Candice Olson

Spaces I love to do - the uglier the better - tend to be really old, dated basements - especially from the '60s to the '80s. I love those. ”

There has been a major shift in how we live in our homes. Everyone knows the kitchen is the soul of the house. It's more of an open-concept approach. ”

I tell people marriage is a compromise, and so are renovations. ”

Now that our kids are getting older, they need their space. We dug out the basement so they will have a place to go crazy in the wintertime. My son is already talking about how he's going to make a skateboard ramp. It's just a mosh pit down there, so they can do whatever they want. We're not even going to finish it. ”

Today's kitchen is all about a well-planned space that makes cooking a completely interactive experience among family and friends. ”

I firmly believe that if your environment works for you and your family, it translates into a better life. ”

Sometimes living in a room that's badly designed isn't the worst thing in the world. Trust me - this is a fact! Living in a room that has no design whatsoever is even worse. I've learned this from my many clients over the years that have moved into new houses and just can't figure out where to begin. ”

When I'm doing kitchen planning as well as bathroom design, I try to walk through the day with the homeowner. If we're talking about a kitchen, it will be: So, we are walking in with the groceries. When we are taking them out of the car, where will they go? What is the distance to fridge, to pantry? ”

I'm an interior designer, first and foremost. I can do one thing really well, and I'm going to stay in my little niche. ”

There are designers who say, 'Oh! I see wallpaper and blue carpet.' I usually start by knocking down walls. 'You thought you just needed some new drapes? Well, guess what: That wall's gotta go.' ”