designLIVE on San Francisco’s Sacramento Street is a two-day affair, celebrating all things design with the Bay Area’s design community. We had the pleasure of attending the “Love or Hate” Panel, hosted by Chairish President Anna Brockway and California Home + Design’s Editorial Director Lindsey Shook. Coming out of the educational and entertaining conversation with fellow design enthusiasts in the Bay area, here are the design trends we love.

Brass Hardware

Photo via Nate Berkus

Herringbone Pattern Wood Floors

Gallery Walls

Photo via Lonny

Black and White Checkered Floor Marble

Photo by Nicole Franzen via Savvy Home

Succulents

Photo by Birgitta Drejer via Bo Bedre

The Color “Griege”

Photo by Sara Svenningrud

Cement Tiles

Photo via Studio McGee

Layered Rugs

Photo via Amber Interiors

Ombré Fabrics

Photo via West Elm

Eames Lounge Chairs

Photo by Lisa Romerein via C Magazine 

White Subway Tiles

Photo by Sarah Elliott for Jenni Kayne/Rip & Tan

Wallpaper, Wallpaper, Wallpaper

Photo by The White Arrow via Design Milk

Which trends do you love?

With great interior design, comes great responsibility, and achieving design success requires a delicate balance of client expectation and designer execution. A successful project is more than just the end result, but is a collection of the weeks, months, and maybe even years leading up to the finished space. We too wish that the collaborative efforts between the designer and the client could be as effortless as the look the design was intended for, but we know that much deliberation, discussion, and disagreement goes into creating the chic sanctuaries we call “home”. When it boils down to the aesthetics of a space (the paint color, fixtures, furniture, etc.), we have a few tips to make the design approvals and personal differences seem like mere wrinkles, as opposed to tearing a relationship apart.

1. Communication is Key: Yes, 50% of successful communication is just listening. Simply listen and take into consideration the personality, vision, and expectation of your client, even if you think it’s unreasonable. Most of the time when the designer/client relationship starts to take a turn for the worse, it’s because you or your client doesn’t feel “heard”. Effectively hearing your client begins with understanding who they are as a person. We find that many Ivy Designers send out surveys when they are hired for a project in order to get a sense of what the client is expecting, their lifestyle, and how they use their home. “Who’s style do you admire?” “Where do your children like to play?” “How often do you entertain?” “What pieces do you want to keep?” These are personable questions that should be asked right away so you can get a true understanding of how they use their space, and get to the designing quickly.

2. You’re Getting Paid Because You’re the Expert: As an interior designer, you were hired for a specific purpose; to create a space that is enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. Often times, your client hired you because they were attracted to your aesthetic, so having confidence in your skill is important. In order to effectively communicate your vision, it may take a little educating. Lesson 1: think of yourself as a design scientist that must convince your client of a new theory. This entails explaining (and sometime re-explaining) your reasoning and providing solid evidence either in the form of a vision board, or by showing samples and past examples. This will keep you and your client happy and keep the negative engagement at bay.

3. Remodel the Relationship: Sometimes, as a designer, you have to learn to adapt. Plans change, ideas get scratched, and budgets become tight…it all just comes with the territory. However, it’s important to streamline these modifications and be able to adapt quickly, as to not extend the deadlines of the project or upset your client. Getting products pre-approved, setting up “yes” or “no” scenarios, and being able to provide plan B at the touch of a button will efficiently reduce the endless back and forth that occurs. Clients of Ivy Designers love the Ivy approval feature on proposals because it streamlines the endless ping-pong and creates an easy way to progress your project to the next stage.

4. Keep Your Cool: Conflicting opinions can sometimes turn into a complete disaster, especially when personal preference is involved. However, when a disagreement arises, the ability to emotionally detach and remain professional will go a long way. In order to achieve success and establish longevity with a sensitive client, it’s vital that both you and your client feel comfortable being open, and work in a collaborative manner. Designing a remarkable space often takes a little risk and a lot of trust, so providing options, scenarios, and demonstrating your vision clearly has a significant impact.

5. Be Crystal Clear: Trust, trust, and a bit more trust. Chargebacks, missed communication, un-matched expectations – these are a designer’s kryptonite and a one-way ticket to a project ending on a bad note. It’s important to remember that humans are messy, so to help with the unpredictability of projects, be up-front with your client. Allowing your client to be an active part of the design process, while you lay out the project in a clear and manageable way, will save you both time and a headache or two. Creating product approvals, streamlined invoice templates, and scheduled deposit requests are all tools to make your client understand how the design procedure works. Every project may be different, however, creating a system that works with your business will help to build a strong foundation for a positive relationship and mitigate any potential misunderstandings.

