Page 18 – Claire Jefford

You’ll Never Guess What Happened in My Interview With LuAnn Nigara!

So Many A-Ha Moments Here

If you do not know who LuAnn Nigara is, where have you been?!!

LuAnn is a powerhouse & the incredible woman behind the highly successful (and addictive!) podcast, A Well -Designed Business. This #1 rated Interior Design Business podcast in Itunes, sees LuAnn interviewing fantastic guests from our industry, all of whom offer invaluable advice that will help any design professional looking to improve and advance their business.

LuAnn in her Podcast studio with her first book ‘The Making of A Well-Designed Business. Get her book here.

LuAnn and I met for the first time at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas Market in 2017. We fondly look back on this initially meeting with much laughter and animation during the uncut version of our video interview which you will see a little later in this post. Don’t scroll down just yet though, you need to hear the back story!

Since then, I’m thrilled to say that LuAnn and I have become very good friends. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her hard work ethic, her passion and for all that she does for Interior Designers.

I’ve also had the pleasure of being invited to be on LuAnn’s incredible podcast for two separate interviews.

The first was Episode #237 titled ‘How to Get More Videos With Clients’ and the more recent interview was on Episode #325 where I share details on Creating Valuable Content to Sell Through Your Website.

In April of this year, I had plans to head to New York to do Maria Killams Colour Course for the second time. I knew LuAnn was located in New Jersey and I contacted her to ask if I could do an interview video with her for my YouTube channel.

Hey, she has interviewed so many people and brought so much insight to all of us, I figured it was time to learn more about the woman on the other side of the mic. I know you are curious too!

LuAnn happily accepted -YAY! She then in turn, asked me if while I was in town, did I want to speak at her Window Works Showroom for their monthly Lunch and Learn. Well, of course! And so, it was on.

At Window Works Lunch & Learn. From left to right: Kimberley, Sarah Danielle, LuAnn, Claire & Wendy Woloshchuk.

I ALSO GOT AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR OF LUANN’S PODCAST STUDIO IN HER HOME & A PEEK INTO HER CLOSET!!

You can see that, including how LuAnn prepares for her podcast interviews, where she finds inspiration and all of her Podcast Green outfits in the edited version of our video interview below.

Be sure so sign up for my Interior Designers Insiders Report where you’ll get VIP treatment & all the updates first!

Comment & tell me your favourite A-HA moment from my interview with LuAnn.

Okay, now for the un-cut, no holds barred version of our in depth discussion!

Get comfy and click on the video below to watch.

Behind the Scenes

We initially met up at LuAnn’s well established firm that she runs with her husband Vincent Nigara and Bill Campesi. When we greeted each other in the parking lot (like a couple of giddy teenage school girls!), we stayed there chatting for nearly an hour before finally moving inside.

And even then, that was only because my husband Chris was ushering us along. He has the patience of a saint, but realized that we could’ve easily been stood for another couple of hours in the hot sun. HAHA, #jokingnotjoking.

Out for dinner with our fabulous husbands, Vincent and Chris.

LuAnn is very easy to talk to, as you will already know if you listen to her podcast or have met with her in real life. Psst! If you’re not signed up to her podcast, you need to be. There is so much incredibly helpful information that you won’t want to miss an episode…here’s the link.

During the interview we have lots of laughs, but also hit on some real truths about the industry. Watch the video to hear our thoughts about designers not charging their worth and how the struggle to run a business is very real…but not impossible.

So this is what happened… it was hilarious!

The moment we realized that the camera over-heated!

Part way through the interview, we had to pause because the camera had actually over-heated! Yes, we talked A LOT! Stay tuned to the end of the video to see the exact moment when LuAnn and I were advised of this hilarious news!

My video interview with Luann is one you that will not see anywhere else – especially the edited version where we tour her home and podcast studio. It’s so inspiring to see how thorough she is in preparing for a guest interview, she is so orgainzed. It’s no wonder her and I are get along so well!

Stay tuned for my other video with LuAnn coming out in October.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM A WELL DESIGNED BUSINESS – THE BOOK

Coming in February is LuAnn’s second book, the much anticipated ‘What I learned from A Well Designed Business.’ This book is going to be like the bible for starting and running a successful interior design business. I’m super excited and thrilled to share that LuAnn has asked me to be included in her book!

It’s no suprise that my chapter is on ‘Managing Clients’ Expectations’. Look out for that to be released in February 2019. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted! 🙂

Got a question for me or LuAnn about our video interview or the book? Comment below and I’ll be sure to reply.

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

Sea Salt SW 6204 Williams by Sherwin Williams

Two colours with the exact same name?! Yes!

Be sure not to confuse this Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams with the Sea Salt by Benjamin Moore. They are entirely different. I’ll show you in my comparisons of both colours a little later in the post.

SEA SALT SHERWIN WILLIAMS

In this colour review video of Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams, I share:

The undertone of my featured colour
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tones
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project

After you watch the video, if you would like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place and have even more paint colour combinations to use with Sea Salt, take a look at my Sea Salt Perfect Colour Palette.

A must-have for any colour enthusiast or design professional!

