Cook in the Convection Oven: What You Should Cook in the Convection Oven: How does a ...
Nov 03, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Many people are experiencing life changes. Nancy explains how to make your home safer if you or a loved one is experiencing physical challenges from a disability, an illness or an accident. In addition, we are all aging, so making your home safe to live in as long as possible is always a concern. Nancy discusses safety in the bathroom, kitchen, and general areas of the home. These are very important suggestions for everyone. This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances & Monogram Appliance...
Oct 27, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Everyone has a story about sounds coming through the walls. Whether an apartment, home or business, noisy walls are a problem! Our guest is going to explain how simple and fun it is to soundproof a room in your home. Christine Sterling is with Image Craft, a company that has no boundaries when it comes to creativity. Learn how to uniquely soundproof your zoom room, your baby's room, your music room and more. Acoustic wallpaper It is not too expensive – more than wallpaper but less than other sou...
Oct 13, 2021•25 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Purchasing your first couch, or a whole room of furniture, can be overwhelming especially if you are not working with a designer. Liz Baker, principle of Willis Baker Design, is Nancy’s guest this week. Liz has years of experience in knowing the good, the bad and the ugly of furniture and will explain how to recognize quality. Listen to this podcast to be aware before you go furniture shopping. Purchasing all new or acquire pieces over time. Mix old and new. Mix cost-effective and expensive. Dif...
Oct 06, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 39
Do you have tile anywhere in your home? Of course you do! Over the last decade or so, tile leads floor covering in popularity offering the most creative shapes, looks, and patterns. Nancy's guest is Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica tile showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona. Gil and Nancy will discuss tile trends for 2022, what is losing favor with designers. You don't want to miss this show. Our show notes are below. Trends can be expensive Changes in trend may dictate updating living spaces Frequency ...
Sep 29, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 38
Indoor plants are important to every interior design, easy to care for (for some) and a great option for those who live in climates with severely cold winters. Nancy’s guest is Joe Zazzera, owner of Plant Solutions in Scottsdale. Joe is a guru in the world of plants and chats with Nancy about the topics on the list below. If you are a seasoned plant enthusiast or just starting out with one plant, you don’t want to miss this podcast. Is there any real advantages to having plants in the home How m...
Sep 22, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 37
I am on vacation but thought I'd do a short podcast to let you know what's coming up, etc. for Home Design Chat with Nancy. Where's Jan Rutgers? No, she's not MIA, she will be back soon doing more podcasts on kitchen designs, trends and more. What's going on with kitchen islands? Subjects in the very near future: House Plants Furniture Tile Trends Accoustical Wallcovering This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances & Monogram Appliances email comments to [email protected] Listen to Nanc...
Sep 15, 2021•14 min•Season 4Ep. 36
Almost everyone has a smart phone but having a smart home is getting very popular. How do you accomplish this? Where do you start? The connectivity, the wiring, the equipment can all be very overwhelming unless you have the right people to set it up. Ben Kayl, System Designer and Jon Van Tussenbroek, Electrical Manager are key people with Desert Valley Audio and Video in Scottsdale. They make it all happen. Listen to this podcast for everything you want to know about smart homes. Lets start from...
Sep 08, 2021•26 min
Everyone wants to know what is the "new thing" in fashion, in technology and in your home. Katie Baker, Senior Sales Executive with Kohler - Remodeling & Showrooms. Katie enlightened us about all the new products and technology in the kitchen and bath. Our show notes will give you an idea of our conversation, but be sure to listen to this podcast. Trends: technology in the Kitchen and Bath How covid has changed our industry Products that can enhance that experience Color, material and finish...
Sep 01, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 34
At the start of 2020, many of us were forced to reconfigure our homes into multi- multi-functional spaces that could accommodate the needs of working parents and home-schooled children. The novelty of "work from home" has worn off, and we’ve all had a year and a half to adjust to the new normal. Jem Funk, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer, is back with Nancy to talk about trends that designers predict will be huge for last quarter of 2021 into 2022. Jem and Nancy don't name these designers...
Aug 25, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 33
There are lots of options on the market for kitchen countertops, but 10 materials comprise the majority of countertops in residential kitchens. My intention on the August 4th podcast was to chat about them and review the positive and negative aspects of each. Unfortunately I reviewed just one material - laminates, then ran out of time, so today I am reviewing the other 9 materials including granite, marble, quartz, and porcelain. Based on the application, budget and function, each has a place. Y...
Aug 18, 2021•28 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Zillow has become an addiction for me and millions of others! And why not? We can peek into homes for sale, we can get design ideas, and we can see how other people live. My guest this week is Karen Hockley, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer and owner of Kitchens by Karen, LLC, located in Enola Pennsylvania. Karen and I have fun chatting about some of the outlandish and ridiculous things people do to their homes. This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances & Monogram Appliances e...
Aug 11, 2021•24 min•Season 4Ep. 31
The many choices for countertops can be mindboggling, so my intention was to explain all the different materials and include the pros and cons of each one. Unfortunately I didn't get passed explaining laminates, but on a positive note, this podcast answers all the questions you might have on plastic laminates. Countertop materials Before the 1920's After the 1920's The Winchester House About Countertops Laminate countertop How it came to be Competition Manufacturing Grades Finishes Painting Lami...
Aug 04, 2021•19 min•Season 4Ep. 30
It happens after every Olympics! Kids get excited about sports and want to be the best they can be and parents want to provide what is needed for their little future Olympian. Nancy's guest is Jay Littman, Lead salesperson & designer at Desert Tropic Custom Pools and Spas in Peoria, Arizona. Jay is a champion diver and medal winner who has spent more hours in the water than most people, so he knows all about pools. Check the show notes and learn what to ask when you are planning to have a po...