This year at the Emmys 2016, floral gowns and ethereal suits swept the red carpet, giving us serious design envy. Here are our favorite looks that we’d love to put on our walls, pillows, or any textile for that matter.

Kristen Bell in Zuhair Murad, styled by Nicole Chavez

Photo by Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Project Runway’s Nina Garcia in Valentino

Photo by Nina Garcia

Maisie Williams, Arya Stark of Game of Thrones

Photo by Todd Williams/Getty Images

Constance Zimmer in Monique Lhuillier

Photo by John Shearer/WireImage

Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas of Stranger Things) in a custom Eaden Myles tuxedo and Dleak Bowtie, styled by Spry Lee Scott

Photo by Getty Images

Best known for their adorable patterns of foxes, feathers, evil eyes, and arrows, Stephanie Housley and husband Chris Lacinak opened up a charming passion project and textile shop, Coral & Tusk, 9 years ago. Most recently, Coral & Tusk has expanded their business from Brooklyn to Workshop in Jackson Hole, WY, developing their fabric by the yard and bespoke services. Here, the talented Stephanie shares her family history of handiwork, design process, prep for the trade, and deep appreciation for team Coral & Tusk.

Stephanie, you founded Coral & Tusk with your husband, Chris Lacinak back in 2007. As a couple, how did you decide to create an embroidery company?
I began Coral & Tusk with my husband at the end of 2007 as a side business. After graduating with a BFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design in early 1999, I worked as a woven textile designer for a domestic manufacturer until 2004, and then an Indian vertical mill from 2004-2012. From the time I got the embroidery machine in late 2007, I felt the need to pay it off by creating something with it that I could sell. At no point did I ever set out to begin a company or be self employed! However, it all really came together with a lot of hard work and a lot of luck. My husband was the one to be the beacon in how to turn a hobby into a business. Over the course of 4 years, working full-time during the day as a textile designer, and full-time at night on Coral & Tusk, it finally became obvious that I needed to make a choice. I had spent all of my free time cultivating the company (while continuing to work full-time) and we grew very modestly and organically with the limited capacity we had in terms of time, focus, production, and distribution points. Before I left my day job, we started to hire a part-time team, led by Alija Craycroft, who remains an integral part of everything we do! Once I finally made the decision to focus exclusively on Coral & Tusk in late 2012, we all grew as a team and company, and it has been an incredible and amazing evolution.

Photo by Will Ellis

How did your upbringing in the Ohio Valley with your family of Appalachian women influence your vision and designs?
All the women in my family had some kind of handiwork project in their hands when they were not maintaining the family and house. My Great Grandmother made lace, my Grandmother made dolls, and my own Mom would make any project together with me as a kid. I have always loved to draw and embroidery was something I just fell in love with at a really young age. I do not know how to technically embroider – I have always taken a drawing with thread approach.

Your hand-drawn, enchanting illustrations are incredible – what’s Coral & Tusk’s production process, from inspiration to stitch? 

I am constantly gathering information and ideas through a variety of ways: being in nature, looking at magazines, researching a concept or theme. We create two collections a year. All of us in the studio discuss what feels interesting at the beginning of developing each new collection to explore further. Once we finalize concepts and get a good idea of what types of products and designs to solidify, I make a list and begin drawing. I always start with a pencil drawing on paper of original artwork, and then create the embroidery file by re-drawing the illustration stitch-by-stitch. It is a very laborious and tedious process, basically like drawing a hand-embroidery on the computer. We prototype when possible in Brooklyn, and then send the final file and color selection to India for initial sampling. Once approved, we go into production (anywhere from 12 to 120 pieces). The pieces come back from India to our Brooklyn loft where they are finished by hand and shipped.

Photo by Martin Scott Powell

Coral & Tusk recently moved from Brooklyn to Jackson Hole and opened a Showroom in Workshop, how exciting! How has the move influenced your inspiration and impacted business in general?

In the interior design industry, chasing your clients for payments can feel like a full-time job. Unfortunately, when you send your client an invoice, there’s no guarantee that you will be paid in a timely manner. Thanks to modern technology, Ivy makes the payment process painless for both you and your client. The solution? Digital payments.