If you are new to me and my blog, here’s something you should know.

I like to strip down to the root of your Interior Design dilemmas and give you the information you NEED to know.

Decorating your home and selecting paint colours can be confusing and stressful.

My goal is to make it as simple as possible and to have FUN in the process!

Yup, that’s me having fun. Life’s too short to be stressing over decorating your home. It’s all good, I’ve got you covered.

But know this: I am not scientific about colour.

I do not concern myself with the LRV of a paint colour. Since starting my Interior Decorating business in 2011 and doing many colour consultations, it’s never come back to bite me in the you know what.

I never make suggestions on lightening or darkening a paint colour by a certain percentage to make it more suitable for an application.

I can always find the best paint colours for my clients.

All of my large boards have been painted in a matte finish and if you are interested in knowing where to get these boards, I’ll share a link to them at the end of the post.

Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams Colour Review Video

Undertones: Blue/Green

In my office, Sea Salt appeared to look more green, but there is also a blue undertone.

This is where your lighting and other elements within your own space can alter the look of a hue like this.

Colour Comparisons:

Kittery Point Green HC-119 & Palladian Blue HC-144

Comparing colour is so important. When you do colour comparisons, it helps you to get a better read of your focus colour. I also like to put my large colour boards up against a white background. This way, I can see the colour more clearly.

See below where I show you Kittery Point Green by Benjamin Moore (BM) on the left and Palladian Blue by BM on the right.

It’s interesting how much of a light gray tone Sea Salt takes on when you compare it with colours that are more saturated in tone.

Best Whites To Pair with Sea Salt

White Dove OC-17 by Benjamin Moore

There is always going to be more than one option for the best white to use for ceilings, doors and trims.

Pictured below is one of my favourites, White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

Sea Salt by SW shown here with White Dove by BM.

Simply White OC-117 by Benjamin Moore

From left to right: Simply White by BM; Sea Salt; White Dove

If you want to pair Sea Salt with a Sherwin Williams white, you could use Greek Villa SW 7551 or Westhighland White 7566.

The latter is more on the creamy side, so be careful if other elements in your home like countertops or fireplace stone are more of a crisp white.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Wedgewood Gray HC-146 by Benjamin Moore

Silver Strand by Sherwin Williams SW-7057

Hale Navy HC-154 by Benjamin Moore

Sea Haze 2137-50 by Benjamin Moore

See how beautiful this entire colour palette is below.

Left to Right: Wedgewood Gray & Sea Haze by BM; Silver Strand by SW; Hale Navy & White Dove by BM; Sea Salt.

I worked on a client’s home in Toronto where we used three of these colours together and it turned out amazing.

Click here to see more from this project.

Hale Navy was used in the dining room in the alcove and the ceiling and White Dove on the walls.

We continued the flow into the living room repeating the Hale Navy shade in the bench seat and painted the walls, Sea Haze.

Before we get to even more pretty palettes, have you taken my Colour Quiz? See which Palette best suits your design style.

Fabulous Palettes – Perfect for Pinning!

Sea Salt paired with BM’s: Lucerne; Newport Green & Agave

Sea Salt with BM’s Pink Blossom; Caribbean Blue Water & Pink Ruffle

Sea Salt paired with BM’s Hale Navy; Early Morning & Montpelier

Fun Fact

As already mentioned at the beginning of the post, there are two colours called Sea Salt. One is the Sherwin Williams colour I’m reviewing here and the other is from Benjamin Moore.

To ensure you avoid any mistakes of either picking up the wrong colour for yourself or for your client, (if you are an interior design professional or colour consultant) always write down the name AND the code once you select a paint colour.

As you can see in the photo below, these two colours are very different. The Sea Salt by Benjamin Moore is a ‘Greige’ colour and the other Sea Salt…well, you know all about it now because we’ve just reviewed it!

Similar to Sea Salt

Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore is also a pretty blue-green and is similar to Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams. Here you can see where we used it in a clients custom living room design.

See the full portfolio of this clients living room and dining room here.

Professional photos by Stephani Buchman Photography. Design by Claire Jefford

Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore is also a colour with a blue-green undertone. We used it here in a client’s bathroom.

Wall colour is Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore

We also used Gray Owl in this dental office.

Convenience At Your Fingertips

For more colour combinations that look fab with Sea Salt plus colour comparisons and best whites be sure to check out the Sea Salt Perfect Colour Palette.

See all colours in our Perfect Colour Palette library here.

I’ve also included Sea Salt in my Sherwin Williams Neutrals Collection. This collection of 10 popular Sherwin Williams neutrals is a great resource and deal.

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!

Take my Colour Quiz and discover your Perfect Colour Palette.

Initial Consultations: To Charge or Not To Charge?

When I first started my interior decorating business, I offered a free half hour ‘meet and greet’ with potential clients. I would go to their home to see if we were a good fit for working together. This would also provide me with the opportunity to have a look around their home, to see if I could start getting some ideas and if it was even a project that I thought I would like to do.

That business process, in the beginning, worked out really well for me. However, it didn’t take long to realize that often, once people have you in their home, they want to start asking you questions & seek free advice.

