Home Design Chat with Nancy

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy! 

Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are going to be here before you know it.  Whatever you celebrate, I am sure you have a lot to do before the big day or big week.. Decorating, gift shopping, planning the menu for family holiday dinners, and added to this, enough stress for 10 people.  I think stress naturally goes with holidays.  

I was actually thinking of sharing some of my traditional Italian cookies and pastry recipes but…this is not a cooking show, so I will stick with my subjects for your home.

If you are remodeling any part of your home, or building a new home, or are in the middle of planning a remodel project, now is not the time to think about this.  Just relax. Watch Christmas movies, make ornaments & cookies with your kids and have fun.

Several weeks ago I reviewed the walk in tub.  I shared my honest opinion on the pros and cons.

Today I am reviewing  an interesting product for the kitchen.  I really like induction cooktops but this one by Invisacook goes a step further.

• How does it work
• Pros & Cons
• Ventilation
• Cost

I hope today’s episode on the pros and cons of a new product.

If you have questions,  please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.  All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy! 

I hope this is not the first time you are listening to my podcasts but if it is you will learn  all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more. my passion is about design and to educate….that’s my reason for doing this podcast every week.

Today’s episode is all about giving you design inspiration and helping you decorate safely. We’re going to cover what’s trending in Christmas décor for 2025, what colors and materials designers are loving this year, and the safest way to create a beautiful holiday home without setting off the smoke alarm.

If you want a holiday home that looks magical but is still safe for kids, pets, and your peace of mind, stay with me — this is your guide to safe and stylish decorating this Christmas.

• Check your lights before you use them to decorate
• Don't overload your outlets
• Safe decorating for outdoors
• Real tree vs artificial tree
• Candles - the #1 hazard

Now for the fun stuff:

• Warm Luxe meets Whimsy
• Color trends in decorating for the holidays
• The holiday metallic color
• Pastel colors for Christmas
• Bows everywhere
• Texture and more texture
• Handmade decor
• The ambient glow
• Multiple trees

I hope today’s episode gave you a mix of inspiration and practical ideas to make your home look beautiful and stay safe this Christmas. Decorating should be fun — and with a little thoughtfulness, it can be magical without becoming dangerous.

If you have questions,  please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.

All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Hi everyone, welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy. 

My podcasts are  all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.

As everyone who knows me will attest, my passion is design and educate….that’s my reason for doing this podcast every week.

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is what are the new tile trends for 2026. 

Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, and a tile expert, is going to answer those questions.

The tile trends are below.  Listen to the podcast for descriptions of each trend.

• Earthy & Biophilic Colors 
• Large-Format & Slab Tiles 
• Textured & Tactile Tiles 
• Pattern Revival
• Monochromatic & Matching Grout
• Mixed Materials & Craftsmanship 
• Natural Stone Effects 
• Matte Finish 
• Tile “Drenching”
• Checkerboard Modernized 
• Historic & Artistic Touches 

If you have questions for me or for Gil Olachea, please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com. 

All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more. 

DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Hi everyone, welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy. My podcasts are  all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.

When we talk about bathroom design, two themes always seem to show up: safety and luxury.

Homeowners want a space that feels spa-worthy, but they also want it to function comfortably and safely for everyday life.

And right in the middle of that conversation sits the ever-popular freestanding tub. People love it—but is the appeal really about luxury, or is there something deeper going on?

In today’s episode, we’re looking at how they fit into a safe and well-planned layout, and whether they’re the right choice for your next remodel.

Topics of discussion:

• The risks of free-standing tubs
• How risks can be mitigated
• Free-standing tubs might work with design adjustments
• More design ideas for a safe bathroom

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com. 

All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Hi everyone, I’m Nancy Hugo, and you’re listening to Home Design Chat with Nancy., I am a certified kitchen designer and love remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. 

Home Design Chat with Nancy is all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.

The most common question everyone has when they are planning a remodel is "what is the color of the year?" 

We know every year there are new colors introduced for fashion, cars and home design, and of course, you don't have to follow that, but it is fun to know what the new colors are. 

Laurie Clark with Sherwin-Williams is back with me, as she is every year, to explain the Anthology of color and how it relates the the color forecast for 2026.

2026 Anthology Volume 2” is comprised of  48 hand-selected hues grouped into four palettes.

• The four palettes are:

  1. Frosted Tints — airy pastels, milky lavenders, soft greens/blues. 

  2. Sunbaked Hues — warm, sun-drenched earthy tones: terracotta, saffron yellow, clay-inspired reds. 

  3. Restorative Darks — deep, enveloping tones (plum, burgundy, inky blues) designed for comfort and cocooning. 

  4. Foundational Neutrals — modern neutrals with subtle undertones, warm and layered instead of flat. 

• The 2026 Color of the Year is Universal Khaki SW 6150 — a mid-tone neutral with slight yellow/khaki undertone, described as “warm, grounded, versatile

Go to www.swcolorforecast.com for more information and to see the new colors of the year.

