Page 8 – Claire Jefford

When Should You Hire Staff for your Interior Design Business?

Hiring staff – a very timely vlog topic as we are presently going through this exact process here at Claire Jefford Inc.

We are on the lookout to fill an Office Manager position. We’re in the final stages and I followed the criteria I lay out here for you.

I’m breaking down this topic into two areas:

When is it time to hire?

What jobs or tasks should I be outsourcing/delegating?

Watch my video to learn if hiring staff is something you should be considering for your Interior Design or Decorating business.

Hiring Staff

How do you know when it’s time to bring someone onboard?

At what stage should your business be at before you consider hiring a staff member?

I broached the subject of staff in my last vlog on Monthly Expenses.

Paying staff is a huge monthly expense. Therefore, you need to make sure your business is at a place where you can afford it.

Tips on When It’s Time to Hire Someone

1. Consistently busy for 6-12 month period

There’s no let-up in the number of design projects you have on your calendar.

You may prefer to work on one project at a time. Other design and decorating professionals like it better when they have a few on the go.

Regardless of which way you work, if your projects are back to back to back with little or no breaks, this is a huge sign that it may be time to hire some help.

2. Working 8-12+ hours 5-7 days/week

If you are anything like me, I bet you work over 40 hours a week.

I love to work, but when I do extra hours, I prefer to be creating videos or engaging with my audience on social media!

You’re filling your days meeting with clients.

You are designing, creating floor plans, sourcing and procuring.

You are attending important industry events.

And then at night, you have to put on a different hat to do admin, customer service, maybe even some bookkeeping.

You cannot effectively perform all these roles if they are consuming all of your time. You will burn out.

Avoid this by getting help. Hire a staff member and propel your business!

Photo credit to Stephani Buchman Photography

3. Feelings of Decreased Productivity

Or said differently – feeling like you could be way more productive if you weren’t bogged down by all of these menial tasks.

Not that these tasks aren’t important or necessary. They are for sure. But generally, they are not billable so you don’t make any money doing them.

If you could spend more of your time actually designing and doing work that you get paid to do (and enjoy doing!), you’d feel much more productive.

4. Spending too much time doing jobs you don’t love

This one follows on from #3. And that is, you are spending way too much time doing things you don’t love.

In fact, you might not even like doing them or worse, detest them.

Do you find yourself procrastinating from looking at your inbox and replying to all those emails?

Or, do you leave filing your monthly expenses until the last minute?

Are there tasks you completely avoid? Filing client information, posting to Social Media?

If you answer yes to any of these you should probably look into hiring staff to take care of some of these tasks.

It’s okay to share the load. In fact, it might be completely necessary if you want your business to continue to grow and be profitable.

Your priority should be the areas that you love and are good at. If possible leave the rest to someone who works for you.

Tasks to Outsource

Speaking of the areas of your business that you absolutely love doing, let’s look at all the different jobs you do and how you feel about them.

This is a fantastic way to clearly see which duties you should continue to do and which you should outsource.

Here is my suggestion on how to figure this out.

I went through this exercise myself and it helped me identify those tasks I should spend the majority of my time on and the tasks that I should be delegating to someone else.

Categorize your tasks into 4 categories -or ‘buckets’ as I like to call them.

1. Jobs you’re great at and love doing

2. Things you’re good at and don’t mind doing

3. Things you’re pretty good at and don’t like doing

4. Tasks you are not good at and don’t like doing at all

Make a list of all the tasks you do for your business

This list will be long and varied.

Many jobs that you perform will relate specifically to how you have set up your business.

Not all professional interior decorators and designers will have identical lists.

Here are some examples from my own list of jobs that I carry out daily, weekly or monthly.

Design Projects

Colour and design consultations
3D designs
Measuring / site visits
Sourcing and procurement
Presentation preparation

Adiministrative & Customer Service

Manage emails
Reply to phone calls
Follow-up on orders
Scheduling Discovery calls, consultations, 1-on-1 coaching calls
Scheduling client/trades meetings
Documenting processes

Social Media

Film and edit videos
Write blog posts
Create graphics for blogs
Write campaigns to your email list
Create graphics for Pinterest
Create Instagram stories and other social media posts

You can see how the list goes on and on!

Okay, now based on the 4 categories listed earlier, assign a number to each of your tasks.

Anything that falls into categories 3 & 4, you should not be doing. These are the jobs you need to look at hiring someone else to do.

Your main focus should be categories 1 & 2.

These are the areas that you excel at and love doing! This is where you must focus your time and energy.

As my business has grown and evolved I have found myself needing assistance in certain areas.

I love making videos but realized I could no longer handle doing all the filming and editing on my own.

So, I hired a videographer to help me film my colour review videos and she edits some of them too.

A design student was brought on board as well and she assists with organizing client projects and scheduling my social media posts.

And now I am nearing the final stages of finding an Office Manager who will take over many of the day-to-day tasks.

All of this will leave me with plenty of time to concentrate on my #1 and #2 jobs – the things that I LOVE THE MOST!!

Is it time for you to seriously think about hiring staff to help you run your business?

Do you already have staff? What roles do they perform? Comment below, I love hearing from you and learning what your experience has been.

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Muslin CC-110 by Benjamin Moore

A calming light beige, Benjamin Moore’s Muslin is not quite off-white.

It’s a lovely soft neutral and will look amazing in a huge variety of spaces.

In this colour review video of Muslin by Benjamin Moore, 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

When you’re finished watching the video and you’d like all of this information at your fingertips look no further than my Muslin Perfect Colour Palette.

In this digital download, you’ll find even more paint colour combinations to use with Muslin.

Great inspiration for putting together a gorgeous colour scheme for a decorating or design project.

Benjamin Moore – Muslin Colour Review

As a Certified True Colour Expert and an award-winning interior design professional, I’ve worked with many homeowners on various residential design projects.

I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own paint choices. Let’s do this!

Undertone: pink

Beiges may come and go but they never seem to go far.

Muslin is a classic neutral and the slight pink undertone gives it a little more depth than a true off-white.

Muslin may look different in your space depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.

To see the undertone more clearly let’s see the comparisons.

Colour Comparisons

Natual Linen CC-90 & Brandy Cream CC-60

Muslin’s pink undertone is more evident when you compare it with similar shades.

Natural linen leans slightly more green and Brandy Cream pink when you see all three of these colours together.

