Home Design Chat with Nancy

By Nancy HugoArts Design

Home Design Chat with Nancy episodes

August 24, 2022How to Pick the Perfect Light Fixtures Over Your Island
S5E32 - Working in a kitchen with poor lighting can be frustrating and unwelcoming. Jem Funk, Interior Designer, chats with Nancy about the right lighting for kitchen islands. There are so many pendants and chandeliers available so making choices can be very overwhelming and confusing, but listening to this podcast will help you chose the right fixture.
We will talk about:
Size and Shape

Number of fixtures over an island

Styles that can be mixed

Pairing fixtures over island and table

Function

Focal point

Materials
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
27 min
August 17, 2022Do You Have a Dangerous Kitchen?
Enjoy this "Best of" podcast originally recorded in December, 2021. We had any comments regarding the information Paul McAlary brought to light during our conversation.
One of the greatest challenges for a kitchen designer is to create a design that the customer appreciates aesthetically and simultaneously provides them with a functionally well designed kitchen. It’s equally difficult to just not make any mistakes. And sadly, that’s something very few kitchen designers can actually accomplish.
Paul McAlary, president of Main Line Kitchen Design in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. chats with Nancy about safety in kitchen design.
In the last few years, Paul said he has yet to pick up a kitchen trade magazine without a featured kitchen on either its front or back cover having major mistakes. Often they possess one of the possibly fatal design flaws listed below.
Wall cabinet, spice pull out or an appliance garage too close to the cooktop or rangeRange too close to the window

Range or cooktop on the end of the run

A range next to the exterior kitchen door

Microwaves set too high

Wall cabinets extending out past countertop

Placing cabinets with moldings approaching but not reaching the ceiling

Today’s powerful hoods coupled with tightly sealed energy efficient homes

GFI outlets too close to the stainless steel sink
This podcast sponsored by
Thermador Appliances,
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments to [email protected]
42 min
August 10, 202210 Ideas to Give your Kitchen a New Look without a Major Reno
S05E31 Remodeling kitchens are expensive, but you can do some things that are budget friendly and affordable and will make your kitchen look updated. Nancy will share 10 ideas that you can use in your kitchen to put zing in your kitchen without a major renovation.
Change hardware on cabinetry

Add or change light fixtures

Use rugs in workspaces

Replace bar stools

Replace faucet

Paint cabinets

Add open shelves

Add island

Change or add backsplash tile

Organize your kitchen
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
22 min
August 03, 2022So you want a Kitchen Island, but will it Work? Kitchen Design Part 2 of 4
S05E30 - Welcome to Part 2 of 4 - a series about basic kitchen design. My co-host for this series is Jason F. Miller, winner of the 2021 SKS & Architectural Digest Technicurean Kitchen Design Contest. Jason’s winning design was selected and published in Architectural Digest. In addition, his work has been published in lifestyle magazines throughout Arizona and his signature style is seen and spotlighted on many social media outlets.
Part 1 was published July 6 and focused on what every DIYer and homeowner who is going to hire a contractor to remodel the kitchen should know about the basics.
Today we are going to talk about the kitchen island, how to configure one, what the functions could be, and suggestions for the materials used for an attractive island.
Most kitchens are more efficient with an island, but not every kitchen can have one. Find out if an island would be perfect for your kitchen.
Talking points
Size

Function

Lighting

Materials
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
45 min
July 27, 2022Do you Need Help Organizing your Kitchen?
S05E29 Did you ever buy something that you needed, but you know you already have one and can't find it? This happens when clutter and unorganized storage takes over your life.
Today Nancy is going to walk you through the process to turn your cluttered kitchen into an efficient and You can turn your cluttered, messy kitchen into an efficient and organized place that makes you happy to work in.
Where to you start

What to get rid of

Plan your spaces

Use the right tools

There's a system
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
29 min
July 20, 2022We Don't Agree with Those 2022 Trends
Jan Rutgers, owner of Vestibule School of Design and regular guest of Home Design Chat, joined Nancy today to agree or disagree with the 2022 trends that nameless designers said would be huge this year.
The following topics were discussed:
Colorful cabinetry.

