One of my very first clients whom I met with for an Interior Decorating consultation meeting was eager to hire me for further services.
YAY!!
Then she backed out and cancelled our next appointment.
BOOOOOOO.
I knew exactly why she got cold feet and I also knew that something needed to change in my interior design business.
The Harsh Reality
The truth is, after becoming a Certified Interior Decorator, although I started my own business, I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing.
I had no clear outline for my services, nor did I have organized processes of next steps past the initial consultation meeting.
Yes, I know what you are thinking – that is completely absurd! How could I not know what services I offered in my own business?
But it was true. I literally stumbled through the first few months, making it up as I went along.
It’s a good thing I turned it around when I did though, because one of marketing strategies that I share in Episode #8 of my YouTube video series, was my biggest breakthrough yet.
Watch the video to see how I found myself working for a big HGTV celebrity.
It’s one thing to learn as you go, heck we are always learning and I do love that about the interior design industry.
But to not be clear on the value you provide nor have a good understanding on how you will work with clients, is a dangerous place to be as a small business owner. How can you convey what you can do for your clients if you don’t even know this yet yourself?
It’s a good thing I was determined with a passion to succeed!
My previous work experience in Human Resources helped me to turn things around rather quickly. Perfecting business processes became an obsession and before long I was ROCKING my Initial Consultation.
ROCK YOUR CONSULTATION – FIND OUT HOW HERE.
Thank goodness I did because the amazing opportunity that I talk about in my video, could’ve easily passed me by had it not been for my impressive organizational skills and the ability to confidently convey the value I bring to every project.
If my story as a new entrepreneur sounds familiar and you are struggling in gaining confidence & taking control in business, don’t suffer through that any longer. It’s a miserable place to be.
DM me here on IG if you have any questions and I’ll likely reply with a voice message.
This weekend I’m in New Jersey for the launch of a new Interior Design Business Book that I am a co-author of and a huge event where I’m also speaking. I couldn’t be more excited!
Although some marketing tactics may seem like great initiatives that will be hitting your target audience, how often does that really happen?
Early on in my career as an Interior Decorator, I had a luxury golf magazine reach out to me. They were local to my area and pitched an advertisement in two of their publications. I really thought this was going to see a good return on my investment, but did it yield me clients?
In the video I also reveal another way that I created an incentive for potential clients which was also a strategy that allowed me to network with other local businesses.
Have you advertised in a local magazine similar to this? Did you get clients and see a good return on your investment? Comment below to share your experience.
From having met many interior design professionals in the industry, as well as having done numerous coaching calls, I know that different strategies and service offerings work for different business models.
Agreeable Gray, SW 7029, by Sherwin Williams is one of the most popular neutral colours out there now for Interior Design and Decor.
While I haven’t had a project professionally photographed with this paint colour yet, I have specified it a fair amount to homeowners in my local area of Burlington and Oakville Ontario.
Explore this Colour More!
In this video of Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams, and as always, in my colour review videos I share:
The undertone of my featured colour
Colour Comparisons in order to easily ‘SEE’ the different colour tones
Best White paints to pair for the trim & ceilings
Beautiful Colour Combinations to inspire you for your next decorating project
Comment below if you’ve used this colour or if you’ve had a space professionally photographed where you have used Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.
Email me the image and your details & I may feature you in a future vlog! Send to info@clairejefford.com
For future colour videos, I’d like to feature inspiring spaces by talented designers. Seeing a paint colour in a space and how it varies with lighting, plus the many ways that it can be paired with other fabulous textures and finishes, is always fascinating to me.
I know I’m not alone!
Colour Comparisons
In this colour comparison below, you can easily see the difference between the colours and their undertones. Fleur de Sel, the top colour, is a blue-green gray; Agreeable Gray in the centre is a Green Gray and Wool Skein is a Green Beige.
Fleur de Sel SW 7666 & Wool Skein SW 6148
Best Whites to Pair with Agreeable Gray
Of course, there are many more whites that would work wonderfully with this colour, but I’ve pulled 3 of my favourites from Sherwin Williams.
Pure White SW 7005
Dover White SW 6385
Alabaster SW 7008
Fabulous Colour Combinations with Agreeable Gray
All colours paired here with Agreeable Gray are also from Sherwin Williams.
My good friend Maria Killam designed this gorgeous living room that is painted Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. How fabulous does it look with the blues and yellow accents?!
Room design by Maria Killam.
Speaking of Maria Killam, do you love my large painted colour boards and want your own set?