Requesting your clients to transition from legacy payments such as checks to e-payments will not be a challenge once they understand the ease. According to a study conducted by Capital One, small businesses who accepted digital payments saw increased customer satisfaction of 73%, improved customer service of 69%, and increased sales of 68%. If you can offer your clients a link to pay for your proposal or invoice digitally, chances are, you’re going to get paid much faster. Here’s why you should start accepting credit card and wire transfer payments through Ivy.

The Transition is as Easy as Pie, for Both You and Your Client

Writing a check adds more unnecessary steps to the payment process and delays payday. Offering your client a digital way to pay you makes things simpler for your client. According to Freshbooks, electronic payments are made ~8 days faster than using traditional payment methods such as check or cash. On the other hand, you may not be super tech-savvy, but setting up your Ivy account to receive wire transfer or credit payments is super easy. Access your payment settings in your account settings, and connect your bank account. Once you verify your bank account, sending your proposal or invoice out to payment takes less than 30 seconds.

Simply open your proposal or invoice and select the “Review & Send” button

Confirm your client’s email, customize the subject line and message, and select which payment options you’d like to receive.

Your client will receive this proposal or invoice to review and have the option to pay via bank transfer or credit card.

Electronic payments are made ~8 days faster than using traditional payment methods.

Process Payments Through the Best-In-Class Online Credit System

Ivy uses Stripe, voted “Best Online Credit Processing” System (by Business News Daily) as our payment processor. Why? Because Stripe is simply the best way to accept digital payments, managing billions of dollars each year for innovative business worldwide. Stripe has set the industry standard for accepting online and mobile payments, and well, we only provide our users with best.

Improved Cash Flow and Increased Profitability

Digital payments not only post faster than checks, they reduce expenses incurred by false accounts and bounced checks. E-payments help reduce fraud, as more than 40% of small businesses experience fraud when using paper-based checks. Frankly speaking, credit card payments have become THE most common payment method, regardless of the industry. According to the Small Business Administration, “the convenience of making credit card payments is a leading factor in encouraging consumers to make ‘impulse purchases’.” This means that if your client has the flexibility to pay for your services in credit, they’re much more likely to pay you faster. FitSmallBusiness.com reported that accepting credit cards can increase the “size of a company’s average order by as much as 40%.” Ivy processing fees are very competitive (1.2% for wire transfer and 3% for credit card payments) and at the end of the day, these fees are insignificant.

40% of small businesses experience fraud when using paper-based checks.

Get Paid in Days, Not Weeks

Not only do digital payments save you a trip to the bank and post office, it saves your client some time as well. The time it takes for you to print your invoice, send it to your client, have your client review the invoice, write a check, and send it back to you via snail mail can take up to 1 month.

We’ll Politely Nudge Your Clients

Chasing your clients isn’t fun. However, checking in on payments is part of your daily routine and good manners will most likely increase your probability of getting paid. According to Freshbooks, adding a “please” or “thank you” to a proposal or invoice can improve that document’s likelihood of getting paid by more than 5%. Furthermore, we’ll remind your clients on your behalf when a proposal or invoice is overdue for payment. Don’t worry, we’ll include the proper “please” and “thank you”, as good etiquette goes a long way in this game.

Adding a “please” or “thank you” to a proposal or invoice can improve that document’s likelihood of getting paid by more than 5%.

 

Automating Your Books

Receive client checks for the wrong amount? This will no longer happen once you request an e-payment through Ivy. The amount you request from your client is the exact amount your client will pay via credit card or wire transfer. On the client-end, there’s no option to change the payment sum, greatly reducing the margin for error. Accidentally mark the wrong invoice as “paid” with a check? This will no longer be an issue once your clients’ digital payments are directly connected to the documents you send for payment. Once you receive a digital payment through Ivy, the date of payment, sum, type and reference id are automatically recorded in your Ivy account with its corresponding document. If you sync to QuickBooks, your QuickBooks account will be auto-updated with all of your payments as well. Trust us, your accountants will sigh in relief.

You’re Going Green

In addition to helping your business improve operations, lowers costs, and reduce risk, electronic payments help your company be mindful of the environment. Not only will you be getting paid faster, but you and your client will be saving lots of paper on printing documents, envelopes, stamps, and of course, checks.

