Even the best-laid renovation plans go awry sometimes

"No matter how much you mood-board or spreadsheet your way through a renovation, the big reveal can surprise you -- and not in a good way. That luxe free-standing tub? It's more a slippery obstacle course than spalike escape. Those pricey "modern" cabinets? Drab as cinder blocks. To steer you clear of the same mistakes, we asked homeowners and designers who've been there and done that about their biggest regrets -- and how to cope.

OVERHEAD OVERKILL / After a kitchen overhaul, Cincinnati homeowner Judy Imhoff realized she was oversold on recessed lights overhead, and had far too many. "The ceiling looks like it has chickenpox when the lights are on, and it feels like we are in a Broadway show."

Instead: General contractors don't always think like designers. So, if you're relying on them to help craft a lighting plan, clearly convey your aesthetic needs -- or hire a proper lighting pro, said New York City designer Wesley Moon. In a kitchen, build layers of illumination. Don't rely solely on overhead lights; add cabinet lighting and sconces -- and ensure all lights are on dimmers. "Warm-dim" LED bulbs will also lessen the "stagelight" glare and up the cozy factor.

Sorry Soak / A deep, free-standing tub holds a powerful, romantic allure. When Stacy Koehn was laying out the master bath of her Carmel, Calif., home, a luxe soaker seemed like a no-brainer -- until it was installed and she tried it. "It was an exercise in acrobatics, difficult to clean behind and I was shocked how long it took to fill even halfway."

Instead: "While free-standing tubs are beautiful, they don't always cater to practicalities," said Chicago designer Martin Horner, co-founder of the design and architecture firm Soucie Horner. To avoid bather's remorse, he suggests opting for a deep, built-in tub (also known as an "alcove" tub) that blends both style and function. For instance, for a recent client, his team engineered a homey bathing nook by nestling a generous tub under a window and adding a sumptuous paneled marble surround. "[It] doesn't scream for attention," he explained, "but still evokes a kind of luxury."

TILE CRIMES / The cardinal rule of any renovation: Pick colors and materials well ahead of time. Hasty, impulsive decisions -- especially when influenced by fads or supply-chain delays -- can come back to haunt you. To create a serene vibe and accentuate her shower's generous 10-foot ceilings, Jackie Brooks of Lake Waccamaw, N.C., decided vertical matte gray ceramic tiles would be both easy to clean and on-trend. But once they were installed, the effect was more "correctional" than chic, Brooks said. "The place looks like a prison."

Instead: High bathroom ceilings give you license, and room, to play with a more dramatic pattern than penitentiary stripes, said Palm Beach, Fla., designer Helen Bergin. Even if you want to stick to a calm, neutral palette, seek out gray tiles made from materials, such as porcelain or glass, that will bounce light around and create eye-catching highlights. If you stay with matte tiles, choose contrasting fixtures and faucets -- say, polished nickel or brass, Bergin suggests, not a flat finish, which can cheapen the look.

FLOOR NOS / Coating lackluster wood floors with a chocolate stain can quickly modernize a space. But be forewarned: It can also turn the area under foot into a canvas for imperfections. Kristin Widman of Seattle soon realized her mistake. "Dark floors scratch easily and show every speck of hair and dust. With two furry white animals, we couldn't have asked for a worse scenario."

Instead: Unless you plan to vacuum daily and aren't precious about dents and scuffs, consider light to moderate shades of stain. Too late? Then you'll want to add layers of coverage pronto. "Break up swaths of [dark] flooring with area rugs in contrasting colors and textures," advised Kim Frederick, associate of decor at MR Architecture and Decor in New York City. Painting adjacent walls a deeper tone can help too, she explains, by softening glaring contrast. Then grab some eye-catching art. "It helps bring the eye toward a focal point that's up and away from the floors."

SNOOZY STORAGE / Even designers goof up sometimes, particularly when in thrall to trends. "I thought I was being so cool by putting modern cabinets in my Victorian [kitchen] and going all in with flat panels and a pale color," said Cecilia Casagrande, a designer in Brookline, Mass. "But I really regretted them so much."

Instead: Because replacing or redoing the ill-conceived cabinets proved cost prohibitive, Casagrande switched up her approach. Now trim paint -- Farrow & Ball's sultry aubergine Brinjal -- and wallpaper -- a romantic large scale floral by Ellie Cashman -- do most of the heavy lifting, injecting vital warmth into the previously austere room. New brass hardware on the flat-front cabinets brings in a bit of bling, and creates visual harmony with the metallic-accented range hood. One year post redo, Casagrande said, "the room sings."" [1]

1. OFF DUTY --- The Wrong Issue -- Design & Decorating: Regrets, They've Had a Few --- Even the best-laid renovation plans go awry sometimes. We polled homeowners on their most painful goofs, and designers on avoiding similar woes. Poletto, Christina.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 04 May 2024: D.8.