Written by Shai Wallach

Ashe + Leandro

Designers Ariel Ashe and Reinaldo Leandro

asheleandro.com, @ashe_leandro

Interior designer Ariel Ashe along with architect Reinaldo Leandro are the Co-Founders of their innovative and contemporary design firm Ashe + Leandro. With Ashe’s origins in New Mexico and Leandro from Venezuela, the two creators launched the New York-based firm in 2008 and have been shaking up the industry with each of their distinctively crisp and bold projects.

Photo by Malcolm Brown

Ashley Darryl

Designer Ashley Darryl

interiors.ashleydarryl.com, @ashleydarryl

Ashley Darryl, a Texas native who found her niche in the city, has been breaking ground in the interior design world with her own namesake firm. With an aesthetic that tailors every space into a unique environment, Darryl’s eclectic and avant-garde take on design has been taking New York City by storm.

Photo courtesy of ashleydarryl.com

August Black LLC

Designer Charli Hantman

august-black.com, @augustblacknyc

Since launching in 2008, August Black, along with owner and designer Charli Hantman, have been bringing traditional and state-of-the-art design to numerous clients across New York City. Mixing contemporary influences with a timeless feel, Hantman is known for her impressive spaces that are both functional as well as fashionable.

Photo courtesy of Charli Hantman

basicspace

Designer Kaitlyn Payne

basic-space.com, @basicspacedesigns

Designer Kaitlyn Payne has become known for her clean and practical design while paying homage to the originality of character homes. While based in Brooklyn, Payne and her firm, basicspace, have been taking a fresh approach to design across New England and New York since founding 2012.

Photo by JT White

Bennett Lefeir Interiors

Designer Bennett Lefeir

bennettleifer.com, @bennettleifer

Bennett Lefeir and his signature firm have been aiming to forge spaces enveloped in vanguard elegance around the world. In mixing traditional elements with a modern atmosphere, Lefeir’s work is notably influenced by the luxury of Art Deco from his quintessential Long Island and New York upbringing.

Photo by Marco Ricca via Architectural Digest

Blair Harris Interior Design

Designer Blair Harris

blairharris.com, @blairharrisnyc

The New York based designer Blair Harris along with her design firm have been making their impact in the New York design scene since Blair Harris Interior Design’s inception in 2011. Harris is known for delivering a classic and organic feel in each of her projects, adapted to a wide array of client tastes.

Photo courtesy of blairharris.com

Drake / Anderson

Designers Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson

drakeanderson.com, @drake__anderson

Since collaborating, designer Jamie Drake and his former protégé Caleb Anderson have been spreading their hand-curated prestigious design throughout the city. Their fearless use of color, texture, and all elements of ingenuity has propelled Drake / Anderson into being a well-renowned New York design firm.

Photo courtesy of drakeanderson.com

Dan Fink Studio

Designer Dan Fink

danfinkstudio.com

With its origin in Silicon Valley, the Dan Fink Studio has expanded its reach beyond California to each corner of the United States and beyond. Dan Fink executes the traverse between classic elegance and originality with unparalleled precision. The studio and its founder have curated some of New York’s most distinct spaces since establishing in 2010.

Photo by Weston Wells via House Beautiful

Dani Arps

Designer Danielle Arps

daniarps.com, @daniarps

Noted as the startup designer, Danielle Arps and her eponymous firm have made a mark on both the commercial and the residential design world throughout New York City. Her startup work is noticeably industrial but also conveys an effortless and inviting atmosphere, creating an inspiring work environment for any bustling new company.

Photo courtesy of daniarps.com

Drew McGukin Interiors

Designer Drew McGukin

drewmcgukin.com, @drewmcgukin

Ingenuity comes alive into bright and livable spaces through designer Drew McGukin and his namesake design firm Drew McGukin Interiors. A chameleon of design, McGukin’s innovative spaces are each distinct and unique; whether they feel retro, traditional, contemporary, or everything in between.

Photo courtesy of drewmcgukin.com

Jenny Wolf Interiors

Designer Jenny Wolf

jennywolfinteriors.com, @jennywolfinteriors

Jenny Wolf and her firm, Jenny Wolf interiors, have become known for a fresh and serene take on interiors, both in the home and office space. By utilizing her Southern roots as an influence for aesthetic, Wolf has been delivering comfortable space and inviting interior design with her firm since establishing in 2011.

Photo courtesy of jennywolfinteriors.com

Jessica Lynn Williams

Designer Jessica Lynn Williams

jessicalynnwilliams.com, @jlwdecoration

Like the neighborhood Jessica Lynn Williams is based in, the Brooklyn firm perfectly balances a hallmark of contemporary polish juxtaposed with the ease of comfort and homeliness. Her varied profile for design and imaginative use of style has thrust Williams and her eponymous firm into the big players in New York.

Photo courtesy of jessicalynnwilliams.com

Joshua Smith Inc.

Designer Joshua Smith

joshuasmithinc.com, @joshuasmithinc

For original design that bridges the connection between personal well-being and aesthetic, look no further than to Joshua Smith. His theory that homes can inspire wellness is reflected in his tranquil and livable interior design. Smith and his New York design firm have become top contenders in the industry with their innovative bonding of spirit and design.

Photo courtesy of joshuasmithinc.com

Kapito Muller Interiors

Designers Alyssa Kapito and Vivian Muller

kapitomuller.com, @kapitomullerinterior

Designers Alyssa Kapito and Vivian Muller of Kapito Muller Interiors have become widely known as the rising stars in New York City. With an aesthetic that is distinctly clean and crisp, along with touches of industrial and rustic finishes, Kapito and Muller specialize in simply beautiful spaces.

