Home Design Chat with Nancy

Kitchen Remodel Mistake #1: Letting Your General Contractor Design Your Kitchen

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy, where we talk about smart design, real-world remodeling, and how to make better decisions for your home. Today’s topic is one I hear about all the time—and honestly, it can save you from some very expensive mistakes.I’m joined by Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, and we’re talking about why your general contractor should not be your kitchen designer.Our topics include:Design vs building - What's the difference?Common problemsCostly mistakes bias & product choicesThe best process for kitchen designThe final takeawaysIf you're planning on a kitchen or  renovation, I would definitely be happy to work with you. I currently have availability in February for kitchen and bathroom design projects. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week. If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.comThanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.

Are You Still Using the Kitchen Work Triangle—and Should You Be?

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy—the podcast where we talk about smart, functional, and beautiful design for your home.Today is January 12th. Last week, my guest was Kirk Bianchi, a landscape design expert. He’ll be joining me again in a few weeks to answer your backyard design questions, so feel free to send those in.Today’s topic is one that continues to spark debate in the design world: the kitchen work triangle. Some designers are quick to say that the work triangle is outdated and no longer relevant for 2026 and beyond. This conversation has been ongoing for years, and it’s one I’ve been part of for a long time as kitchens—and the way we use them—have evolved.Before talking about what may replace the work triangle, I want to step back and talk about where it came from. Most people I speak with have heard of the kitchen work triangle, but few know when, why, and how it originated. That curiosity sent me down a bit of a research rabbit hole.In this episode, you’ll learn when and where the kitchen work triangle began, whose idea it was, and why it became such a foundational concept in kitchen design—as well as how it’s being reinterpreted today.During the podcast, I mentioned that I would share a link about Lillian Gilbreth, whose work had a profound influence on modern kitchen design.   I was truly impressed by her accomplishments and her life, which is why I spent some time discussing her contributions. I also revisit zone-based kitchen layouts. I’ve talked about kitchen zones in previous episodes, but these concepts are worth repeating, especially as they continue to shape how we design kitchens today.I hope you enjoyed today’s podcast. If you did, please subscribe on your preferred listening platform so you never miss an episode.I currently have availability in February for kitchen and bathroom design projects. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Outdoor Living Design Trends Every Homeowner Should Know

Today is Jan 5th, my first podcast for 2026.  We are enjoying the winter weather of Phoenix.. Don’t laugh we do get some cold weather but if we want to see snow we would go to Flagstaff.  We have that option, but no thank you. That’s the reason I live in Phoenix.If you have snow on the ground, and in checking the weather, I know many places are being hit with cold, snowy weather, you are probably not thinking of landscaping.  But just think when the warm weather hits,  you will have great ideas about what to do from my next guest.Kirk Bianchi, owner of BianchiDesign.com, a custom luxury watershape and landscape design firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona,  has been an outdoor living designer since 1991 after attending Az State University for architectural design.  Rather than becoming a contractor, he started his own design consulting business in 2000 where he has been sought out to create extraordinarily beautiful outdoor living spaces for both his discerning clients as well as architects to shape their work at the highest level.Kirk received Master of the Southwest honorary in 2005 as his early debut in Phoenix home and garden magazine. Since 2021, Kirk has been sought out for being a design instructor and faculty advisor through Genesis, founded in '98 as an industry education platform that sets the bar in exterior design, from construction methods to design principles. In this podcast Kirk will talk about the take-a-ways from the classes he teaches and what his goals are for the industry.  Also Kirk will explain the subjects of the outdoor design process and how he goes about to achieve them.  Listen for more incites Kirk talks about in this podcast.  Hope you are listening to my weekly podcasts to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much morePlease subscribe on the platform you use to listen to my podcasts.Email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com.  I would love to hear from you.By the way, you can send me an email at Nancy@nancyhugo.com 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

Holiday Best of Home Design Chat with Nancy #2

Happy holidays and welcome to a special Best Of edition of Home Design Chat with Nancy.While I’m taking a short holiday break, I wanted to leave you with some of my favorite moments from the podcast I did 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 so whether you’re decorating, relaxing, or planning future home projects, this episode is the perfect way to enjoy a little design inspiration during the holiday season. So grab a cup of something cozy, sit back, and enjoy this Best Of holiday episode.Hope you are listening to my weekly podcasts to learn everything about your home, what the current trends are, how to design, plan and execute your remodel and much morePlease subscribe on the platform you use to listen to my podcasts.Email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com.  I would love to hear from you.By the way, you can send me an email at Nancy@nancyhugo.com 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

Holiday Best Of Home Design Chat with Nancy

Happy holidays and welcome to a special Best Of edition of Home Design Chat with Nancy. While I’m taking a short holiday break, I wanted to leave you with some of my favorite moments from the podcast that I did with Laura Clark of Sherwin-Williams.  Laurie shared so much interesting information about the beautiful colors for 2026.   Whether you’re decorating, relaxing, or planning future home projects, this episode is the perfect way to enjoy a little design inspiration during the holiday season. So grab a cup of something cozy, sit back, and enjoy this Best Of holiday episode.Email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com.  I would love to hear from you.By the way, you can send me an email at Nancy@nancyhugo.com 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