Interior design branding expert, Kim Kuhteubl of MeByDesign, deeply understands the value of establishing your brand identity. That’s why Kim is on a mission to provide designers with the resources they need to build visibility and awareness both on and offline. Here, Kim shares her tips on how to make the most of your portfolio.

Never underestimate the power of energy and resonance when it comes to your portfolio photography. It’s your calling card and the first experience a potential client has of you. It’s also the single most important element in the building and communication of your interior design brand. Here are a few tips to help you get good ones.

Less is more. If you’ve just launched and you’re bootstrapping your business, don’t junk up your portfolio with images that are low quality or off-brand. Set the tone with one or two shots using the highest quality camera you have and leave your prospective clients wanting more. Save the “before”s and “after”s for your blog or iPad presentation during a sales meeting. That way you can explain the problem and your solution step by step. Your website photography is meant to wow.

Find your fit. Hire a photographer who specializes in interiors keeping in mind that there is a distinction between architectural and interiors, lifestyle, real estate and portrait photography. Not all architectural photographers shoot people well and vice versa. Are you hiring this photographer because they’re cheap or because you like their work? There’s a big difference. You want this project to help you land your next job but it’s also going to be a part of your archive. If you plan to write a book later on, these photos are the ones that document how you’ve grown as an artist. Make them good.

Get the wide. You’ve hired your photographer because of their POV and the way they tell a story. Don’t micromanage their process but do discuss a shot list of images you’d like to get on the day. Make sure that list includes a wide shot of each room and the home’s exterior to establish. Even if you’re targeting a specific publication and you know they love detail shots, don’t assume you know which details the editor is going to love.  Give them at least one shot of the entire room—from a couple of angles is better—to plan from.

Get a contract. I don’t care how famous the photographer is. I don’t care how laid back they are, or how not cool you think it makes you look. Just because they’re a great shooter doesn’t meant they’re great at doing business. It can be simple. Where and when are they going to shoot? How much will they get paid? How many images will they deliver? By when? What about retouched images? Who owns the copyright? What happens in the event they default on any of the deliverables? What are the terms for deposit and payment? If you do end up getting caught up in the thrill of it, then at the very least I recommend that you pay through paypal. Mark clearly what the payment is for in the notes box when you send it. Then if something goes awry in the process, you can file a dispute. If you can’t come to an agreement, you can escalate the dispute into a claim and paypal will step in to determine the issue’s outcome.

Enjoy. You’ve worked hard to make this project beautiful. The process of capturing it for others to see is supposed to be fun so let it be. You can’t control the weather or the changing daylight but you can manage how you feel throughout the day. Enjoy the collaboration.

Kim Kuhteubl works with interior designers on branding, visibility and money. Read more tips about photography in her book Branding + Interior Design available September 29, 2016.

Design is often defined as the process or methodology put into place to solve a problem or construct something to fulfill a specific function. So naturally, when a community (whether that be an entire country or a group of local people) have a problem, designers are inevitably called in to lend a helping hand. In the design world, collaboration is a daily occurrence, and designers often partner with people from a range of disciplines in order to successfully reach their goals. But what happens when the design industry collaborates with organizations and volunteers whose goal is to make the world a better place? Remarkable Impact. Here are some of our favorite projects where designers pitch in to build a stronger community.

The Ronald McDonald House at Stanford University

The Stanford University Ronald McDonald house opened its doors in 1979. Its mission was to provide a comfortable haven where families of critically ill children being treated at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital could gain proper support and shelter. Originally providing 13 rooms has now expanded to 123 rooms, making it the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. With the help of the San Francisco Design Center, 48 Bay Area design firms have formed together and started “Where Hope has a Home”. There, they were given the challenge to decorate and furnish guest rooms and common areas, adding their own personal design touch. The plush bedding, soothing colors, and vibrant communal areas were created to make the families and patients feel at home, providing a sense of community during trying times.

Photo by Joseph Schell

Andreas Gjertsen and Yashar Hanstad, the Duo Behind TYIN Tegnestue

After living on a boat named the “TYIN” for 1 year, Andreas Gjertsen and Yashar Hanstad became consumed with the idea of creating “architecture of necessity” and working directly with communities in need abroad. After raising $100k, Gjertsen and Hanstad created the architecture firm TYIN Tegnestue (tegnestue means “drawing studio” in Danish) and moved to Thailand to spend a year designing and building a library, playground, and bathhouse for children at Safe Haven Orphanage along the Thailand-Burma border. Using existing structures and local supplies allowed for the buildings to blend in with the landscape as well as keep costs of construction to a minimum. “Showing the local community the potential in local resources is a big part of the long-term benefits of projects like this” says Hanstad. Additionally, Gjertsen and Hanstad introduced new construction methods to the local architects in order to improve the local infrastructure and continue growth throughout the community.

