A client in Boise told me his custom home was 'too perfect' and it stuck with me

I was doing a final walkthrough with a client last fall, showing off all the details we nailed, like the exact 3/8-inch reveal on the trim he wanted. He looked around his new kitchen, quiet for a minute, then said, 'You know, it feels a bit too perfect. Like a showroom. I'm worried my kids will be scared to touch anything.' That hit me hard because we builders always chase perfection. He wasn't mad, he just wanted a home that felt lived-in from day one, not a museum piece. It made me rethink my whole goal for a project. Now I sometimes suggest clients pick a few 'imperfect' finishes on purpose, like a reclaimed wood beam or a tile with natural color variation. Has anyone else had a client ask for something less than perfect to make a house feel more like a home?

3 comments

3 Comments

harperwright2mo ago

My aunt's kitchen has a slightly crooked tile she loves.

grant7281mo ago

My cousin has one tile in her shower that's slightly higher than the rest, and she absolutely hates it. I guess I'm in the minority here, but I've never understood the whole "imperfections make a place charming" thing. A crooked tile in the kitchen would drive me nuts every time I walked in there, especially since you look at it every single day. I think a home can still have character through the things you put in it, like handmade pottery or a funky lamp, without the actual construction being off.

coleman.taylor2mo ago

Totally get that. My own house has a floorboard I messed up installing, and now it's the spot my dog always flops down on. Kind of a built-in memory now. That client in Boise nailed it, a home needs some character to feel real, not just a catalog picture. Chasing flawless can accidentally make a place feel cold. Love the idea of picking a few things on purpose that have some life to them.