Merritt Design Co.

Okay, did anyone else have bangs in 2013? I really thought the New Girl trend was here to stay. Have you ever tried to grow those out with curly hair?? Never again, lesson learned. That’s basically how I feel about design trends too, they feel permanent in the moment and two years later you’re the bangs. Here’s what I actually look at before I let anything into a client’s home, and why I’d rather build you something that still feels right in ten years than something that peaked on your feed (or my forehead) this month.

Honestly, I get asked “how do you even pick materials for a vacation home” constantly, so here’s my actual answer. This is the exact framework running through my head every single time, resilience, exposure, style, timelessness. It’s how a house holds up down here and still feels like yours.

This is genuinely one of the questions I get asked the most, so let’s settle it. One overhead light is never, ever the answer, gosh. Save this one, it changes how a room actually feels more than almost anything else you’ll do.

Warning: Give me a mai thai and you may receive some truth bombs 😂

Can we talk about paint sheen for a second? Everyone agonizes over the color and picks the sheen last, and honestly, it’s doing just as much work. This is the exact breakdown I give every client before a single can gets mixed. Save it!

Okay, real talk, most rugs in most rooms are the wrong size, and it’s usually not even close. This is the cheat sheet I keep pulling up mid-client-call, no more guessing, no more “does this look too small.” Save it for the next room you’re furnishing!