Dear Alice | Common Design Mistakes to Avoid

There are so many little things that you may think will go unnoticed but really can cheapen the feel of your spaces. In our recent episode of Dear Alice, we talk through dated trends that are possibly already built into your home! At the end of the day, we all want a timeless home filled with beautiful items of quality that’ll last a lifetime.

Hardware Placement

Hardware is fun and exciting, we totally get it, but at the end of the day it should be functional to your life and how you use your kitchen. Don’t put hardware in the middle of a cabinet, when you're in the midst of putting away an armful of dishes, you’re not going to want to play the balancing act of reaching above your head for a highly placed handle. It’s not revolutionary but trust us- you’ll kick yourself everyday if you've got hard-to-reach cabinet pulls or knobs.

Arch Niches

Arch Niches are such a dated trend. They are usualy put in during construction without the consultation of a designer which can be pretty obvious because of the disregard for the layout of a space. We can go on and on but to put it simply, we aren’t fans.

Window Treatments

Make sure to invest in a full window treatment! It doesn't’ matter the size or location of the window—-fully decked out window treatments will always feel more regal and polished. You can always start with shades but add that drapery as soon as you can; shades for functionality and drapery to really finish it off. Also, it probably goes without saying, but take the railing closer to the ceiling rather than hovering right about the window! Your home will feel so much elevated with intentional window treatments!

Scale for your Space

This may be the most common design mistake of all of them. Your room is going to look bigger and more established with bigger rugs—we recommend 9x12 or 7x14’s. A rug under a bed should be parallel to your wall and is at least about half way under the bed, in most cases. As a general rule of thumb, a 9x12 rug should be the minimum for a king size bed. An 8 x 10 might be appropriate for a dining table (although you never want your chairs to be off the rug) or bunk bed but we really recommend going larger unless you have a smaller home. Another common mistake we see too may tiny throw pillows. Bigger and bigger sectionals are coming out everyday so pillows should reflect that and be 16 inches at least—but we always go for 22 inches or larger!

Reclaimed Wood

A lot of reclaimed items are best left unclaimed. Vintage and antique pieces can be fun but the quality and construction of reclaimed items aren’t up to par. Unless you’re a mountain or cabin home, it’s best to invest in timeless pieces that can actually be handed down as heirlooms.

Brass Faucets

There are only a few circumstances where brass kitchen faucets work. We usually don’t unless held at gun point and even then, we only install them if they’re authentic to the space. Brass is stunning for hardware but not for faucets because it’s decorative and not made with utility in mind.

Pops of Color

If you’re wanting to add a pop of color, don’t just put it on a throw pillow—go all in! Small little pockets of color never look as sophisticated or intentional. It's better if you throw more shades of a specific color- don’t be afraid to play around with monochromatic color! You can still stay pretty neutral and have fun with color. Try in a powder bathroom or in a kids room to start out. Being more dedicated to a set color makes a room feel complete. Don’t just leave it for the pillows — be bold and make it feel like you gave a damn.

Vessel Sinks

Vessel sinks aren’t great for our shorter friends! Unless you’re okay with keeping a step stool in your bathroom for them to brush your teeth, don’t even think about it! We’re done and over it. It’s a hard thing to get right and it’s had it’s time. Because it’s not functional, we’re giving it a hard pass!

Buying Quick and Cheap

If you take anything from this podcast, please let it be this- stop buying cheaper items because they’re a quick solution or a money saving placeholder. There are no quick fixes in life and no cheaper alternatives for quality. A deal is a deal for a reason. Disposal products are going right into the landfill so if you don’t have the money for it, don’t waste money on space savers, just invest in the one piece when you can. If we haven’t drilled it enough already, you pay for what you get.

We hope you’ve enjoyed listening to this episode! All in all, be intentional with your spaces and invest in quality items that’ll last you a lifetime because creating an elegant and beautiful home is worth it.