Best Whites To Pair With Muslin

Cloud White CC-40 By Benjamin Moore

Cloud White is a nice creamy white to use on trim and ceilings.

White Dove OC-17 By Benjamin Moore

I love White Dove and definitely would recommend it as one of the top whites to pair with Muslin.

It’s slightly softer than Cloud White but still not overly bright.

White Dove is hugely popular and was one of my first colour reviews.

You can see the undertone, comparisons and 10 complementary colours in my White Dove Perfect Colour Palette.

Simply White OC-117 By Benjamin Moore

This one is the brightest of the three whites here. It would look fantastic if you have decor elements that are crisper in colour as opposed to creamy or muted.

The differences in the three whites are made more clear from the comparison below.

If you are a regular to my colour reviews you will know I tend to recommend from a group of about 10 white paint colours.

These are my best whites for trim and ceilings.

There’s no need to sift through 1000 different shades of white to find the best one!

I can assure you that the best colour for your project already exists, you just need to know 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Muslin with Wickham Gray, Van Deusen Blue & Ranchwood

Wickham Gray HC-171 By Benjamin Moore

Wickham Gray is a lovely muted blue-green gray that works wonderfully with Muslin.

See it here in a local project I worked on.

You can also check out my Wickham Gray Perfect Colour Palette to see 10 more beautiful colours from Benjamin Moore that pair wonderfully with this gentle gray.

Van Deusen Blue HC-156 By Benjamin Moore

Van Deusen Blue is one of my favourites from Benjamin Moore. That and Hale Navy are standouts for sure.

Hale Navy has been a popular blue for some time and one I have used with great results.

See how beautiful looks in this clients’ home, paired with White Dove on the ceiling and trim.

Ranchwood CC-500 By Benjamin Moore

And finally, we finish with Ranchwood. A rich taupe colour that brings the right amount of contrast with Muslin.

Benjamin Moore – Muslin: Colour Palette Inspiration

Often I find my inspiration for a decorating project from fabrics, area rugs or even pieces of art sometimes.

Look how great this palette looks with the fabric below.

The idea here is to build your decor, furnishing and paint around this complete look.

It does not mean you need to use all four of these paint colours throughout your room.

Imagine a beautiful deep blue sofa paired with some gorgeous pillows in the fabric shown!

Walls painted Muslin, ceilings and trim White Dove and some accents in Wickham Gray and Ranchwood.

How stunning would that room look?!!

Here’s another look that’s a little more playful and fun.

The deep blues in the leopard-style fabric offer another incredible look with these four colours.

And remember in my Perfect Colour Palette for Muslin there are 10 more colours to mix and match with for your home décor.

Just think of the many gorgeous colour combinations and palettes you could create!

Have these palettes inspired you? Comment below and share your thoughts.

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above are included in my Perfect Colour Palette of Muslin.

Muslin is also now part of my Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection showcasing all 10 of my Benjamin Moore white and neutral Perfect Colour Palettes.

If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my guides in one handy collection.

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding and I now have over 50 paint palettes to select from. Click here to see all of them.

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 to see which Colour Palette best suits your style.

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Room images by Benjamin Moore Colour Viewer

Interior Design Business – Monthly Expenses

We may not love them but they are certainly a part of our everyday Interior Design business.

Yes, I am talking about Monthly Expenses.

For those who may be fairly new to this profession, I am going to help you get a handle on what your costs will be per month.

If you are a seasoned design professional, think of this as a recap and find out what and where I am spending running Claire Jefford Inc.

In today’s video, I break down monthly expenditures into three simple categories – LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH.

However, I won’t be speaking to start-up costs.

These are different and include things like a business license, business cards, your laptop and printer, software you purchase outright, and the initial building of your website if you pay a web design company to do it.

For many Designers and Decorators who start their own business, they will rack up a combination of expenses in the three categories I mention.

Please note, this is a comprehensive list of items you will need to consider as your business grows. But there may be other costs that I don’t discuss here.

If there are other expenses that you wish to add that I don’t include, please comment on this post to share with us!

Let’s get to the video and see where all that money is going!

(Please note, my expenses are in Canadian dollars.)

Your Interior Design Business Monthly Expenses

At the low end of monthly costs are where we find our everyday expenses.

The majority of us will have these, if not all of us. We couldn’t run our business without spending money on these necessities.

Remember every expense I talk about is dependent on various factors, so there will be a monetary range in which each one falls.

For example, the laptop in your start-up costs. You may not need one and be able to manage initially with only a phone or tablet. While others may want to run robust architectural software.

This will require a much more substantial device, bringing the price way up. See what I mean by dependent factors affecting cost?

Basic Expenses

1. Insurance Fees

As business owners, we must have insurance to cover our business in the case of loss or damage. I recommend you speak with a broker to make sure you have the appropriate insurance for how you want to run your business.

Currently, I pay approximately $200/month for insurance in my business.

Estimated costs: $200/month

2. Phone

Where would any of us be without our cell phones? They are important in normal day-to-day life. And certainly, they are essential if not compulsory for running a business.

There is a range to which a phone will cost you monthly.

Do you get the newest top-of-the-line phone each time one appears on the market?

Do you use a lot of data?

These will affect the price you pay each month.

My monthly phone plan is costing me around $130/month.

Estimated costs: $75-200/month

3. Bank and credit card fees

These can’t be avoided, as much as we don’t like to pay them!

I budget for $20 a month based on my current yearly credit card fee and monthly bank fees.

Again, this fee could be less or more depending on the type of credit card you have and where you bank.

Estimated costs: $20/month

4. Email Marketing Software

These days most software is paid for on a monthly basis. If not, it can be broken down to calculate approximately what it is costing you each month.

Here’s a tip: paying yearly for software and other items that offer you different payment plans, is usually the cheaper way to go.

I believe an automated email marketing tool falls under the Basic Expense category.

This is huge for your business and something you should consider getting if you don’t already use one. There are so many to choose from these days, it can definitely be overwhelming to decide which one is best for you.

For example, I use Active Campaign now but started with Mailchimp.

Here’s a great article on what an email automation tool is and how it can help your business.

My monthly subscription to Active Campaign costs me around $275/month but they have plans starting from $15.

Estimated costs: free to $300 and up

5. Website Maintenance

Similar to the automated email software, I strongly believe every design and decorating business needs to have a website. No exceptions on this one!

The creation of the website, if outsourced, is part of the start-up costs. The ongoing monthly fees are expenses.

Some website builders offer a free option. Beware though, most often these do not link to a unique domain name.

