A rendering doesn’t show what’s behind the wall. The skilled tradespeople who build your designs see it every day, and Andrew Risinger thinks you should, too. Risinger, co-owner and head of sales and design at Dallas-based Kitchen, Bath and Home, joined KBB Executive Editor Chelsie Butler on the latest episode of the “From the Tap” podcast. His point is direct: The better you understand the field, the better your designs work for installers, clients and your business.
What You Need to Understand Behind the Scenes
Finished projects display the perfect result. They don’t show the rough valves, cartridges and connections that make a shower system work. Risinger describes a common misstep: packing six shower components into a 3-foot wall span, then adding a niche. On paper, it looks elegant. For the plumber, it’s close to impossible. Cabinets carry the same risk. Corner solutions and door layouts that look fine in a drawing program can bind once they’re installed.
Field Knowledge Protects Your Budget
Risinger shares a project where a homeowner wanted an island that required moving three walls. His team knew the house sat on a post-tension slab, which meant trenching and real added cost. Because they raised the need for this decision early, the client could decide whether the island was worth it before the design was set.
Electrical work follows the same logic. Switching from gas to induction often requires new dedicated circuits, and in a two-story home, that can mean opening drywall. Flag it upfront, and you avoid a blown budget and a costly redesign.
Target the Milestones That Teach the Most
You don’t need to be on site every week. Risinger recommends once a month or once a quarter. Check the construction calendar and focus on what you know least. His top picks:
- Rough-in
- Cabinet installation
- Countertop template & installation
Show Up the Right Way
Find a contractor you trust. Schedule the visit, arrive on time and wear work clothes. Then try Risinger’s method: Ask what they’re about to do, step back while they work and ask what they did once they finish.
In the full episode, Risinger also covers where understanding a trade ends and directing one begins. Listen to the full podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets, and bring a field-ready perspective to your next project.
