PSA: The time a client in Denver wanted their floor plan drawn on a napkin

Taylor Patel · 2026-03-11T12:30:08.424962+00:00

I was at a coffee shop meeting a new client about a small house addition... they pulled out a napkin with a rough sketch and said 'just make it look like this.' The sketch had no measurements, just a wobbly square and an arrow labeled 'bigger room.' I spent two hours trying to turn it into a real plan, only for them to say it was 'too technical' and they wanted it 'more like the napkin.' I had to explain that a napkin isn't a legal document for a permit. Now I bring a blank site survey form to every first meeting and make them fill in the basics before I even open my laptop. Has anyone else had a client try to use a napkin as a real drawing?

ray_mitchell587mo ago

Honestly the blank site survey is a solid move lol. Been there with the napkin thing, it's a classic. What works for me now is having them do a rough sketch right there on a grid sheet. I hand them a pencil and say "show me the walls and doors, don't worry about being an artist." It forces them to think about actual space, not just a vibe. Saves so much headache later when they realize a room needs to fit a couch.

7

hunt.max7mo ago

Maybe the napkin captured the simple feeling they wanted.

1

alicelopez6mo ago

Is it really that big of a deal? Like hunt.max said, maybe the napkin just got the feeling across, and you can work from there. It's not like they're asking you to build from the napkin itself.

1