Photo courtesy of kapitomuller.com

Lilly Bunn, Inc.

Designer Lilly Bunn

lillybunn.com, @lillybunninc

Lilly Bunn and her titular firm have become the junction in New York City where mod meets comfort meets ambience. Her hand-curated spaces are known for being homey yet strikingly chic and fashionable. After opening its doors in 2009, Lilly Bunn, Inc. has consistently provided clients with individualized and prolific abodes across the city.

Photo courtesy of lillybunn.com

McMillen, Inc.

Designer Elizabeth Pyne

mcmilleninc.com, @mcmilleninc

Elizabeth Pyne is steadily becoming the face of the future in one of America’s most seasoned interior design firms. She is the third generation in her family to design at McMillen, Inc. and continues the family tradition of curating extraordinary spaces for her clients. Pyne’s keen eye for detail can be regarded in her novel use of color and pattern throughout any of her projects.

Photo courtesy of mcmilleninc.com

Patrick Mele

Designer Patrick Mele

patrickmele.com, @prmele

The only rule in design for Patrick Mele is that there are no rules. In each of his projects, Mele constantly ties rare and varied pieces together in a unified way. His daring and bold design choices routinely succeed and receive praise from publications and clients alike.

Photo by Charles de Vaivre via Vogue.com

Ryan Korban

Designer Ryan Korban

ryankorban.com, @ryankorban

Ryan Korban consistently makes simplicity standout in every aspect. His eye for everything bold and luxurious, mixed with a minimalist aesthetic, brings together each of his projects in a way that transcends the space given through exceptional design. Since opening their doors, Korban and his firm have become leaders of design in the New York scene.

Photo courtesy of ryankorban.com

Young Huh

Designer Young Huh

younghuh.com, @younghuh

After majoring in English and obtaining her degree in law, Young Huh found her passion for interior design after interning in the field and opened her own firm in 2007. Her work often mixes patterns with textures to create bespoke spaces for each client; always conveying an atmosphere of uncommon serenity and elegance.

Photo courtesy of younghuh.com

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Ivy Designer Stefania Skrabak of Art Home Garden walks us through her day in the life as a talented interior designer, from juggling a baby as a working mom to hopping to and from vendors in the Catskill Mountains and clients homes’ in NYC.

Photography courtesy of Stefania Skrabak @arthomegarden

“At location. Day starts at a homeowner’s home today, a gut renovation in Phoenicia, NY. I’m working in a makeshift office and meeting with the crew to get the day started. Today, we do design layouts for the kitchen and the bathrooms.” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“Multitasking! Meeting with Planika Fires. Thank you, Karolina, for taking the time to talk. Excited to be part of your showcase!” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“Quick stop for farmhouse accents at Zaborski Emporium in Kingston, NY with baby Stefano. Next stop, our farm!” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by of Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“At Taliaferro Farms in New Paltz for an employee lunch. Yes, I cook for my staff and yes, I can cook! ?” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“Back in NYC, leaving a homeowner’s apartment after a Spring fresh up with new toss pillows and flowers!”- Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“I’m still in my UpState Hunter boots! Can’t wait to get home!” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

“That kind of day. Thank you @ivy.mark for being the best interior design tool to keep me and baby Stefano on the move making life more beautiful.” – Stefania Skrabak

Photo by Stefania Skrabak

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

This week is jam packed with design festivities. Make sure to clear your calendars for the LCDQLA events listed here. We’ve also outlined the best hashtags for you to use to ensure your Instagram coverage will get the most hits.

Wednesday, May 10 Events

Blogger Breakfast and Legends 2017 Kick-Off
In celebration of all things design, Chairish will be dishing on their favorite design trends with some of their favorite industry insiders including Nate Berkus of @nateberkus, Will Taylor of @brightbazaar, Paloma of @ladolcevitablog, Anthony of @zioandsons, Danielle of @danielledrollins, Holly of @theenglishroom and Shaun of @shaunsmithstyle to name a few. The Legends Ambassadors will play a game of #LoveItorHateIt in response to recent design trends such as vintage portraits, outdoor rugs, brass bar carts, Edison bulbs, and more.

When: Wednesday, May 10

Where: Hollyhock, Los Angeles

Off Color: Demons and Disasters in Design

Madeline Stuart, Photo courtesy of LCDQLA

Moderated by: Madeline Stuart, Interior Designer, Los Angeles

Panelists: Philip Gorrivan (Designer), Nate Berkus (Designer) and William Peace (Designer)

Madeline Stuart is a leading member of the Los Angeles design community. Madeline Stuart & Associates has been named on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list and featured in numerous publications, including Elle Decor, Veranda, Town & Country and House Beautiful.

When: Wednesday, May 10, 11am – 12pm

Where: Marc Phillips, 815 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Una Malan Showroom Opens in Historic Courtyard

Designer Una Malan’s Showroom recently opened its doors in the La Cienega Design Quarter, offering a curated environment of luxurious brands from designers such as Dmitriy & Co.,Knowles & Christou, Loro Piana Interiors and VeniceM. Una Malan is hosting a party during LEGENDS on Wednesday, May 10 at 6pm to celebrate the opening.