If you are going to offer a free home visit, this is what I recommend.

1) Don’t accept the offer of a tea or coffee because you will be there for longer than you anticipated. It’s important for people to realise that your time is valuable and that while you’ve come out to meet & see their space, you don’t have all day to ‘chat’.

Interior Decor by Claire Jefford

2) I actually recommend you meet offsite and not at the clients’ home. Although I don’t really do many of these ‘meet and greets’ often, if I do agree to meet someone to discuss their project, I suggest we have a 15-20 minute meeting at a coffee place.

The important element to remember, no matter what, is that you have to do what works best for you at the point in which you’re at in your business.

For me, this type of meet and greet in the beginning was really great. Why? Well, I felt no pressure and I wasn’t committed either way to the project or the client. However, what you have to be realistic about, is that (for the majority of the time in these instances) these types of people probably aren’t going to be the best clients.

On the odd occasion, clients may meet me at my outdoor interior design studio

The reason for this is because they are likely expecting you to offer free advice and suggestions for their space. Also, if you come out at no charge, even though they may just not understand the process of working with an interior design professional, they may not be very respectful of your time, expertise and the value you bring to a project.

Once I had a few projects under my belt and in my portfolio, I felt more confident and stopped offering these half hour free ‘meet and greet’ appointments. It’s also helpful when you know what questions to ask on the discovery call to ensure you can hone in on your ideal client.

When you are ready and feeling confident, I even recommend charging more for the initial consultation than your regular hourly design service fee.

Yes, you heard me correctly!

There are two reasons for this: 1) I never hold back at the initial consultation meeting. I bring my bag full of goodies and give as much value as possible (Click here to see ‘What’s in my bag’ that I take to the initial consultation meeting.)

2) I want to book clients who truly value my service and are looking to make an investment in their home & work with someone who has built a brand with professional photos, processes and offers award winning customer service.

Another way of working the initial consultation fee, is some designers charge for the fee for the initial appointment and if the homeowners then decide to move forward from there and retain further services, the designer applies the fee for the consultation against design services –thus making the consultation meeting essentially free.

I don’t have that any experience with that process, but I believe that the reasoning behind that is to get a foot in the door & as an incentive to purchase design services.

Finally, to share with you a completely different strategy, some elite, luxury and more high end design firms, do not charge for the initial meeting because THEY are interviewing the client. These designers tend to want to see the space and speak with the client about their scope and investment amount to ensure they are looking to spend a minimum amount of money for their custom project. That’s a nice place to be, eh?!

Clients Custom Master Bedroom, by Claire Jefford. Photo by Stephani Buchman

For the most part though, I don’t recommend that you go for too long without charging for the consultation meeting. Consider that when you don’t charge, you are not only taking time out of your business where you could be working on a paying client project, but you also need to factor in the cost of your gas; wear and tear on your vehicle and (if you follow my processes) you’re bringing clients a branded folder and a customised brochure that outlines your services and shows photos of your work.

Guess what? Those branding materials cost money. So eventually, I say you need to charge!

Always remember, at the end of the day, this is your business. You run it the way that works for you.

The beauty of being an entrepreneur is that you can try things for a little bit, and if something doesn’t work, then you can go back and try something else. Whatever you do though, be sure to never say these three things to clients.

Now over to you – do you charge for your initial consultation meeting?

How to Get More Clients

One of the most common excuses I hear from people for not writing blog posts or creating videos, is that they are waiting for everything to be perfect.

Does this resonate with you?

Well, here’s the thing to remember – Perfect is NOT relate-able and it’s not AUTHENTIC.

Having fun with close designer friends at High Point, 2017. FUN. SILLY. REAL.

Last week I had an experience that kicked me in the butt.

It reminded me of this:

While quality is imperative in many aspects of what we do, it’s not necessary that everything be all high quality, all the time.

Here’s what I mean.

I’ve been looking to hire someone to help with my social media, e-mail funnels and the back-end processes of my website. A good friend of mine sent me a referral. She introduced me & this gentleman via email, so we both had each others information to connect.

The next day, I get an email from him that included a 5 minute video that was made just for me.

Yes, JUST FOR ME.

From this initial contact, I was almost sold on hiring his services, and I hadn’t even spoken with him yet!

I was blown away that he actually took the time to review my website AND create a video to offer me suggestions of how he and his team could help me.

Don’t look at me like that. I’m telling you, it’s easy!

Sadly, many designers feel that if they give away too much information over the phone or even share too many ideas at the initial consultation, then clients won’t need to work with them.

The reality is, the opposite of that is actually true! At least with the really great clients…which of course we all want, right?

If this hits home, I have to tell you that it’s that kind of mindset that could very well be jeopardizing the success of your business.

Here’s what happens when you start sharing ideas that come from all your past experience and incredible knowledge of the Interior Design and Decorating Industry:

People begin to understand how much planning and details go into a project. They quickly realise how little they actually know about the process and can see that hiring you will save them time, money, stress AND it will be the best decision they ever made.

Clients eat in kitchen. Design by Claire Jefford.

Okay, back to this gentleman and his video that knocked my socks off.

