Details to Not Overlook: Things You Should Know Before Remodeling or Building Your Home

When talking about custom designed homes, the devil truly is in the details. What might seem like a straightforward kitchen upgrade or a simple bathroom installation often reveals hidden complexities that can impact the success of your project.

While most people focus on the obvious big picture—choosing countertops, selecting paint colors, or budgeting for appliances—it’s the lesser-known but crucial considerations that can make or break the ease, efficiency, and elegance of your remodel.

To help you steer clear of common pitfalls and keep your project on track, we’ve compiled a collection of rarely shared yet highly valuable insider tips. These unique insights, often overlooked in standard online advice, will allow you to make informed decisions as you bring your vision to life.

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Why You Should Pay Attention to the "Small Stuff"

Planning a custom home design is exciting, but have you considered the practical yet often overlooked details that can affect the quality and functionality of your final design? These aren't the things you'll notice in a showroom, but they are the kinds of decisions that will impact your day-to-day life in the finished space.

At Inspired Design, our years of experience specializing in both design and construction management have taught us how to avoid potential roadblocks and incorporate solutions that work seamlessly with your lifestyle. When clients hire us, they place their trust in our ability to craft spaces that stand the test of time—without needing to understand every detail behind each decision. They trust that every choice has been carefully considered.

Below, we’ll share some of those key considerations that we focus on behind the scenes, whether we’re remodeling an existing space or building a custom home from the ground up.

1. Wall Thickness and Plumbing Placement  

If you plan to install plumbing lines on an exterior wall, keep insulation in mind. Exterior walls typically require extra thickness to accommodate both insulation and plumbing without risking frozen pipes in colder climates. This is true for any plumbing--showers, faucets, and even that fancy pot filler you've had your eye on.

Pro Tip:

Work with your contractor and designer early to determine where plumbing lines will run. If you are running plumbing on an exterior wall, consider upgrading to spray foam insulation for better thermal protection.

2. Lighting Placement for Ambiance and Functionality

Light switches, dimmers, and fixtures are often an afterthought during a remodel, but they're vital to creating a functional and inviting space. Think about where you’ll need light most. For example, under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen can be a game-changer, but these typically require hardwiring in an LED strip that has a power adapter that will need to be hidden, yet accessible. Best to plan this before the drywall goes up to make it infinitely easier on yourself.

Pro Tip:

Install dimmable switches throughout your home. They give you complete control over the lighting, allowing you to adjust the brightness to suit any mood or activity. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, reading a book, or winding down for the evening, dimmers let you create the perfect ambiance. Dimmer switches are a simple upgrade that make a big difference.

3. Choosing the Perfect Tile

Selecting the right tile is essential, whether you're upgrading a kitchen backsplash or designing a bathroom. While all tiles may seem similar, each type comes with specific features to consider. Some tiles offer better slip resistance, others are ideal for high-traffic areas, and certain options may be more porous. To ensure the best results, take time to research and select tiles suited to the specific needs of your space.

Pro Tip:

Porcelain tiles are an excellent choice for wet areas like showers and bathtubs, thanks to their superior water resistance. While ceramic tiles can be suitable in some instances, they typically need a glazed finish to achieve the same level of water protection as porcelain. Additionally, tiles with rectified edges, regardless of the material, are less likely to chip and create clean, precise grout lines for a polished and durable finish.

4. Accounting for Airflow

Custom hoods are a popular choice among homeowners for their stylish design and functionality. However, many people are unaware that newer, high-powered models can create a vacuum effect in the home by expelling too much air outside. In tightly sealed or smaller homes, this imbalance in air pressure can cause significant issues—sometimes even leading to broken windows.

Here’s a real-life example: when my boyfriend and I purchased our current home in 2023, we discovered six cracked windows. The answer? Most likely the previous homeowners had used the attic fan without opening a window to relieve the suction. The power of these systems is no joke!

Pro Tip:

If you do opt for a powerful range hood (or you use an attic fan), be sure to have an HVAC specialist calculate the necessary makeup air needed to balance the airflow in your home. This can include opening windows or installing additional vents or ducts to bring in fresh air and prevent any negative pressure issues. Ignoring this step could lead to costly repairs down the road and potentially compromise the overall functionality of your home.