Website builders, like Wix and Weebly, where you do it yourself, range from $5 to around $20 for their personal or basic plans.

My website was built on WordPress and contains shop pages where I sell helpful coaching and colour products. This often involves videos and courses in the backend. And all of that means I need support.

I pay roughly $250 a month for the ongoing work my web team provides me. This does not include additional requests which often arise, nor my monthly meeting with my web designer to review my analytics.

Estimated costs: $5 – $500+

6. Office Supplies

These can add up and include everything from post-it notes and printer ink to paper clips and pens. I estimate $100-200 / month for these types of items if you are a solopreneur who works from a small home office studio.

My cozy backyard studio.

Estimated costs: $100-200/month

You can see how quickly things can add up.

Adding up all the basic monthly expenses you are looking at a minimum of just over $400, but I suggest you budget for around $700 to be on the safe side.

Advanced expenses

If we start adding a few of the more advanced expenses the total monthly spend increases significantly.

7. Accounting software

Quickbooks is fantastic accounting software for small businesses and it’s what I use.

It keeps my financials super organized and makes it way easier for my accountant (who’s listed as a Premium expense – will get to that in a bit).

Quickbooks sets me back $45/month.

Estimated costs: $10 – $60/month

8. Video Communications Software

Now more than ever we are conducting business through video meetings.

Zoom and similar video communication apps have skyrocketed in use.

I have been using zoom for my 1-on-1 coaching calls for years and my usage of this app has only increased through the pandemic.

I pay $20/month for their basic plan.

Estimated costs: Free – $60/month

9. Digital graphics program

It seems the software we can use these days is never-ending.

We create a lot of graphics for our website and various social media apps and platforms.

We have found Canva to be incredibly user-friendly and produces superb graphics. The monthly price is unbeatable and totally worth the value at just $10.

Estimated costs: Free – $70/month

10. Online schedulers

It costs money to stay organized! An online appointment scheduler is a great addition to your software family to help you do this.

Calendly is our product of choice. We can get design or coaching clients to schedule appointments, consultations or coaching sessions directly through this app.

We pay $8/month for Calendly. Do your homework to decide which scheduling app is best for you and your business.

Estimated costs: Free – $12/month

11. Project management programs

This is one area where there is software specific to our industry.

Mydoma is what we use to keep our design projects organized.

It allows us to upload all images and documents related to a client project.

For example, before images, mood boards, renderings, and professional photography. In addition, contracts and service outlines and many of the templates required to ROCK your consultation.

Team members, clients and trades can all be given access to view and add more items if required.

There are several price points of the different packages depending on the needs of your business.

If you want to try out Mydoma, as a brand ambassador, I invite you to get a promotional offer when you use my affiliate link here.

Other similar interior design project management programs exist, so do your due diligence to learn more about each one before you make a commitment and the monthly/yearly investment.

Estimated costs: $40 – $1000/month

12. Team collaboration and productivity suite

I have used G-Suite (now called Google Workspace) from the beginning.

It has grown with me and I don’t know where I’d be without it.

I pay approx. $23/user a month and it’s one of my most used pieces of technology.

These office suites typically charge per user so keep that in mind.

Estimated costs: $2-$35/user/month

13. Social media management

These types of apps ideally help you keep on top of posting to your different social media platforms. There are so many, I know, I know!

Tailwind is one we use that’s linked to Pinterest and costs $10/month.

Facebook Creator Studio helps us schedule our posts on both Instagram and Facebook and it’s absolutely free.

There are others of course like Hootsuite, Sprout Social and many more that you can research.

It took us a while to get into a groove of figuring out what works best for our needs. So, take your time and choose the one most suited to your business.

By the way, I have Free Tip Sheets for Instagram and for leveraging video to market your business that you may find helpful!

Estimated costs: $10-$50/month

14. Association or membership fees

Do you belong to any local or national associations?

Or are you a member of any organizations such as NKBA that charge membership fees or yearly subscriptions?

These will need to be incorporated into your monthly expense calculations as well.

15. Bookkeeper

For me, this is a must!

The size of your business and the level of service / support you need will be factors in determining what you will pay.

My monthly bookkeeping fees are $200/month.

Estimasted costs: $150 – $500/month

You add in all or even some of these advanced expenses and you are increasing your monthly expenditure by a minimum of $200/month, but I would suggest budgeting at the mid range point of around $500.

Add that to the basic monthly expenses I listed first and now you’re at $1200+ for the month to run a successful interior design business.

It’s important to remember that it’s not likely you will opt for the free version of all of these items. Maybe none of them. This will potentially increase your monthly costs by a decent amount.

Premium Expenses

These premium expenses may not come until your business is well developed, depending on how much you want to scale your business over time.

They all need to be considered though when tallying up what you could potentially pay each month.

If you are thinking about adding one of these premium expenses to your business operations you need to make sure it’s doable.

And that you are making more money to cover these added costs.

Some examples of premium expenses would be:

16. Hiring an Accountant ($3000/year = $250/month)

17. Digital marketing – Facebook ads, IG ads, Houzz ($65 and up/month)

18. Staff – office assistant, Jr. designer ($3200 and up/month)

19. Bricks & Mortar – renting a space or paying a mortgage ($$$$$)

I decided to work out of my home but from a purpose-built studio, we built in our backyard.

It has been a fantastic workspace and has definitely helped me run a more efficient and productive business.

Another expense I forgot to mention in the video (DOH!) is your auto expenses.

A car, along with the cost to maintain it and your fees for gas are also going to be expenses you can write off in your business.

Without a doubt, there are many costs to running your own Interior Design Business.

Do you have others?

Please share them with us below, I always love hearing from you!

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Painted Ceiling Ideas

Have you heard the term, the ‘Fifth Wall’? Yup, that’s the ceiling. And guess what? It doesn’t HAVE TO BE WHITE!

I have loads of painted ceiling ideas. How about a bold chartreuse or a moody black tone? Don’t be scared. This is a stunning way to bring colour into a room.

Painting ceilings a colour other than white is still hugely popular amongst interior design and decorating professionals.

Join me as I discuss painted ceiling ideas. As well as share my best advice as to why you might want to rethink white for your ceilings. Get inspired as we look at some exciting projects where we wanted the often forgotten 5th wall to stand out.

I’m going to show you 12 Benjamin Moore colours that I have used on various projects. From a bold basement gym to lovely powder rooms and many spaces in between.