When: Wednesday, May 10 at 6pm

Where: Una Malan – The Courtyard, 822 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069

The Dmitriy & Co. Brugge Bench, Photo by Erica George Dines

Thursday, May 11 Events

The Freedom of Expression: Self vs. Selfless Expression in Design


Alisa Carroll, Photo courtesy of LCDQLA

Moderated by: Alisa Carroll, Editor-in-Chief, San Francisco Cottages & Gardens

Panelists: Schuyler Samperton (Designer), Beth Martin (Designer) and Alison Berger (Glassworks and Lighting Designer)

Alisa Carroll is an author and Editor-in-Chief of San Francisco Cottages & Gardens. She has written about art and design for a number of publications and has moderated panels at venues including the LA Art Show, de Young Museum, San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, and many others.

When: Thursdsy, May 11, 9:30am – 10:30am

Where: Design Within Reach, 8612 Melrose Ave.

Floral Expressions: Empowering Pastels into Design

Jessica Romm Perez, Photo courtesy of LCDQLA

Moderated by: Jessica Romm Perez, Editor-in-Chief, Domino

Panelists: Aerin Lauder (Founder of AERIN), Monica Bhargava (EVP of Product Development for Williams Sonoma Home) and Amanda Lindroth (Designer)

Jessica Romm Perez is the Editor-in-Chief of Domino magazine. Considered a style expert by local and national media outlets, Perez has written and edited for many publications including Elle Decor, Elle, Conde Nast Traveler and more. 

When: Thursday, May 11, 11am – 12pm

Where: Barakat Gallery, 941 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Heritage at Home: Embracing Your Heritage in a Well Designed Home

Jenny Bradley, Photo courtesy of LCDQLA

Moderated by: Jenny Bradley, Design/Lifestyle Editor, Traditional Home

Panelists: Betsy Burnham (Designer), Angie Hranowsky (Designer) and Katie Leede (Designer)

Jenny Bradley is Senior Design and Lifestyle Editor for Traditional Home as well as editor of the magazine’s digital edition, TRADhome.com where she has written and produced stories with design and lifestyle influences. As an avid traveler, Bradley has covered unique venues all over the world – from Tanzania to Santorini and Cambodia to Peru.

When: Thursday, May 11, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Where: Marc Phillips, 815 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Ongoing Events

Serena & Lily New Outdoor Furniture, Fabric and Wallpaper Launch

Marking Serena & Lily’s largest Spring launch to date, the new arrivals include indoor & outdoor furniture, textiles, wallpaper, bedding, decorative pillows and more. Serena & Lily has launched all-weather outdoor furnishings that can handle the heat and rain without fading.

Serena & Lily Outdoor Furniture, Photo courtesy of @parkandoakdesign

The Zio & Sons x 1stdibs Photo Set Installation at the Lee Stanton Showroom

Zio & Sons is serving as one the the Ambassadors for the big LEGENDS design event at the Lee Stanton Showroom. Make sure to stop by and get your photo taken on this show-stopping set, designed by Zio & Sons in collaboration with 1stdibs and a few other showrooms in the quarter.

Photo taken at @Woven.is_ from last year’s festivities by @pamther

Hashtags You Need to Use

#onlyinlcdqla

#LCDQLA

#LCDQLEGENDS

#LEGENDS

#LoveItorHateIt

#legendskeynote

#IvyTakesLCDQLA

#lacienega

#MakeTimeForDesign

#interiordesign

#interiordesignlife

#designprofessionals

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

The 2017 Decorator Showcase takes over a Classical Revival mansion at 2698 Pacific Avenue, an architectural masterpiece desperate for design. The general look and feel this year feels much darker than last year, featuring majestic shades of blue. The talented Ivy Designers Benni Amadi, Dina Bandman and Ian Stallings stun us with their wonderfully creative and functional spaces. Ivy Team Member, Reisa Elden, scoped out the scene and shares with us the vision behind the designs.

Ivy Designer: Benni Amadi of Benni Amadi Interiors‘s presenting “Moody Blues”

Benni – what was your inspiration behind the design?

Traditional meets modern. We added all of the paneling and heavy trims in the space to give it that traditional architectural interest that we saw in other areas of the house, but then we layered modern elements to create interest and tension. We also took this opportunity to create something a little more dramatic and colorful than our typical work.

Interior Design by Benni Amadi Interiors and Courtney Springer Interiors. Photography by Christopher Stark.

Which colors and materials did you move forward with and why?

The colors that we picked are black and blue. One of the first elements we were inspired to do was the black paneled walls. We knew we wanted to add pattern to the ceiling to draw your eye up and take advantage of how high it is. 11 foot ceilings are almost unheard of in a small powder room. We turned to Eskayel for the wallpapers and really felt inspired by their mix of black with inky blues. And then we added a pop of color with the chevron 2″x8″ Adriatic Blue Fireclay tiles on the floor.

Interior Design by Benni Amadi Interiors and Courtney Springer Interiors. Photography by Christopher Stark.

Photography by Reisa Elden

What was the most exciting part of this project?

Powder rooms are often one space you can go a little wild with. Since they are small rooms, you can make it dramatic without being overwhelming, which was one of the reasons we were attracted to doing one for Showcase. Courtney and I both felt like the first floor powder deserved some love. It was just a sad, white drywall box when we first saw it, and it just didn’t stand up to the architectural drama of the rest of the home. We felt inspired to give it some of the architectural interest that we see in the larger rooms of the house, but put our own, modern spin on it. It was exciting to see this “disaster of a room” turn into what it is now!

Interior Design by Benni Amadi Interiors and Courtney Springer Interiors. Photography by Christopher Stark.

