HOMIES is an online home décor shop born out of Los Angeles, CA. The shop carries unique goods from Europe, India, Morocco, Turkey and Mexico, as well as hand-made goods from the always sunny city of Los Angeles. Some of the items in the shop have traveled from afar, but have been re-purposed in LA to create décor that is truly unique and often times one-of-a-kind.

HOMIES owner, Kiley Story, discusses the LA design influence, working with interior designers, and the most essential element to a room.

Enjoy 15% off HOMIES goods using code: BLACKFRIDAY (valid 11/20-11/25 Midnight PST).

HOMIES sells well-traveled and handcrafted décor – what’s your sourcing strategy?

When I first started looking for products for the store, I turned to Instagram and flea markets. I had followed so many home décor and interior design accounts at that time, and I knew the style of products I wanted to sell on HOMIES. Searching Instagram for hashtags like #cactussilk or #moroccanpillows led me to merchants in Morocco, Turkey, India and so many other places. All it took was an email or direct message to get things started. Shopping at flea markets allowed me to find one-of-a-kind blankets and rugs that could be re-purposed into pillows for the shop.

HOMIES

How would you describe the HOMIES lifestyle?

The HOMIES lifestyle has been influenced by living by the beach. Our collection is coastal, bohemian, and very colorful. Each piece has a unique personality, just like our customers.

Photo by Monica Wang

Who are some local independent artists and interior designers that you admire?

I have been following Amber Lewis from Amber Interiors since I moved to California. I could swoon over her Instagram accounts all day long! Amber is a California native – she started with a blog about interiors and now has her own firm, an E-Commerce store, and a gorgeous shop in Calabasas that carries all of her products. It’s so inspiring to see the spaces that she transforms and the design decisions she makes. Trust me, you’ll want to live in her Instagram account. Plus, she’s got a great sense of humor, and I love that!

@amberinteriors

How does being based in Los Angeles influence your business?

So many people from all over the world live here in Los Angeles. Each person’s style is so different from the next because of that. The city is literally a melting pot of people so I try to carry a melting pot of goods that could interest all types of buyers.

Finding unique fabric is also easy to do here because a market is happening somewhere in the city almost every single weekend. These markets have been a great resource for us to get fabrics from Africa, Thailand, Morocco, and many other places. Mud cloth textiles from Africa have made a huge splash this year and that’s definitely our #1 seller. I rarely get new mud cloth pillows on the site because they are gone before they even get photographed! We also try to sell at least one market or event per month so buyers can see our products and buy in person. You can see all of our upcoming events here.

HOMIES

What are some spaces featuring HOMIES products that you are particularly proud of?

Last year, we were able to help the founder of Create & Cultivate, Jaclyn Johnson, with a home renovation project she did. We were over the moon to have our African Mud Cloth lumbar pillows used to style her backyard space and her bedroom. She clearly has a love for indigo because her bedroom uses gorgeous blues from floor to ceiling! It looks like heaven.

Photo by Monica Wang

What are some of your best-selling products?

Our extra long lumbars are by far the most popular item we sell. Up until recently, everyone was purchasing standard square pillows for bedding and couches. People then started to mix and match sizes, and now the extra long lumbar is considered the ‘One and Done’ pillow, meaning, you can simply throw it on your bed and be done with your styling! Our extra long lumbars are 14 x 36 inches, but just this week, I was asked to do a custom pillow that is a 50 inch lumbar to be used on a king bed. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

HOMIES

What’s your favorite social media platform and why?

Instagram is by far my favorite media platform to use personally and for HOMIES. It’s such a great place to look for inspiration. It’s also a substantial traffic driver to our E-Commerce store and it’s an opportunity for us to share new products, how to style them, and also let our followers know about sales we are running.  

@homiesdecor

How do you typically work with interior designers?

Our contact form is no stranger to emails from interior designers looking for products to style their clients’ homes.  We extend a 15% discount when purchasing for clients so feel free to reach out to us so we can get the ball rolling!

HOMIES

In your opinion, what’s the most essential element to a room?