Professional photography in this post is credited to Stephani Buchman Photography.

Why add colour to your ceiling?

So many reasons but I’ll mention 4 that I believe to be very compelling.

1. Add Visual Interest to Your Space.

As a professional decorator, I love offering a client a choice besides the same old white.

Look at this home gym we designed. The chartreuse ceiling shouts WOW. Definitely interesting and energizing as you work out.

See more of this stunning gym here in my largest project to date.

This is the first room you see as you make your way down the stairs into this massive basement of our client’s home located in Milton, Ontario. It’s always been one of my favourite photographs in my portfolio.

It’s pretty darn impressive, eh? How could this not pique a guest’s curiosity into wanting to see what’s around each new corner in this bold custom basement design?

2. An Unexpected Suprise

An unexpected surprise with a major impact is a great reason to paint a ceiling a colour.

Smaller rooms, like powder rooms or a quaint guest bedroom, are the perfect areas of the home to have some fun. A bright or dark painted ceiling can be unexpected and makes a small room much more striking.

Leave your comfort zone and be a bit unpredictable.

Powder Room with ceiling painted Dolphin AF-715 by Benjamin Moore

2. Tie in the Overall Colour Scheme.

A colourful painted ceiling is the perfect way to reinforce the colour theme of other decorative elements in a room.

In my office studio below, I painted the ceiling Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Colour of the Year, Agean Teal. You can see how it coordinates beautifully with the wallpaper, area rug, and window treatment, therefore, tieing the whole look together.

Go one step further and tie in the colour theme of an entire floor. We painted the ceiling in three adjoining basement spaces an eye-catching blue. This allowed the rooms to flow into each other seamlessly.

Ceiling colour is Symphony Blue by Benjamin Moore.

We continued the bold blue colour scheme by repeating this tone in the fun wallpaper of the poker room and on the tile in the backsplash of the bar area.

3. Highlight architectural or other outstanding features

You know what they say: “If you’ve got it, you might as well flaunt it!” Painting a ceiling a colour other than white is a great technique to highlight architectural features of a home that impact the ceiling.

In my own home, we used a dark colour on the ceiling to showcase a gorgeous chandelier in our teen daughter’s room. There is no way this light fixture would have the same dramatic feel against a white ceiling.

Ways to use colour in your ceiling

Following on from why you should consider using colour the next time you paint a ceiling let’s look at ways in which to do this.

The first way to incorporate a painted ceiling is by using it to repeat the colour in a space.

In my client’s dining room below you can clearly see how we did this. Both the niche and the ceiling are painted Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.

Our Toronto Client’s Rustic / Industrial Dining room design

And it didn’t stop there. The painted dining room ceiling continued the colour scheme from the front living room. Your eye is naturally drawn to the flow of the deep blue throughout these rooms.

Hale Navy is a hugely popular colour and consequently one of my all time favourites! You can see from this project the lovely paint palette that goes so well with this classic shade of blue.

If you want more inspiration for colour combinations be sure to check out my Hale Navy Perfect Colour Palette.

A second way to use colour in a ceiling is a little design trick that I sometimes like to employ in my interior design projects. That is to paint the ceiling the same colour as the tone that you have on the floor.

There’s no better example of this than in this incredible home movie theatre in our client’s basement. The carpeting throughout the room is a dark, dark blue. We matched it on the ceiling with Witching Hour by Benjamin Moore.

And then I suggested a metallic gold for the crown moulding which you can see repeated in the base of the side tables next to the large white chairs.

You can also see how this approach worked beautifully in the powder room below. We used Benjamin Moore’s Bittersweet Chocolate to match the dark hardwood flooring.

And lastly, a recent project shows a deep black ceiling that mimics the large black tiles on the floor. This Burlington client’s basement has yet to be photographed, the photo shown is my own.

Benjamin Moore’s Black 2132-30 in this basement bathroom.

A third way to work colour into your ceiling is to use it in areas to accentuate the structure of the ceiling itself.

Earlier I showed a basement to demonstrate colour flow. It is also a great example where we used it to highlight the bulkhead.

Normally this is not a feature that you want to stand out. However, because there was no getting around having them there, we decided to embrace this 5-foot wide bulkhead instead of ignoring it.

The contemporary design style also helped to pull this off successfully. As a result, painting it Symphony Blue worked to our advantage as we moved through the different spaces in this huge basement. And of course, it helped us to carry the colour scheme all the way through as well.

Going back to my daughter’s room, not only does the Marine Blue painted ceiling make the chandelier pop, but it really does emphasize the angled ceiling in her room.

The contrast between the rich blue of the ceiling and the Lavender Ice colour of the walls, keeps your eyes moving upwards.

Similarly, in my son’s room below, the ceiling is painted Flint to match the walls and to draw the eye upwards with the slanted ceiling.

Part of the reason why all of these colours look so great is that we chose the right colour. It’s absolutely crucial to pick the right paint colour for any wall, including the 5th.

Here are a couple more painted ceilings from my own portfolio to inspire you.

I can’t emphasize enough how a painted ceiling can bring a whole room together. Below is a Secret Xbox game room with an amazing graffiti tile on the feature wall with Black Pepper by Benjamin Moore on the ceiling.

And, the ceiling picks up on similar tones in the funky wall tile as well as the velvet sofa – perfect!

And lastly, I wanted to show you this sitting area in a Toronto client’s home. We decided to continue the Gray Cashmere colour that you see on the walls, up onto the ceiling.

It’s a beautiful backdrop for the chandelier. As well, it gives the room a wonderfully cohesive and elegant look. The sheen of the paint on the walls is eggshell while the ceiling paint was done in a matte finish.

Which of these 12 projects showing painted ceilings was your favourite? Have you ever used colour on your ceilings? Let me know, comment below. I’m always curious to hear your thoughts!

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest board for easy reference for when you want to come back to this post.

Painted Ceiling Ideas – Choose the Right Paint Colour

Painting your ceiling is a brilliant way to introduce colour into a room. But only if you use the right paint colour. Get my free resource that will help guide you in making the right paint selection for your future paint projects.

Ceiling or wall, you want to pick the perfect colour the first time.

Perfect Colour Palettes

There’s nothing like a perfectly curated colour palette to bring a home’s décor together flawlessly. But knowing how to coordinate colours can be confusing and overwhelming.

Our Perfect Colour Palette library now has 40 paint colours from 3 top paint companies; Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

These colour palettes were created to help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and then see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.