Photo by Dwell

Dwell with Dignity

DwD was awarded the ASID Design for Humanity Award in 2016 for their efforts in helping families escape poverty throughout Atlanta and Dallas. DwD partners with local social services agencies that have programs in place to provide the necessary tools in order to begin the path to becoming financially self-sufficient. DwD explains that “often times, after a family has received all of the counseling, training, and support from our partner agencies, they find themselves struggling to provide a home in which they can thrive.” Eliminating the financial burdens of creating a home allows the families to focus on fulfilling other aspirations and focus on improving and maintaining a high standard of living. Since 2009, DwD has completed 97 projects inspiring families to live their best lives and thrive in a safe and beautiful environment they can be proud of.

Photos by DwD

Hok

Hok, a global design, architecture, and engineering firm, partners up with organizations around the world to enrich the communities they are apart of. The London Hok office donated over 380 hours of services to renovate Youthscape, a non-profit organization that provides group counseling, rehabilitation, and a wide range of programming to help struggling youth overcome issues such as homelessness and severe aggression. The new building and state of the art design allows Youthscape to expand their capacity and develop new programs for young people to feel excited to take the next steps in enriching their lives. Hok explains that “underneath the original wood beams on the top floor, staff can work with young people on training and educational initiatives in a large, open space that facilitates collaboration.”

Photo by HOK

Project H Design

Emily Pilloton, a furniture designer and architect, began to feel burdened by the idea that her work was not making a significant impact on the community. Because of this, Emily founded Project H Design in 2008, a project to facilitate the development of various design and building programs for young children in K-12th grade. Studio H was the first program created by Project H Design, an in-school design and building class for 6th-12th grade students. Here, they have constructed small houses for homeless, farm stands, public furniture, and even a chicken coup for their local community. From Studio H, Girls Garage was formed, which attempts to tackle gender stereotypes, and provide girls ages 9-13 with the necessary skills and confidence to build. Overall, Project H Design has taught hundreds of children how good design work can improve not only one’s self confidence, but also their community.

Photo by Project H Design

MASS

MASS seeks to provide sustainable structures, community centers, and cultural preservation sights in areas that have been devastated by poverty, natural disaster, and disease. MASS describes that “throughout the construction process, we collaborate with the communities our buildings will serve, approaching every project as a chance to invest in their future.” Founded in 2008, MASS has completed projects in over a dozen countries in Africa as well as the Americas, spanning across many disciplines, such as building design, research, policy, education, and strategic planning. MASS believes that “architecture cannot be neutral, it either heals or hurts”, therefore every project they choose to be apart of must significantly benefit the local community. Through this ideology, MASS has engaged in projects such as the building of a maternity village in Malawi, staff and volunteer housing at a Hospital in Rwanda, community library and technology center in Haiti, and many other remarkable community centers.  

Photo by Iwan Baan

Philanthropy By Design

PBD is a design agency that works to enhance nonprofit organizations’ environments through interior and architectural design. Some of the more recent projects PBD is known for are the SOMArts Center, which aims to promote art at the community level, the Mexican Museum, which voices the richness of Latino art throughout the Americas, and the Navigation Center, which aims to reconnect homeless people with their loved ones. Additionally, PBD has embarked on a program known as the “Wells Fargo Storefront”. Here, they have renovated “mom and pop” businesses in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin County in hope of improving the aesthetic and functional layout all while staying within their $3,000 budget donated by Wells Fargo. Overall, PBD understands the importance of a well-designed environment and hopes to enhance local communities by supporting the businesses and organizations in their area.

Photo by Philanthropy by Design

Designer Spotlight: Jessica Tolman of Jessica Tolman Interiors, Needham, MA

How did you get where you are today?

I’m a proud Midwesterner, born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. As I child I spent a lot of time in museums because my parents loved art and loved to travel. After being dragged around the world, my love of art led me to study Art History at Northwestern Unviersity in Chicago. After graduating, I moved to London to participate in the Sotheby’s Works of Art Course. I then returned to Chicago and found a job as an appraiser at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers where I became good friends with my colleague, Nate Berkus. When Nate eventually left to start his interior design business, I had the opportunity to join him. Thus began my career in decorating and design.

