The Questions We Get Asked Most at EMD
There are a handful of design questions we hear almost daily from clients, fans, family and friends. While every home and project is different, there are a few guiding principles we come back to again and again.
So we rounded up some of our most-asked questions and answered them all in one place.
Where do you shop for furniture?
The honest answer? Everywhere.
Designing a layered, collected home rarely comes from sourcing everything from one retailer. We mix custom pieces, trade vendors, vintage finds, big-box staples, local makers, and the occasional thrift store score.
Some spaces call for investment upholstery with beautiful craftsmanship, while others benefit from affordable, hardworking basics that let us splurge elsewhere.
Our favorite homes feel curated over time, not copied from a showroom floor.
A few things we always prioritize when sourcing:
Scale and proportion first
Quality upholstery and durable materials
Natural textures that age well
Mixing old and new for character
Avoiding anything that feels overly “set-like”
How do you keep all the details organized?
Systems. Lots of systems.
Behind every calm, finished home is approximately 4,000 tabs open and an alarming number of spreadsheets.
Every project we manage includes:
Detailed specification sheets
Procurement trackers
Finish schedules
Installation timelines
Floor plans and elevations
Budget management
Vendor communication logs
The reality of interior design is that creativity is only half the job. The other half is project management, problem-solving, and making sure 19,836,986,301,783 tiny decisions all work together in the end.
Organization is what allows the design to actually come to life.
Favorite paint colors?
We love a soft, layered neutral, but the best paint color is always the one that works with your home’s lighting, finishes, and architecture. That said, we consistently return to colors that feel warm, timeless, and livable rather than stark or overly trendy.
A few longtime favorites can be found in our blogs:
Finding the Right White
Our Favorite Coastal Blue Paint Colors
Our biggest paint advice: always sample first. Paint changes dramatically throughout the day, and what looks perfect online can look completely different in your home.
Lighting changes everything.
Is this timeless or trendy?
Probably both, and that’s okay.
We don’t believe “timeless” means your home has to feel safe or boring. Every era has trends. The key is deciding where to embrace them.
We typically recommend:
Keeping permanent selections more classic (tile, cabinetry, flooring)
Bringing in personality through lighting, textiles, art, paint, and decor
Choosing pieces you genuinely love rather than what’s currently everywhere online
A well-designed home should feel personal first, timeless second. Because the most timeless interiors are usually the ones that feel authentic to the people living in them.
Favorite hardwood floor?
We almost always gravitate toward medium-toned engineered white oak.
It’s versatile, warm, forgiving, and works beautifully across a range of design styles, from coastal to transitional to modern organic.
A few things we look for:
Matte finishes over high gloss
Wider and longer planks when appropriate for the scale of the home
Natural variation and texture
Durable finishes that can handle real life
And if you have kids, pets, or both? You’ll thank yourself for choosing something with character and variation instead of a super dark, ultra-smooth finish that shows every scratch.
Some of our favorite engineered hardwood brands are:
Where should I save and/or splurge?
Our general philosophy: splurge on the things you touch every day.
Usually worth the investment:
Sofas
Dining chairs
Mattresses
Plumbing fixtures
Quality rugs
Window treatments
Custom cabinetry
Lighting in key focal areas
Places you can often save:
Trend-driven decor
Accent furniture
Styling accessories
Secondary light fixtures
Guest room furnishings
Certain tile applications
Hardware (sometimes!)
The goal isn’t to make everything expensive, it’s to make the right things matter.
A home feels elevated when it’s thoughtful, layered, and functional, not necessarily when every piece has a luxury price tag.
At Emily Moss Designs, we believe good design should feel approachable, livable, and deeply personal. Whether you’re renovating a full home or simply choosing paint colors, the small decisions add up to something meaningful.
And if you’re currently waiting on a backordered sofa while testing 14 shades of white paint… trust us, you’re not alone.