An amazing resource for your next design or decorating project.

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The BEST Marketing Tool

It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge promoter of leveraging video as one of the most effective strategies to market your business. I truly feel a Design Services video is the best marketing tool.

Video has easily been one of the biggest game-changers for me and other designers whom I know to be using this medium regularly as a marketing tool on their website and for their social media.

Instantly get my FREE Download here

Just recently I updated my Interior Design Services video that lives on the services page of my website. If you are rolling your eyes at me because the thought of video makes you cringe, don’t leave – hear me out!

If you only do one video for your business, THIS is the one you NEED to do.

It doesn’t have to be very long or even professionally filmed. Although I would say it’s worth the investment to hire a professional to help if you aren’t comfortable with video creation and editing.

The most important thing is to just get it out there so people can see you.

Take a look at my newest video below, just over 90 seconds long, to see what I mean.

Why a Design Services video is the BEST marketing tool

1. Connection

The connection you can make with potential clients is much stronger with video than with text and still images alone. As soon as they see you a relationship is starting to be built.

2. Builds trust

And through this powerful connection, you have an incredible opportunity to build trust! When people can see you and hear your message, they are able to develop a clearer picture of you are.

Potential clients can quickly relate to you. And they can make a more informed decision about whether they feel you will be a good fit to work with on their renovation or interior decorating project.

3. Stand out from the crowd

In the case of trying to attract new clients, you definitely want to stand out amongst the hundreds of other interior design and decorating professionals. Creating a design services video is a fantastic way to do this!

People are much more likely to remember you and your services if they see you in a video. Information in an email OR a video outlining your services – which is going to be more captivating? Video. Of course!

4. Impact

A Design Services video is an incredibly impactful way to get your message across. You can define your services in a way that prospective clients will recall easily when making their final decision on who to hire.

If the thought of you in front of the camera sounds a bit daunting then perhaps I can help. Set up a 1-on-1 coaching call with me and we can form a plan with steps on how to proceed.

The first video you make is often the most difficult. But you’ve got to start somewhere and I’d be thrilled to get you up and filming.

Need help getting started getting started in creating videos? Pick My Brain.

What to Include in a Design Services Video

5 key factors when creating this video:

1. Start your video with something captivating. Speaking to a homeowner’s pain points is a great way to immediately draw them in.

What are they struggling with? Furniture placement, size and style of furnishings, room layout, fabric choices, paint colours? You want to engage your viewer from the first moment. They will be compelled to watch the video in its entirety.

2. Get to the point. You are trying to grab the attention of future clients. You don’t want to bore them with the minutia of everything that is involved with working with an interior designer.

It’s important to find the perfect balance between being informative and not overwhelming your viewer. I suggest no longer than 2 minutes for this type of video.

3. Introduce yourself and tell people a little about who you are. Share any triumphs or accolades that will impress but not sound too braggy.

4. Outline your services. Give brief descriptions of each service you offer. If coming up with your menu of services is something you are still struggling with then firstly you may want to take a look at my FREE SERVICES & RATES GUIDE. You don’t want to bombard a homeowner with too many choices. So, be sure to have a clearly defined list of design services to speak about.

I can’t emphasize this enough.

A Design Services video is the perfect place to explain the different services that you offer. I truly believe people grasp better what their options are when they hear it spoken to them vs. reading about it on a website.

5. Talk about the value of your expertise. Finish your video by pointing out the tremendous value you will bring to their project – big or small. Explain how your skill set will greatly benefit them. And finally, how hiring a professional will, in the end, save them time and money.

Final tip

Be yourself. Show your personality and passion for what you do.

Most of us will agree we learn better by watching or doing than just reading about something. So, be understanding of the struggles that potential clients might have and make a thoughtful and informative video to educate them on the benefits of hiring your services.

Good Luck. Don’t overthink it. Carve out some time to make a plan with a brief script, know where and how you will be filming (good lighting is important!), and remember to breathe.

You might surprise yourself with you how much you like using video or how easy it is. Or perhaps you appreciate it’s something you need to start doing to further your business. Either way, if you want to learn more about how to incorporate video into your business then check out my Video for Profits Course.

Start using video to build your clientele and your business

I would love to see your video so please share it on social media and feel free to tag me so I can take a look!

Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray

Coventry Gray HC-169 by Benjamin Moore

You’ve heard about classics before but this truly is one of the classic grays by Benjamin Moore.

Although Coventry Gray is part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Colour collection, you’d be amiss to think that it’s old or outdated. It’s anything but.

A versatile mid-tone gray it can be used in modern and traditional spaces. You can use it as a neutral or an accent colour – it looks amazing on kitchen islands!

In today’s colour review video of Coventry Gray by Benjamin Moore, I share:

The undertone
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different undertones
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’d like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place, look no further than my Coventry Gray Perfect Colour Palette.

A fantastic paint resource showing a total of 10 complementary colours to go with Coventry Gray. It’s a must-have digital download for any colour enthusiast or design professional.

As a Certified True Colour Expert and an award-winning interior design professional, I’ve worked with many homeowners on many residential design projects. I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own paint choices.

Let’s do this!

Undertone: blue

Coventry Gray is not super light nor is it a deep gray. I call it a true gray. Coventry Gray along with Stonington Gray are the two grays I show most to clients who are looking for a true gray.

I worked with a family on a home renovation where we used Stonington Gray in their eat-in kitchen. It looks amazing in this space.

It’s always important to remember that in a different light this gray could lean bluer or slightly warmer. How a colour appears on your walls is also dependent on the fixed elements and furnishings in the room it shares.

Colour Comparisons

Looking at the colour comparisons below will help give you a better idea of where Coventry Gray fits between two similar shades, one that is more green and the other that is more blue.

Fieldstone 1558 & Gray Owl OC-52

I always love to compare a paint colour with clients so that they can see the true tones. It’s often not until you have a colour side by side with similar shades that the tones become obvious.

Don’t miss this step when selecting your paint colours.

During a colour consultation, I make sure to show my large paint boards against different elements such as flooring, tile, and fabrics. I swap them out to show clients just how different similar colours can look next to the existing finishes they have in their home.

Best Whites To Pair With Coventry Gray

Chantilly Lace OC-65

Snowfall White OC-118

Decorator’s White OC-65

Again, all three of these whites would give a slightly different look when paired with Coventry Gray.

