Home Design Chat with Nancy

Nancy Hugo
  • 4.6 (12)
  • Design
  • Updated Weekly

Home Design Chat with Nancy Hugo, certified kitchen designer, covers all aspects of every room in the home. Kitchens, baths and whole-house remodeling, appliances, plumbing fixtures, flooring & countertop materials, and lighting are some of our topics. In addition, we cover aging-in-place, security systems, smart homes, backyard kitchens, window coverings, water treatment units & even wine pairing. Some of the favored topics are trends in kitchens, baths & interior designs, colors of the year & what we think of HGTV's suggestions for your home. View NancyHugo.com for design ideas.

  1. Oct 5

    This Isn’t Goodbye… Just a Little Pause.”

    Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy. I’m Nancy. Today’s episode is going to be a little different because, instead of talking about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, design trends or all the other things we normally talk about, I have a little announcement to make. I’ve decided to put Home Design Chat with Nancy on hiatus.  It’s time for me to take a little pause. I’ve been doing this show for quite a while now, and when I started Home Design Chat with Nancy, I never imagined how many conversations we would have or how many people would eventually listen. And I have to tell you — I have loved doing it. I’ve loved talking about design. I’ve loved having guests join me. I’ve loved discussing everything from kitchens and bathrooms to flooring, windows, outdoor spaces, remodeling mistakes, design trends and all those little things homeowners don't always think about until it’s too late. But sometimes, even when you love something, you need to step back and take a breath. This is not goodbye. It’s a pause. I want to take some time to think about what I want the next chapter of Home Design Chat with Nancy to be. Maybe it will come back exactly as it has been. Maybe it will come back a little differently. Maybe there will be some new ideas, new conversations and some subjects I haven’t tackled yet. I’m not going to make any promises about exactly when I’ll be back — because I’ve learned that sometimes the best things happen when you don't put yourself on a deadline. But I do want you to know that I’m not disappearing. There are still plenty of ways to find me and my design ideas. And if you’re new to the show, this is actually a great time to go back and listen to some of the previous episodes. There are a lot of them! You can find Home Design Chat with Nancy and my other design information through NancyHugo.com and Designers Circle. You can also find my list of podcasts on Spotify, iHeart radio and apple to name a few.  And to all of you who have listened over the years — thank you. Thank you for spending part of your day with me. Thank you for listening to my opinions, even when you didn't necessarily agree with me. And thank you for trusting me to talk about something I have been passionate about for a very long time — making homes beautiful, functional and, most importantly, right for the people who live in them. I've always said that good design isn't just about what looks good. It's about how you live. And I hope I’ve helped you look at your home a little differently. So, for now, I’m going to take a little break. I’m going to step away from the microphone, give myself some time to think, and see where this next chapter takes me. And who knows? I may surprise you. So this isn't goodbye to Home Design Chat with Nancy. It’s simply… “See you later.” Until then, keep designing, keep asking questions, and remember — your home should work for you, not the other way around. Thank you for listening. And when I’m ready to start talking design with you again…

    This Isn’t Goodbye… Just a Little Pause.”

  2. Sep 27

    Window Treatment Mistakes Homeowners Make — And How to Get Them Right

    Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy and I’m Nancy! today we're continuing our conversation about something every homeowner has to deal with at some point—window treatments. If you listened to Part 1 of our conversation, you already know there is a lot more to choosing window coverings than simply picking something that looks pretty. We talked about the different types of window treatments, materials, custom versus ready-made, privacy, light control, and some of the choices homeowners need to think about before they make a purchase. Today, we're continuing that conversation with Jack Kim with Arizona Blinds Company, about something I think every homeowner needs to hear about: the mistakes people make when choosing window treatments. Because you can spend a lot of money on beautiful shades, shutters, blinds or draperies—and still end up with something that doesn't work for the room. Maybe the curtains are hung too low. Maybe the rods are too short. Maybe the fabric isn't right for the amount of sunlight coming through the window. Or perhaps nobody thought about privacy, furniture placement, or even how the window treatment is going to look when it's completely open. And then we're going to get into some of the things homeowners are asking for right now—including motorized window treatments, natural materials, new styles and what's beginning to look dated. So if you're thinking about replacing your window coverings, remodeling a room, or building a new home, you're going to want to hear this part. Our topics today are: Top 5 design mistakes homeowners makeWhat's Trending for window treatments in 2027Best choice for a tight budgetDated window treatmentsI hope you enjoyed today’s topic. If you have any questions, email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com.  And please share these podcasts with your friends.  Everyone can you a little education in design. If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠ You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website as a tab. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more.  In addition, Home Design Chat with Nancy can be found on Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple and many other platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen to podcast.

