Ruxana's Home Interiors

In my last Design Digest, I shared a detailed playbook for planning a smooth, well-designed move. Today, we're flipping the script—let's talk about what NOT to do when preparing your home for sale.

➤ Converting Basement or Attic Space

While this seems like an elegant solution to add square footage, most buyers (and their designers 👋🏼) prefer the flexibility of unconverted space—they want to envision their own possibilities rather than inherit someone else's vision. Something surprising: attic conversions often yield lower per-square-foot valuations than main-level living space, making your investment yield disappointing returns despite the expense.

➤ Ultra-High-End Kitchen Remodels

Premium custom cabinets, commercial-grade appliances, and avant-garde finishes are fun to design, but they rarely offer a full return on investment. While mid-range kitchen renovations can recoup 70-80% of costs, luxury renovations typically recover only 50-60%. The bigger issue? Highly personalized design choices—no matter how sophisticated—can alienate potential buyers who can't envision themselves in the space.

➤ Poor-Quality "Cosmetic" Renovations

This is what truly frustrates me: I've seen too many homeowners renovate kitchens and baths with subpar materials simply to make them "look updated." Just because money was spent doesn't mean buyers will pay premium prices for mediocre ex*****on. Often, my firm gets called in to "do it right" after the fact—and everything from that first renovation ends up in a landfill!

The takeaway? Strategic improvements require both market awareness and quality ex*****on. If you're planning to list in the next 1-2 years, focus on renovations that sophisticated buyers will value (and pay for!)

Missed my moving playbook - head to the link in the bio. Or join the Design Digest to be in the know: www.ruxana.com/DesignDigest

Hi friends! 👋

Planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation? Head over to the blog to read all about countertops! I wrote a comprehensive post to help you understand everything from visiting a slab yard to selecting the perfect slab to choosing your edge profile.
It's basically a countertop encyclopedia! (And yes, I'm assuming if you're following me, you know what an encyclopedia is 😂👵🏻)

Bear in mind this is just ONE of the hundreds of decisions I help my clients navigate during a renovation - but it's definitely one of the most impactful ones!

Link in bio! ✨

A well-designed home should be your retreat from our increasingly chaotic world. As a designer, I specialize in creating customized spaces that prioritize self-care and wellness.

With countless new "wellness" products flooding the market, it's hard to know what's genuinely beneficial versus what's just clever marketing. Here's the truth: wellness is deeply personal. What feels like a spa-like sanctuary to one client might feel cold or impractical to another.

That's exactly why every home I design is tailored to my clients' unique needs and lifestyle. My design process goes beyond selecting pretty finishes—I take time to understand what truly makes you feel calm, energized, and at home. Often, this means educating clients about innovative options they didn't even know existed.

If you're planning a renovation and feeling overwhelmed by all the choices, we provide you with:⠀⠀
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Floorplans. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Elevations. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Specifications of products. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Paint Palette. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Mood Board. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Implementation Notes. ✔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We’ll take you from overwhelmed to relaxed with your very own wellness retreat.

Picture this: you're excited about your upcoming remodel and ready to get started. Your first instinct? Call a contractor to get an estimate. While tempting, this approach often leads to design regrets, major delays and serious budget overages.

The successful renovations don't begin with a sledgehammer....they begin with a pencil and paper.

Design Is Your Project's North Star. Think of design as the GPS for your renovation journey. Without it, you're essentially asking a contractor to build your dream space while blindfolded. The design process establishes everything that matters: your vision, spatial flow, material selections, color palette, lighting plans, and how each room will actually function for your daily life. With stakes so high, why would anyone want to 'wing it'?!

When design comes first, every decision that follows has context and purpose. Your contractor knows exactly what they're building , they know exactly what materials they need (and their costs) and what the timeline will be. You avoid the expensive change orders that happen when you realize mid-construction that things are 'off.'

Without a comprehensive design plan, you'll find yourself making crucial decisions on the fly—often while workers are waiting and the clock is ticking.

A proper design process encompasses space planning, traffic flow analysis, lighting design, furniture placement, material coordination, and detailed specifications that guide every aspect of construction. It considers how you actually live in your space, from morning routines to entertaining guests.

This upfront investment in design doesn't just prevent problems—it ensures your finished space truly enhances your daily life and adds lasting value to your home.