// DISCLOSURE: Thank you for trusting me with my truthful and reliable opinion on any future purchase you may make. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information when it is the case. If you purchase Maria’s boards, I will earn a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t affect you in any way, the price remains the same regardless. Thank you for supporting me and entrusting me to be your go-to for all things Colour and Interior Design!
Sherwin Williams Collection of Neutrals
Agreeable Gray is also part of my newest collection of Perfect Colour Palettes – Sherwin Williams Neutral Collection, 10 popular neutrals all in one convenient place.
In order to get the best results & maximize the potential for serious growth of clientele in your business with this style of marketing, watch my video here or click on the image below. I help you to thoughtfully consider your strategy!
Have you worked with a Realtor or dropped postcards in your local community?
Comment below to share how these initiatives worked for you or if you plan on trying these marketing strategies.
You’ve landed clients, now what?
See below for more of my helpful resources for running a successful interior design business. Plus, don’t forget to follow me here on Instagram where I post daily stories to inspire you in both your business and in the world of design!
It’s so exciting to unbox something when you have no idea what it is, especially when you know that it’s related to paint colour.
I was thrilled to receive a package at my Burlington Interior Design Studio from the lovely Jamie Martin, National Sales Manager at Farrow & Ball. See what was inside in my latest video below.
But first, based on the goodies in this box, I created a new download just for you!
Okay, now onto the unboxing. Join me and let’s make our lives and our homes more colourful.
Love colour and want to book a consultation with me? Click here and let’s do this!
I service local areas in Ontario of Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Milton, Hamilton, Carlise, Grimsby and the surrounding GTA area. Contact me here.
Convenience at your fingertips
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Choosing Paint Colours
If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.
I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.
Collections
I am also offering collections with 10 amazing colours altogether in one place.
When it comes to blogging or creating video content, do you get stumped on what to post about?
I often have designers tell me that figuring out what content to create can be very frustrating, as well as knowing where to start.
To make the most of your content, I always suggest referring to your most Frequently Asked Questions and address those first.
That is one key point that I like to drill down into when I do speaking engagements on managing client’s expectations, because you can get a ton of mileage out of those posts and/or videos, referring people to them over and over again.
But what about quick and easy videos? Are they possible to do and why are they necessary?
The good news is, YES, IT IS POSSIBLE. The other bonus is that in our industry, the possibilities are endless!
If you are still stumped and want to see the kind of videos you can easily share, watch the video below.
Did you know that I also have my VIDEO FOR PROFITS course where I take you through the ‘who, what, where, why, when and how’ of leveraging video for your Interior Design Business?
Master video and go further. Link here to learn more.
Working with family can be challenging, but this was fun!
When is a good time to re-decorate a child’s bedroom?
Kids grow up fast and their needs for their personal space quickly change over time, but that doesn’t mean you want to be redecorating every 6 months.
Good design is smart design and knowing when is the right time to execute is important…and so is including the child in the decision making process. After all, it’s their personal space!
When my kids each turned 10 years old, we decided that was a good age to update their bedrooms. We wanted to redesign their rooms to take them from toddler to teen in both decor and function.
Mexico 2017. Adley was 13 and Elise was 10. This was the year we redecorated her bedroom.
I was especially thoughtful to create designs that would grow with them over the next 8-10 years, so as not to have to re-do these spaces before they (hopefully) move out. #kiddingnotkidding
In the video below, you’ll see how we found inspiration for my daughter’s dated ‘little girly room’ to transform it into a ‘Teens’ Dream Crib’ – that’s the lingo that all the cool kids are using these days, isn’t it? 😉
Sometimes working with family can be challenging, but collaborating with my kids on each of their bedroom makeovers was fun!
In her own words, Elise’s Room Tour
My daughter is not camera shy at all. If you follow me here on Instagram you may have seen my IGTV video of her singing ‘Shallow’ by Lady Gaga from ‘A Star is Born’. No surprise that with her talent, this is my most viewed video on my channel to date!
Elise is very creative in music and arts. She sings, plays the piano and does musical theatre. She is always singing around the house and has a wonderful sense of humour. Boy does this girl make me smile!
Watch the Facebook Video here of Elise taking you on a tour of her bedroom. She also tells you what she loves most about her new bedroom. Comment below or here on my YouTube channel to let me know what’s your favourite decorative element in Elise’s bedroom.
Updated girls bedroom design with pretty colours, subtle textures & some bling!
Functional & Fabulous!
This bed not only looks fabulous, but it also has hidden storage which was essential in my daughter’s small bedroom. The mechanism is sturdy, yet easy enough for even Elise to open and close.
