This Designer’s Brilliant “F-F-S-S” Rule Guarantees You’ll Never Regret a Renovation Detail
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When you’re scrolling through photos of dream kitchens, it’s probably the prettiest ones that tend to stop you in your tracks. A gorgeous backsplash here, a statement light fixture there, and what is that sublime paint color?! But if style, and style only, informs your design choices, that’s a mistake, says Ebony Boudreaux, a kitchen and bath designer at NFM in Kansas City. Yes, that cabinet hardware may be delicious, but if you haven’t taken the time to think about how your kitchen actually works, it could be a fast path to redesign regrets.
“The kitchen is one of the most-used areas in the home,” Boudreaux says. “You have to cook, clean dishes, and for many families, it’s a homework hub and gathering space. It has to function well.” If you’re anything like me, function may not make your design-loving heart go pitter-patter, but it makes or breaks a space. All style and no substance can quickly turn a pretty-in-photos space to one that’s frustrating enough to make you not want to be in there, no matter how nice it looks.
To make sure her clients love their kitchen and use it to its fullest potential, Boudreaux follows one golden rule: functionality first, style second.
What Is the “Function First, Style Second” Rule?
Boudreaux broke down how the “FFSS” rule actually works for her and her clients with a six-step blueprint. By balancing beauty and practicality, the result is always a kitchen that fits her clients’ lifestyle and is something they’ll be excited to share:
Assess the space: Boudreaux evaluates the layout, limitations, and potential of the existing kitchen.
Listen to needs and desires: “I always ask clients what they hate about their current kitchen and what they miss,” she says. “This helps me identify their pain points and priorities.” This step clarifies clients’ lifestyles, cooking habits, and aesthetic preferences. (If you’re a DIY-er, it’s still helpful to make this list!).
Brainstorm solutions: With everything she’s learned in mind, Boudreaux generates creative ideas that address her clients’ needs and wants.
Design and develop a plan: She rolls up her sleeves and dreams up options. Detailed layouts and 3D renderings help clients visualize the final result.
Select and order materials: Time for the pretty part! With a layout determined, Boudreaux layers in style through material choices — but even here, functionality is prioritized. “If you cook a lot and you use deep color [ingredients like] curries and red sauces, then marble is not your thing,” she says. She asks questions, like “do you love to clean?” because if not, then the white grout you love may not be the right choice. She follows a formula aimed to reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue, choosing the biggest elements first, and working her way down. First up is cabinets, followed by countertops, then backsplash, sink and faucet, flooring, hardware and lighting, and appliances.
Execute the plan: Finally, Boudreaux brings the design to life.
Given how easy it is to fall into a trap of pretty first, does that mean you can’t have it all? Of course not! “You can always have both,” Boudreaux says. “You can always get the aesthetic that you want after we figure out what the space needs.”
Why “Function First” Is So Important
As a serial renovator myself, I’ve had to learn to balance aesthetic wants with functionality needs. Most recently, in need of a refrigerator in my 1962 trilevel, I desperately wanted a vintage fridge like the previous owners had. In fact, I even had the option to buy it from the sellers — it was so cute and would look amazing in photos with the original pink GE wall oven. The only problem: It was small and, well, old.
It was very tempting, so I took my question to Instagram to poll my friends: The vintage adorable fridge that would bring a totally unique style to my kitchen? Or the matte white GE Cafe fridge with modern niceties like an ice maker and room to actually store things? I was actually surprised that the vast majority of my friends replied in favor of the newer fridge. They all gave the same reason: I’d hate the lack of space and functionality.
I decided on the new fridge, and as soon as it was installed and loaded, I knew it was the right decision and didn’t feel like it was a consolation prize at all. In fact, it’s gorgeous, and brings a decidedly retro kitchen into 2024. Next time, I’ll use Boudreaux’s “FFSS” rule to really make sure everything I’m putting into a kitchen matches my lifestyle and needs — and, of course, is also beautiful.
Would you try the “FFSS” rule? Let us know in the comments below!
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