How to Decorate, Ep. 457: Renovation Reality Check — Timelines, Tile & The "Fifth Wall" with Studio Wellington

Date: March 17, 2026

Overview

This episode dives deep into the realities—good, bad, and “creative”—of home renovations. Hosts Caroline, Taryn, and Liz from Ballard Designs are joined by Stephanie Abernathy and Ashley Malone of Studio Wellington, two interior designers with unique backgrounds and extensive real-life renovation experience. The conversation demystifies the seemingly glamorous before-and-afters of Instagram and HGTV, offering a grounded look at what it actually takes to plan, execute, and survive a remodel. From extended planning periods to decision fatigue, surprise construction snafus, and finding satisfaction in small details, the designers share wisdom, regrets, and essential tips for anyone considering a renovation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The True Timeline of Renovations

• Planning Takes Time

  • Big renovations can take upwards of a year (or more) just to plan.
  • Even pros like Stephanie and Ashley take extra time with their own homes because of constant improvements and busy lives.
  • Quote: “Planning… took about a year to plan that, year and a half to get that together.” — Stephanie [04:04-04:18]

• Why Rushing Hurts

  • Faster isn’t always better; moving quickly leads to poorly-thought-out choices.
  • Time allows for details to be considered, which saves headache and money in the long run.
  • Quote: “The quicker we try to move, the less thought through things are going to be, even from a professional side…” — Stephanie [07:07-07:41]

2. Comprehensive Planning: What It Entails

• The Project “Binder”

  • Studio Wellington creates project binders with plans, scaled drawings, SKUs, hardware, finishes, etc. The more detail, the smoother the process.
  • Templates are done by type and room—lighting, tile, electrical, etc.
  • Quote: “If you could think through all those details and have the smallest—you know, like, it’s this HVAC, it’s this outlet cover… There’s going to be less mental burden on you as the client.” — Stephanie [25:56-27:42]
  • Tip: Avoid relying on contractors to make design decisions for you (“Never assume!”).

• Must-Have Decisions Before Construction Begins

  • Know your appliances—sizes, features, and location—first.
  • Pick countertop stone early; it often dictates aesthetic.
  • Choose tile before other details for kitchens and baths; what’s unique or expensive should be prioritized over more common selections (paint, cabinetry).
  • Don’t underestimate how much time it takes to make and communicate all these selections.

• Decision Fatigue Is Real

  • “You get fatigue. Decision fatigue very quickly, and you’re just like, ‘Oh, I’ll do it later,’ like, get it done.” — Ashley [14:37]
  • Saves your creative energy for the big picture.

3. Building the Right Team

• Choose Carefully—You’ll Live With Them Awhile

  • Select a contractor/architect/designer you trust and like—they’ll be in your home and in your life for months (or years).
  • Ask: “Do I want to get bad news from this person?” — Stephanie [09:34]
  • Red flags include vague billing practices, unwillingness to clarify process or timeline, and lack of site supervision.

• Communication Is Everything

  • Even great contracts and detailed plans can’t prevent all issues—human error, site changes, and unexpected discoveries happen (especially in older homes).
  • Pre-construction meetings are critical for everyone to get on the same page, document changes, and clarify points of decision-making.

4. Lessons & Regrets

• Vision for Every Room

  • It’s easy to skimp on “lesser” rooms, but you’ll notice it later—especially main living areas.
  • Having a plan—even if phased—is better than improvising.
  • Regret: “Living room... it’s the room most people spend time in and I gave the littlest [attention] at the time.” — Taryn [15:26-15:30]

• Emotional Attachment and Fatigue

  • Even pro designers struggle with their own spaces—being both client and designer is emotionally taxing.
  • You may surprise yourself with what you’re deeply attached to (“the Newel post!”) and what you can let go.

5. The “Fifth Wall” & Forgotten Details

• Don’t Neglect Your Ceilings (“The Fifth Wall”)

  • Ceilings have major design impact but are often an afterthought.
  • Planning for all surfaces at the outset saves regret.

• Small Details, Big Problems

  • Outlet placement, vent covers, junction box sizes, cabinet hardware, and switch placements can haunt you if not specified early and precisely.
  • “Never assume that everybody knows what you were thinking and that was like how it should be done because they might have a whole different way of doing it.” — Ashley [80:59-81:09]

6. Budget Strategies

• 20–30% Overages Are Normal—Plan for It

  • Especially true for older homes with unknowns behind walls/foundations.
  • Use this “over-budget” cushion during construction, not before.