The most essential element to any room, or home for that matter, is a theme. It can be based on colors, textures, or overall aesthetic. My biggest pitfall in designing our home was that we lacked a theme. We had furniture that mixed and matched, but not in a good eclectic way. We had colors that clashed and the space looked cluttered because of it. My mom gave me a great piece of advice when we started to re-decorate this summer. She said, “Pick one color family that you like and then decorate around that”. We started re-arranging by color that day and are so happy with the transformation.

HOMIES

Can you offer 3 tips of “best practices” to interior designers for choosing the right furnishings when decorating a space?

1. You definitely need to design for the size of space you are working with. Decorating for small spaces requires looking for pieces that make the room feel larger than it is. We added floor to ceiling curtains in all rooms in our home even though the windows are floor to ceiling. Now, the rooms look much larger. Because our home is small, we also strayed away from big bulky furniture and tried to find pieces that you can somewhat see through such as tables with legs, a TV stand with large shelves, etc.

2. Don’t think you can’t customize your space just because you are renting and can’t knock down walls. Swapping out light fixtures, handles on cabinets, removing the gross plastic blinds, and so on can make a space feel like it’s yours, and not a cookie cutter of your neighbor’s apartment.

3. Add a plant in EVERY room. I don’t think our home felt like it was livable until I made trips to the nursery and brought green into the space. Now, we have succulents, air plants, cacti, snake plants, and yucca trees. If the climate or your lack of a green thumb doesn’t allow real plants in your home, opt for fake ones that look just as nice!

HOMIES

Here at Ivy, we’re more than just an interior design software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?

There are so many reasons to be thankful. In the spirit of Thanksgiving season, Ivy Designers share kind messages they’ve received from appreciative clients that remind us why we’re in the business of Interior Design; to help clients turn their house into a home.

“Five stars aren’t enough to express the quality of Barbara’s work and the extraordinary integrity, sensitivity and thoughtful awareness she brings to it. Through her deep sense of empathy, she was able to discern and bring to life exactly what I was looking for before I fully understood it myself. I am deeply grateful to her for all she has done for me, and I can’t imagine moving anywhere in the future without Barbara by my side. Working with her has truly been one of the great pleasures of my life!” – Client of Ivy Designer Barbara Vail of G A L Y E A N V A I L

Design by G A L Y E A N V A I L, Photo by Joyelle West

“Thank you so much for updating our condo in Pacific Beach. It looks spectacular now. The master bedroom is awesome! The living room is fantastic. I can go on and on but it revolves around the amazing work that you put into it. We will definitely contact you for any future projects.” – Client of Ivy Designer Katy Sears of GRAWSKI STUDIOS

Design and Photo by Grawski Studios

“Thank you for the excellent work you did with Kathy on our home. Your recommendations were consistent with what we (OK Kathy) wanted. Your ability to put her thoughts to reality is a testament to how professional you are. We love our home!” – Client of Ivy Designer Rebecca Foster of Rebecca Foster Design

Design by Rebecca Foster Design, Photo by Luke Gibson

“Christine’s interior design work for me has ranged from simple rearranging of furniture to a complete master bath/office/living space remodel. After assessing my style and the style of the house, I love that she gives me choices that will work so I can choose my favorite. She knows how to get things done. She has helped me get the right curtains, pillows, tile, countertops, paint, furniture, rugs, wall art, etc. And then, she puts everything in the right place for the best functionality, as well as look. She is always prompt in answering my phone calls and emails. I have found her help invaluable in saving time and creating the look I want.” – Client of Ivy Designer Christine Craig of Designology

Design by Designology, Photo by Joshua Shelly

“The women at Design House are creative, innovative, professional, friendly and they have vision that I never could imagine having in my lifetime. We had a tricky house to re-design and no clue what to do when we walked into it. They had ideas, they were excited to get going on the plans, and the presentation was more than a surprise…we are using all of the great ideas they came up with. I’m so happy I found this company. I would recommend to ANYONE!” – Client of Ivy Designer Judi Granucci of Design House Interiors