Reisa Elden (IVY) and Benni Amadi

Ivy Designer: Dina Bandman of Dina Bandman Interiors‘s presenting “Laundering in the Lap of Luxury”

Dina – what was your inspiration behind the design?

I have a little dog #ashmorkienamedGypsy (she is part Shitzu, part Yorkie, and part Maltese) and she hates baths, so I’m forced to essentially get in the bathtub with her. So, I wanted to design a space that I would want myself, hence the laundry room/doggy wash was born. I used de Gournay last year for SF Showcase 2016, specifically the “Monkey” Wallpaper, and it was so well received so I had no doubts about partnering with de Gournay again. While perusing the web, I found “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” and was instantly enamored. I knew this wallpaper had to be incorporated and the room started to take shape from there.

Photography by Christopher Stark

Which colors and materials did you move forward with and why?

Blue and white! Ask Mark Sikes about this color combo, I feel like he has basically trademarked it. But in all seriousness, the blue and white combination is timeless and classic and everyone loves it. You simply can’t go wrong. It is fresh, clean, and happy! Since I have to be in the room for 30 days straight, essentially, it was important to create something I loved and I really love blue and white. Rather than fabrics (as this is a utility space) I had lots of stone and tile options. I wanted a fun floor and had fallen in love with this Country Floors “Rubicon” pattern a while ago. Artistic Tile recently released “Sinuous” which I used on the backsplash. It has an undulating pattern that mimics water as well as the mountain peaks of the wallpaper; it was perfect for the space! Finally, I wanted the doggy wash to be blue and Country Floors once again had the perfect subway tile which I selected in an atypical size 2 x 8.

Dina Bandman

What was the most exciting part of this project?

The most exciting part was finishing in time…but barely in time! This project was going smoothly and on schedule until one week before Press Day when I had to find an alternative tile vendor. As every project goes slightly awry, I knew I was going to have to hurdle some unforeseen situation. I certainly never expected it to be so close to the finish line. Honestly speaking, everything was exciting, especially being a part of such a historic year for SF Showcase!

Dina Bandman

Reisa Elden (IVY) and Dina Bandman

Ivy Designer: Ian Stallings of Ian Stallings Design‘s presenting “The Age of Innocence”

Ian – what was your inspiration behind the design?

I created a design draped in nostalgia with a 13 year-old boy in mind. The room is somewhat biographical, but not completely. I also had a specific client in mind that happens to have the ideal family, including a young boy who is about to enter his middle school years. Another family friend of roughly the same age while at my Holiday party last year quoted “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. I remember thinking how cool it was that a movie from my childhood was “old” now. The movie posters from the late 1980’s adorning the walls, a large wardrobe befitting a fairytale, games, books, magazines, and all of the other fun things in the room were used to illustrate the transition between the playfulness of childhood and the coolness of becoming a teenager. How did we feel at this age? What was important to us? What design would I have been attracted to at 13? I hope this room brings one back to their childhood; a time full of wonder and innocence.

Photography by David Livingston

Which colors and patterns did you move forward with and why?

The feeling of childhood nostalgia in this room is further characterized by the bedroom walls, which were inspired by the birth of the digital age. The walls are painted in stripes, alternating in color and thickness, mimicking the static marks left on the television screen by old VHS tracking. The walls serving as a tribute to a now outdated medium is the first thing to catch the viewer’s eye, enveloping them in the nostalgic theme of the Age of Innocence. The title is also a reference to the age of this picturesque home and the classic book by Edith Wharton with the same title.

Photography by David Livingston

What was the most exciting part of this project?

The wardrobe, a family heirloom, was in my room when I was 13 years old.  The piece itself is both classic and majestic, making one feel as though they were approaching a relic from a fairytale. When choosing a wardrobe for this room, I thought it was a “wardrobe befitting Narnia”, inspired by the literature series I loved in my youth. It also helps fill the volume of the room and justifies the nearly twelve foot ceiling height. Small touches in the room such as Uno cards which are splayed out on the side table, and a magic 8 ball awaiting one’s questions are just a few of the little features that tie the nostalgic Age of Innocence theme together.

Photography by David Livingston

Ian Stallings, Photographed by Reisa Elden

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Designer Spotlight: Mindy Laven – Orange County, CA

How did you get where you are today?

Courtesy of Mindy Laven

Mindy Laven is a boutique design firm specializing in creating personalized spaces. What’s the most exciting part about starting a new project?

Taylor Rummell

How do you transfer a house into a home?

A house becomes a home when you breathe life into it. Whether it’s a new build or a renovation, it’s a fresh opportunity to contribute to the soul of the home. I want each of my projects to genuinely reflect the spirit of the homeowners. Getting to know my clients is the most important part of my job. Far beyond the brick and mortar and the case goods is the intrinsic nature that the house will embody. I take my projects to heart. When a house is complete, it should rise up to meet its owners in a way that unequivocally says “We’re home!”

Taylor Rummell

Are there certain trends, materials and/or colors you’re particularly into right now?

I’m less interested in trends and more interested in backdrops. Your home will be the backdrop for your story. I think it should be timeless. I choose colors and materials that are soft spoken. I believe in a fairly neutral backdrop. Furniture and accessories are the places where I feel color and trends work best.

Right now, I’m loving any kind of hand-formed tile. The imperfection is what makes it positively perfect!

Taylor Rummell

Taylor Rummell

How does designing make you feel?

