Window treatments are much more than decorative elements; they are essential for managing light, privacy, and energy efficiency while enhancing the ambiance of any room. Today we will explore the different window treatments trends for 2025, what their functions are and how they can enhance your home. My guest today is Melinda Cavelli, a window covering expert with Arjay's Window Fashions. Melinda will describe each of the following window treatments: Roller Shades Natural Shades Cellular (honeyc...
Nov 17, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 46
Appliances are one of the most important elements in a kitchen whether you prepare meals once a week or cook every night. One appliance you may or may not be familiar with the 5-in-1 Advantium. This oven is one of the more versatile items I would definitely recommend and you will learn all about it as I chat with my guest, Julie Burns, Executive Director with Monogram. The Advantium has 175 preprogrammed recipes plus storage for 30 of your own recipes. It can be installed over the range, as a wa...
Nov 10, 2024•26 min•Season 9Ep. 45
The 2925 bathroom design trends are evolving with a focus on comfort, functionality, and sustainability highlighting innovative technologies, natural materials, and personalized touches that transform bathrooms into luxurious retreats. Nancy explores the top bathroom trends for 2025 comparing them to the trends of the last few years. Are they really new trends or a repeat of the trends of 2023 and 2024? The topics discussed are: Spa-like retreats having freestanding tubs, rain showers and heated...
Nov 04, 2024•27 min•Season 9Ep. 44
Enjoy the Best of Home Design Chat with Nancy Minimalist design and open-plan living have been all the rage for the last few years, and I don’t see any signs of it stopping. Who doesn’t love a sleek look and a decluttered space, especially when it comes to the most used space in your home? An invisible kitchen, also known as a hidden kitchen, is a minimalist design that integrates kitchen appliances and storage into the rest of the home. The goal is to keep conventional kitchen elements out of s...
Oct 28, 2024•37 min•Season 9Ep. 43
Remodeling a kitchen, as I have said numerous times, can be very overwhelming and stressful. How can a homeowner feel less stressful and happy at the end of the project? This is a common question among many other questions which is the subject of this podcast, a continuation of last week's podcast ( October 13, 2024 ). Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, AZ, asked many questions during both podcasts, last week's and this week's, that are on the minds of many people. Gil interacts with ...
Oct 20, 2024•36 min•Season 9Ep. 42
Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramic, an upscale tile showroom in Scottsdale has been on this podcast many times explaining everything about the different tile products, the characteristics of tile and the tile trends for each year. Obviously, Gil is very experienced at being a guest but he thought it would be fun to put me on the hot seat and interview me. We covered many topics about design, what the advantages are for using professional designers and why kitchen and bath designers would save the cli...
Oct 13, 2024•30 min•Season 9Ep. 41
Planning to remodel your kitchen or update your appliances? When remodeling chose your appliances first because the size of the appliances will dictate your kitchen design and function of the space. If you are updating the appliances be aware of the sizes of the existing ones. Once you know the purpose of each appliance on your wish list (size of the refrigerator, free-standing range, wall oven, microwave drawer) you then can research the brands and their benefits. You certainly should be intere...
Oct 06, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 40
Nancy is taking a podcast break so enjoy this previously recorded podcast recorded in February, 2024. Summary of what this podcast will cover: Styles come and go constantly and so to ideas that have been used by builders for new construction. Will those designs resurface? Were they really popular? When it comes to remodeling your kitchen and bath, there are certain ideas that builders incorporated into their houses should never be brought back. Why did builders think putting a desk in a kitchen ...
Sep 30, 2024•18 min•Season 9Ep. 39
A beautiful kitchen is both a focal point of a home and a great selling feature when it comes time to put your property on the market. If you are planning a kitchen remodel, or preparing to sell your home, you will want to be economical and happy with your decisions. In this podcast Nancy will talk about 5 upgrades that will add value and provide a return on your investment. Talking points: Adding a kitchen island Update, paint or replace cabinets Upgrade appliances Replace countertops Add more ...
Sep 22, 2024•26 min•Season 9Ep. 38
If you are wanting to do a simple kitchen remodel before the holidays, now is the time - I said simple because the major remodels will take time so if that’s what you had on your wish list – do your homework now and prepare to start in January---after the holidays. If you are not familiar with the term Kitchen triangle, work triangle or the golden triangle, at the end of this podcast you will know everything about this term. What is the triangle Who invented this design principle Why use it in a...
