Decision Note3 min
Tall Pantry or More Counter Space? Follow the Groceries.
The cereal has a home. The chopping board does not. A pantry can solve the wrong shortage.
Weigh the optionsA collection from the Workshop
Decision
Notes.
Two good options.
One real home.
Most renovation choices come with a catch. These short notes put both sides on the table, then give you a way to choose.
24 decisions · About 3 minutes each
The kitchen
Follow the groceries, the dishes, and the person trying to get past you.
Decision Note3 min
Kitchen Drawers or Cupboard Doors? Bring Your Biggest Pot.
Full-extension drawers are lovely until the stockpot is taller than the drawer. Measure the awkward things first.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
Use the Kitchen Corner, or Leave It Alone?
Sometimes the best corner cabinet is no corner cabinet. That sounds wasteful until you open the drawers beside it.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Sink in the Island or Under the Window?
The island sink faces the room. So do the breakfast dishes. Decide which view you are actually buying.
Weigh the optionsThe bathroom
Beautiful at a glance. Comfortable at seven in the morning.
Decision Note3 min
Sliding or Hinged Shower Door? Check the Towel Rail.
The shower door clears the toilet on the plan. The towel hanging beside it was not on the plan.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
One Bathroom Sink or Two? Count the Busy Minutes.
Two basins, one person using them. Meanwhile the hairdryer has moved to a basket on the floor.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Freestanding or Alcove Tub? Think About Bath Night.
The freestanding tub looks wonderful from the door. Now imagine cleaning behind it with one sock already wet.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Shower Bench or Folding Seat? Leave Room for the Shower.
A bench can turn a roomy shower into a narrow shower with a very handsome shelf.
Weigh the optionsOut on the deck
A place for the table, the people, and a clear route to the garden.
Decision Note3 min
Deck Stairs at the Side or in the Middle?
Centred stairs look composed. They can also aim every trip to the garden directly through dinner.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Built-In Deck Bench or Moveable Chairs?
A built-in bench always has a place. That becomes less charming when you want the table in that place.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
One Deck Level or Two? Make Each Level Earn Its Keep.
Two levels can feel like two outdoor rooms. They can also feel like two places too small for the table.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Does Your Deck Need a Picture-Frame Border?
The border looks like a finishing touch. The supports underneath need to know about it much earlier.
Weigh the optionsThe things that fit
Storage and joinery designed around the things you actually own.
Decision Note3 min
Open Mudroom Cubbies or Closed Cabinets?
Closed doors hide the coats. They do not persuade anyone to hang them up.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
Should Alcove Built-Ins Match on Both Sides?
The fireplace is centred. The alcoves are not. Forcing a match can make the whole wall feel more awkward.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
Window-Seat Storage: Lift the Lid or Pull a Drawer?
A lift-up seat holds plenty. Getting the blanket means moving the person who wanted the blanket.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
Built-In Desk or Freestanding? Sit There for a Week First.
The built-in fits the wall perfectly. Your chair, knees, and second monitor would also like a vote.
Weigh the optionsThe shape of a room
Decide what the space should do, then resolve what holds it up.
Decision Note3 min
A Wider Doorway or a Fully Open Floor Plan?
You wanted to see the garden from the kitchen. You may not need to see the washing-up from every chair.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Flush Beam or Dropped Beam? The Ceiling Is Only Half the Story.
The beam disappears from view. The work needed to make that happen may move into the floor above.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Basement Ceiling: Removable Panels or Drywall?
A smooth ceiling hides the pipes beautifully. That is less helpful when someone needs to reach one.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Box In the Basement Post or Build the Room Around It?
The post is staying. The question is whether it becomes a small obstacle or the start of a useful wall.
Weigh the optionsFrom the street
A considered exterior, with the practical details still doing their jobs.
Decision Note3 min
Vertical Siding Everywhere, or Just One Accent?
A gable accent can give a house character. Five unrelated accents can make it look like a sample board.
Weigh the options
Decision Note3 min
Contrasting Trim or Colour-Matched? Choose What Gets Noticed.
Dark trim can sharpen a good window pattern. It can also underline the one window you hoped nobody would notice.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Light or Dark Shingles? Take the Sample Outside.
That tiny charcoal square becomes a very large roof. Its blue undertone comes along for the ride.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Move the Downspout, or Make It Less Noticeable?
The downspout interrupts the nice new siding. Moving it is easy to draw; deciding where the water goes is the real work.
Weigh the optionsNeed the practical details?
Permits, materials, timing, and the things a good plan needs to account for.