To me, it’s so much more than the design. I have the unique opportunity to help people tell their stories. History will be made in the places that I design. I’m humbled that people allow me to participate in their lives in this way. I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude that I’m able to do something professionally that is so personally fulfilling!

Taylor Rummell

What’s your business mantra?

Transforming houses into homes, one project at a time.

When you start a new project, how do you get to know your client and the space?

When I start a new project, I like to meet my clients in the home they are working on. If they are bringing things from a previous space, I like to see that too. My most important questions usually revolve around how people actually live in their spaces. For example, if you never entertain in a formal living room, maybe that room should be repurposed to be used for something that is more practical and specific to your family. Our first meeting is about getting to know each other.

Taylor Rummell

How do you manage your bookkeeping and accounting?

I’m excited to have the possibility of using Ivy to help me with my bookkeeping! Up to this point, I’ve done everything myself and look forward to using the Ivy/Quickbooks Online connection!

How do you prepare for market? What are your next steps post-market?

Market always feels like a drink out of a fire hose. You have to stay focussed and true to yourself. I’m always looking for new ideas that fall in line with my design philosophy and I’m constantly looking for that something special. Special to me means: incredible craftsmanship, timeless elegance, a twist on traditional. Last year at High Point Market, I was introduced to Eleanor Rigby that still hand makes all of its leather furniture here in the United States. They had the most beautiful craftsmanship I’d ever seen. Things like shape and stitching set them apart. Now, Eleanor Rigby is on my list when a customer wants a custom leather piece.

Taylor Rummell

Why did you join Ivy?

Ivy is the program that I have been waiting for to launch my business to the next level. There are so many facets to what we as designers do. The organization of everything alone could be a full time job. Just before I joined Ivy, I was interviewing assistants…not to help in the design phase, but to simply manage the business side. So much stress has been alleviated as I use Ivy for my day-to-day work. Ivy is a part of my strategy for success!

Taylor Rummell

How has Ivy helped streamline your workflow?

I’m streamlining every aspect of my business by using Ivy. From creating proposals and purchase orders to keeping track of my time, Ivy has got me covered.

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without?

One of my favorite features is that I’m able to create my own product library. This will be invaluable! Moving forward, I see myself being able to streamline my client proposals as I’m able to quickly and easily create tear sheets sourced from tried and true, proven materials that I’ve collected in my product library.

Being a part of Ivy has motivated me to take my business up a notch, knowing that I have a platform that backs up the business side of my creative job!

Taylor Rummell

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Did you know that some of the most common interior designer mistakes are based simply on emotion? More often than we’d like, business professionals quickly make decisions out of fear instead of considering the real facts. Unfortunately, this fear leads to professionals not making enough money to account for all of their creativity, effort and time put into projects, which can cause overwhelming feelings of worthlessness and helplessness.

Michele Williams, Founder of Scarlet Thread Consulting, has dedicated herself to the interior designers and window covering professionals in need of strategic business coaching that will not only build your profitability, but uplift your confidence to overcome your fears and break through those complicated business hurdles. From learning how to price without emotion, to the more complicated elements of the business, Michele helps designers across the country gain back their confidence. Here, Michele discusses the pain points interior designers face day-to-day, common business mistakes and how to avoid them, and other words of wisdom to fuel your passion for profit.

Michele – you’re the founder of Scarlet Thread Consulting – how did you get where you are today?

Great question! We all start somewhere, right?

After college, my first career was in financial software development. In that role, I worked on the integration of Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Purchasing and Inventory for Dun and Bradstreet Software. As a development manager, I helped a team develop a Project Accounting application to fit in with our other financial applications. While working corporate in Atlanta, and not having family here to help with two children under two years of age, it became pretty tough to balance home and climbing the corporate ladder. So, I chose to come home to raise my children.

While home, I started a company offering custom window treatment design and fabrication in 2000. As you can imagine, it threw me into the interior design field and I loved the creativity every minute. As most businesses do, mine morphed – I have done a variety of things ranging from school management for custom home furnishings to publishing a magazine to hosting regular monthly webinars for education and teaching across the United States.

In 2013, my business shifted again to where I currently am. Many of the Interior Designers and Drapery Workrooms that I had taught how to price their custom work started contacting me and asking me to coach them. So I took coaching classes and started down that path and I love it. Now, I am able to offer education and implementation to those I work with across the U.S., Canada, Bahamas and the U.K. It has been tremendous!

Christina Wedge

Scarlet Thread Consulting provides strategic business coaching for interior designers and window covering professionals. What are the big pain points interior designers face day-to-day when it comes to managing their business?

Oh, those pain points. We all have them at some time and quite often it seems when we get one under control, another shows up. The top pain points I see from my Interior Design clients are as follows (in no particular order):

Pain of not making enough money for all the time, effort and energy that they put into the business which leaves them feeling exhausted and worthless.

Pain of being taken advantage of by clients or vendors and not having a clear scope of work to support their efforts. They don’t know when the project is done – and if they do, they are not in agreement with the client.

Pain of not fully understanding all of the financials in their business which shows up as not paying themselves even, when they have money in the bank account, having to put money back into the bank account a month after taking some out, not understanding cash flow, not having money for taxes or retirement, not being able to analyze their financial statements for growth or even sustainability.

Working with the wrong clients and fear that if they make choices to support themselves in business that they will no longer have clients. Fear keeps them trapped.

Feeling like a hamster on a wheel – no more passion in their business, drained, done.

