Design That Looks Ahead: Why We Begin With the Entire Home in Mind

When new clients reach out to RHD about renovating their home, they’re often focused on starting with a kitchen remodel or a primary bathroom refresh. But no matter what space they’re looking to start with, they’re pleasantly surprised to learn that we always begin with a conversation about their entire home.

Now, let me be crystal clear that we don’t do this because we’re ignoring what our clients want. Nor are we saying that every space has to be tackled at the same time. We do this because thoughtful, enduring design requires big-picture thinking from the very start.

Image via Robin Heard Design. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

In our work throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties, Napa Valley, and San Francisco, we’re known for creating elevated, personal interiors that feel cohesive and deeply rooted in the lives our clients want to lead. Whether we’re starting with a single space or designing an entire estate, we lead with a comprehensive vision, because what we do in one area of your home should align with where the rest of it is headed.

A Room-by-Room Plan with a Whole-Home Perspective

Even if we’re beginning with the kitchen, the materials we select, the silhouettes we create, and the color palette we choose will influence (and be influenced by) your entire home, inside and out. In every initial consultation, we explore how your home’s architecture, the views and surrounding environment, your preferences and tastes, and your lifestyle fit together as a whole. We may discuss things you’ve never thought of like updating fireplace surrounds, replacing interior doors, upgrading stair railings, or even refining the way your interiors connect to the outdoor surroundings. It’s never just about the kitchen. To ignore everything else would be a short-sighted and disjointed way to design my clients’ kitchen, and I’d never feel good about that.

This holistic approach allows us to guide you more confidently and to ensure that what we create now will continue to feel right later, whether your next phase involves a primary suite, a guest house, or your entire first floor.

The Space that Matters More than You Might Think

I’d be hard-pressed to say definitively that any one space should always be prioritized over all the others. For me, that really depends on each client’s situation, their unique needs, and the home itself.

But one of my early mentors believed strongly that every project should begin with the primary bedroom. Their thinking was simple and I don’t disagree: when your bedroom is beautiful, calming, and complete, it grounds you. It becomes the place where you can really rest, reset, and reconnect, which is always important, but all the more so during a renovation. 

I mention this because I often see homeowners feeling like they need to save their bedroom for last, prioritizing the more public rooms over their own most personal space. And while I don’t insist on starting with the primary bedroom like my mentor did, I do keep an eye out for whether or not they’re deprioritizing this space when they would actually greatly benefit from putting it ahead of other spaces. And I encourage all my clients to consider what it would mean to have a private space that restores them. A room that’s fully theirs. A sanctuary to wake up to every morning and come back to every night.

Image via Robin Heard Design. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

Image via Robin Heard Design. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

Your Home, Elevated from the Inside Out

Regardless of what spaces we start with, what matters most is that we begin intentionally. My initial consultations aren’t just surface-level walkthroughs. They’re a deep, expert-led exploration of your home’s current state and a working session to begin envisioning its true potential.

In this first meeting, we’ll talk about functionality, aesthetics, materials, finish updates, furniture layout, structural options, and more. We’ll look at views and natural light. We’ll discuss how to live comfortably in place and how to create spaces that can grow with you over time. I’ll show you where flow can be improved and where we can introduce meaningful, lasting design updates. 

This is the first step in creating something truly transformative, not only for your home but for your experience living in it every day for years to come.

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Are you ready to design a home that supports and inspires every part of your life?

If you’re located in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, Marin County, Napa Valley, or San Francisco, and you’re ready to take the first step, let’s talk. Whether you want to begin with a kitchen remodel or envision a full-home transformation, I’ll help you create a plan that brings clarity, confidence, and creativity to every space.

Take the first step and book a design consultation with us today.

Your home. Your sanctuary.