I tend to have around 10 white paint colours that are my best whites for trim and ceilings. You don’t need to look at the thousands of whites available to find the right one. And you definitely don’t need to mix two different whites or use only a certain percentage of paint colour to get the right one for you. The right colour is already out there for you, I promise!

I can assure you that the best colour for your project already exists, you just need to know the 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

After you take a look at my fabulous colour combinations below, be sure to swing back here to see my most popular YouTube video about the Best Gray Paint Colours. Do I include Coventry Gray? You’ll have to read the post to find out!

Fabulous Colour Combinations

In the video, I selected three colours to pair with Coventry Gray. All three colours are from Benjamin Moore and can be found in my Perfect Colour Palette for Coventry Gray.

There are a total of 10 complementary colours to give you loads of options for creating gorgeous paint palettes that work amazingly with this light gray.

Coventry Gray is extremely versatile. It pairs well with neutrals, colours with similar tones, and those that offer amazing contrast.

Coventry Gray with Wedgewood Gray, Horizon & Flint

Wedgewood Gray HC-146

Horizon OC-53

Flint AF-560

Coventry Gray does look stunning against the dark blue-black of Flint.

If you like what you see in Coventry Gray but aren’t sure it’s the right gray for you, take a look at the beautiful paints I have put together in my Benjamin Moore’s Grays & Blue-Greens collection.

Coventry Gray is in there as well as 9 others. Definitely worth checking out.

What are your thoughts on Coventry Gray? I haven’t had the chance to use this colour yet, have you? Please comment below.

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above are included in my Perfect Colour Palette of Coventry Gray.

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding and I now have over 50 palettes to select from! Click here to see all of my Perfect Colour Palettes.

These are digital downloads for your convenience. I’ve printed all of mine and they have proven to be a very helpful resource for interior design consultations and to refer to for client projects.

If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore guides are in one handy collection.

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!

Room images by Benjamin Moore Colour Viewer

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Full Custom Design Service

We offer Full Custom Design & Project Management as our top luxury interior design service.

Many interior design and decorating professionals aspire to work on these types of projects where they are in charge and can see a project right through to completion.

What does the Full Custom Design service look like and what are some of the Pros & Cons?

Read on to find out how we operate this type of service and what I believe are some of the important positives and negatives of working on projects of this nature.

Firstly though, it’s important to know what services you’ll offer when starting or running your own design firm. When I coach fellow design professionals I discuss with them these 3 key factors that I feel are crucial when determining which services to provide.

1. What are your business goals? It is not necessary to offer the same list of services that every designer you know does if they will not help you meet your business goals. Be faithful to your goals and build your services around achieving them.

2. Where are you in your personal life? Certain services may be more or less appealing depending on your personal situation.

Perhaps you are semi-retired or doing design on a part-time basis, or you have young or elderly family members to care for. Maybe you have just moved to a new city. There are so many different circumstances that will have a role in deciding which services will fit best for where you are in life.

3. You Do You! This is YOUR business. It is of no benefit to you to worry about what other people are doing or what they might think about how you run your business.

You do not need to convince others why the path you want to take is a good idea. Provide design and decorating services that excite YOU and make no excuses!

Custom living room design for our Oakville Clients. See the full project here.

If you haven’t already got your hands on my FREE Services and Pricing guide, with 12 pages, get it now to determine the best list of services to offer that will help you achieve your business goals.

Services & Rates Download

What is Full Custom Design Service?

Full Service, Custom Design and Project Management are two of the terms used to describe this type of service. Regardless of what you name it, for most, this is the top interior design service. I describe it as our elite service and tell clients that when they hire us for this service, they are MARRIED to me.

Full service means exactly that – Full service. There is no piecemeal to this type of service and the client needs to fully understand that they are handing over the reins to you, the interior design professional. You are the lead for this project and will see it through from beginning to end.

The client gets to sit back on this one (for the most part) while you organize everything and handle all the details. You will manage the trades, make selections and do all the purchasing. It will involve installations and typically white glove delivery service.

BTW, if you still don’t feel confident about managing your relationship with trades, you can get my How To Find Great Trades & Suppliers where I guide you in finding the right people and products for your business.

Lastly, there will be the Big Reveal upon completion!

See more images of this custom design living room.

Who’s likely to hire you for this type of Full Service Interior Design?

It is important to remember that this type of service is not for everyone. This is a tailor-made service for someone who has no time or frankly the inclination, to take on this type of project themselves.

In my experience, these clients are often busy working professionals who do not want to be involved in the day-to-day running of the project and they typically have a decent amount of money to invest for these services.

Homeowners seeking this service understand that this is your field of expertise, not theirs. Therefore, they want a beautiful space where the smallest detail will not go unchecked. Most clients who hire you for Custom Design and Project Management appreciate the incredible value you bring to the table and put their trust in your abilities.

See more of this custom design project from Claire Jefford Inc.

This part is critical…. don’t skip it.

Like all my services a signed contract is a must. I always review my contracts in person with my clients and request a retainer at the same time.

During the initial 2-hour consultation we have evaluated the needs of the client. We have also assessed the scope of their project. In doing so we’ve determined that Custom Design & Project Management is the most suitable service.

Learn more about what’s included here

I have a comprehensive and easily editable contract template specifically for my Custom Design & Project Management service. Included with it is a wonderful marketing tool. Use this outline to explain to your client how this service works. It will also assist in answering many of the most common FAQs.

If you have trouble articulating the value you bring to a project and the benefits of your services, this will help you immensely.

I also have helpful tips on best practices for how to conduct your first client meeting, including 5 Mistakes to Avoid at the Initial Consultation.

Photos by Stephani Buchman Photography.

Pros & Cons – Starting with the Pros

Committed Clients

Because clients of this type of full design service have invested in you and your abilities, they stick with you for the duration of the project. You have a dedicated client who will not shop you or be constantly looking over your shoulder. They have signed a contract stating all this and more.

In the beginning, it might be difficult to land the bigger custom design jobs with decent-sized budgets. In that case, Designer by Your Side services may be what you sell more of when you first start your business.

You Have More Control

If you like being in charge of a project then this may be the only service you offer past the initial consultation meeting. This client is putting their trust in you. In addition, they are giving you the creative freedom to see your vision through to completion.

There’s no confusion as to who’s dealing with what because you are dealing with everything. From scheduling and meeting with the trades to ordering furnishings and selecting finishes. There isn’t anything you are not on top of and people know who to come to should any issues arise.

That BEST Feeling of Satisfaction!