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com. 

All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy where all the conversations are about your home - how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.  

Hiring the right designer can make or break your remodeling project and that’s our subject for today.

Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramic in Scottsdale is back.  

Before we start this podcast, I need to apologize for the 1 minute + pause in last week's podcast.  I will blame it on technology but it is now fixed. 

So if you didn’t listen to the whole podcast which was filled with information about the outdated bathroom, please try it again.

2 weeks ago Gil & I talked about hiring the wrong designer for your project and what you should do when you realize that this happened. 

This week we are going to give you the "rules" on hiring a designer so you don't have any regrets.

• Do your homework
• Schedule a consultation
• Ask the right questions
• Ask about budgets & fees
• Trust your gut
• Contracts, policies & timeline

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.  All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.comPicture source: Plumguide.com

Hi everyone, I’m Nancy Hugo, and you’re listening to Home Design Chat with Nancy., I am a certified kitchen designer and love remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. 

Home Design Chat with Nancy is all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.

You use the bathroom several times a day and don’t really look at it with a critical eye, but then you look at magazines and realize your bathroom could use an update.  That’s our subject for today.

Main reasons why your bathroom looks outdated:

• Color schemes
• Builder grade tiles
• Lighting
• Plumbing fixtures/finishes
• Countertops
• Vanity cabinet height
• Over accessorizing
• Glass block
• Tubs set in decks

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.  All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy. If you are new to my show, I am Nancy Hugo, a certified kitchen designer.

My podcasts are all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more. 

Over the 16 years that I have done podcasting I have had many guests and have covered many subjects. Most of them are educational...actually all of them have been interesting and educational.

Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica, a wholesale tile showroom in Scottsdale is my monthly guest co-host and back today to talk about a very interesting subject.

Gil and I have talked many times about how the design process is changing.  So that's our subject for today!

Remodeling your home should be exciting but if you hire the wrong designer, that dream project can quickly turn into a stressful, expensive, and disappointing experience. The relationship between homeowner and designer is like a partnership — built on trust, communication, and shared vision.

Here’s how to spot the red flags, avoid costly mistakes, and make sure your next project runs smoothly from start to finish.

• Communication is a struggle
• Designer is not accompanying client to showrooms
• The chemistry just isn't there
• The budget keeps shifting
• Project management falls apart
• The design doesn't reflect the client (homeowner)
• The cost of the wrong designer

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.  All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy. If you are new to my show, I am Nancy Hugo, a certified kitchen designer enjoying designing kitchens and also bathrooms for years.  I love looking at my clients faces when their remodel is completed.

Home Design Chat with Nancy is all about your home…how to plan, design and execute your remodel and much more.

I am going to talk about smart design ideas that help your kitchen feel more joyful  & functional rather than stressful and disorganized.

Your job will be to look at and think of your kitchen with a critical eye.  Picture yourself making breakfast or dinner.  Could you be more efficient?

Have you been thinking about remodeling your kitchen to be more efficient?These are the subjects I am covering:

• Eliminating wasted steps
• How wide are your walkways
• Directing traffic though the kitchen
• Peninsula vs an island
• Microwave heights
• Having enough workspace
• Functional storage
• Have enough outlets?

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com. 

All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy I am your host Nancy Hugo. 

One of the most popular questions I hear as a kitchen designer is “What are the trends for the new year?” 

Kitchens are especially prone to new trends and homeowners typically want the latest and greatest gadgets and to increase their resale value.

We know that generally speaking the kitchen sells the home. I do want to point out that not only are homeowners interested in the resale factor but also they are interested in designing for their forever home.  They want to stay in their home longer and feel safe and secure and happy. 

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show just released the 2026 Kitchen Trends Report based on a survey conducted among the NKBA community including the US and Canada. Did this survey agree with independent designers?  

The topics I covered 

• Style
• Cabinet Colors
• Kitchen layouts
• Induction Cooking
• Task zones
• Decorative Lighting
• Kitchen islands

Did you agree with the surveys?  What is your opinion on these topics?

Listen to my weekly podcast to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much more

If you have questions for my guests in this podcast or past podcasts, please send them to [email protected]

By the way, you can send me an email at [email protected] to get on my email list for DesignersCircleHQ.com.  All the podcasts are posted there as well as Design Trends, Design News and more.  DesignersCirclehq.com is a website!

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com