    Window Treatment Mistakes Homeowners Make — And How to Get Them Right

  3. Sep 21

    Home Design Mistakes You Don’t Notice Until You Live in Your Home

    Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy..   and I’m Nancy! A our subject today is something that I think every homeowner can relate to.   It’s those little design mistakes that you don't necessarily notice when you're looking at your plans, when you're shopping for your house, or even when your remodel is brand new. But then you start living in the space. And suddenly you think:  “Why did we do that?” What were we thinking?  Have you ever had that happen? But before we begin please subscribe on the platform you are using to listen to my podcasts. As I chat about design mistakes you don't notice until you live in your home,  I want you to think about your own house as we're going through these. You may hear something and say, “Oh my gosh. I have that problem." Common Mistakes: Not thinking about how you really liveNot having enough storagePutting beauty before functionNot thinking about lightingNot having enough outletsDoors that fight with each otherNot thinking about where things goThe wrong size furnitureForgetting about maintenanceDesigning for today and not tomorrowNot paying attention to the kitchen workflowIgnoring the little annoyancesGood design is about creating a home that works. It should support the way you live. It should make everyday activities easier.It should be comfortable.It should be practical.It should be beautiful, too.But beauty and function don't have to compete. The best homes bring the two together. Good design is about creating a home that works. It should support the way you live. I hope you enjoyed today’s topic. If you have any questions, email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com And please share these podcasts with your friends.  Everyone can you a little education in design. If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠   You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website as a tab. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more.  In addition, Home Design Chat with Nancy can be found on Spotify, iHeart radio, Apple and many other platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen to podcasts.

    Home Design Mistakes You Don’t Notice Until You Live in Your Home

  4. Sep 14

    Kitchen Cabinets: The Details That Make All the Difference

    Hi everyone, and welcome to Home Design Chat with Nancy, and I'm Nancy.   Before I get started on the topic of the day,  I would really appreciate it if you can you please subscribe to my podcast. As I have said many times, I do podcasts to educate everyone about design & more.  Most people will look at models home, cabinet showrooms or pinterest and quickly notice the cabinet style and color.  The cabinet is more than a pretty door.  Construction is very important and so is the manufacturer who produced the cabinetry. Jeff Hunt, co-owner of Hunt’s Kitchen & Design in Scottsdale, AZ.  is back with me because we have more to discuss about cabinets. Just to summarize the first podcast we did on August 24th, we discussed wood species, face-frame cabinets vs frameless, Custom vs semi-custom vs stock cabinets.  I suggest you go back to listen to that one if you haven’t already. At the end of this podcast, with Jeff’s help, you the homeowner should be able to open the cabinet door and drawer and decide the quality. And what to look for. Topics of discussion: The cabinet mistakes that are expensive to fix after installationCabinet Shelving - what to look forCabinet hardware finishesKnobs vs handlesIs the Kitchen triangle dead? A beautiful kitchen isn't necessarily a functional kitchen. You can have gorgeous cabinets, the perfect hardware, and every appliance you've ever wanted—but if you have to walk around an island three times to make a cup of coffee, something went wrong. Good kitchen design isn't about following one rule or copying a kitchen you saw online. It's about understanding how you live, cook, entertain, and move through your kitchen. Hope you enjoyed learning about cabinetry.  Please share these podcasts with your friends and subscribe on the platform that you use to listen to these podcasts. If you have any questions or suggestions for a topic on the show, please email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com. Check out my website, NancyHugo.com to learn more about me and see some of my projects. I have added a tab on this site for DesignersCircleHQ.com on NancyHugo.com  By the way, it is also a website so you can bookmark it and read it anytime.  The subjects are interesting for people are take an interest in design and trends.  The podcast is also on there with a player which can be accessed anytime.

    Kitchen Cabinets: The Details That Make All the Difference

  5. Sep 7

    Can You Use Pavers Inside Your Home? What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

    Hi Everyone, Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy, where we talk about the things that make a home look great—but also make it work better. Today the subject is pavers.  If you don’t know what a paver is, you will be glad you listened because pavers are a very interesting product, but before we begin, please subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen. I would really appreciate it. Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, is back with me today.  He will explain everything you should know about pavers. Our topics covered are: What exactly is a paverWere can pavers be usedCan pavers be used in the homeWhat types of pavers are availableThe advantages & disadvantages of using paversWhat is the difference between porcelain & stone paversDoes climate effect paversCan installing pavers be a do-it-yourself project Hope you enjoyed learning about pavers.  As you know, Home Design Chat with Nancy is about educating all things important to the home.  Please share these podcasts with your friends and subscribe on the platform that you use to listen to these podcasts. If you have any questions or suggestions for a topic on the show, please email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com. Check out my website, NancyHugo.com to learn more about me and see some of my projects. I have added a tab on NancyHugo.com for DesignersCircleHQ.com which is also a website.  You can bookmark it and read it anytime.  The subjects are interesting for people who take an interest in design and trends.  The podcast is also posted there with a player that can be accessed anytime.