I believe the biggest pro is how rewarding it is to see the absolute joy on a client’s face at the big reveal! It’s fantastic when you see all your efforts and hard work come together in a stunning finished room.

Amazing Professional Photos

Following on from the previous pro is that you’ll likely get fabulous professional photos of the space to add to your interior design portfolio.

These images are great for showing future prospective clients your work. Also, for sharing on social media to broaden your reach. A range of professional photos is a fabulous asset for your business.

This custom project was in my hometown of Burlington.

With the positives come the negatives, here are some cons of this service.

You Must Be Super Organized

Because you are the lead on a Full Custom Design Project it’s imperative that you are super organized. You will have a lot of balls in the air at any given time and need to be able to manage them all. It starts with your processes from the time you sign the contract with the client. It continues through the design and planning stages all the way through to building, installation, and delivery.

If details aren’t your forte then you might not be suited to offer this type of service.

Oh the paperwork

Documentation is enormous and you will need to keep accurate records of all the incomings and outgoings. Quotes, invoices, emails. They can pile up quickly and you will need to file everything so that you have a complete paper trail if (when) you need it.

Headaches

Keep a bottle of aspirin handy as I can guarantee you, issues will arise!

When things go awry it all falls on you to sort out. If you don’t deal well with confrontations or the pressure of being the ‘fixer’ then you may need to rethink offering this service.

Ultimately, you are the person that must resolve problems that arise. From trades not showing up and dye-lot issues with the fabric to damaged furniture, it’s all up to you to resolve these problems that inevitably will arise.

The client is paying the big bucks for you to take on the headaches on their behalf. If this sounds all too overwhelming for you then you will either need to hire someone who will do this for your or stay clear of this type of design service altogether.

Do you currently offer this service or one similar? If you don’t, would you consider it?

I love hearing from all my fellow design and decorating professionals so please, comment below.

Pin for Easy Reference!

More design contracts for your business:

Interior Design Quiz: Photoshoot Secrets

Who doesn’t love a quiz?! See if you can guess the answers to these interior design questions about our professional photoshoots and learn some trade secrets ‘Behind the Design’ about each project.

Believe me, when I say, photoshoots are way more work than you might expect. It can take up to 30 minutes and sometimes even an hour to get just one shot perfectly right.

Watch the quiz video below and TEST YOUR ID IQ!

HOW THE QUIZ WORKS:

You will see an image with a question above as its title. Below the image, there will be options for you to choose from. Some will be multiple choice and others may be True or False.

DON’T SCROLL DOWN TOO FAR BEFORE DECIDING ON YOUR ANSWER!

Once you think you know the answer, continue to scroll until all is revealed. Comment at the end to let us know how you did and what surprised you the most.

ARE YOU READY? LET’S DO THIS!

All photos by Stephani Buchman Photography.

1. We broke a leg on this coffee table during the photoshoot – True or False

TRUE.

We constantly move furniture and accessories during a photoshoot – a smidge here, a hair there, we need to find the perfect placement to get the right shot.

When my photographer pulled this table with one hand, dragging it along the rug just a few inches, the leg snapped. She got to keep the table and had to pay to replace it for our client.

She now has an assistant to help with photoshoots. It takes a village and we must be careful!

See more of this Oakville Client’s project here

2. What furnishings did we manipulate in this Toronto client’s walk in closet / lounge area for the shoot?

A. The settee against the wall

B. The black chair in front of the closet door

C. The artwork above the settee

D. All of the above

D. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

The settee was actually purchased from Homesense and was only used for the day of the shoot. We returned it immediately afterwards as the clients were not keen on keeping it in this space, even though we thought it worked really well!

Settee shown with no artwork above it.

We placed the black ‘Smoke’ chair opposite to face the settee which created a ‘conversational feel’.

However, in real life, the chair doesn’t make sense to be in front of the closet door – unless you absolutely hate all the clothes in your closet! Haha! But for the shoot, it was placed in the perfect spot.

link here to see the process of the chair set on fire!

The canvas above the settee was photoshopped in later to give us the option as to whether or not we wanted to use it when sharing photos. The canvas art is a photo of our client’s baby girl.

The canvas above the settee was added in later

On a side note, the wall and ceiling paint colour is a blue-green by Benjamin Moore called Gray Cashmere.

See the full project including a gorgeous all-white custom bathroom we designed here.

3. What’s wrong with this picture?
A. The artwork should be sitting directly on the fireplace mantle

B. The table is too close to the chair

C. The fireplace should not be on in professional photos

What’s wrong with this picture?

B. THE TABLE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CHAIR.

In real life, the table would not be placed this close to the swivel chair. You would have no room for your legs if it was set up like this!

This custom accent swivel chair does not actually reside by the fireplace at all. However, it made for a lovely and cozy looking vignette with the fireplace in the background.

Below is another angle of this family room from the eat-in kitchen area where you can see how the chairs are actually positioned.

In addition, the artwork had not actually been hung before the shoot. My photographer added it in afterwards during the post-production phase.

The key is to ideally minimize post-production work like this where you can though, as this increases the price for the photography when more edits are required.

On a side note regarding the photographing of fireplaces, you should always have them on because they provide a relaxing ambience that people like.

4. What did my photographer have to add to this built in unit in my clients’ custom master bedroom during the post production process?
A. The TV, it hadn’t been installed prior to the shoot

B. The shelf below the TV

C. The hardware because it was on back order

Cloud White cabinetry with Revere Pewter walls

B. THE SHELF BELOW THE TV.

Despite having this in my rendering and in my original design, when I arrived on site after the installation, I noticed the shelf was not there.

Rendering of the built ins with shelf shown under the TV

My contractor said he didn’t think it was necessary and omitted it from the design. I was not overly happy and I explained that it was there to anchor the TV.

Here is the photo of what it looked like before we staged it and without the additional shelf.

My photo of the custom built in with no shelf below the TV

Needless to say, after this incident, I kindly asked my contractor to always speak with me first if there is ever something design-related that he feels is not required for whatever reason.

We are good friends again, so all is good. 🙂

See more of this custom principal bedroom project in my portfolio and learn details ‘behind the design’ here.

As an FYI, the wall colour is the always popular Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.

5. Sometimes we reuse accessories for different photoshoots –
True or False?

Did we ever reuse these mannequin heads for another shoot?

TRUE.

In the image below you can see the mannequin heads in my Toronto client’s bedroom on their dresser.

