Beautiful Homes Begin with Better Questions

FIELD NOTES

August 14, 2026

When someone hires me, they often assume we’re going to start talking about colors, materials, and style right out of the gate. And we will. But that’s not the most important information for me to understand first.

People are often surprised by the kinds of questions we ask at the beginning of a project. They’re expecting us to ask about their likes and dislikes or where their style falls on the spectrum from modern to traditional. What I really want to know is: What does your average weekday morning look like?

Before we talk about what your home should look like, we want to understand what life looks like inside it.

What does a typical day look like? Who’s making coffee first? Where does everyone naturally gather? Where do backpacks and keys end up? Do you cook together? Or is your microwave doing most of the heavy lifting in the kitchen? How do you entertain? What’s frustrating about your home today? Which spaces do you avoid, and why?

Believe it or not, those answers usually tell me far more than a Pinterest board ever could.

In fact, every new project begins with a detailed discovery questionnaire tailored to the client and their project. It may seem like a lot at first, but our clients often tell us they enjoy the process. It gives them an opportunity to think more deeply about how they live and what’s really important to them before we begin designing.

For me, the questionnaire is an invaluable part of the design process. It has been developed and refined over decades of experience to uncover details and insights that might never surface in a typical design conversation. Those insights become the foundation for every decision that follows. Long before we’re discussing finishes or furniture, we’re learning how your family functions, what your priorities are, and where your home can better support the way you live.

A successful renovation isn’t just about creating beautiful rooms. It’s about creating a home that supports the way you actually live. That means understanding your routines, your priorities, and the little moments that happen every day. How groceries make their way into the kitchen. Whether you’re constantly searching for a place to charge your phone. Whether holiday dinners mean squeezing twelve people around the table or enjoying quiet evenings with just the two of you.

Those everyday details shape great design just as much as the materials we select.

Only after we understand how your home should function do we begin making design decisions. At that point, every choice has purpose. The layout supports your routines. The lighting creates the right atmosphere throughout the day. Materials are selected for beauty, durability, and maintenance. Cabinetry is designed around the way you cook and organize your kitchen. Furnishings support the way you gather, relax, and entertain. Instead of making isolated design decisions, we’re creating a home where every element contributes to a cohesive whole.

Creating a beautiful home is, of course, part of what we’re here to do. But beauty only tells part of the story. A home should also feel effortless to live in, solve the frustrations that existed before the renovation, and genuinely reflect the people who live there

That's how I’ve come to believe that beautiful homes begin with better questions.

The funny thing is, by the time we finally start talking about colors, finishes, and furniture, those decisions usually feel much easier. That’s because they’re no longer driving the design. They’re supporting a much bigger idea: creating a home that truly fits the people who live there.

Until next time,

XO

PE