    Can You Use Pavers Inside Your Home? What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

  6. Aug 31

    Before You Buy Window Treatments: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

    Hi everyone and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy where we talk about the things that make a home look great --but also make it work better. Today we are talking about something that can completely change the look and feel of a room, yet is often one of the last things homeowners think about: window treatments.  And when I say window treatments, I'm talking about a lot more than curtains. My guest today is Jack Kim, the owner of Arizona Blinds Company in Phoenix, Arizona. Jack knows window treatments inside and out. We're going to take a close look at the choices homeowners have, the pros and cons of each, and what you really need to know before you buy. We're also going to talk about something I think is especially important: window treatments aren't just about how a window looks. They can affect privacy, light, energy efficiency, comfort, and even how functional a room is. I think we're going to discover that there is a lot more to choosing a window covering than walking into a store and saying, "I like that one!" Our topics will include: Common types of window coverings and the benefits of each. Custom vs ready-made window treatments Light and privacyLayering window treatmentsMotorizationThere is so much more we wanted to talk about that time did not allow us to cover, so we are going to continue this subject in a few weeks.  Subscribe to Home Design Chat with Nancy so you don't miss everything about design especially if you are remodeling or building new. If you have any questions for Jack or me, email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠  You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website or you can bookmark it since it is a website. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more.

    Before You Buy Window Treatments: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

  7. Aug 24

    Kitchen Cabinets Are More Than Just Pretty Doors!

    Hi everyone and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy.  Before I get started on the topic of the day, can you please subscribe to my podcast.  I would really appreciate it. Today we're talking about an item that most of us probably don't think about very much. Cabinets. There is more to cabinets then the pretty door.  There’s  construction, materials, hardware, finish, storage and much more that you will know  by the end of this podcast. My guest today is Jeff Hunt, co-owner of Hunt’s Kitchen & Design in Scottsdale, AZ.  Jeff & his brother Josh prioritize their business in creativity, quality and personal connection. Some of our talking points today: Wood Species - does it really matter?Is one wood better than the otherWhat is Rift OakFace-frame vs. Frameless - which one is betterCustom vs. semi-custom vs stock/box cabinetsDoes custom cabinetry make your kitchen better?There are more topics about cabinets that time did not allow us to cover so we are going to continue this subject on September 14th when Jeff will be back with me.  Be sure to listen to learn more interesting things about cabinets you should know.  Especially if you are remodeling or building new. If you have any questions on cabinets, email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠  You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more.

    Kitchen Cabinets Are More Than Just Pretty Doors!

  8. Aug 17

    Do You Really Need a Big Microwave? 7 Kitchen Microwave Mistakes Homeowners Make

    Hi Everyone and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy. If you are new to this podcast, I am Nancy Hugo, a certified kitchen designer, with a passion for design. Today we're talking about an appliance that most of us probably don't think about very much. The microwave. It's one of those things that's just...there. You put something in it, push a button, and a couple of minutes later, you're eating. But when you're designing or remodeling a kitchen, the microwave can actually create some pretty interesting design questions. The common questions are how big should it be & where should it go.  Here are the thoughts you should have when purchasing a microwave: Do you really need an enormous microwaveWhen did bigger become betterWhat do you use the microwave forCan you get away with a smaller microwaveThe different types of microwavesWhere should the microwave go?Are Microwaves safe?Is smaller better?The microwave mistakesI hope you learned things about microwaves you didn't know. If you have any questions, email me at Nancy@nancyhugo.com If you want to learn more about me, go to ⁠NancyHugo.com⁠  You will find DesignersCircleHQ.com on my website. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on the platform you use to listen to podcasts. I look forward to your comments.

    Do You Really Need a Big Microwave? 7 Kitchen Microwave Mistakes Homeowners Make
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About

Home Design Chat with Nancy Hugo, certified kitchen designer, covers all aspects of every room in the home. Kitchens, baths and whole-house remodeling, appliances, plumbing fixtures, flooring & countertop materials, and lighting are some of our topics. In addition, we cover aging-in-place, security systems, smart homes, backyard kitchens, window coverings, water treatment units & even wine pairing. Some of the favored topics are trends in kitchens, baths & interior designs, colors of the year & what we think of HGTV's suggestions for your home. View NancyHugo.com for design ideas.

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