“Many designers, dare I say most, are right brained creatives and the numbers for the finances are scary. But wrapping your arms around it can be done, and I think this is critical to success.”

Courtesy of Michele Williams

Other than business coaching, please tell us about the workshops, training and educational seminars you provide…

I offer a variety of business topics but am best known for my “Pricing Without Emotion” and “Passion for Profit” courses. “Pricing Without Emotion” goes through the nitty gritty of pricing custom work. We work through strategic and tactical pricing models and each person leaves understanding how each dollar moves through their business and what inefficiency costs them per minute. This class travels across the U.S. and only needs 6 people to bring it to your area.

“Passion for Profit”, an online course, teaches each person how to best manage their money with bank balance accounting. In this course we learn to save for Operating Expenses, Taxes, Salary, Profit and other costs/investments that make running a business profitable. The goal is to manage our business and not let it manage us. Enjoy 10% off the Passion for Profit course using promo code: IVY10. This will give 10% off to get started making your business profitable!

My other courses are business related and address: Negotiation Skills, Communication for Success, Building a Better Bio, and Adding Education as an Income Stream to name a few. Some of these are online and some are taught in seminar format. I am happy to share these in a group format for anyone who is interested in coordinating an event.

Christina Wedge

What are the common mistakes you see interior designers make when it comes to their business decisions?

The most common mistakes I see are based on emotion. Quite often we make decisions out of fear and not based on concrete facts. We run scenarios in our head and almost write a script filling in the blanks instead of asking and dealing with hard truth – then we respond.

The better way is to “remove” ourselves from the issue and try to consider what advice we would give to an interior designer friend. We would be able to see more clearly – and we need to look at our own business the same way. By waiting a day to respond and really thinking through what we want the outcome to be, we are better able to work towards resolution for all instead of for only one party involved.

Brooke Lark

Based on your knowledge of the industry, why should interior designers embrace the digital era?

Everything around us is changing and progressing. The digital era is upon us and not going away. Here is the beauty in it though – if done well, it should allow us to become more efficient – not less. Coming from a software background, I don’t believe there is one solution for every business or every person. We all interact with software, apps and technology in different ways, often based on the way we think or interpret and capture data. Finding the solution that works for you and your company and helps you streamline business is worth the investment. I could not imagine going back to paper and pen for every function in my company. We would have to serve less people to even get the work done.

Processes and systems are imperative for a profitable company and I believe technology allows us to create these systems and processes quickly.

“Finding the solution that works for you and your company and helps you streamline business is worth the investment.”

Who are some of your favorite accountants and bookkeepers that you’d recommend to interior designers? 

There are many great accountants and bookkeepers in the industry. For me, I love working with those who understand our industry (we use all the pieces and parts of accounting) and want to help us do things correctly and better….not those who just take numbers and move them around. The bookkeeper and accountant I always suggest also work with my clients on Profit First money management which is the process I teach in my “Passion for Profit” course and how I coach my clients to profitability. We work as a team to support our clients and have all even gotten on the phone to make sure that the client has the best service and is being directed in one way – not being sent in five different directions. Choosing a service provider is a huge step no matter whether it is for coaching or for financials or marketing – they have to be trustworthy and have your best interest at heart. You want someone on your team who will raise a flag if they see something – not stay quiet and just let it be.

Kristy Lott with Dime Tax is the accountant I recommend. She can be reached at kristy@dime.is or 678-861-4573 and her website is www.dime.is.

Sherry Wilson with Sherry S. Wilson is the bookkeeper I recommend. She can be reached at swilsonoffice@comcast.net or 678-617-8409. Her new website is www.businessbythebook.money.

Both of these are located in Georgia but with Quickbooks Online they serve my clients and others across the entire U.S.

To the interior designers just launching their business, can you offer some words of wisdom for keeping that positive and creative entrepreneurial spirit?

Invest in your business. Invest in learning how to do as much right as you can from the beginning so that the weight of doing it incorrectly does not pull you down. Get in the middle of the financials early. Many designers, dare I say most, are right brained creatives and the numbers for the finances are scary. But wrapping your arms around it can be done, and I think this is critical to success.

In your opinion, how important is an interior designer’s bio?

Wildly critical. Because a well-crafted bio not only tells who you are but it tells who you serve and what you are known for. It is as much about your ideal client as it is about you. One that is thrown together or focused too much on you does not work in our market today. The ideal client is looking to recognize themselves in what you write – take the time to do it well.

Can you share some basic profit building tips for interior designers?

Absolutely – I could do this part all day!

Know your value. Eat it, live it, breathe it. Be able to express it at a moment’s notice. If you don’t think your products and services are valuable your client will not either.

Don’t spend with your bank account – spend with theirs. Get out of your own way when pricing.

Be honest with yourself and acutely aware of how much it takes to do a project. The numbers don’t lie. If it takes 20 hours, charge for 20. If it takes 10, charge for 10. But for all that is good in the world, don’t work 20 and charge for 10. That hurts everyone in the industry.
Price to profit. Price your goods and services to be able to give the BEST product and the BEST service. If you can’t be bothered to make things right when they go a little south on the project, then you probably did not charge enough to do that. Plan for the risk you are taking and price for it.

Manage the expenses. It is not enough to have a huge income amount – you need a huge gross profit and then to manage expenses so that you can have a net profit to be proud of. This is where you are being paid – spend wisely.

What are some of the best ways interior designers can market themselves?