Resourcefulness.

Black accents and appliances.

Multiple islands.

Patterned floors.

Disappearing upper cabinets.

Kitchens that don't really look like kitchens.
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
23 min
July 13, 2022 What's Hot in Cooking
S5E27 Are you planning to remodel your kitchen or replace your appliances in the near future? Knowing what appliances you should have in your kitchen depends on functionality and space. It's not about just getting a stove or a cooktop and oven, it's about what the appliances can do for you.
Deron Rensen, senior area sales manager for Monogram for Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and West Texas joins Nancy and talks about how cooking technologies have changed. The size of your kitchen, of course, is a big factor that regulates your choices but Deron will explain what appliances can accommodate your life style.
He will suggest appliances for the small, medium and large kitchen. He will also explain the interactive, connected appliances, voice controls and camera integration programmed in smart appliances.
Knowing what appliances offer and which ones fit with your lifestyle is important. Doing your research, visiting a showroom with knowledgeable sales people and, of course, utilizing a kitchen designer for your project will have the end result you deserve.
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]

45 min
July 06, 2022DIY's & Homeowners- Kitchen Design Part I of 4
S5E26 Kitchen remodeling started booming when the pandemic hit and everyone realized that their kitchen needed changing. Are you a DIY who wants to remodel your own kitchen? Or are you a homeowner who has the ideas but will hire a contractor to do your project?
It's important to know everything about basic kitchen design before you start your project, so we are going to cover basic elements in a series of podcasts to be published the first Wednesday of the next 4 months, starting today.
My co-host for this series is Jason F. Miller, winner of the 2021 SKS & Architectural Digest Technicurean Kitchen Design Contest. Jason's winning design was selected and published in Architectural Digest. In addition, his work has been published in lifestyle magazines throughout Arizona and his signature style is seen and spotlighted on many social media outlets.
Pro Remodeler Magazine announced Jason as part of the top 40 under 40 in the nation in April 2022. Out of 40 professionals featured, Jason is one of 8 interior designers in the nation featured in this group. Jason is the only interior design professional from Arizona.
During this first podcast we will cover the following:
Appliance choices
Need sizes before design

Plan landing spaces

Work Triangle
Control traffic flow
Clearance

Flow
How to treat corner storage
Size necessary for lazy susan

Blind corner

Reversed cabinet
Number of sinks and sizes
Functional placement
Cabinets
Construction

Height of wall cabinets
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
36 min
June 29, 2022The Tables are Turned: Nancy gets interviewed!
S5E24 Nancy sits on the other side of the mic when Christine Sterling interviews Nancy about life in the world of interior design. Some of her answers will surprise you.
Here are some of the questions Christine asked Nancy:
How old were you when you decided to get into interior design?

What is the challenging part of being a designer?

If you had a time machine, what year would you go back to and why?

What motivates you?
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
35 min
June 22, 2022What To Know Before you Buy that Area Rug
S5E23 Area rugs and runners are a major part of completing a traditional, contemporary and transitional look. You will see them in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways and even kitchens. They come in different shapes, styles, sizes and prices. Some rugs are even handed down and become an heirlooms and family treasures. Learn as much as you can about the rug before you purchase.
Nick Motlagh, owner of Rug Treasures in Scottsdale, chats with Nancy about the differences between a Persian and Oriental rug, techniques of rug making, and how to tell the difference.
Usually, come from Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Tibet. After

Rugs can be hand knotted, tufted and machine made using different fibers.

Attention to detail is where the value and rarity of these rugs comes from, as each rug is unique and takes many hours of hard work to create.
This podcast sponsored by
Monogram Appliances
Studio 41
email comments & questions to
[email protected]
30 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 &…