You may be wondering what was in this video that was so amazing??? Honestly, there was nothing in terms of fancy graphics, music or pretty visuals.

It was simply the fact that he took the initiative to do some preliminary research about me and then sent a message that clearly stood out from what anyone else had sent me up to that point.

You can do this just as easily in your business. Here’s two quick examples.

Example #1

See below to a similar style of video that I did in June 2016, after an initial consultation meeting with clients.

Easy, peasy and not fancy, right? The video is not rehearsed; it’s personal and probably like nothing else that anyone has ever sent them.

Example #2

This is an example that I made to show you how easy it is for you to do something similar. I’ve added an intro/outro in order for it to make sense for those who find it on my YouTube channel.

What did you think? Not fussy at all, right?

By the way, my videos are edited in Camtasia, which is a software that is compatible with both PC and Mac.

Something Else to Consider

How long do you spend writing a follow up email to clients? These can take a really long time when you tailor it specifically to your conversation.

That video, (within the video) took less than 6 minutes to make. Add in the time it took to upload the video, write a quick email with a few links and it can still easily be done in less than 15 minutes.

Oh, and remember to turn off your notifications before doing something like this. Ha ha, as you can see, I forgot to do this when I filmed this example for you.

When we over-think things, we tend to stop dead in our tracks, because we turn it into this big ordeal and it then seems so overwhelming.

I challenge you to STOP overthinking & start DOING.

Comment below to let me know if creating a quick video for a specific client is something that you have done or is something that you will do. If not, why not?

There is no right or wrong answer here, but I absolutely believe that this is an outstanding opportunity to stand out & land more clients with video. Not only am I living proof in both my own interior design business and coaching business, but I can also now confirm that I have hired this firm, they impressed me that much with the video!

Need more confidence in making videos? Don’t sweat it, I can help.

Click here to buy or find out more about my invaluable ‘Video For Profits Course’.

Find out my Top Ten tips for starting video here.

Listen to my guest appearance here on a Well Designed Business Podcast with the fabulous LuAnn Nigara. The topic was all about leveraging video for your business & I share lots of practical advice.

Now, go make a video!

Will Your Closet Ever Look THIS Good?

What does every Shopaholic have at the top of their wish list for their home? A dream closet, of course!

I found the perfect one at the Eggersmann Showroom on Day 2 of my trip to Los Angeles when we hit the L.A. Design Trail, sponsored by Design Milk and Modenus.

Well ‘HELLO!!’. Walk In Closet by Eggersmann

You can see what an important role lighting plays in a space like this. Not only does it add drama and elegance, but it’s also very practical for lighting up the inside of drawers and glass displays in order to see what treasures lie within.

My closet is way too messy to be open glass, but this is very welcoming indeed! Photo touch up by Linda Holt.

The dark frames create a nice contrast with the warm wood tones in this monochromatic colour scheme of neutral beige’s and browns.

The tufted leather bench seat is perfect for when you need to try on all of your 54 pairs of shoes in order to determine which will look best with your outfit. 🙂

Custom closet design to die for.

Notice the watches next to the sunglasses in the custom unit above on the right side? These actually spin every now and again because they are on what are called, ‘watch winders’.

A watch winder is a device used to keep automatic (also known as self winding) watches running when not worn. Who knew?!

Sleek Feature Wall

Below is the statement feature wall you see as you enter the showroom. It’s a mix of taupe coloured leather panels and beautiful wood cubbies.

See the TV in the middle? With a push of a button, it actually turns into a piece of artwork! The entire panel drops down to reveal a piece of art where the TV once was. Perfect if you do not want the television to be a distraction when entertaining in your home.

Another cool feature is that many of these leather panels open up with a simple, soft push to either the top or bottom. This offers fantastic functionality for useful storage, similarly to the open wood shelving of which some can also be shown either open or closed.

I love how they made it a mini bar!

There are plenty of fabulous finishes to choose from as well, so you can customise these statement walls not only by the functional part of the design, but also based on the look and style you desire as well.

In house design centre for your convenience

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Many of the big cities around the world have steadily increasing populations and are very limited on space when building new developments. This is why it’s super important to be able to identify the need for smart storage solutions that take up minimal space.

Above you can see what looks like a wall of mirrors, but it’s actually very clever compact storage.

Mirrors are also great for making a space appear larger and brighter. There is one concern that I have however, and that is the maintenance in which this would require to keep clean, both on the outside and on the inside. If you are OCD when it comes to finger prints on mirrors, that finish may not be right for you.

On the other hand, if you are vain; addicted to organisation and need to maximise function in your home, this solution from Eggersmann may just be the answer to your prayers.

Hey, I recognise that stylish tile surround on top of the mirrors! We used a similar one in the living area of the 3000 square foot basement I designed a few years ago.

Clients stunning fireplace feature wall with concrete hearth. Photo by Stephani Buchman.

See more from my trip to L.A. in this post where I got to drive a sexy electric sports car…that I nearly crashed.

Why I’m In Bed With Another Woman

I’ll get to my video with me and another woman in bed soon.

But first, tell me this:

Do you ever get frustrated with how long it takes you to write a blog post? I know I sure do.

