No matter how much planning goes into building or remodeling, there are always a few things you look back on and think, “If only we had known…” That’s part of the process! But the silver lining is that by sharing our regrets, you can hopefully avoid them in your own project. Here are a few of the features we wish we had done differently in our home—and what we’d recommend instead.
No Water Spigot on the Deck
My number one regret? Not adding a water spigot on the deck. We do have one under the deck, but having to run up and down every time we need to water plants or rinse something off gets old fast. It’s one of those small details you don’t think about—until you really wish you had it. If you’re building or remodeling, take this as your sign: put a water spigot on the deck. You won’t regret it.
Indoor/Outdoor Fireplace
Hot take: If we built again, we’d probably skip the indoor/outdoor dual-sided fireplace between our living room and deck. Don’t get us wrong—it looks stunning. But the reality is that when we want to use it outside, the heat output inside makes the house way too warm. So realistically, it’s only usable in the winter. Next time, we’d either put it between two outdoor spaces or go with a unit that has less interior heat output. It’s a good reminder that what looks amazing in photos doesn’t always fit your lifestyle in practice.
Automatic Blinds
If we could go back and do it again, we’d prewire or install automatic blinds throughout the entire home. The ones we did add? We use them Every. Single. Day. They’re programmable, super convenient, and just make life easier. The battery-operated versions work well too, but they do require a little extra maintenance (aka frequent charging). If you’re building, this is one upgrade that’s worth the investment.
In-Floor Heat (Wirsbo) in the Basement
One of our biggest “wish we would have” moments: not installing in-floor heat (Wirsbo) throughout the entire basement. We only ran it under the tile areas, but quickly realized if we had extended it everywhere, it could have heated the whole basement on its own—no separate HVAC zone needed. Lesson learned!
Pass-Through Window
Another regret? The pass-through window in our basement bar. We thought it would be perfect for entertaining, but… bugs. Every time we open it, they seem to swarm inside. Plus, most of our entertaining happens upstairs in the kitchen or on the deck, not in the basement, so it just doesn’t get much use. The takeaway: think carefully about how you actually live and entertain before adding trendy features. Sometimes what sounds fun on paper doesn’t make sense in real life.
Sound Insulation Between Floors
Ethan’s biggest regret? Not adding sound insulation between the floors. It doesn’t bother Kirsten personally, but for him, hearing every step and movement from one floor to the next drives him crazy. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until you’re actually living in the house. If peace and quiet matter to you, consider adding insulation or soundproofing between floors during the build—it’s much harder to fix later.
Building or remodeling a home is a huge investment, and no matter how much you plan, there will always be little things you’d do differently in hindsight. The key is to learn from others’ experiences and make thoughtful choices based on how you’ll really live in your space—not just how you imagine it. Hopefully, our list of regrets helps you avoid a few of your own.
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