Hi everyone, and welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy, where we talk about what’s really happening in home design—

Today’s subject is "Are we over the open floor plan?" and "Why is the closed kitchen suddenly the biggest home trend of 2026?"

Short answer? The open plan isn’t dead—but it’s definitely being re-designed. And the fully exposed kitchen we’ve lived with for the last 20 years? That era is ending.

Let’s start with a little history on floor plans

• Traditional Floor Plans
• Modern Open Floor Plans

Open Floor Plan

• Pros
• Cons

Closed Kitchen

• Pros
• Cons

How to decide what's best for you

If you’re planning on a renovation, I would definitely be happy to work with you.

I currently have availability in February. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.

And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy. Today we’re talking about something that affects every homeowner—whether they realize it or not—and that’s accessible home design.

This isn’t about creating a home that looks clinical or institutional. It’s about designing spaces that are safer, smarter, and honestly… just better designed.

I’m so excited to have Erica Sell, owner of Harmony Home Medical Supply in San Diego, with me today.

Accessibility is one of the most misunderstood areas of home design—and one of the most important.

It's about preparing for the worst. It’s about creating a home that supports you—beautifully—through every stage of life.

When it’s done right, you don’t notice it. You just feel how well the space works.

Smart design, timeless design, accessible design—they’re all the same thing.

These are our topics in this podcast:

• What accessibility really means today.
• The European wet room influence.
• Off-the-shelf products that work.
• Specialized tubs vs roll-in showers.
• Cost, funding & realistic planning.

If you’re planning on a renovation, I would definitely be happy to work with you.

I currently have availability in February. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.

And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy, where we talk about smart design, real-world remodeling, and how to make better decisions for your home. Today’s topic is one I hear about all the time—and honestly, it can save you from some very expensive mistakes.

I’m joined by Gil Olachea, owner of Ceramica in Scottsdale, and we’re talking about why your general contractor should not be your kitchen designer.

Our topics include:

• Design vs building - What's the difference?
• Common problems
• Costly mistakes bias & product choices
• The best process for kitchen design
• The final takeaways

If you're planning on a kitchen or renovation, I would definitely be happy to work with you.

I currently have availability in February for kitchen and bathroom design projects. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.

And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week.

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.