Shown with 2 barn doors either side of the dresser with mannequin head accessories

They actually bought me one of these heads after we worked together because I told her that I really like them. I then used this same accessory in my daughter’s bedroom for another photoshoot.

So, how did you do? Comment below to share your results and tell me if you want more quiz blogs!

Did you realize how much goes into a photoshoot? Did any answers surprise you?

Perfect Colour Palettes

There’s nothing like a perfectly curated colour palette to bring a home’s décor together flawlessly. But knowing how to coordinate colours can be confusing and overwhelming.

We’ve created Perfect Colour Palettes to help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and then see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.

Our Perfect Colour Palette library now has 40 paint colours from 3 top paint companies; Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

An amazing resource for your next design or decorating project.

If you love quizzes, be sure to take my colour quiz to find your PERFECT PAINT PALETTE AND MATCHING ACCESSORY IDEAS!

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Designer By Your Side Service

Designer By Your Side is a service that is growing in popularity in our industry. It’s a service I have been offering since I started my business over 10 years ago.

3 Factors to Consider First

Before I delve into what exactly Designer By Your Side looks like, I want to emphasize three key things you MUST consider before establishing your menu of services.

1. What are your business goals? Do not follow the pack when creating your list of services. Be faithful to your goals and build your services around achieving them.

2. What is your personal situation? Certain services may be more or less appropriate depending on your personal situation. Perhaps your design business is only a part-time gig or you have young or elderly family members to care for. This may mean full custom design projects are a bit more challenging to handle at the moment, but smaller time block services are ideal.

3. You Do You! Do not worry about what other people are doing or what they might think about how you run your business. It’s not your job to convince others why the path you want to take is a good idea. You don’t need approval from anyone to run your business as you see fit. Provide design and decorating services that excite YOU and make no excuses!

Download the Services & Rates guide here

What is Designer By Your Side service?

It can go by several names. I have heard it referred to as ‘Designer On Call’ or ‘Designer On Demand’. When I first started out I called this type of service ‘As and When You Need Me’.

I prefer Designer by Your Side as it doesn’t imply that I will be there at the drop of a hat.

For this type of service I work side-by-side with my clients, guiding them through the process of their renovation or interior decorating project. I have set this service up as a minimum of 20 hours.

You could do less, but I suggest you do not go below 10 hours for this type of service. If you are going to offer anything less than 10 hours, you should defer to Designer for a Day Services.

My policy of requiring payment upfront holds true for this service. Before I begin my working relationship with my client, I will have invoiced them for the 20 hours and already received payment.

You could start with 50%, just be sure to have at least partial payment up front prior to initiating any interior design services.

Like all my services a signed contract is a must. I always review my contracts in person with my clients and request a retainer at the same time.

Learn more about what’s included here

I have an easily editable and comprehensive contract template specifically for my Designer By Your Side service.

Included is a wonderful marketing tool that you can use to explain in detail this service and answer many of the most common FAQs.

It’s a fantastic way to sell them on the advantages and benefits of hiring you for this service.

Pros & Cons

Great for New Designers

This is a great service for those starting out. So, if you are new to the business, I’m especially talking to you here!

In the beginning, it can be hard to land the huge custom design jobs with decent sized budgets, so this is a wonderful alternative.

Get Your Foot in the Door

Point #1 leads nicely into this next pro – it’s a great way to get your foot in the door. You start by helping out a client with a smaller project, gain their trust and show your value, and often it can lead to getting signed up for a future bigger project.

I know this to be true in my own experience but have heard similar stories from several designers during a recent WIDWIL (What I Did and What I Learned). This is a live show in my private Facebook Group called Interior Design Business Strategies.

Don’t be too quick to say no to these small jobs, as you just never know where it could lead! You may lose out on a potentially larger project if you do.

Experience is Everything

Another important Pro is the experience you will gain. By working on more of these ‘Designer By Your Side’ projects you will quickly gain valuable experience. Lots of different projects mean lots of diverse experiences. All of which will put you in good stead for when you begin to tackle Full-Service projects.

Flexibility and Less Responsibility

In addition to experience, Designer By Your Side offers an incredible amount of flexibility. Depending on your personal situation, which I touched on earlier, you may not be able to commit to 6 months or a year for a major renovation project. However, a 20-hour project assisting a homeowner work through the process of renovating their kitchen might be a perfect fit for your schedule.

Build Your Reviews

Don’t think you can’t ask for reviews where you’ve worked on projects with clients for Designer by Your Side Services? You absolutely can and you SHOULD!

Reviews are everything. I’ll even ask for a testimonial for ‘working design sessions’ because I always aim to ROCK the Initial Consultation. No matter what a client hires us for, my goal is to always bring the MOST value to their project.

We charge well for our initial consultation meetings and never hold back in sharing our ideas and bests advice. I recommend you do the same, it will feel great and can pay off in dividends over time in different ways.

Profitability

The last Pro is huge. Are you listening? Check it out! Designer By Your Side can be an awesome moneymaker for your business.

In less than 10 months we have provided this service to three different clients and through hours worked alone, we have billed over $30k. That is not including any sale of products!

So don’t write this service off completely if you’ve been doubtful that there is money to be made. I wouldn’t be sharing all of this with you if I didn’t think it could help increase the bottom line in your business.

With all that said you might be wondering if there are any Cons? Yes, there are. So here we go…

Limited Control

The biggest Con for many interior designers will be that they don’t have full control over the project. If you prefer being in the driver’s seat for the duration of a project, then you will likely struggle with this type of service where clients tend to be more hands-on.

Piecemeal is Real

Because clients are more involved, they may also like to shop and source for items on their own. So rather than you creating a vision and showing them a full design presentation, the design may come together in pieces.

I appreciate this is not ideal and can be frustrating, which is why I’m highlighting it here for you as a Con to the Designer by Your Side service.

Not Getting to the Finish Line

This type of service may also mean that you will not always take a project to the finish line. Therefore not having the option to get those professional photos of the completed space at the end.

HOWEVER, I would like to make a little side note here to say that in my own business I have worked on many projects in this capacity and have got photos for my portfolio.

While I may not have always been the one ordering materials and all furnishings, nor managing the trades, I worked very closely with my clients and was able to get some fantastic photos when the projects were complete.

The images below and others throughout this blog post are all examples of projects where we were hired for our Designer by Your Side service.

Do you currently offer this service or one similar? If you don’t, would you consider it? Love hearing input from others so please comment below.