Sep 15, 2024•21 min•Season 9Ep. 37
American homeowners have been gravitating toward ever more luxurious bathrooms in recent years, with more people wanting to have a spa-like experience in their own homes. that is the reason why wet rooms has become so popular. Bathrooms are in the 10 top remodeling projects for 2024, and have an average return on investment of 72.7%. If remodeling your bathroom is on your to do list, listen and find out what to do if you would like a spa-like bathroom. Talk points: What is a wet room The differe...
Sep 09, 2024•27 min•Season 9Ep. 36
On this Labor Day Week I continued my podcast from last week (https://designerscirclehq.com/how-the-perfect-project-came-to-be/) on how this perfect project evolved. Peggy, the homeowner of the project, is back again this week to chat about her and Dan's resilience and ability to adapt to unforeseen and overwhelming mishaps during this project. We covered the following talking points: The importance of prioritizing your wish list Creating a budget Working with your designer to come up with solut...
Sep 02, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 35
Home Design Chat with Nancy is in its 9th season of podcasting. I find it very enjoyable because I can use each episode to share my vast knowledge and experience to homeowners, designers and do-it-yourselfers. I cover everything from design to products to trends and then some. Podcasting is my 2nd passion--my first is the design and execution of a project. Following projects from interviewing a potential client to its completion IS my passion. I have never had a client on Home Design Chat with N...
Aug 25, 2024•34 min•Season 9Ep. 34
Making choices about countertops for your remodel can be very confusing since there are so many materials to chose from, but we will talk about the pros and cons of both Corian© and Quartz. These products are manmade and differ from natural stone . FYI: Quartzite is a natural stone often confused with Quartz. Nancy chats with Kristin Girard, Spec Development Manager with Hallmark Building Supply. As a supplier of both Corian© and quartz to the design community, Kristin is well-versed in the char...
Aug 18, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 33
Good lighting is an important aspect of any kitchen. Not only does it provide the necessary visibility to prepare and cook meals, but it can also set the mood and enhance the overall aesthetic of the space. It is easy to be overwhelmed when choosing light fixtures for the kitchen so Ken Ross, manager of Premier Lighting in Scottsdale, will chat with Nancy about the different light fixtures available for your kitchen. What's in for 2024 and how to make the trends timeless. Talking points: Metal p...
Aug 11, 2024•36 min•Season 9Ep. 32
Are you thinking about a bathroom remodel that’s safe, stylish, and perfect for all ages? Whether you’re designing for young children, elderly family members, or just want a safer space for everyone, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you create a bathroom that’s both beautiful and functional. Nancy has years of experience and is a certified Living in Place designer. She will cover: Bathroom entry problems and solutions Grab Bars - placement and styles Curbless showers Shower benc...
Aug 06, 2024•34 min•Season 9Ep. 32
At the end of the current year and the beginning of the new year we are bombarded with predictions of what the trends will be for colors, kitchens and more. We are now in the 7th month of 2024 and we are going to see how those predictions held up. Is subway tile out along with the checkerboard pattern? Are mosaics still popular? Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, is back with Nancy to talk about the tile trends of 2024. Which tiles are popular and which were not? Which tile trends did...
Jul 28, 2024•35 min•Season 9Ep. 31
Is the Do-It-Yourselfer, more commonly known know as a DIY, going away? Not according to USA who wrote that in February 2023, a survey found that 76% of homeowners between the ages of 18 and 24 and 73% of homeowners under 44 were doing DIY projects due to inflation. The survey also found that homeowners in remote areas may prefer DIY projects because it may be difficult to find nearby professionals. Nancy talks about the pros and cons of the homeowner doing his or her own projects The more popul...
Jul 21, 2024•35 min•Season 9Ep. 30
Minimalist design and open-plan living have been all the rage for the last few years, and I don’t see any signs of it stopping. Who doesn’t love a sleek look and a decluttered space, especially when it comes to the most used space in your home? An invisible kitchen, also known as a hidden kitchen, is a minimalist design that integrates kitchen appliances and storage into the rest of the home. The goal is to keep conventional kitchen elements out of sight so the room blends in with the rest of th...
Jul 14, 2024•37 min•Season 8Ep. 29
In the past 3 weeks I have done podcasts hoping to answer questions for homeowners who are planning a kitchen remodel. The topics covered were about planning a dream kitchen, setting a budget, finding a general contractor, avoiding change orders and working with a professional kitchen designer. Last week the topic was achieving timeless kitchens. The topic today is being aware of upgrades that people have regretted. We all learn from other peoples' mistakes so it's important to know what ideas a...
