Home Design Chat with Nancy

By Nancy HugoArts Design

Home Design Chat with Nancy episodes

October 06, 2024The Hottest Appliances You Can't Live Without!
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 interested in what's new and what's out especially if you will be selling your home in a few years.
This podcast is all about the newest and most popular appliances and what they have to offer. My guest is Andy Welemin, an industry professional with decades of experience. Andy works with Arizona Appliance & Home and travels between their 3 Arizona locations when needed to meet clients.
Our talking points today:
Induction cooking

48" French door Refrigerators

New washer/dryer options

Appliance colors

Steam Cooking

Smart Appliances
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
33 min
September 30, 2024Exciting New Ideas that Have Replaced the Out-of-Date Designs
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 was a great idea.

Those wet bars from years ago were not functional.

I never saw 2 sinks in the kitchen when I was called in to remodel and update the space.

Bathrooms designed with tubs in the ground and then later put in a deck made it dangerous and impossible to use.

Make-up areas in the master bathroom was a total waste of space
What’s popular instead of the above ideas?
Desks in home offices or closets

Wet bars turned in to Beverage centers

Multi sinks that are well designed for task areas in the kitchen

Bathrooms with free-standing tubs

Mirrors with integral LED lighting over the vanities
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
18 min
September 22, 20245 Kitchen Upgrades that Add the Most Value for your Home
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 lighting
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
27 min
September 15, 2024What is That Kitchen Triangle All About?
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 kitchen design

Does it really work

Kitchen Zones
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
22 min
September 09, 2024Enjoy Your Own Spa-like luxury
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 difference between a wet room and a walk in shower

Pros and cons of having a wet room

Materials to use

Suggestions for function and design
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
28 min
September 02, 2024Completing the Perfect Remodel With Unexpected Challenges
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 solutions

The first major catastrophe that affected the project

The homeowner's accident that happened before the drywall phase

Coping during mishaps

After completion of the project, what would the homeowners have changed?

What is the favorite components of the remodel
We talked about doing a video when everything is picture perfect in this home. It is hard to visualize and appreciate all the beauty of this project by just listening to the podcast, so since I have a You Tube channel, I will post the video as soon as it is completed. The video will show and call out the subcontractors and their work.
Also I will post some of the completed pictures on my Facebook page - Home Design Chat with Nancy

This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
33 min
August 25, 2024How the Perfect Project Came To Be
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 Nancy but today I am excited to have Peggy share her experiences from the first meeting about the scope of work and how I came to be her designer.
This project took longer than anticipated due to some unforeseen situations so, with that being said, this podcast is part 1.
I hope you enjoy it and look forward to next week when we continue with part 2 of "Peggy's remodel."
Talking points:
Designing her original kitchen of 30+ years ago

Updating her kitchen

Looking for a designer

Scope of project

Wish list

What came next
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
34 min
August 18, 2024Quartz & Corian are Manmade Products - What are the Differences?
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 characteristics and benefits of both materials.
Talking points:
Corian
Pros and Cons

Benefits

What not to do with Corian

Care & Maintenance
Quartz
Pros and Cons

Benefits

What not to do with Quartz

Care & Maintenance
To conclude:
Both materials are highly resistant to scratching but are not entirely scratch proof. They will handle everyday use without any damages. Quartz is slightly better at resisting scratches because it is ranked higher on the scale of hardest minerals.

Quartz and Corian each offer plenty of advantages and a handful of drawbacks. Your final decision will ultimately make up elements of the above factors and what fits best in your home.

They provide many color options
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
34 min
August 11, 2024The Perfect Lighting for your Kitchen
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 pendants

Task lighting

Accent Lighting

Hanging Shade Lighting

Cluster Lighting

Bubble Lighting

linear Chandeliers
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
36 min
August 06, 2024Timeless Elegance: Designing Bathrooms for Safety and Style
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 benches

Shower Floors & Doors

Plumbing fixtures

Vanities

Lighting
This podcast sponsored by
⁠⁠Monogram Appliances⁠⁠
⁠⁠Studio 41⁠⁠
email comments & questions to [email protected]
34 min

About Home Design Chat with Nancy

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Home Design Chat with Nancy Hugo, certified kitchen designer, covers all aspects of every room in the home. Kitchens, baths and whole-house remodeling, appliances, plumbing fixtures, flooring &…