• Where People Blunder

  • Hardware and lighting are almost always under-budgeted.
  • Spending on visible details and durable, timeless materials (like authentic stone, quality appliances) pays off in lasting satisfaction.

• Scope Creep

  • Once trades are in your house, it’s tempting and cost-effective to add more—just remember it adds complexity and can lead to decision burnout if you’re not prepared.

7. Scheduling & Logistics

• Materials In-Hand

  • If living through a renovation: Have 100% of what you need on site or warehoused in advance to avoid expensive/wasteful schedule lulls.
  • Many items (hardware, tile, specialty appliances) can have long lead times.

• Schedule Around Holidays

  • Pro tip: “You need to start in July [for holiday readiness]… Very little happens between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.” — Ashley [73:39-74:13]

• Green Flags for Contractors

  • Will produce a clear schedule and expectations.
  • Transparent about billing and allowances.

• Red Flags

  • Vague or non-existent contract details for billing (“cost plus” should be spelled out).
  • Contractor unwilling to discuss schedule, scope, or troubleshooting process.
  • Taking on too many projects to have adequate site supervision.

8. Coping with Renovation Stress

• Mental Load is Significant

  • Anticipate and plan for stress; know there will be “pain points” (especially at the end!) and decision fatigue.
  • “It’s a lot going on in your mind. So, yeah, you need like a therapist. You need mental coping mechanisms.” — Stephanie [49:43-50:51]

• Finding the Joy

  • Happy accidents can become the most memorable features (“marble trim around the casing!”).
  • “This is an opportunity to make it better.” — Stephanie [45:54]
  • At the end, most people forget the pain and are ready to do it again—just like childbirth!

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Team Selection
  • “Do I want to get bad news from this person?” — Stephanie [09:34]
• On Client Projects vs. Own Home
  • “I could do it for clients all day, but for myself, really hard to tell myself like, no, this really needs to, to be different.” — Stephanie [11:51]
• On Emotional Investment
  • “It’s the emotional investment you put into the thing.” — Stephanie [59:40]
• On Never Assuming
  • “Never assume that everybody knows what you were thinking…” — Ashley [80:57]
• On Trends and Timelessness
  • “Things that will age, things that are timeless.” — Stephanie [62:54]
  • “Chatsworth floors are 400 years old and they’re black and white checkerboard marble. Like, that’s always going to be a thing.” — Stephanie [63:25]
• The Renovation as ‘Birth:’
  • “It’s like giving birth, right? ... you completely forget about all of this.” — Stephanie & Ashley [47:38-48:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:04] The true planning timeline
• [07:01] Importance of detailed pre-construction planning
• [09:34] Choosing your team: the “bad news” test
• [11:51] Emotional attachment & why hiring a designer helps even the pros
• [15:26] The haunting of unloved rooms
• [20:14] How/when to add rooms to your scope—cost and complexity
• [25:56] What must be picked before you demo
• [32:08] Appliance and stone selection leads
• [37:53] Where budgets go awry (lighting/hardware)
• [45:54] Stress coping and “finding the joy”
• [49:43] Mental preparation advice
• [73:39-74:13] Schedule around the holidays
• [76:43] Ask for a contractor’s materials decision schedule
• [77:14] Red flags in contractors
• [80:57] “Never assume” – case studies
• [84:33] Why the lowest bid isn’t always cheaper
• [88:05] Retaining 20–30% contingency in your renovation budget

Pro Tips & Takeaways

Planning & Project Management

• Create a thorough binder (or digital equivalent) for every room with product specs, layouts, elevations, and finishes.
• Make all decisions before demo if you want to stay sane and on schedule.
• Do not rely on QR codes—paper and tape on site outperform tech for subs.
• Anticipate needing to guide and double-check trades on even “obvious” decisions.

Budgeting

• Reserve (and don’t touch!) 20–30% for overages—especially with old homes.
• Allocate more to hardware, lighting, and appliances than a builder “allowance” suggests.

Emotional Readiness

• Renovation is an emotional rollercoaster, even for professionals.
• Decide ahead what matters most to you, and expect to compromise somewhere—try to make peace with the “lesser of two evils.”
• Happy accidents can make the space special if you’re open to them.

Final Words

Renovations are messy, time-consuming, and emotionally draining—but with thoughtful planning, a well-chosen team, and a healthy contingency, they can also be creative, rewarding, and addictive. Don’t let the Instagram before-and-afters fool you: the magic is in the messy middle.

Find Studio Wellington:

• StudioWellington.com
• @studiowellington on Instagram

Show Notes:

• howtodecorate.com/podcast