Jul 08, 2024•27 min•Season 28Ep. 8
The two main components of a great kitchen remodel are the cabinets and appliances. These items are the bulk of your budget and should be chosen carefully based on the money to be spent, the function of these items and the given space for your project. Of course, the countertop material, backsplashes, flooring and lighting will complete the look which will be subjects for future podcasts. In this podcast Nancy with talk about the most popular cabinet color choices for 2024. What is timeless and ...
Jun 30, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 27
Last week the subject of my podcast was planning for a successful remodel. The take-a-way from last week was the importance of having a vision for your remodel, having a budget and working with a designer. This week I talked about: having a functional floor plan importance of listing all the components of your remodel (cabinets, plumbing fixtures, tile, appliances, etc) working with a Kitchen Designer finding a General Contractor avoiding change orders This podcast sponsored by Monogram Appli...
Jun 24, 2024•31 min•Season 8Ep. 26
Many people look forward to celebrating the holidays with family & friends and showing off their newly remodeled kitchen. If this is your plan, you have to start now if you want it to happen before 2025. That sounds so far into the future but it’s not. The holidays are only 6 months away. Time is flying faster than it did a few years ago. I hope I am not the only one who feels that way. Planning your remodel For many homeowners, planning a kitchen renovation is a first time experience is ver...
Jun 17, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 25
We've heard of different ways of describing colors: happy colors, bright colors, trending colors, but never the loneliest color until now. Sherwin-Williams has introduced a way to tell the first ever color story of the least tinted color, and perhaps bring it out of the shadows! Also, to give homeowners and specifiers the confidence to choose colors that are less than popular, and how to use them! Laurie Clark, Senior Designer Account Executive with Sherwin-Williams, is back to chat with Nancy a...
Jun 09, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 24
Have you ever thought of that perfect kitchen remodel? You spend months planning, budgeting, and picturing your wish list. Before those demolition hammers start swinging, let's talk about something crucial: your roof. Your beautiful new kitchen could be overshadowed (literally!) by a leaky, outdated roof. This episode of Home Design Chat with Nancy dives into why your roof deserves just as much attention as your dream kitchen. Charlie Holquin with Roof King is our roofing expert today and will c...
Jun 02, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 23
Did you know that different colors stir different feelings due to how our brain responds to each tone? For example, bright, warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) stimulate energy and happiness while cool, subdued colors (blues, greens, purples) are soothing and calming. Sarah Jones, Designer Services Representative with Dunn-Edwards Paint, is back with us to chat about the psychology of color and how it is used in the commercial setting as well as how it should be used in our homes. Sarah will al...
May 27, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 22
Everyone loves the look and the coziness of fireplaces and I’m no exception. I have been including fireplaces in my designs for years. Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and patios. Today I am happy to have as my guest Keith Richardson, President at Arizona Fireplaces, a leading player in the hearth industry. Keith's parents founded Arizona Fireplace in 1980 and holds the distinction of being of the the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation. Keith explains what sets...
May 19, 2024•32 min•Season 8Ep. 21
Did you ever wonder about those popular renovation shows like the Property Brothers or This Old House and what really goes on behind the camera? I came across a situation in Las Vegas where a young couple contracted with the Property Brothers and things went very wrong. It is now in litigation waiting for a jury trial in October, 2024. That led me to delve more into what people should know before they think about getting a free, but not so free, renovation. To be fair, the Property Brothers was ...
May 13, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 20
When homeowners decide to remodel their kitchen they can get easily overwhelmed by the many choices in cabinets, appliances, etc. because this is not a project most people do often. Since many of the same questions are asked of me when I meet potential clients, I thought I would chose 3 areas and explain the difference and benefits of each. Today I am going to explain the differences between frame and frameless cabinets and what the pros and cons are, and how they effect your budget. Countertops...
May 05, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 19
Join us on Home Design Chat with Nancy as we delve into an intriguing aspect of modern living: the world of recreational vehicles (RVs). Did you know that approximately 1 million Americans have embraced RV life as their full-time residence? Moreover, an astonishing 40 million Americans regularly embark on RV adventures, with over 25 million hitting the road each year. Surprisingly, 38% of RV owners are Millennials, showcasing a growing trend in this demographic. With RV ownership becoming increa...
Apr 28, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 18