The worst part is, that after you’ve done all that work and hit the publish button, a few days later you notice that NO ONE has read the darn thing! Am I right?

You may remember that earlier this year, I moderated a panel at KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) in Orlando. The discussion revolved around blogging, building an email list and making money by selling products on line.

Here is a photo of me with my beautiful panelists.

Left to right: Maria Killam; Me; Leslie Carothers and Laurel Bern

I feel very lucky to know all of these lovely ladies on a personal level and was thrilled that they were so generous with their time & with the information that they so willingly shared.

If you are familiar with Maria and Laurel, you probably know that they are making a very decent living off of their blogs. They both have extremely helpful online products that they offer to their loyal audience.

Creating your own online product is my number one recommendation to anyone who wants to earn passive income through their website or blog.

Affiliate marketing can be lucrative too, but not until you have A TON of traffic coming to your website regularly.

These beautiful bloggers weren’t always yielding high numbers of page views and monthly site visits. In the beginning, as with anything, it took time to gain traction and build a faithful audience.

If you have been blogging for a while and feel like you are spinning your wheels, I have some good news for you.

Click on the video below to see why Laurel and I are in bed together.

If you can’t wait any longer to get the guide, click here.

Please know that I have an affiliate arrangement with Laurel, so I will make a few bucks if you buy this insanely valuable guide.

It’s important to note, that I won’t back just anything. Laurel provides incredible value and doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing insider tips and ‘need to know’ information, we kind of have that in common.

This is why I stand behind this guide 100%. I know the frustrations of blogging to crickets. It is not fun.

Regardless of whether you want to sell your own products or do affiliate links in the future, the most crucial element to having a successful blog and business, is that people need to be able to find you.

If people can’t find you, then they will never know about all those amazingly helpful tips and useful advice that you have to offer!

If potential clients don’t know that you exist, you can’t get them on your email list and eventually seduce them into wanting to hire you for local decorating services or E-design services.

That is why it is super important to have strategies in place, in order to get found on the world wide web.

Laurel says that is she had all the information within this guide when she started blogging, it would’ve easily saved her 18 months of trial and error….18 months of getting it all wrong.

Wow, 18 months is a long time to waste.

I’m having a new website redesigned as we speak & I am not wasting a year and half to get my butt in gear.

Why am I doing a new site? Because I currently have two websites.

One for my interior design business, Creating Contrast Designs and I also have my Clairejefford.com website for my coaching business.

After speaking with Laurel and reading her guide, I realised that having two websites is not good for a number of reasons.

So, now I will incorporate both sites onto one.

Plus, I don’t want to waste time making mistakes at ‘trying to figure it out’. I don’t have time to guess, I want to do it right and get results.

For me, taking advice from someone who is actually succeeding at something, is imperative. That is my philosophy for my own coaching business.

I don’t make recommendations to you as a designer based on what I “hear” has worked for others. I’ve walked the walk, so I can talk the talk. That’s just the way I roll!

Laurel and I, Orlando 2018

This is why I will be implementing a lot of Laurel’s advice from the guide into my own new website.

If you want to raise your game, learn step by step the correct way to build your email list and drive traffic to your site, here is the link to more information about Laurels’ guide & where you can get it.

It’s available at a promotional price from Wednesday April 25th through to Monday May 6th.

Plus, she’s added more than 5 chapters that focus on SEO, but in plain English that should make it easy for you to understand. Phew!

Here is the link again to the ‘Six Figure Income Blogger’. I can’t wait to implement the changes on my new site as I get ready for world wide web domination!

Got a question? Comment below and I’ll get back to you soon. xo

My Near Car Crash & Favourite ID Finds at Dwell

Dwell on Design Show, L.A.

Before I head out to any trade show, I rarely have the opportunity to do much research about the location and my planned itinerary.

However, I don’t think that this is necessarily all bad.

I typically have no pre-conceived ideas about what to expect from a show or set high expectations…except that I do know that when it’s an event organised by Veronika Eagleson and her team at Modenus, there is NEVER any disappointment on these ‘Once in a life time’ tours.

Who let the #designhounds out? Find out more about these wonderful women here.

Oh, and don’t be suprised if you may hear that expression “Once in a lifetime” a few times over this 3 part blog series from L.A’s Dwell on Design. Stick around, because I am promising you plenty of remarkable interior design eye candy from this trip!

MY FAVOURITE THINGS: TOP 5

I’m breaking out my Top 5 and while my ‘Favourite Things’ are in no specific order, I am kicking it off in high gear…oh yeah, that pun was totally intended.

(sponsored post FDA etc)

#1: My Karma Revero Test Drive – Look out L.A.!

You know what they say about Karma, right? Well let me tell you, this electric sports car is the sweetest ride I’ve ever driven!

The Sleek Karma Revero

Not one to shy away from the limelight, I couldn’t help but to flail my arm around like crazy, nearly knocking down fellow #designhounds when asked, who would like to drive one of these brand new, high end, luxury sports cars? Uh, moi!!

