BlogPost

Non-Refundable Retainer,

Non-Refundable Retainer for Interior Designers: 3 Policy Models That Work

Pricing and Profitability, BlogPost, Client Communication and Boundaries /

Note: This post is educational and reflects “business of interior design” practices shared by design pros. It is not legal advice. When you’re onboarding a new client, the non-refundable retainer conversation sets the tone for expectations, cash flow, boundaries, and how seriously the client takes the process. This is a significant client-management moment for designers,

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Interior Design Process, Contractor Copycats

Protect Your Interior Design Process: 9 Ways to Handle Contractor Copycats

Operations and Project Management, BlogPost /

The contractor was charming right up until he ghosted her. A designer in our community told me this story. She met with a general contractor for coffee to discuss partnering on a series of remodels. He had seen her work online and “loved her refined process.” “Walk me through how you run a project,” he

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Contractor Bids for Interior Designers: 6 Steps to Compare Estimates

Operations and Project Management, BlogPost /

Contractor bids for interior designers can feel like a tightrope walk. Your client wants “transparency,” your trusted GC wants their time respected, and you want bids you can actually compare without turning your project into a free-for-all. This guide gives you a clean, repeatable way to run the contractor bid process like a pro. You’ll

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Design Business, Interior

If You Started Your Interior Design Business Today, What Would You Do Differently?

Pricing and Profitability, BlogPost /

When I ask designers this question inside Interior Design Community, the answers come fast. You can almost feel people exhaling. Picture this. It is 11:37 p.m., you are sitting at your kitchen table with a laptop that sounds like a small airplane, half a glass of grocery store red, and an inbox full of “quick

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Client photo, portfolio, no photo

Client Photo Privacy: How To Handle “No Photos” Requests Gracefully

Client Communication and Boundaries, BlogPost /

Project photos are the fuel for your portfolio, website, and social feeds. They are also photos of real people, real homes, and real lives. So what happens when a dream client says, “Please do not post this online”? In the Interior Design Community, this question comes up in conversations about the business of interior design and client

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Shannon Ggem, Brand Vetting

How Interior Designers Vet Brands Before They Specify Them

Operations and Project Management, BlogPost /

Author: Guest post by Shannon Ggem, Principal Designer, Ggem Design Studio As interior designers, the brands we specify reflect our values. At Ggem Design Studio, we are not just curating beautiful rooms, we are choosing which companies we invite into our clients’ homes and into our own workflow. Our brand vetting standards are one of

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High Point Market, Recap

High Point Market 2025 Recap, Natural Elegance, Mixed Metals, NKBA at Broad Hall

Industry Events and Trade Shows, BlogPost /

Interior Design Community Exclusive: High Point Market 2025 Where Innovation Meets Emotion High Point Market has always been a source of inspiration and innovation, but this season, it transcended trends to become a full-on movement. From warm palettes and layered materials to a stunning integration of kitchen and bath into the interior design conversation, what

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Client management for designers, 9 practical moves when custom orders disappoint

Client Communication and Boundaries, BlogPost /

Client management for designers, what to do when custom orders disappoint Custom orders are the heartbeat of our industry, and sometimes a custom piece arrives, and your client is not thrilled. This guide refreshes our original post for today’s design pros with concise steps you can take before, during, and after delivery. It maintains the

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Designer friendly, brands

Designer friendly brands, 7 non-negotiables real designers expect

Pricing and Profitability, BlogPost /

Is Your Favorite Brand Actually Designer Friendly? In the Interior Design Community, we asked design pros a simple question that hits the heart of the business of interior design: what makes a brand truly designer-friendly? The response was loud and detailed. This piece draws directly on that real talk and offers interior designer tips for

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