Stop Fighting Your GC: How To Build Strong Partnerships That Protect Your Design Vision

During this 2-hour live event, Walter and I will share:

• The best ways to confidently connect with trades you want to work with - what to say, what to avoid, and how to stand out as a respected professional
• The exact conversations to have early on so you’re on the same page with every project
• How we met and our best-kept secret for maintaining a successful partnership
• What should be covered in a pre-construction meeting
• How to advocate for your design vision while respecting the GC's expertise

No holding back… real stories, insightful experiences

Step-by-Step: Walter and I will share our proven process for every renovation, including the secret sauce that builds trust with clients and helps secure projects. 

Unrealistic Requests: What happens when the designer wants something that can’t be done? 

Butting heads: How do you deal with opposing ideas, and how to identify the real underlying factors for this?

Conflict & Accountability: What to do when the GC or a trade doesn't deliver, and how do you protect your client relationship?

Breaking Up With A Trade: When a partnership goes sideways, how do you handle that professionally? 

You’ll walk away with clarity of understanding:

• Two dangerous designer downfalls that frustrate contractors the most, and compromise trust with everyone
• The main benefits of working with a designer from a GC’s POV and the struggles endured without you How to convey the value of collaboration on the job site, so clients understand everyone is seen as an essential part of the team
• How to debrief after a project, address recurring problems, and recognize excellent work 
• Plus, Walter will reveal what contractors wish every designer understood 

Real Client Case Study

• From consult→ to concept→ to completion 
• The best part about working with these clients 
• How working with a designer made the process more seamless and easier for Walter and his team
• Unforeseen surprises we had to manage along the way 
• Communication challenges we needed to address as the project progressed 

Behind Closed Doors  

Hear client stories about how Claire and Walter troubleshoot issues together, the time when hitting ‘reset’ was required due to our ideas not being aligned, and how we quickly rectified a mistake I made on our latest project 

Who this workshop is for

This workshop is for you if:

• You work on renovation projects and are tired of feeling overlooked and underappreciated by trades.
• You’ve struggled to find a GC who respects your role, follows your drawings, and doesn’t try to redesign the project on site.
• You’ve had contractors go behind your back and speak directly with the client about design decisions, pricing, or scope without looping you in.
• You want a clear framework for who does what, the best way to efficiently communicate with trades, and how to set expectations so everyone knows their lane.
• You want to see a positive, mutually respectful, long-term Interior Designer & GC relationship in action
• You’re ready to build a small, trusted team of trades and suppliers who feel like an extension of your firm, not people you have to babysit.

Who this workshop is NOT for

This workshop is probably not the right fit if:

• You never work on or plan to do renovation projects or collaborate with trades.
• You’re looking for technical construction training (building codes, engineering specs, etc.) rather than real strategies for relationship-building, clear communication, and proven processes.
• You expect a one-size-fits-all approach vs an honest, candid conversation with real-life experiences and practical examples.
• You believe all trades are the problem, and only they need to change, as opposed to reviewing your approach

Ready to ditch the disrespectful trades and build a dream team instead?

Join Walter and me on Thursday, November 19th at 1 pm EST. We will set you up for an enjoyable, profitable, and strong partnership with your trades in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the workshop?
The workshop is 2 hours total: approximately 90 minutes of content plus a live Q&A session where you can ask specific questions and get advice about challenges with trades and contractors.

What if I can’t attend live?
If you can’t make it live, you’ll get access to the replay for 2 weeks after the workshop, so you can watch (or re-watch) on your own schedule and take detailed notes.

Is this only for designers who already have a GC?
No. If you don’t yet have a trusted GC or trade team, this workshop will help you know what to look for, the best approach for introducing yourself, and how to set up the relationship for success from the start.

Will you provide contract templates or legal documents?
We’ll talk about how we structure our working relationship, including who does what and how we handle client communication and payments, but we do not provide legal advice or contract templates in this workshop. You’ll need to work with your own legal professional to create or update your contractor/trade agreements.

What resources are included?
You’ll receive the workshop recording (for 2 weeks), Claire’s 5 Ways to Build a Brilliant Team of Trades & Suppliers PDF, a Canva Template to Claire’s Specifications Binder that she uses to document materials & selections, add floor plans, and overall improve communication with the trades on every project.

Is this workshop right for newer designers?
Yes. If you are new to running an interior design business or just starting to work with trades, this workshop can save you from learning important lessons the hard way and give you a clearer understanding for building respectful, long-term, and rewarding partnerships.

What is the refund policy?
All workshop sales are final. If you can’t attend live, you’ll still receive access to the replay for 2 weeks after the event.

All sales for the "Stop Fighting Your GC: How To Build Strong Partnerships That Protect Your Design Vision" workshop are final. Book now to secure your spot!