Given the Choice, We'll Pursue the Easy (and Wrong) Task

Photo by NeONBRAND

Completing the right task to move your interior design project forward

Given a choice, we will pursue the easy, familiar task. That's what behavioral economists tell us.

So, we'll spend another hour surfing Houzz rather than figure out what the local building department requires when we remodel our bathroom.

The problem is that difficult questions are often important ones. Take the calling the building department example. Our bathroom remodels can't even begin without building permits. Yet, we're still on Houzz doing "research."

We don't need to beat ourselves up about it. It's human nature. Houzz is fun, and calling government offices is not. We do need a way to get ourselves moving in the right direction, though.

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About the author

She didn't know it, but Jackie Lopey's days as an advertising executive were numbered when she bought and renovated a 1950's bungalow. She soon went back to school and started her own design studio. Jackie is an award-winning, California certified interior designer and the founder of Wide Canvas.

As a California Certified Interior Designer, Jackie Lopey is qualified to plan, design, and document nonstructural, non-seismic interior work—including space planning, finish and fixture specifications, and interior construction documents suitable for permit submittal by clients and their licensed design professionals—within existing buildings in the state. Her services include programming client needs, developing code‑aware layouts, preparing detailed interior drawings and specifications for licensed contractors, and guiding the installation of finishes and furnishings.

In Nevada, Wide Canvas provides design consulting focused on selections and visualizations, helping you choose cabinetry, surfaces, fixtures, furnishings, and finishes that fit your style and budget. The team develops clear concept layouts, mood boards, and 3D views to communicate design intent, and then collaborates with licensed design and construction professionals so they can translate those ideas into compliant plans and a successful build.