In 1999, marriage brought me to Boston and I took a break from working full time to have children. Meanwhile, I found myself constantly giving out free decorating advice to my friends, helping them choose paint colors and rearranging their bookshelves and furniture. With my children getting older, the timing was finally right to start my own business.

© Margaret Ellen Photography

DESIGN

The moment I knew I wanted to be an interior designer was when…

It was honestly always in the back of my mind since childhood. As a girl, I spent hours decorating my Barbie doll’s ‘apartment’ which was actually the bottom of my closet!! I wasn’t allowed to have any of the Barbie furniture or clothing so I had to be very creative and resourceful – a great foundation for my future career. When the opportunity came to work with Nate (Berkus), I jumped at the chance. In the beginning it was just the two of us, in his basement, learning the ropes of this business through many creative triumphs but also quite a bit of trial and error.

The most memorable space I’ve ever been in is…

The summer home I once visited in Cadaques, Spain. It had the most breathtaking views and was decorated in an airy, contemporary style that blended perfectly with and complimented the architecture. It was all about the views in that house. There was a lovely bathroom with a soaking tub perfectly positioned to overlook the cobalt blue waters of the entire bay. It was heaven.

I get to know a new space by….

Immersing myself in it. I photograph it and measure it and I find that hand drawing a floor plan helps me to understand the proportions better than anything else. I’m old school that way.

My favorite city for design inspiration is…

Anywhere in Europe, really. They’ve just been doing it better, for longer. A feast for the eyes.

When I design I feel…

Excited, happy, and fulfilled.

© Margaret Ellen Photography

LIFE

Every morning I…

Meditate. It helps to begin every day with a clear frame of mind.

I treat myself with/by…

Spending quality time with my family and my close friends, enjoying a great meal, going for an early morning run, skiing in the winter and relaxing on the beach and swimming in the ocean in the summer.

My personal style is…

Classic, with a bohemian twist. I love vibrant colors and patterns.

My tips for staying organized are…

To take the extra time to think through a system to manage the clutter and to then put it into practice instead of putting it off. Sometimes that is easier said than done though!

I never leave home without…

My iPhone – it’s my lifeline in this business…and my glasses!

“Designing is the fun part, but to be successful you need a good grasp of the day to day tasks like getting estimates, placing orders, invoicing, tracking orders, etc.”

© Margaret Ellen Photography

BUSINESS

My role model is…

Legendary American designer Sister Parish jumps to the head of the pack simply because I can relate to certain parts of her story. She started out decorating for friends and neighbors and going into business was also a necessity for her, not a choice. As she liked to say, her interiors had “character” and were so colorful and perfectly imperfect.

I also love the chic, understated elegance of Lee Radziwill who, in my opinion, shouldn’t have to stand in the shadow of her sister, the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, has created an enviable lifestyle of elegant simplicity that I admire.

My business mantra is…

On the client side, listen closely to their ideas and always be honest and straightforward with them. On the design side, edit, and then edit some more. On the business side, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

For interior designers new to the business, I recommend…

Working for another designer first, to learn the ropes. Designing is the fun part, but to be successful you need a good grasp of the day to day tasks like getting estimates, placing orders, invoicing, tracking orders, etc. Interior design is a relentlessly detail oriented process, whether working with vendors or sub-contractors. Mistakes can happen so easily and can be costly to your reputation and your bottom line.

I define success by…

How much you love what you do. At this point in my life, it’s less about material wealth or posessions. Maya Angelou put it best when she said that “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.”

The best advice I have received is…

Do not fear the unknown – just jump right in. Also, trust your instincts, they are usually spot-on.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned working in the interior design business is…

To design spaces that people can truly live in comfortably. Pretty, or chic, or whatever just isn’t enough. Someone has to live there. Function has to work hand in hand with form.

© Kate King Photography

WHY IVY

What’s your favorite thing about Ivy so far?

It makes invoicing and time tracking 1000 times easier allowing me more time to focus on the creative part of the job that I love the most.

If you were to tell your design friends about Ivy, what would you say?

Ivy is simple and straightfoward. While I’m not the most tech-savvy, Ivy’s support team is always available to answer questions and offer help. It’s a no-brainer really, what are you waiting for?