Ask Devon: May Q&A
Our Instagram followers submitted some great design questions recently, so I wanted to answer a few of the ones we hear most often! Whether you’re updating a dated home, selecting finishes, or trying to make your space feel more intentional, here are a few of my thoughts and recommendations.
Q: What has living in your own home taught you about design?
I love this question because living in your own home really changes the way you think about design. You start to appreciate the small details that may seem “extra” at first, but end up making everyday life so much easier. Things like motorized window treatments, customized lighting scenes that automatically dim in the evening, an instant hot water faucet, or even a built-in step stool tucked into a kid’s vanity toe-kick.
Those thoughtful conveniences may feel subtle individually, but over time they completely transform how your home functions and feels day to day.
Q: What’s the best way to update a white kitchen and make it feel more current?
Paint them! That’s the first thing we did in our new house. Took them from white to Benjamin Moore “Weimeraner” and it added so much warmth and depth to the room.
That said, cabinet painting is one area where quality really matters. Don’t hire just any painter — it’s worth investing in a trusted trade professional who specializes in cabinetry. Proper prep is everything: sanding, priming, and spraying multiple coats of high-quality paint. In our home, the process took nearly three weeks, and most of that time was dedicated to prep work alone. The end result looks and feels like brand new custom cabinets.
Q: What cabinet colors work best with white oak flooring?
I love a good greige but we recently did this moody charcoal and I’m obsessed with it. A full kitchen in a dark charcoal can feel heavy, but when balanced with warm wood tones, beige accents, or lighter textures, it creates a really rich and layered look that still feels inviting.
Q: Marble vs. Porcelain: which is better?
They couldn’t be on more opposite ends of the spectrum so it REALLY depends on your budget and your lifestyle. Here are my thoughts on each:
Marble: Absolutely stunning and timeless, however it etches and stains very easily, even when sealed properly. So if you put it in your home you need to make peace with the “patina of life” that it will inevitably show.
Porcelain: Porcelain is manmade, highly durable, and generally more budget-friendly. It’s also much thinner (typically 1.2cm whole other stones are 2-3cm) so if you don’t want a thin look, you need to miter the edges which takes a very skiled fabricator to do it right. The stone image is printed on the surface of the slab too, so if it ever does clip, you’ll see the inside of the slide, kind of like a tile. Yet it is hard to chip and generally a more cost effective solution.
Q: Thoughts on Quartzite?
Quartzite is what we use 99% of the time in kitchens. It’s a species of natural stone, so it encompasses a ton of different stone options, and is typically very durable due to its dense, crystallized composition. When you see stones like Taj Mahal, Iceberg, or Ocean Blue, those are all quartzites.
Q: What’s the best velvet fabric for a dining banquette?
For a dining banquette specifically, velvet usually wouldn’t be my first choice, unless it’s a high-performance velvet with durable polyester fibers and you’ve thoroughly tested it for stains and wear. More often, we lean toward leather, faux leather, or a high-performance tight-weave fabric that can better withstand daily use, spills, and frequent cleaning while still feeling elevated and comfortable.
Q: Moved into a 90s home filled with honey oak. Best design recommendations until we can afford a renovation?
Honey oak gets a bad reputation, but warm wood tones can actually feel beautiful when the rest of the home is designed around them. The biggest mistake is pairing them with cool grays or competing undertones.
Instead, lean into warm, light neutrals like creamy whites and layer in earthy accent colors such as deep greens, muted blues, rust tones, or warm browns. A few intentional updates to paint, lighting, and decor can make the home feel significantly more current without a full renovation.
Q: I want a moody bedroom but don’t know where to start. Any advice?
Start with paint. One of the easiest ways to create a dramatic, moody atmosphere is by color drenching — painting the walls, trim, and ceiling all the same color. To keep the room from feeling too dark or flat, balance it with medium-toned furniture, layered textures, and natural materials like wood or leather. The contrast helps the space feel cozy and sophisticated rather than heavy.
At the end of the day, great design is about more than just aesthetics, it’s about creating a home that supports the way you live every single day. Whether it’s choosing durable materials, embracing the character of your new home, or incorporating thoughtful details that make everyday routines easier, the best spaces are the ones that feel both beautiful and personal.
Have a design question you’d like us to answer next? We’d love to hear from you — feel free to DM us on Instagram!