This super sexy European car by Karma Automotive, won 2018 Luxury Car of the Year and is the smoothest drive I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Watch the video below to see this sexy beast in motion…I’m referring to the car by the way, not me. HAHA!

When I hit the button to ignite the engine, my passengers and I didn’t even know the car was on!

It was a little bit of a tease that I wasn’t able to put my foot down fully & really appreciate the grace and speed in which this car is capable of, but I did manage to hit the accelerator a few times to get a sense of it’s power.

TNT: THE NAKED TRUTH

I actually came quite close to hitting a red pick up truck as I attempted to change lanes during the 15 minute drive. Thanks to Natalie Reddell for her high pitched scream in the back seat, as she alerted me to this in order to avoid what would’ve been a NOT so hot start to my trip! Natalies’ IG video seen here, could very well have come true. #Funnynotfunny.

The lovely Linda Holt & the fabulous Natalie Reddell Sewell

#2: Jonathan Adler

For the very first time, I had the pleasure of not only hearing the renowned Potter Jonathan Adler speak, but I also got the opportunity to meet the man himself.

#designhounds posing with the incredibly talented Jonathan Adler

Jonathan is very interesting to listen to, he is funny and personable. He speaks openly about his remarkable career and how nothing was carved out in stone in terms of a plan to his success.

Click on the video below by Adobe Creative Cloud to find out more and see some of his sensational work. (FYI – there is some foul language used by Jonathan in this video)

My final word on Jonathan Adler…well, they are actually his words that made much of the audience laugh out loud:

“When it comes to decorating, the wife is always right…unless your husband is gay”

#3 THE DESIGN BOX CHALLENGE

While there were actually four winners of this Design Box Challenge, the one featured below was my absolute favourite.

Design Box Challenge Winner Isla Schmidt of Custom Comfort Mattress

These soft and pretty pink paint colours are from Sherwin Williams. SW 6304 Pressed Flower & SW 6303 Rose Colored. Below is another gorgeous palette that I found here on the SW site.

Perfectly pretty! Palette of soft hues from Sherwin Williams

#4 THE SHADE STORE

Lucky for us, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to colours, patterns and styles for window treatments. The Shade Store had a terrific display at the Dwell on Design show that inspired many of us #designhounds.

I recorded a demonstration of how to use their Day/Night Cellular Shades, which you can see in the video below from my Interior Design YouTube channel.

These shades have a ‘top down/bottom up’ function. Multi-functional treatments are always in style, because the more versatile a product is, the likelihood that it will hold more longevity for home owners = more bang for your buck!

#5 Bold & Bright Coloured Accent Pillows

Last, but by no means least, I absolutely fell in love with these decorative and bold pillows & rugs by Xiema Rozo Design. The pom pom and tassle accents are totally adorable.

Hand-woven in Bogota, Colombia by expert artisans

I especially loved to hear the story behind these hand crafted pieces, as it adds to the beauty of the products and the brand. This excerpt was taken from the website and gives you a little glimpse into the people behind this charming, bold & colourful decor.

“These exquisite soft fabrics are complemented by a beautiful belt handcrafted by Wayuu women, indigenous from La Guajira, Colombia. We used the rich cultural and creative heritage of indigenous Latin American communities as a means of fostering their economic and social development.”

Remember, this is only Day 1 of my 3 day adventure on the tour hosted by Modenus. More to come soon!

But first, we end with a striking skyline view of Los Angeles from the Dwell on Design Rooftop party. I know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Living the Highlife in L.A.!

Which one of my favourite finds is your most favourite?

How To Create a Gallery Wall In Your Home

Wall gallery displays in Interior Decor have become a popular way to dress up the walls in your home. To ensure you get this focal wall just right, I’m sharing a few guidelines with you that I like to follow.

You want to make sure that your hard efforts of creating a gallery wall in your own home will pay off to give you your desired look, especially before putting holes in that wall!

You’ll also see:

My rules to follow for creating a gallery wall in your home
What to consider when choosing your wall art and your frames
How I created a simple (& inexpensive!) gallery wall as a focal point in my own home
A foyer & dining room of two different client projects using their photos to personalize the space
3D renderings to allow clients to visualize my ideas for these accent walls within their home

Are you ready? LET’S DO THIS!

PLANNING:

If you know me, you know I like to plan, so this is very important.

My rule is that there should be at least one commonality throughout the entire gallery wall, one element tying it all together. The first thing you need to do is:

PICK A THEME

For my client’s front entryway (below) in their home in Hamilton, Ontario, we decided to go with the theme of family photos. We wanted to convey through the images in the gallery, that was is tight knit family with a home full of love and fun! The framed images were from their wedding and trips that they had taken together over the years.

Gallery Wall of personal photos.

Similar Frames or Mat Colours

In my own living room in Burlington Ontario, I have a feature wall with IKEA frames that are all the same medium toned wood colour. I also made my own border within the mats to frame each photograph. To keep continuity and flow, I chose to paint them the same as the wall colour, Flint by Benjamin Moore.

Each of our ‘Nature’ themed photos have a little bit of yellow in the image.

Shown below is a wall design that I did in my own basement many years ago. All the mat colours are the same, but you can see that I decided to go with different frames, different in both style and in size.

