8 Design Debates Bryan and Sarah Baeumler Never Agree On

We both like to include natural materials and products that stand the test of time, but how wood is finished is not always an easy decision. I prefer to keep wood looking natural with nothing more than a stain and varnish. More often than not, Sarah prefers wood to be painted in some way. We appreciate both looks, but if we had to choose, I think this is where we would sit. See here for 10 rookie flooring mistakes to avoid.

Everyone knows Sarah loves wallpaper, and in some cases, I do too. However, hanging wallpaper requires much more work and a different skill level than painting. Therefore, I prefer painting when it comes to updating walls.

We both agree on choosing high-quality appliances (invest in quality upfront and you will benefit in the long run). However, we disagree on how they are to be incorporated into a space’s design. Sarah prefers appliances and fixtures to be hidden. For example, the toilet in our powder room has the flush buttons, flush (excuse the pun) to the wall. This is purely an aesthetic detail and I don’t see the fuss, but Sarah won that one. I do think it looks very cool now, but the extra work was not welcome at the time. These are Bryan’s all-time best kitchen renovations.

When it comes to lighting, Sarah and I often disagree on the type of fixtures we should use. Nine times out of ten, I go for pot lights. I think they look the part and are so easy to install. Whereas, hanging light fixtures are much more laborious, and I don’t always like them aesthetically. See here for Sarah’s favourite lighting style.

Oh, tiles! Tiles are often the source of much debate between us. Sarah likes refined and delicate tiles, which do give a space a certain level of class. But they’re often a nightmare to install. Laying tile can be a quick and easy part of the renovation, but if using a more labour-intensive variety, costs can quickly rise. This is more of a budget debate rather than design, although I do like a large, more natural looking tile. Here’s how to tile a bathroom floor with ease.

When it comes to the homes we’ve designed for our family, the exteriors are my domain, and the interiors are Sarah’s. We have strong opinions about both areas of the home, but when we need to make a crunch decision, I win when it relates to outdoor elements and she wins if it’s an interior issue. These are Bryan’s favourite outdoor reno projects.

There are many design aspects that I completely understand and appreciate, but drapery isn’t one of them. For me, a curtain is a curtain. I know many designers out there would completely disagree, including Sarah. I actually prefer blinds to drapes, but that’s a whole separate discussion.

If you were to sum up the difference between our styles, you could do so by defining my taste as rustic and Sarah’s as modern. This is ultimately the approach we each take, and where conflicts occasionally come from.

Ultimately, most couples have a different design approach, and the same goes for us. However, where we do share a similarity is that whatever we’re doing, we do it with the utmost passion and attention to detail. And I think what we’ve produced together over the years speaks to this level of teamwork.