There’s a moment in every home project when the excitement fades and decision fatigue sets in. For one of my clients, that moment hit several times — and thankfully, they had someone in their corner.

This was their first-ever renovation — a full gut with a small addition. They were brave, excited, and doing everything right. We had a clear design plan, and everything was ready to roll.

Then one day I got a call.

We followed the plan — but the builder didn’t.

There was a detail that the builder overlooked, likely just doing what he normally did, but cosmetically made a difference to the overall exterior finish. 

They texted me a photo of the detail — and I could see immediately it wasn’t right. I sent back a drawing and a picture from a past project to explain exactly how it should look, and I gave the homeowner a script to use with the builder.

Now here’s the part that matters: it wasn’t a major mistake. Only one board had been cut. It was easy to swap, no waste, no drama. But standing up to a builder as a first-time homeowner? That’s intimidating.

I gave them the tools and confidence to advocate for the design they wanted. And they did it.

That one moment gave them the confidence to keep going.

When picking a front door is more stressful than it should be

Later, they came to me again about their front door — torn between a wood finish or steel, stained vs. painted, bold vs. subtle. Their home was a neutral tone, so either could have worked. I walked them through the pros and cons, and even mocked it up in 3D so they could actually see the options in context. They picked something they loved.

But the real test came later…

“Everyone says something different — and none of them are me.”

They were debating a statement colour for one of their feature finishes. The interior designer said yellow. The builder suggested red. The husband liked natural wood, and the wife didn’t love any of it.

They were stuck.

Instead of picking sides, I helped them find their decision on their own. We looked at their Pinterest boards and noticed a pattern. Most of the pictures they had chosen were a specific colour. It was the colour they were naturally drawn to and the colour that felt most like them. It was an instant relief. Relief of stress, decision fatigue, time and money — because reordering or replacing that finish would have cost a fortune. But more than that, they chose something they loved every time they walked in the door.

The window mistake that almost became permanent

And then there were the windows.

They wanted character but also wanted to preserve the clean views. I shared how I had used muntin bars (grilles) on only a few of the smaller windows in my own home — a subtle touch of charm without blocking any views. They loved it and did the same.

But when the windows arrived, something was off.

The muntin bars didn’t meet the frame. There were visible gaps. They were gutted — especially since they had spent a fortune on triple-pane windows.

I told them exactly what to say to the supplier, how to document the issue, and what to request. And it worked. The window company not only fixed the issue, they also paid for the removal and reinstall.

What it really means to have someone in your corner

It’s not just about choosing the right door or window. It’s about avoiding the small (and big) mistakes that cost thousands — and that you have to live with every single day.

Sometimes all you need is a second set of eyes, someone who’s been through it before, and a little help knowing what to say when you’re staring down a builder or trying to make a decision with real money on the line.

Or, as that client put it:

“Thank you for helping us with all the decisions — especially for the stage we are at-which seems like a major decision is required every 24 hrs.”

Don’t wait until the stress hits to realize you need support. You don’t need to figure this all out alone.

Work with me privately or on your own terms (with some 1:1 support)