You can spend $50,000 on a kitchen and still walk in feeling like something isn't right. The “expensive” look is rarely about the price tag. It’s about whether the details feel coordinated, complete, and intentional.

In this episode, I share the four most common design mistakes that make a kitchen look cheap, and what you can do instead. 

Key Takeways:

• Mismatched metals and low-quality fixtures that visually fight each other
• Choosing finishes with intention so the kitchen feels coordinated
• Backsplash layouts that stop short and create an unfinished look
• Removing the countertop mini backsplash strip before tiling
• Skipping under cabinet lighting and the value of layered lighting
• Using dimmers to avoid harsh “bright as the sun” lighting
• How to spot cheap cabinetry by sound, gaps, glides, and box material
• Why MDF and particle board can fail under real-life wear
  
  

You're invited to my FREE live training where I'll be redesigning a real kitchen live AND sharing 3 hidden mistakes to avoid when remodeling your kitchen.

It's Thursday, August 6, at 4pm PT. And if you can't make it, I'll send you a replay so you don't miss it. 

You can save your spot here

Design is better with friends...

• Let's Connect on Instagram
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• Head to the Nestorations website

I break down the three decisions that determine whether your first conversation with a kitchen contractor stays clear or spirals into confusion and change orders. I explain why contractors build the plan but usually do not design it, and how getting prepared first keeps your remodel on track.

• Why a contractor executes your plan rather than creates it
• Decision one setting a real budget number you can say out loud
• How vague budgets lead to blind bids and missed scope items
• Decision two separating needs from wants to protect function
• Using specific choices like lighting and flooring to define scope
• Decision three setting a realistic timeline and aligning expectations
• Why TV remodel timelines mislead and flexibility still matters

I'm hosting a free live training to help you plan and design your kitchen remodel. 

The Kitchen Mistakes You Won't See Coming (Even With Great Taste) 

Plus...watch me redesign a real, audience-submitted kitchen live.

Go ahead and save your spot in that live training, 

https:/nestorations.mykajabi.com/kitchenwebinar

Design is better with friends...

• Let's Connect on Instagram
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• Head to the Nestorations website

Episode 88

If you're already picking out tile and pricing countertops, some part of you has already decided you're designing this kitchen yourself, and hiring out the rest. The real question isn't whether you can, it's whether you're about to do it the hard way or the smart way, and today I'm going to help you figure out which one you're headed for 

Designing your own kitchen is completely doable, but the real choice is whether we do it alone or follow a plan that keeps decisions, budget, and timing under control. We lay out what DIY kitchen design really demands day to day, then share the signs you’re set up for the smart path instead of the stressful one.

• The real workload behind a DIY kitchen remodel, from selections to contractor coordination
• Why decision fatigue shows up fast in kitchens and how to spot it early
• The smart setup signs, including a firm budget, clear style, and high-end custom goals
• The hard-path red flags, including overwhelm, no budget, and not knowing decision order
• How a guided process changes the day-to-day experience without taking away ownership
• The two buckets of a kitchen remodel: design and construction, and how DIY applies to both

Download my free kitchen planning guide to discover the first 3 decisions you need to make for your kitchen remodel.

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In this episode we break down the five process mistakes that quietly push kitchen remodel costs higher after you think your budget is set. We share the questions we ask before demo day so you can plan for surprises, protect your timeline, and stop “one more upgrade” from snowballing.

• Electrical and plumbing code surprises hidden behind walls
• Setting a realistic 15% to 20% contingency cushion
• Structural problems like load-bearing walls and rotted subfloor
• Permit fees plus inspection delays that extend timelines
• The real-life cost of living without a kitchen
• Scope creep and “while we’re here” upgrades that stack up fast
• Deciding whether an add-on is a want or a need

Download my FREE Kitchen Planning Guide here

Design is better with friends...

• Let's Connect on Instagram
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Discover six quiet signs your kitchen is ready for a remodel and why “not yet” keeps winning even when you’re frustrated every day. We get honest about the real blocker, the fear of spending money you can’t get back, and the simple first step that makes progress feel possible.

• Tuning out dated or broken cabinets and finishes as a hidden signal 
• Living with daily layout frustration by building workarounds instead of fixing the cause 
• Feeling envy when seeing finished kitchens and using it as useful feedback 
• Researching privately through Pinterest boards, pricing, and showroom visits 
• Naming the real fear underneath design choices as financial risk and irreversible mistakes 
• Recognizing “someday” as protection and noticing the daily cost of staying stuck 

So, what I want you to do is download my free kitchen planning guide, which walks you through the first three decisions you need to make with your kitchen remodel. 

Download my FREE Kitchen Planning Guide and get the first 3 decisions you need to make with your kitchen remodel

Design is better with friends...

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Ep85: Trends change whether we like it or not. And while your home doesn’t need to be trendy, it also shouldn’t feel stuck in a time warp. The truth is, some design choices that once felt fresh and stylish are now quietly dating your home. So, is your home stylish…or secretly stuck in the past? Today we’re breaking down the dead giveaways that make a house look dated—and what you can do to fix them.

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Ep84: Wallpaper is everywhere these days, and maybe you’re thinking about trying it in your home. But before you do, there are some things to consider and some must-know mistakes to avoid. So keep listening to help you discover how to wallpaper without regrets.

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Ep83: If your home is on the darker side and you’re ready to lighten things up without gutting your space or painting everything bright white then this episode is for you. In darker spaces, if you’re not going for the dark and moody vibe, it can feel heavy and bring you down. So let’s dive into some design strategies to brighten your home and boost your mood.

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Ep82: Are you feeling overwhelmed with your home’s design because you like a little bit of everything? Welcome to the club! It’s so easy (and common) to like things in different design styles. But when you like everything, it gets hard to make decisions and know what direction to go. This episode is meant to help you get you out of design limbo and into action with your home. Are you ready to get started?

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Ep81: Something about your room just feels… off. You’ve tried adding décor, swapping pillows, maybe even moving the furniture around—but it still doesn’t feel right. There’s one design essential that every great space has, and without it, a room can fall flat. That’s what we’re diving into today—and once you get this right, it changes everything about how your space looks and feels.

Design is better with friends...

• Let's Connect on Instagram
• Get Inspired on Pinterest
• Head to the Nestorations website