If you're planning a renovation (even if it's a year or two away) download my Renovation Blueprint and start your renovation the RIGHT WAY.

Link in bio.

Picture this: you're excited about your upcoming remodel and ready to get started. Your first instinct? Call a contractor to get an estimate. While tempting, this approach often leads to design regrets, major delays, and serious budget overages.

Experience true freedom and independence this Fourth of July by embracing the spirit of the holiday and decluttering your home. Before you roll your eyes, hear me out... The act of decluttering allows you to liberate and reclaim your space. Because an organized home will reward you with peace and comfort.

Through experience, I have learned that when a room is poorly designed, people believe they can fix it by accessorizing. They may buy pillows and more accessories. In reality, though, they will be better off by fixing the underlying problem of poor design.

Through experience, I have learned that when a room is poorly designed, people believe they can fix it by accessorizing. They may buy pillows, accent furniture and more accessories. In reality, though, they will be better off by fixing the underlying problem of poor design.

➤ Buy the best quality you can afford. Keeping items longer is not only fiscally responsible, but good-quality pieces look better for longer periods..

My recommendations for becoming more intentional in your home:

➤ Don't bury your head in the sand. If you need to make changes, do it!
➤ Eliminate things that are not serving you or your family.
➤ Invest in the proper tools or resources to get to the ROOT of the problem and then fix these issues.
➤ Buy the RIGHT things the FIRST TIME to save yourself time, money, and aggravation.
➤ Buy the best quality you can afford. Keeping items longer is not only fiscally responsible, but good-quality pieces look better for longer.

Ready to start your journey to freedom? Join my 30 Day Decluttering Challenge and transform your space one day at a time! Let's celebrate independence from clutter together. Link in bio.

This Independence Day celebrate both the birth of our nation and your freedom from the chains of clutter.

Happy Fourth of July, friends! 🇺🇸

After 23 years in business (almost 24!) here’s one thing I wish every client knew:
✨ Everything takes longer than you think it will.

If you want your home to be ready for the holidays, now’s the time to begin.
Yes—now. Not in October. Not “after summer.” Now.

My fellow designers are nodding because we all know:
Great design takes time.
Time to think, to plan, to order, to install.

So, whether you’re dreaming of a mudroom that finally keeps the family organized...Or a dining room that’s holiday-hosting ready…
Let’s do it the RIGHT way—with beauty, intention, and a bit of breathing room.

Because a well-designed home supports a well-designed life. ✨

KNOW SOMEONE ABOUT TO RENOVATE?

Send them the link to our free Renovation Blueprint — it’s our most downloaded resource for a reason.

Planning a renovation is overwhelming - timelines, tradespeople, budgets, selections - and alllll the tiny decisions in between.

It’s easy to lose momentum or, worse, get analysis paralysis.

This is why I created the Renovation Blueprint ➡️ www.Ruxana.com/Blueprint

Friends don't let friends renovate without a blueprint ;)

During a recent design presentation, a client said something that made me pause:

“I thought sconces were outdated.”

Over the past two decades, the construction industry has quietly shifted from customization to production.

Sconces, built-ins, and beautiful millwork did not disappear because they were dated. They were eliminated to cut costs and save time.

These details require thoughtful planning and skilled craftsmanship, so when speed and lowering costs become the priority, the details are the first to be cut.

But the soul of a home is in the details.

What began as a push for efficiency - fewer decisions, cost savings, faster timelines - has devolved into uninspired design and drab homes:

Mass-production.

Standard finishes.

Free design services from Pottery-Hardware-Whatchamacallit.

{yawn}

When every home follows the same formula, the creative spark is not merely lost, but was never there in the first place!

So our job is to add the details because THAT'S where the magic is ✨

A home is so much more than pillows and fabrics. Our homes are the epicenter of our lives, and if they're well-designed, they become the gateway to living your best life.​​​​​​​​
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Our firm tailors design solutions for your home and your family. We help our clients cook better, entertain better, clean less, and enjoy life more. We help our clients live better lives!​​​​​​​​
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Say NO to spaces that don’t function and say YES to the life you want to live! Stop waiting....CREATE a home that you love and that serves you and your family.

In last week’s Design Digest, I shared how to Think Like a Designer—including simple ways to incorporate thoughtful details that make your home feel custom and considered.

Want expert design tips delivered to your inbox? Join the Design Digest:
👉 www.Ruxana.com/DesignDigest