Jul 28, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 29
We have done several podcasts about scamming and guarding against being hacked. Chris Diamond and Nancy are going to do it again! It seems that these annoying phone calls and scams are are very creative, in addition to catching people off guard. By listening to this podcast you will learn: How to avoid being scammed What to look for or listen for Red flags Who won’t ever call you What to do if you think you fell for the scam This podcast sponsored by Thermador Appliances & Monogram Appliance...
Jul 21, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 28
Prices of homes are skyrocketing and causing people to remodel instead of relocating. So where do you start? After working with a designer, finding a general contractor begins the process of your project. Nancy explains the 10 most important things to look for when finding a contractor. Does the contractor have an office How did you find the contractor? Check references Offered you a discount Contractor required both homeowners at meeting Doesn't require payment in full to start Gives start and ...
Jul 14, 2021•25 min•Season 4Ep. 27
This is show was prerecorded October 13, 2020 and is one of our more popular shows. Hope you enjoy it! This week Nancy chatted with Jan Rutgers, founder of Vestabul Design School, about the positives and negatives of HGTV and how it affects our clients. Follow the outline on our conversation: Biggest complaints from the industry Unrealistic budgets Unrealistic timelines Biggest misconceptions from consumers This is entertainment not representative -A lot of the drama is fabricated Many of the fr...
Jul 07, 2021•27 min•Season 4Ep. 26
How important is water to you? Doug Schramm, Co-owner of Exclusively Tankless, is Nancy's guest this week. Doug is all about water - Tankless water heaters and filtration systems and will explain the advantages of these units. Tankless Water Heaters What is a tankless water heater vs a typical water heater? Electric and Gas tankless? Who manufactures these units? Where are they made? How big is the unit? Can it go in a closet? Is it cost saving? Whole house Water Treatment System More healthy th...
Jun 30, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 25
Unless you are a professional painter, knowing what paints and finishes to apply to walls, ceilings, cabinets, etc. can be very confusing. Laurie Clark, Senior Designer Accounting Executive with Sherwin-Williams covering Arizona and Las Vegas, chatted with Nancy about what we should know regarding paints. Before you pick up that paint brush, listen to our conversation. Some of the questions Laurie answered: For the do-it-yourselfers, what is the most difficult part of painting the interior of th...
Jun 23, 2021•42 min•Season 4Ep. 24
Why are we waiting so long for appliances to be delivered after they are ordered? This question is answered by Jacob Bledsoe, District Sales Manager with Thermador. Nancy and Jake also discussed the history of Thermador and some of the appliances they invented and also introduced the new appliances for 2021. Thermador's History and "Firsts" Thermador is part of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a fully owned subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH , the second largest appliance manufacturer in the worl...
Jun 16, 2021•44 min•Season 4Ep. 23
Just because designers say so, it isn't necessarily true. Nancy bantered with Jay Shennum, an independent Kitchen Designer, about the different trends some designers are pushing for 2021. Do we agree with them? Listen to find out Colored stone countertops Colored stone transitioning from backsplash countertop. Beige travertine stone, classic white, white or pink. Timeless all-white kitchens Traditional all-white kitchens will still remain popular. Warm, cozy, all-white kitchens Statement backspl...
Jun 08, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 22
Wall-to-wall carpet became popular in the 1950s when it became more affordable for everyday families and not just the wealthy. People used carpeting in those days not knowing the pros and cons. It just looked good and was affordable. Times have changed. The consumers are more educated and want to know about the products they put in their home. Our guest, John Koslowski, a Flooring Consultant with Healthy Home Flooring, explains everything we want to now about carpet. . Choosing the Right Carpet ...
Jun 02, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Putting the finishing touches on your design project can either make it or break it! Knowing the right size and shape of the chandelier, and more importantly, how high to hang the fixture is something not everyone is familiar with. Jem Funk, interior designer and lighting designer, is the perfect guest to give tips on choosing light fixtures. Jem has been with us on several occasions and always shares her knowledge with us. These podcasts are meant to share information but, as always, Jem and Na...
May 26, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 20
If you’re planning on undertaking a full-on kitchen remodel, the last thing you want to do is pick a trend that are outdated or overdone. Jan Rutgers, founder of Vestabul School of Design, is back with Nancy this week. They chat about the trends to avoid and alternative suggestions to help your design choices withstand the tests of time. CABINETRY PAINTED DARK COLORS Dings, bumps, and scratches from everyday use can be more apparent on a darker surface, leading them to be one kitchen trend to av...
May 19, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 19
The best smart home devices are an essential part of a 21st century home, as they ensure you can turn your thermostat up, dim the lights, lock your doors, and play your music with a simple voice command – creating a seamless, smart environment that makes your life easier. Nancy chatted with Chris Diamond about all the smart devices he has installed in his home and what the pros and cons are. Show notes: smart speaker smart lighting smart plugs and switches smart thermostat video doorbells home s...
May 12, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Our last podcast was all about appliance trends for 2021. This week Nancy chatted with Deron Rensen, senior area sales manager with Monogram. Deron explained why manufacturers offer packages and what new and exciting appliances Monogram has introduced for this year. Specifically we talked about the new Monogram column Refrigerator and Freezer and what the benefits are. Show Notes: Products Special promotions appliance packages Finishes Stainless Steel Mixing Metals Monogram Column Refrigeration ...
May 05, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 17