FABULOUS OR FAIL? AVOIDING THE PITFALLS OF HOME DESIGN

Anyone who has lived in a home that does not have enough counter space, storage, room for guests, etc... knows the frustrations of being in a home that just isn’t working.

Most people know what isn’t working but they aren’t sure how to fix it. Designing a home that is right for you goes far beyond the number of bedrooms you need. Your home should reflect who you are and how you want to live.

Brian Phipps of Phipps Home Design believes in this philosophy and has been turning wish lists into reality for over 25 years. Each of the 1,700 luxury homes that he has designed in Longboat Key, Bird Key and Anna Maria is distinctive because the owners have different ideas of the perfect home.

Phipps distinguishes himself by focusing solely on residential projects.

“We’re more efficient than a lot of designers,” Phipps says. “Some take two years to design a home. We can get the construction started in months as opposed to years.”

“Being streamlined is key,” Phipps says. “People are busier than ever. It is important that we get the design done right and that we are efficient in our approach to the project.”

Clients begin by sharing their dreams and requests. Early on, Phipps recalls receiving files of magazine pages from clients. Today, inspiration comes in digital form and social media posts. From there, Phipps infuses his own ideas with the clients’ to arrive at “workable” ideas.

Positioning of the house is also a primary factor. In fact, Phipps walks the property with the clients to determine the size of home that the lot can accommodate, as well as how to best take advantage of the views and natural light.

He then gets down to the details of his clients’ preferences - including the kitchen sink. For home design, Phipps leans toward the Palm Beach and Boca Raton aesthetic, where he cut his teeth in the business.

“East Coast stylization has worked well on the West Coast,” he says.

Several past clients have hired him to remodel the homes he designed decades ago. “It’s nice to be able to walk into a house 25 years later and nothing has changed,” Phipps says.

“It was that nice to begin with.”

Besides comprehensive design packages, Phipps Home Design also helps in working with other professionals, including builders, landscape architects and interior designers. The result is an exquisite home, inside and out, that complements its surroundings.