Advice · 7 May 2026 · 3 min read
Six honest truths about designing your space
Clients may not always like the truth, but here it is anyway — what really makes a room work, and what slows a project down.
By Eugenia Anyawoe
After years of designing homes, offices, salons and short-stays, a few truths come up again and again. They are not always what clients want to hear, but they are what make the difference between a room that looks good online and one that works in real life.
- 01That Pinterest image you love? The budget, ceiling height and natural light are all part of the design. The furniture is the final 20%.
- 02A beautiful room starts with a brief, not a mood board. If you can't tell us how you live, we can't design a space that actually works for you.
- 03Changing your mind mid-project doesn't just cost money. It costs weeks.
- 04The detail you never consciously notice is often the one that makes the entire room feel right.
- 05Good sourcing takes time. We spend hours finding the right piece so you don't spend years living with the wrong one.
- 06Over-directing your designers doesn't improve the outcome. It limits creativity and weakens the final experience.
“We spend hours finding the right piece so you don't spend years living with the wrong one.”
If you are planning a project, start by telling us how you live, work or host. Everything else follows from there.