Photos from our travels, before kids and before we moved back to Canada from England.

Take Your Measurements

Now wait. Don’t put your hammer to the nails just yet!

Before you put a hole in the wall, you’ll need to measure the wall space where your wall art will live. Let’s say it’s going above your sofa. You typically don’t want to exceed the width of the sofa. Also, be sure to place the bottom of the frames within 6″ – 12″ above the top of the sofa.

As with anything, there are some exceptions to this rule. However, for the purpose of this post, let’s stick to that way of thinking.

Below in my daughter Elise’s room. Notice how the items on the wall do not extend past her bed?

Photo of this interior decorating project by Stephani Buchman Photography.

To measure it all out, I do one of two things:

I either use my 3D program and map it all out like you can see in the rendering below. This way I can show clients exactly how I intend to set up their gallery wall display and get my client’s approval for the layout.

The other option is to map it all out on the floor. Use a measuring tape and play around with the arrangement by moving your decorative pieces around until you get the look you want.

Tip: Take photos of proposed layouts before adjusting items to try another look. This way you don’t need to worry about remembering each possibility! (Hey, we aren’t getting any younger, right?!)

I like to start by placing the biggest piece first, unless all the photos are the same size.

You’ll also want to consider if you (or your client) is someone who likes things to be symmetrical or if you are a bit more ‘loosey goosey’ and like the quirkiness of an asymmetrical design.

Symmetrical layout of my clients framed photographs in their industrial dining room we designed.

Keep each piece of wall art close enough together so they’re relating to one another. At the same time, allow for some breathing space so each item can be appreciated when looking at the final design, just as we did above in our clients very cool dining room.

What I love about so many gallery walls, is not only are they a great way to display artwork, but these feature walls are a great opportunity to make your space more personal. That’s really what great interior design for a home is all about.

Just like my tagline states, “Love where you live, live a better life.”

When you surround yourself with personal and sentimental items, that’s when you really make your house, a home.

Plus, you’re going to be excited to show off your beautifully decorated home with those who mean the most to you. A win-win for sure!

If you want help designing a gallery wall, I’d be happy to help. Contact me here.

Now it’s your turn to share your tips with us. Comment below to let us know if you have a Gallery Wall of Art in your home.

3D Renderings for Interior Designers

How often do you hear clients say…

“I can’t visualize how my space will look if we take down those walls.”
“I am a visual person & would love to see your ideas for our space.”
“It would be so helpful to understand exactly how our home is going to look before we undergo a renovation.”

Renderings of a Toronto clients living room. We uploaded sourced fabrics, art & paint colour.

Let me tell you, offering 3D Rendering Services has been THE BEST DECISION that I ever made in my business. Approximately one year in, I was introduced to Chief Architect and I never looked back!

See more of this clients home in this video. Photography by Stephani Buchman.

That program –The Design Pro Version – changed my life! To be able to show clients the potential within their space, before they commit to a renovation or decorating project, has been a massive game changer.

Around 90% of my client projects involve rendering services. Whether it’s a full floor or basement redesign, one room or an entire home, we almost ALWAYS provide drawings & concept designs.

Rendering design where we knocked out a wall & created a pass-through to open up the space.

Now it’s true that not all the finishes shown are necessarily exactly what we are recommending, but it’s pretty damn close. If we are unable to show a specific design detail in a rendering, we will sometimes add a moodboard of all finishes and selections we are recommending for a clients home. This way clients can clearly understand our intentions for their newly designed space. See a video here of our clients kitchen below.

Photo by Stephani Buchman Photography.

Despite the tutorial videos on their website and a very helpful Facebook group called ‘Users of Chief Architect‘ where other users offer support and advice, there is no denying the fact that learning and creating these types of drawings can take a lot of time and patience. As a busy entrepreneur, both of those can be very hard to come by.

There are many other terrific 3D rendering software programs on the market, each with a different look and with their own pros and cons. My interior design student assistant uses Sketch Up. You can see from the drawing below that this has a different look to Chief Architect.

Laundry room design by Creating Contrast Designs using Sketch Up.

Before I share a fabulous list of Interior Design Professionals who offer this service to the trade, here is something you need for putting together a stand out presentation that will ‘wow’ your clients. It’s my ROCK the 3D Design Presentation Process Package.

Link here to learn more.

This is the exact process and templates that we use for our client Power-Point presentations. With 100 testimonials and being the highest reviewed design professional in the Greater Toronto Area, it’s safe to say that we’ve nailed down this process to ensure customer satisfaction for every client. If you want to do the same and get similar results, click here to find out more. Why start from scratch when I’ve already done all the hard work for you?

In my fabulous Facebook group Interior Design Business Strategies, exclusively for Designers; Decorators and Stagers, there are many members of my amazing tribe who offer e-design and space planning services to other designers.

In an effort to help and support others in our wonderful industry of interior design, (which is what I’m all about in case you didn’t already know!) below I am sharing some of these helpful designers resources and contact information.

Please note that I have never personally hired any of the design professionals listed below, nor can I testify to the quality of their services. I am not receiving any sort of affiliate or commission for sharing their details either. It is purely as a resource in case you are looking to outsource this service within your own interior design business.