From many that I work with, word of mouth is still king. But that takes work. Be able to tell what you do and how you do it whenever asked. You should never stumble over this – it should roll off of your tongue like your name. Always carry business cards – look for synergies with other people and businesses. Use any free marketing that reaches your ideal client – which starts by knowing who they are and where they hang out. Manage the ROI of your marketing strategies. My goal is to get back 3 times what I invest in marketing over a given period of time. If I don’t make the return, I do something else. And if doing anything in print- it takes many times to see a payoff. Consistency in branding and messaging is key.

“Invest in your business. Invest in learning how to do as much right as you can from the beginning so that the weight of doing it incorrectly does not pull you down.”

Christina Wedge

Can you name some other resources and networking groups empowering interior designers today that you particularly admire?

I manage a Facebook group called “Build A Profitable Business for Interior Designers and Workrooms” that is a great resource for encouragement. I would love for you all to join. In addition, joining national networking groups is also important such as WCAA, ASID, IDS, IFDA, and IIDA. In my area we have a group called Design Collective. It is a local grass roots group that gathers for education and inspiration. Many of the designers in my area open up their business to bring in others for networking. Take advantage of all that you can online and locally where you live.

What are your personal business goals?

My personal business goal is to continue offering services and education to creatives in the interior design and drapery workroom industry so that they can run a profitable business. To know that I impacted families by helping a parent or spouse make money in a business they love is everything to me. Encouraging and equipping designers to work in their passion and to express themselves while being able to pay themselves, save for retirement and cover taxes is HUGE. Every chance I have to spread the pricing and profitability love I want to take!

Christina Wedge

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Interior Designers with a Sunday routine set themselves up for a creative and productive week ahead. Sunday structure and rituals can help you as a creative entrepreneur re-energize, gain clarity, and prioritize your weekly goals. We’ve rounded up the weekend habits that interior designers love to integrate into their Sunday schedule.

Map Out Your Day and the Week Ahead

Your time is precious. There are simply not enough hours in a work week to waste spare time on Sundays. While your heart may be telling you to sleep in late, do yourself a favor and avoid Sunday scaries by using your Sunday time wisely and making an immediate plan of action for the day. Take it a step further and jot down your weekly goals and overdue payment follow-ups, and sign-up for your weekly fitness classes you need to book in advance. You’ll be thanking yourself Monday morning.

Get the Annoying Stuff Done First

For successful entrepreneurs, Sundays are just as productive as they are leisurely. Do your food shop for the week and finish laundry before you take the rest of the day to just enjoy. Save the long walks, extended daybed naps and bubble baths for later in the day and check off your important to-do tasks first.

Catch Up With the People You Love

Skype your friend who lives abroad, call your family member, or meet a friend for an iced green tea. According to Roy Cohen, professional coach and author of The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide, successful professionals make sure to spend time with the people they love before starting their busy workweek when they are less available.

Treat Yo’Self

Do you! Enjoy the simple pleasures and things that make you happy. Take time for yourself and catch up with The Sunday Times, jam out, binge watch Netflix Abstract: The Art of Design, and take long, leisurely baths.

Salute Your Endorphins

Exercise releases happy chemicals to your brain, relieves stress, energizes you, eases anxiety, fights against insomnia, and makes you dance like no one’s looking. If you’re not looking to work up too much of a sweat, yoga, stretching or a relaxing walk outside will do the trick.

Go To Bed Early

Get your beauty sleep. Sleep is one of the most significant factors to your health, productivity, and overall happiness. Try to get your eight hours on Sunday so you feel fresh for the busy week ahead. Try sipping on some Chamomile tea or sniffing some lavender oil to self-induce a good night’s sleep.

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Are you in the market for some business cards, thank you cards or anything branded? Here are some of the industry’s go-to resources for printing any and every type of marketing material. Make sure to always verify centering!

Moo

Hands-down, Moo is the #1 destination to get your business cards printed. They are the fanciest, they have the highest quality, and the packaging is simply adorable. The double stock is particularly fantastic for the price.

Moo

Moo: https://www.moo.com/us/ 

Vista

Second place goes to Vista for printing business cards. The quality is up there, but make sure to verify centering with this vendor.

Vistaprint

Vista: http://www.vistaprint.com 

Finoprint

This Etsy Store specializes in business card printing and design, including letterpress, silk, foil, raised ink and linen. Printing on linen gives your business cards an organic and natural feel.

Finoprint

Finoprint: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Finoprint

U-Printing

U-Printing is a great resource for printing on various products, not exclusive to business cards, in all shapes and sizes.

U-printing

U-Printing: https://www.uprinting.com/

CustomInk

CustomInk is fabulous for printing on various products as well, especially tote bags and water bottles!

IvyMark

CustomInk: https://www.customink.com/

Zazzle

You can pretty much brand anything on Zazzle, including notebooks, iPhone covers, totes, mugs, etc.

Zazzle

Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Designer Spotlight: Shannon Adamson of Shannon Adamson Interior Design, LLC – Seattle, WA

How did you get where you are today?

I’ve had a somewhat untraditional path to starting my own firm in that I’ve worked as a designer for a variety of other companies for 13 years before fully branching out on my own.  That experience exposed me to a lot of different ways of doing business (good and bad), and has informed the way I currently run my business.

I’m originally from Boise, Idaho, and received my Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design at Utah State University.  My internship was with a 198 year-old firm in Edinburgh, Scotland.  That firm had an in-house dream team of furniture makers, drapery seamstresses, and upholsterers.  It gave me an appreciation for handcrafted custom work and the importance of supporting those dying crafts.

