12 Client Asks That Absolutely TRIGGER Designers

Ceiling Fans

If you live somewhere hot, you know what a relief a ceiling fan can be. However, ceiling fans in rooms other than bedrooms are the bane of designer Avery Cox’s existence. “In Texas, heat is a real thing, and fans help keep things cool and circulating—but I’d prefer to pretend that a beautiful light fixture is the better choice,” the designer says. If you absolutely need one in the living room, there are beautiful ceiling fans to choose from.

Engineered Quartz

When it comes to high-quality design, the real thing is often the best option, including for countertops. “As an industry, we’ve learned more about its flaws and health issues for fabricators, and I also think the look is starting to feel very dated,” Cox says of engineered quartz. Rather than tell her clients no outright when they ask about the manmade product, she offers them alternatives like butcher block, concrete, tile, and natural stone (her favorite). She feels that engineered quartz and other manmade stones look too polished and pristine. “I try to educate clients about patina and the importance of a livable home that shows soul and personality,” Cox adds.

Red Oak Cabinetry

Trends come and go, but there are some that interior designers detest more than others. For Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors, that’s red oak cabinetry and (more specifically) mosaic shower tiles on the wall. She’s not a fan of any outdated wood tone, but the red oak of the 1970s and ’90s really gets to her. “We love what we do and the clients that we work with, so helping them let go of a faded material can be a challenge,” Latham says.

Mosaic Tile Shower Accents

Latham dislikes an eye-level strip of mosaic tile on the shower wall—an outdated tile trend that’s still kicking around. That’s not a knock on the tile. It’s only because she feels there are more beautiful and creative options for your bathroom to choose from.

Matching Furniture Sets

When you’re redecorating, it can be tempting to buy a full furniture set from one place. We get it—those product images do all look great together! However, doubling down on matching furniture will not win you any admiration from designers. “A lot of clients are hardwired to buy the catalog sets like past generations,” E. Norton of Norton Interiors says. “Sure, it looks cohesive, but it also reads ‘discount store’ and lacks personality.” Complementary pieces in the same color palette bring more character into a home.

Extending Dining Tables

While this choice is very functional, designer Denise Morrison is not fond of client requests for dining room tables that extend. That’s because they “often compromise the aesthetic and spatial balance” of the dining area; a well-proportioned table that can be used year-round is preferable. “For flexibility, we recommend curved or oval tables, which allow for extra chairs to be added easily without disrupting the design,” Morrison says.

Faux Luxury

Designer Olga Doykhen puts it perfectly: “There’s a big difference between something that looks expensive and something that truly feels refined.” An oversize chandelier in a builder-grade home, a porcelain slab with a printed-on marble pattern, and other materials that are made to mimic the real thing don’t translate well. In fact, they typically cheapen the overall aesthetic. Doykhen’s alternative is to take the slow decorating route and buy the materials and items that actively get better with time. It’s hard to show restraint in this world of instant gratification, but high-quality pieces that patina are worth the wait.

Trendy Everything

We love predicting and reporting on trends here at House Beautiful, but designers agree that no one should ever rely wholly on trends. “Inspiration is great, but when a home is designed around piecing together viral trends—Japandi coffee tables, bouclé chairs, plaster arches—it risks feeling generic rather than personal,” Doykhen says. There’s a reason why pieces and styles go viral—it’s because they’re chic! However, their come-down is typically as fast as their ascent. A better way to express your love for a trend is to work in trendy elements as accents, Doykhen adds.

Darla Bankston May, the founder and principal designer of Bankston May Associates, points out that trends tend to age quickly too, leading to an outdated home. Doykhen also emphasizes creating a home based around feel rather than looks. “A well-designed home reflects its owners, not an algorithm,” Doykhen says.

All-White Kitchens

To some, all-white kitchens are timeless. Others see lifeless spaces that aren’t living up to their potential. To Doykhen specifically, they lack the necessary depth, contrast, and natural materials that make a kitchen beautiful. All-white kitchens can so easily feel sterile. To prevent that, she suggests white kitchen devotees balance light hues with warm tones: “creamy, nuanced whites instead of stark ones, natural stone with movement, unlacquered metals, and cabinetry with some variation” in color, wood tone, or texture. This will make your kitchen feel more inviting and less like a showroom display.

Requesting Discounts

Sometimes, it’s not even a specific design ask that makes these experts’ eyes twitch. For Bankston May, she feels that “when clients ask for discounts at the purchasing phase, it can undermine the value of the designer’s expertise and the quality of the materials selected.” To combat this request, she focuses on the long-term value of the pieces she suggests and how they’re more of investment products. “Instead of discounts, clients can be offered value in other ways, such as phased payment plans or alternative selections that still align with their goals,” she adds.

Prefab Window Treatments

Window treatments greatly affect how light or heavy your home feels. That’s why designer Gabriela Eisenhart of Silo Studios is not a fan of premade drapery and shades. “While prefab options can work, they’re never quite perfect,” she says. “As a professional, I want my clients to experience window treatments that are tailored to their specific windows.” She knows that limited budgets don’t always allow for this custom luxury, but there are other ways to make window treatments feel tailored to your space. She suggests they invest in custom hardware rather than builder-grade, clunky brackets at the top of the windows. Decorating with these types of custom pieces can immediately elevate a room.

Low-Quality Area Rugs

For designer Steph Schlegelmilch of Studio Seva, area rugs from retail stores are a pet peeve. “Stock rugs that are ready to ship are generally not our thing,” she says. “Not only do the sizes never seem to fit the space properly, but the fibers are usually not the best quality.” She suggests going with a beautiful, hand-knotted wool rug that’s completely unique. However, since a custom area rug isn’t always realistic for some clients’ budgets or time lines, Schlegelmilch often works with her local carpet store to have them fabricate a custom rug out of broadloom carpet. That way, the rug is never too small, and it gives her team and the clients more flexibility to choose the right color.

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