Grids look great on paper but they fight back when your frames aren't identical, so that's a totally fair flop. The loose hang is way more forgiving and honestly feels more alive, like the wall breathes a bit. Glad the redo worked out, that's the real win.

Why would you want to be stuck staring at a dead clock when your phone actually tells you something useful?

People tend to pick homes based on what looks good in photos, not how they'll actually live day to day. That's a trap I've seen friends fall into too, where the dream layout turns out to be a pain once you're hauling groceries up four flights. Housing choices are really about predicting your future self, and that's a gamble no matter which option you take.