Rittenhouse Home

10/23/2026

Who should you hire first: the designer or the contractor?

It’s one of the most important questions to ask before beginning a renovation.

And my answer might surprise you.

After years of designing homes and working alongside construction teams, I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference proper planning makes.

The placement of a light fixture, the dimensions of an island, the location of an outlet, the proportions of cabinetry — these aren’t decisions you want to make after construction is underway.

Great design isn’t just about how a home looks. It’s about how it functions, how it’s built, and how every dollar is spent.

At Rittenhouse Home, we approach renovations with the entire finished space in mind. From architectural planning and scaled 3D renderings to material selections, cabinetry, furnishings, and procurement, our goal is to create a cohesive vision before the first wall comes down.

Because the most beautiful homes aren’t designed one decision at a time.

They’re thoughtfully planned from the beginning.

Planning a renovation or new build? I’d love to hear about your project.

10/21/2026

Beautiful rooms don’t happen by accident.

Before a single piece of furniture arrives, there are hundreds of decisions being made behind the scenes.

The scale of a chandelier. The silhouette of a chair. The relationship between finishes. The way one room flows into the next.

Each selection matters, but what matters even more is how they all work together.

Because great design isn’t about choosing beautiful things. It’s about knowing how to bring them together.

— Rittenhouse Home

10/17/2026

10/17/2026

The era of playing it safe in design is coming to an end. And I, for one, am here for it.

After spending time at High Point Market, one thing became very clear: interiors are getting their personality back.

The washed-out woods, endless beige-on-beige, and overly minimal spaces are making room for something much more interesting.

Chocolate browns. Bordeaux. Aubergine. Deep emeralds. Rich walnuts. Warm, saturated wood tones. Pattern, texture, fringe, and details that feel collected rather than manufactured.

And perhaps my favorite takeaway? Traditional design is making a comeback—but not the way we remember it.

We’re seeing classic silhouettes reimagined, beautiful craftsmanship celebrated, and a return to furniture that feels substantial, layered, and timeless.

There’s a richness to what I’m seeing that has been missing for a while. Rooms are becoming warmer, more personal, and a little less predictable.

Luxury is shifting away from everything looking the same and back toward interiors that actually have something to say.

And I couldn’t be more excited about where design is headed.

A few of my favorite finds from High Point Market. 🤎

10/09/2026

I’m at the age where washing my hair requires the same mental preparation as running a marathon.

10/03/2026

At first glance, there’s a lot to love about this kitchen. Beautiful cabinetry. Gorgeous finishes. Quality materials. A substantial investment.

But good kitchen design isn’t just about choosing beautiful things.

It’s about the inches.

The symmetry around the range.
The relationship between cabinetry and architecture.
Where a run begins and ends.
The proportions. The sight lines. The way your eye moves through the room.

Individually, these decisions can seem almost insignificant. A few inches here. A cabinet shifted there. A doorway reconsidered.

Collectively? They’re the difference between a kitchen filled with beautiful selections and a kitchen that feels intentionally designed.

For this case study, I took an already beautiful kitchen and showed the three decisions I would have made differently—and why.

Because when you’re investing this much into your home, pretty shouldn’t be the finish line.

Expensive doesn’t automatically mean well-designed.

Swipe through and tell me: would you have noticed them before I pointed them out?

DesignDetails RittenhouseHome

10/02/2026

After 17 years in this business, I don’t look at a kitchen and just see cabinetry, stone and pretty finishes. I see the inches.

I see where someone puts a hot pan down.
I see the counter space beside the range.
I see the symmetry—or lack of it. 😂
I see the square footage being consumed by a framed pantry.
And I immediately start asking whether that space could work harder.

In this kitchen, I would rethink the pantry wall, create a continuous run of cabinetry, integrate the refrigerator into that elevation, and use the resulting layout to give the range wall more breathing room.

Same kitchen. Same square footage. Completely different planning opportunity.

09/27/2026

Currently raising someone’s future “you’re not going to tell me what to do” wife. 😂 I’ve spent two years losing arguments to this child. He doesn’t stand a chance.

09/26/2026

Builder grade isn’t bad.
And “pretty” isn’t the same as custom.

There’s builder grade.
There’s “we hired a pretty good designer.”
And then there’s bespoke design.

The difference isn’t simply more expensive finishes.

It’s changing the architecture. Rethinking proportions. Designing cabinetry for the room instead of filling the room with cabinetry. Knowing where to add detail—and where to stop. Creating moments that didn’t exist before.

A beautiful fixture can upgrade a room.

Design changes the room.

And once you learn to see the difference… you really can’t unsee it.

Upgraded ≠ bespoke.

— Rittenhouse Home
Timeless Interiors, Curated with Intention.

Pinned comment:

Plot twist: the middle version isn’t bad. 👀
That’s actually the point.

A room can be beautiful, expensive and professionally decorated—and still not be truly custom.

The difference is in the decisions you don’t see until someone shows you.

And now that I showed you… can you see it? 👇