Fabulous looking AND functional!
Custom closet doors with mirrors play double duty for function and to enlarge/brighten the space
A painted ceiling in dark blue adds depth and drama to the space, as well as being the perfect backdrop for creating contrast with this white light fixture.
Elise wanted some bling and fell in love with this drum shade light fixture with crystals.
Custom bed with upholstered camelback style headboard and chrome nail heads
I am in love with these porcelain pink poodles!
We updated these pine drawers with paint and new sparkly pulls
Custom window treatment is a Flat Roman Blind
High and Low
White IKEA desk, floating shelves and bedside table are where we decided to go ‘low’ in terms of costs for the bedroom design. Since Elise started to take an interest in creating make-up videos on her Instagram account, this area has never looked so tidy as it does in this photo!
Custom window treatments are a splurge that is well worth the investment. No client of mine has ever stood back, looked at the new install of drapery or a blind and said, “Meh, it’s okay”. The response is always one of awe and excitement, usually some happy squeals too!
Paint Palette / Colour Combination in Benjamin Moore Paint Colours
Okay, your turn. Tell me what is your favourite part of my daughters bedroom makeover? She loves the bed, I love the mirrored closets and you love…
If you want to work with an interior design professional who is also a colour expert twice over to update any area of your home, contact me here and let’s create something beautiful together!
Find out about our services here and how we can help you to love where you live!
Convenience at your fingertips
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Choosing Paint Colours
If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.
I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.
Collections
I also offer collections that showcase a group of 10 colours from Benjamin Moore,
What happens when you are working with a client on an Interior Decorating or Design project and they suddenly refuse to pay you?
Today I’m sharing a real client experience of that exact scenario which happened to me a few years ago.
As I always like to be real and provide as much value as I can when sharing these types of stories, you’ll also learn:
How long I was in business when this happened
How the client found me
The scope and cost of the project
Events leading up to our final visit
What I did when the client refused to pay me
Yup, you do not wanna miss this!
Key takeaways and learning points:
Always have a signed contract that you review with your clients project to commencing design services.
Never be out of pocket for services or when selling products.
Don’t beat yourself up. Learn from the experience and move on.
Not signed up yet for all the FREE stuff I have to offer? Go here to get instant access to over half a dozen tips sheets to help with your Interior Design business!
Why Start From Scratch When I’ve Already Done It For You?
If you want to be more organized and be better at managing your client’s expectations, listen up!
My 3-in-1 bundle includes everything you need to be super confident in your processes. From the very first phone call, right the way through to the end of the client initial consultation meeting, get organized now.
Did you know I also have a YouTube channel for Colour & Design?
More of my TNT -THE NAKED TRUTH – mind set where you can see videos like the ones listed below.
I disclose full costs for custom decorating projects, including my fee for services here on the blog post.
See the blog post here where I tell all in my video.
Subscribe here to get notified of new videos for colour & design inspiration, plus you’ll also get 2 FREE downloads on Choosing the Right Paint Colour the FIRST time AND my favourite 15 Shades of Gray paint colours with undertones revealed!
Fresh off the heels of another KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) event from Las Vegas and I can’t wait to show you the latest colours in Interior Design!
Sadly, the weather in Las Vegas was such that it was the first time in nearly 10 years that they had snow – yes snow! But I wasn’t going to let anything dampen my spirits, this event was going to be way too exciting.
My favourite thing to do in Las Vegas is to watch the Bellagio Fountains display.
Sidenote – Did you know that I got married in Las Vegas? And before you ask, no, it wasn’t officiated by Elvis, nor in a drive-thru and yes, I’m still married!
May 21, 2005. Chris and I married at The Grove in Las Vegas.
In addition to the excitement of being at the show to see the latest in Kitchen and Bath Design, I was also speaking on two panels and meeting up with plenty of my interior designer friends with who I’ve been connected on social media for years. You can see me speaking on one panel here in the #dmmtalks lounge about running a successful interior design business.
Please note, the footage appears to be sideways and the panel is 2 hours long, but there is a ton of incredibly helpful information if you are a business owner in the interior design industry.
Colour talk, let’s get to it!
Have you ever noticed how the most talked about and exciting displays at these events are always the most vibrant and colourful ones? Yet in our own homes, most of us prefer to play it safe with whites and neutrals.
Of course, resale value comes into play, as well as whether or not you will tire of something so bold and ‘in your face’ over time. However, I think that design needs to tell a story and include layers of patterns, texture and colour – unless the look you are going for is super contemporary and has a monochromatic feel.