After completing my internship, I went to work for a hospitality design firm in Boulder, Colorado, and lived in Colorado for the next ten years.  In that time, I went on to work for a solo residential designer, a mid-sized design-build company, and as a corporate in-house designer for a restaurant concept.  About 2.5 years ago, my husband and I moved to the Seattle area for his job and I began to develop my own business, while continuing as a consultant for the restaurant company.  In August of last year I officially struck out on my own, and am loving it!

Stu Garner

Shannon Adamson Interior Design is a full-service design studio creating functional and beautiful spaces. How do achieve this?

Working in both commercial and residential design has reinforced the importance of not only how good something looks, but how well it holds up over time.  Because of that, in all of my projects, I strive to focus on how the design will look in 2, 5, or 10 years.  Anything can look good in a photoshoot just after install.  To me, the true test of a successful design is how well the components hold up with use, and how timeless the aesthetic is.

Josh Peterson

Who are some of your favorite local Seattle vendors that you work with?

Partly out of unwillingness to drive in Seattle traffic more than I have to, and partly out of wanting to support small local companies, I’ve focused on getting hyper-local with my resources.  Because of this, some of my favorite vendors are close to my home, a little north of Seattle.  Elpis and Wood is my go-to live edge wood shop. My workroom, A Custom Shade, does top-notch work just a few miles away.  J Garner Home and Dixon Group in the Seattle Design Center are life savers, and my custom furniture/millwork guy, Mike Veatch can create anything I throw at him! The interaction with the makers of each component of the design is one of my favorite aspects of the job.  I learn so much from them, and it makes my next design that much better.

Wynne H Earle

How does designing make you feel? 

It sounds so trite, but it’s really such an integral part of who I am.  Designing makes me feel at peace, energized, and inspired.

What’s your business mantra? 

I’m definitely working on this!  At the moment, it’s kind of an anti-mantra that goes something like “How on earth do I keep my clients happy and be a mom and wife too”.  I’ve got a 22-month-old, so I’m still figuring it out.  So many designers in the Ivy community make it work, and it is so inspiring to me!

Michael Ulm

When you start a new project, how do you get to know your client and the space?  

For residential projects, I think you can learn a lot about a person just from seeing their living space.  A fascination with this aspect of houses is what lead me to study interior design, and you can infer a lot about the inhabitants when visiting their home.  Aside from that, I spend a lot of the initial design meeting getting to know the clients, where they are from, what they do for a living, and all of the usual stuff.  All the while, you’re trying to get down to figuring out what it is they really want out of their project.  Not just a nice-looking space, but what they really want.

For commercial clients, I focus on branding; what messages they want to project to their clientele through the space.  Is their current space projecting that brand, and why or why not?

As far as getting to know the space, I take time to do a very detailed site measure that allows me to analyze the space, take notes on directions of windows, and analyze the building systems (electrical, plumbing, structural) that might impact the project.  It’s important to get undistracted time inside the space you’re working with to really take it in.

Sean McFarr

In your opinion, why is it important for interior designers to take advantage of wholesale pricing through local design center showrooms and manufacturers? 

I’m not sure how designers work otherwise!  Working through local showrooms and manufacturers allows for so much more customization and variety in our designs.  Through those showrooms we have access to literally thousands of manufacturers all over the world that aren’t available to the general public.  In my mind, clients hire a designer to put something together that is uniquely made for them. If their next door neighbor can buy the same beige sofa from Crate & Barrel, what value are we really offering?

It also allows us to support U.S. manufacturing. Most furniture lines shown in design centers (particularly mid-to higher-end ones) are benchmade in the U.S. from domestic materials. The workers are protected by labor laws, and there is a pride of workmanship.  What standard retailers primarily offer are mass-produced factory-made pieces imported from China. The quality control and workmanship isn’t there, the designs tend to be blah, and the quality of life for the factory workers certainly isn’t there.

A designer for whom I’ve worked for several years has toured multiple factories in China that produce upholstery pieces for Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and Crate & Barrel.  It’s a lesser product in so many aspects.

As designers, we have a lot of market influence since we purchase exponentially more furnishings and finishes than any one household will.  How and where we spend our clients’ dollars has a far-reaching affect, and we should be mindful of that.

Stu Garner

Why did you move forward with Squarespace as your website platform? 

Squarespace’s ease of use, and beautiful templates are what sold me.  Ain’t nobody got time for anything else!  Their templates are particularly geared toward people in visual fields, which works well in our industry.

Why did you join Ivy?

I was really grabbed by the tagline of “design software that isn’t stuck in the ’90s”.  Like many other designers, I’d been subjected to working with klunky, comedically outdated design software.  When I started amping up purchasing for my clients, I knew I didn’t want to deal with any of that.  Enter, Ivy!

Michael Ulm

How has Ivy helped streamline your workflow?

It has compiled my invoicing, project tracking, and purchasing all in one system.  I love the responsiveness of the technical support.  They are probably sick to death of my requests, but the level of service is outstanding.

What have you learned from being part of the Ivy Designer Network? 

So, so much!  From new to-the-trade resources I was unaware of, to meeting other Seattle-area designers, to getting introduced to The Business of Design and A Well Designed Business podcasts, it has really been an important go-to resource that has changed the way I approach my business. It also makes the journey of a solopreneur feel a lot less lonely.  I love my Ivy network!

Stu Garner

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without?  

The time billing function is fantastic, and the Ivy Clipper is aces!

WH Earle

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.