Please do your due diligence in vetting perspective opportunities for work collaborations, just as you would with any sub contractor or trade. Additional services and pricing information can be obtained by contacting the designers via their websites, listed in each of their profiles.

Note: Prices listed as of the date of publishing this post, April 2018.

Renderings Resource List

Staci Nugent

Company: Staci Nugent Design
Area of expertise: Residential 3D Renderings, Concept & Mood Boards, Floor Plans & Elevations, Product Sourcing, Creating Presentations & Photoshop.
Rendering Program: Sketchup
Education/Certificate: Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design
Starting price: Basic Package is $195 USD for one layout/view & one revision with up to three changes. Designer provides all sources.

https://www.stacinugentdesign.com/

Laurette Coetzee

Company: LC Interiors www.lcinteriors.ca

Area of expertise: Residential & Corporate 3D rendering, 3D Walkthrough Videos, Concept Presentation & Mood Boards.
Rendering Program: Sketchup
Education/Certificate: 15 years industry experience in residential and corporate interiors
Starting price: $115 CAD (more details found on website)

http://www.lcinteriors.ca/

Caryn Menches

Company: Modern Lotus Interiors

Area of expertise: Commercial; Residential; Kitchens/Baths; Full Homes ;Concept only with Space Planning; Permit Ready Drawings and Moodboards
Rendering Program: SketchUp & hand drawings
Education/Certificate: Fullerton College, AA Degree; Master’s Degree in Interior Architecture
Starting price:One room starts at $65/hr, with a 10 hour minimum. Entire homes dependent on size.

https://www.modernlotusinteriors.com/

Gina Everett

Company: Create Perfect

Area of expertise: Residential; Kitchens/Baths; Full Homes; Concept; Space Planning & Mood-boards
Rendering Program: SketchUp Pro and Indigo Render
Education/Certificate: 2 x Interior Design Diploma, 1 x Certificate and 1 x BA Hons
Starting price: One room $340 USD

https://www.createperfect.co.uk/

Kelly Fridline

Company: Kelly Fridline Design LLC
Area of expertise: Commercial & Residential; Kitchens/Baths; Full Homes; Concept only with Space Planning; Permit Ready Drawings; Moodboards etc
Rendering Program: Chief Architect (capable of hand renderings too)
Education/Certificate: Master of Architecture, Savannah College of Art and Design (IDP completed)
Starting price: $75 per hour. The time/price is dependent upon level of detail, requested updates, and turn around requirements.

https://www.kellyfridlinedesign.com/

Silvia Karounos

Company: Silvia Karounos Decor Studio.
Area of expertise: Commercial; Residential; Kitchens & Baths; Full Homes; Concept only with Space Planning ; Drawings & Moodboards
Rendering Program: Sketch Up and Podium V.2,5 Plus. Chief Architect and PowerPoint
Education/Certificate: Interior Design Diploma (Brazil), Certificated Interior Decorator (QC Design School)

Starting price: Up to 300 sq.ft. Sketch Up rendered image with 1 revision $180. SketchUp and Podium rendered image $250. Panoramic rendered image $350. Drawing floor plan and Moodboard: $80 per image. All pricing is in USD.

https://www.frommydecorstudio.info/

Kelsey Schwager

Company: Key Light Render Studio
Area of expertise: Residential; Kitchens/Baths; Concept only with Space Planning & Moodboards
Rendering Program: Chief Architect Interiors
Education/Certificate: Interior Design from University of Northern Iowa
Starting price: $100 USD per space, UP TO 4 standard rendered images. A-la-carte menu for photo-realistic images, panoramic images, mood boards, 2D floor plans, or additional standard rendered images over the 4 allotted images.

https://www.keylightrenderstudio.com/

Leigh Vigil

Company: Room to Design
Area of expertise: Residential; Kitchens/Baths; Full Homes; Concept only with Space Planning
Rendering Program: Sketch-up
Education/Certificate: AA Interior Design Bellevue College, Bellevue Washington
Starting price: $375/ room USD

http://www.roomtodesign.net/

Sarah Wilson

Company: Chansaerae Designs LLC

Area of expertise: Residential; Kitchen/Bath; Concept Designs & Moodboards

Rendering Program: SketchUp

Education/Certificate: BS-Computer Graphics; AA-Interior Design;

Starting price:$175/ USD

www.chansaeraedesigns.com

If you are looking to outsource this service, hopefully you can hook up with one of these interior design professionals. Collaborations like this can definitely be a win-win for everybody. Outsourcing tasks that you don’t have time for or that you simply don’t enjoy doing, is key to running a successful interior design business.

Comment below if you use a rendering program and let us know your favourite software. This is always a hot topic of conversation in our community, so please share this post with others who can benefit from learning more about these ‘To the Trade’ services.

Want to elevate your biz & get more of my ‘No-Nonsense Advice For Running Your Successful Interior Design Business’? Click here and you’ll also get my Design Packages and Rates template for FREE, along with my coaching sheet & video.

Check out my Shop page here with more helpful resources for organising your interior design business.