Maybe today’s video and colour combinations will make you think twice when considering what finishes to use in your next home renovation project. I know it’s already got me thinking about my upcoming bath renovation this spring!
Click the play button to see what colour inspiration I found at KBIS and to get a closer look at the colour palettes shown in the video, see more of the blog post below or check out my Pinterest Bold Colour Board here.
Perfect for Pinning!
Starting off with a couple of the sponsors from the #designhounds Modenus Tour, the first being this exceptional cabinetry design. For those of us with pets, isn’t this what we all dream of? A well-organized space for the laundry, including a dedicated area for pet grooming. How wonderful.
NOTE: Some colours in the palettes I created may appear slightly different to the actual design photos, depending on your monitor. But I can assure you that the colour combinations all work beautifully together. Also, with the exception of this palette below, all others are Benjamin Moore colours.
Farrow and Ball colour combination of cabinetry and wall colour.
Two years ago I also visited the Wellborn Cabinetry booth, here is a video if you want to see more of their custom cabinetry designs.
The New American Home with Caesarstone
I was super excited to receive an exclusive invitation to The New American Home with Caesarstone. Despite the nearly freezing temperatures that are almost unheard of in the Las Vegas desert, this spectacular view from the New American Home soon warmed me up!
The New American Home with Caesarstone.
Caesarstone introduced 5 new colours, which I’ll be sharing soon over on my IGTV channel. Follow me here over on IG to make sure you don’t miss it! Here I managed to get a photo with just a few of the models who were each painted in the new colours – how cool, eh?
3 of the new 5 Caesarstone colours unveiled, in Las Vegas style.
Bedroom with a textured periwinkle wallpaper as a backdrop to this beautiful bed.
Ensuite with white and gray tiles, but impactful and colourful accent wall.
Although it’s not spot on, the closest colour I could relate this to was Twilight Blue by Benjamin Moore.
This blue is similar in tone (just slightly lighter) to a backsplash we installed in this client’s White kitchen design.
Custom bench seat opposite the bed with abstract artwork in similar tones.
Here is another bathroom in The New American Home, but with a much different vibe than the first. Hexagon wall tile in different tones, including a marble!
Not sure that I would love this long term, but it’s definitely a show stopper.
The colour palette though, yes, that I could live with!
Gray, pink and white. Beautiful colour combo.
Cafe Distinct by Design
Cafe appliances booth – Distinct by Design. This green is their brand colour too.
True Green 2042-10 by Benjamin Moore is what I colour matched it to by looking at the photos…I left my fan deck in my suitcase at the hotel, doh! It appears to be very similar to what one considers to be a shade of ‘Kelly Green’.
2042 – 10 True Green be Benjamin Moore
Did I tell you that we are starting work on a kitchen refresh for a Burlington client next month and that we are using Hale Navy for the cabinetry colour? I couldn’t be more thrilled.
As you probably already know from watching my videos, this dark, dramatic blue is one of my favourite colours of all time.
Look at the dark blue cabinets here, paired with that exquisite golden backsplash. The counters and floors are in black and white design patterns. I think I’m in love.
Colour Combination here is Hale Navy and Marblehead Gold by BM.
Coloured Appliances
Blue Star Appliances in a fun orangey- coral and with brassy hardware.
French door style – side by side with bottom freezer. Shown as a perfect match for an avid baker.
Benjamin Moore fun and lively colour combination
Funky Tile Styles!
These glass wall tiles were super vibrant. They would definitely be a commitment, but how fun would these be in a kitchen as a backsplash or in the bathroom on the shower wall?
Funky blue and yellow tile
Reminiscent of a Mediterranean feel with the deep blues and soft yellow tones.
Not my usual design style at all, but definitely fabulous in the right setting.
If this colour palette doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will?!
Finishing up on a more subtle, yet striking colour combination and delicate tile design that certainly has a style all of its own.
Soft pink and purple with white and a sporadic, ‘cutesy’ pattern in gray.
Or try this pink, it’s less pale than Odessa Pink shown above…
Petunia pink appears to be a better fit with the tile. But either of these pinks will work for this gorgeous colour combination.
Now, tell me the truth. Would you be daring enough to use either big-ticket items and/or fixed elements in bright or dramatic colours to make a statement in your home? Comment below to share your thoughts. Until next time, dream in colour!
Convenience at your fingertips
Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!
Choosing Paint Colours
If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.
I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.
Collections
I also offer collections that showcase a group of 10 colours from Benjamin Moore,
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