You know the moment. You’re ready to present a fresh concept, the kind that makes a room breathe, and your client says: “But we’re keeping the dining set, the two overstuffed chairs, and that dresser. Can we just paint them?” The short answer from working pros: yes, often. The better answer: yes, with a framework,
Working with Client Furniture: How to Evaluate, Price, and Protect Your Design Vision Read More »
Guest Blog by Wendy Estela Esq. As an attorney, I’ve drafted hundreds of interior design contracts, and I can tell you that the most contentious disputes I see don’t happen during the project. They happen when a project ends early. One reason is usually vague language about deliverables. Here’s what I see all the time:
The Deliverables Problem: Why This One Word Is Costing Designers Thousands Read More »
Vintage sourcing is one of those things clients love in theory, until you need a decision in 20 minutes. You spot the perfect piece, the kind that gives a room depth and story. You know it solves the scale problem, or brings the patina that new items cannot. The listing says it will sell fast,
Buying Vintage on a Deadline: Budgets, Boundaries, and Approvals Read More »
That simple question can kick off budget clarity, scope creep, or a procurement handoff. Here’s how to respond with calm authority and keep the project on track. You’re cruising. The concept is landing, the pieces are speaking to each other, and you can finally see the room becoming what you promised. Then the email comes
Can We Swap This? How to Handle Client Revision Links for Cheaper Items Read More »
When the client hires the builder first, and the team starts skipping plans, blocking bids, or “simplifying” your scope, you need a calm, written playbook. You get the email that makes your stomach drop. The client is excited, the builder is “handling everything,” and somehow, updated drawings are suddenly optional, and every purchase must go
Client Picked the Builder the Red Flags, and What Designers Should Do Next Read More »
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,
Non-Refundable Retainer for Interior Designers: 3 Policy Models That Work Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In this episode of To-The-Trade, host Laurie Laizure sits down with Montreal-based designer Romina Tina Fontana, founder of Fontana & Company, to discuss how her deep background in marketing and graphic design shapes her approach to running her interiors studio today. It is a conversation that blends branding, editorial photography, client education,
To-The-Trade S2E57 Budgets, Boundaries and Beautiful Shoots with Romina Tina Fontana Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In this To-The-Trade podcast episode, Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson sit down with DC area designer Isy (Isabel) Jackson of Chelt Interiors to talk about British-influenced interiors, sourcing antiques, holiday decorating, and the real business of interior design behind the pretty pictures. Isy shares her creative origin story, starting with a very
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
Client Photo Privacy: How To Handle “No Photos” Requests Gracefully Read More »
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
Client management for designers, 9 practical moves when custom orders disappoint Read More »
