By now, you certainly know my precious Mantra. It’s a Mantra that guides me personally and in business. And when it comes to business, I’m almost obsessive about it. Well, not “almost.” The Mantra? Plan, Plan, and Plan some more. When it comes to designing homes, I’m even more focused on getting The Plan done just right.

I’m sure you’ve seen some disasters that occurred not because the people weren’t smart or clever. They just didn’t realize how essential both short and long-term planning are to the success of any home design.

Perhaps the most famous example of an out-of-control renovation is the Winchester House in San Jose, Ca. Following the death of her husband who invented the Winchester rifle, Sarah Winchester moved to the Bay Area in 1886, bought a simple eight-room house, and promptly began what became an endless renovation only ending in 1922 when she died. At the time of her death, the “do over” consisted of 24,000 square feet, 160 rooms, 2000 doors, and cost approximately $5 million or $71 million today. For more about the Winchester House, click here.