5. The Movement of People

The layout is everything when it comes to making your home functional. It’s not just about how the room looks but how it people move from room to room as well as within the space. Are doors placed to avoid collisions? Is there enough space for chairs to slide back without hitting the wall? Are your frequently used kitchen items conveniently within reach? These small but essential details can significantly impact your daily comfort and convenience.

Pro Tip:

Work with a designer to test real-life scenarios. For instance, I've measured the height of spatulas and other kitchen tools to ensure they could be stored upright in a custom drawer, making them easy to grab during daily meal prep. By analyzing how you’ll use the space day-to-day, you can uncover creative design solutions tailored to your lifestyle.

6. Patching Ceilings with Texture

When it comes to home remodeling, there’s a right way to do things—and then there are shortcuts you should avoid. Ceiling patching is a common task, especially when installing new recessed lighting or relocating fixtures that are no longer centered in a room. However, in our experience, a good patch job on a textured ceiling is nearly impossible to achieve.

Pro Tip:

If your ceiling has textures like popcorn, knockdown, or orange peel, simply re-texturing the cutouts you’ve created will never blend seamlessly with the rest of the surface. The result often looks like a quick fix rather than a polished finish. To achieve a professional, cohesive look, the best approach is to resurface the entire ceiling.

While this does increase the scope of work, it ensures that your eyes are drawn to the beauty of your new light fixture—not to a patchy, uneven ceiling. Investing the extra effort upfront will result in a home upgrade you’ll truly be proud of.

7. Upgrading Your Electrical Service

An often overlooked component in remodeling is having a discussion about your current electrical service. Depending on the age and size of your home, it may not be equipped to handle the increased demand of modern appliances and technology. Electrical upgrades can be costly but they are important for safety reasons and to prevent overloading your system.

Pro Tip:

If you are planning to add a new room or large appliance, it's best to consult with an electrician to assess your current electrical service. They can determine if an upgrade is necessary and provide recommendations for the appropriate panel size and wiring upgrades. In today's modern homes, many electrical systems are being upgraded from 115V to 220V. This allows for additional circuits, providing power to new outlets, lights, and appliances like air conditioners, electric ranges, and dryers, ensuring they operate efficiently and safely.

8. Understanding Hidden Costs

This might be less of a "detail" and more of a critical point, but it's always worth addressing hidden costs. Making your home truly custom is rarely only about what you see. There are often unexpected findings, sometimes those are electrical upgrades as mentioned above, but others you can't completely prepare for. In our experience, we’ve encountered cracked plumbing, multiple hidden layers of flooring, wood rot, and poorly executed patchwork from previous renovations (just to name a few). These expenses can quickly add up if they’re not accounted for in the initial planning phase.

Pro Tip:

Work with a designer-contractor partnership that performs thorough pre-construction evaluations and is transparent about their approach to unexpected issues. Many contractors rely heavily on change orders—additional charges beyond the original contract—to address unforeseen challenges.

At Inspired Design, we know clients don't like receiving change orders and we don't like to give them! So, we take a different approach. By incorporating a contingency into our budget, we acknowledge that construction rarely goes exactly as planned. This ensures that when surprises arise (because they will!), we can handle them without coming back to you for additional funds, allowing the project to move forward smoothly and efficiently.

Your Home, Reimagined

A custom home is an opportunity to transform your space into something truly special. And every homeowner deserves a space that reflects their unique personality, priorities, and style. Don't unexpected challenges and the associated costs hold you back from creating the home of your dreams. By incorporating these often-overlooked details, you'll create a home that doesn't just look beautiful but also serves your needs effortlessly.

By working with a professional and experienced team, like Inspired Design, you can trust that every aspect of your project will be thoroughly evaluated and managed, ensuring a successful and stress-free experience. If you live in the Kansas City area, don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation today.

Stay well and be inspired,

Hi, I'm Amy, and I help clients bring their dream homes to life. Whether you're building a custom new home or looking to remodel your existing space, we provide personalized design solutions that will enhance your everyday life.

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