16 Lessons in 16 Years: Strategic Insights That Have Defined Our Practice

After 16 years of strategic design work, I’ve collected what you might call a treasure trove of insights. Some learned the hard way through spectacular mistakes, others discovered in those magical moments when everything clicks perfectly into place.

Here are the 16 lessons that have fundamentally shaped how we approach every single project.

1. Function always comes before beauty. A gorgeous room that doesn’t work properly isn’t actually gorgeous at all.

2. The best investment in any room is usually lighting. Bad lighting can completely change the color of your paint, textiles, and finishes, so it’s important to get it right!

3. Paint color accounts for 80% of a room’s personality. Choose it after everything else is selected, because everything else in the room will either harmonize with or fight against that choice.

4. Comfort isn’t optional. If you can’t relax in your living room, it’s not doing its job, regardless of how stunning it photographs.

5. Scale matters more than style. A perfectly proportioned traditional piece will always look better than an ill-fitting modern one, even in a contemporary space.

6. The details that cost the least often make the biggest impact. Switch plates, cabinet hardware, and trim paint can transform a space for under $200.

7. Every room needs something old, something new, and something that tells a story. This prevents spaces from looking like furniture showrooms.

8. Neutrals aren’t boring when they’re strategic. A mostly neutral foundation (think finishes) gives you the freedom to change both the major and small things as your taste evolves.

9. Open floor plans require intentional definition. Without visual boundaries, large spaces feel chaotic rather than spacious. (I tend to champion a semi-open floor plan when possible!)

10. Your home should work for your actual life, not your Pinterest dreams or the latest trend being pushed by influencers. The gap between aspirational living and real living is where design disasters happen.

11. Quality window treatments are worth every penny. They’re architecture for your windows and can make standard builder windows look custom.

12. Mixing patterns successfully requires a common color thread. It’s not about the patterns themselves—it’s about the color story that connects them.

13. Every room needs a place to set down a drink. This sounds obvious until you’re sitting in a living room with a full glass and nowhere to put it.

14. The right rug can define an entire seating area, but the wrong size rug can ruin it. Always go bigger than you think you need to.

15. Symmetry creates calm, asymmetry creates interest. The best rooms have both.

16. Personal style always trumps design trends. Trends fade, but feeling authentically yourself in your own space never goes out of style.

Ready to apply strategic design principles to your next project? Schedule a discovery call to get started.

The best design lessons aren’t just about creating beautiful spaces; they’re about creating beautiful lives.