Design by Design House Interiors, Photo by Glenn Toole

“I can’t tell you how much we have appreciated everything you’ve done to help us feel like our new house is a home. My family was just here for a visit and loved everything! Thank you for taking me by the hand and gently leading me out of my comfort zone and into the most beautifully designed home we could imagine. We are so proud when we have guests over and that is entirely because of you! I tell everyone how amazing you are to work with. I almost feel like it’s our obligation to let EVERYONE know about you!” – Client of Ivy Designer Roxanne Lumme of Roxanne Lumme Interiors

Design by Roxanne Lumme Interiors, Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

“I have had the pleasure of working with Michelle Jolas and Lauren Lozano Ziol for the past 6 months. During that time, they transformed my first floor from a dated, ugly space to an elegant yet comfortable living area which is absolutely perfect for our family. Michelle and Lauren are talented designers, adept at understanding my comfort zone while providing unique and creative suggestions to inspire me to take it up a notch. In addition to suggesting several unexpected but delightful design elements, they were able to use many existing pieces, but in a new way which changed them completely. They worked extremely cohesively as a team and with outside vendors to ensure seamless and timely delivery of all aspects of the project. It has been a wonderful experience, so much so that floor #2 is currently in progress with more to follow!” – Client of Ivy Designers Michelle Jolas and Lauren Lozano Ziol of SKIN LLC

Design by SKIN LLC, Photo by Andrew Miller

“Hiring CAROLYNLEONA was one of my top five decisions of the year. ‘WOW – I love it!’ is my favorite expression when first viewing her designs. I’m living with them now and loving them even more. I tell my friends, ‘You want someone who’s a creative, resourceful, knowledgeable, responsive, perceptive designer with a great team? Call Liz Goldberg!'”. – Client of Ivy Designer Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA

Design by CAROLYNLEONA, Photo by Michael Moss

“I have the chills. You are AMAZING at what you do. I’m obsessed with our house.” – Client of Ivy Designer Jessica Lynn Williams

Design by Jessica Lynn Williams, Photo by Luke Williams

“This was my first time working with an interior designer…I was a bit apprehensive about the process and did not know what to expect. I also had an extremely firm budget which added to the anxiety. I had lofty goals on a very REAL budget. I put a few feelers out and reached out to a number of firms and quickly realized that finding a designer was going to be tough. I was met with a lot of “your budget is too small” or “the firm is unable to take on new jobs” Then, I was contacted my designer Monique from Duarte Decor…after one conversation with her “I knew” that I had found my designer. Her energy aligned with mine and she seemed genuinely interested in helping me achieve my design goals. She and members of the firm were warm, courteous, patient and professional. They didn’t treat me as a “small” job but gave quality time and attention to my project…I definitely had a great experience working with Monique & Duarte Decor and look forward to working with them on future projects.” – Client of Ivy Designer Monique Duarte of Duarte Decor, LLC

Design by Duarte Decor, LLC, Photo by Kelley B.

“Casa & Co. Design (Ashley), helped me rearrange the living and dining space in my home. She was very respectful of my stuff and my taste, but somehow managed to arrange everything in a way that just looks right. Guests commented on how much bigger the room seemed. I loved that we were able to preserve all the functionality of the room, yet it could have been pulled right out of a design magazine. It was such a great experience working with Ashley and I recommend her every chance I get!” – Client of Ivy Designer Ashley Gries of Casa & Co. Design

Design and Photo by Casa & Co. Design

“I’m speechless! You beyond exceeded our wildest dreams! You’re absolutely amazing to work with and made this such a fun, easy, and stress free project! We’re thrilled with how it all came together and honestly I’m so sad we don’t have any more rooms to work on (at least for now).” – Client of Ivy Designer Dina Holland of Honey + Fitz

Design by Honey + Fitz, Photo by Jessica Delaney Photography

“We just moved into our new home and needed professional help with turning our new house into a warm and welcoming home; ready to entertain family and friends for the holidays! TAB took our boring large space and helped us convert it into a cuddly and warm sanctuary where we now love to spend time alone or with company. Their modern flare, creative sense, and spunky style made it really fun for us to play around with color and still achieve a classy look overall. The designers at TAB are kind, attentive, and passionate about what they do. They are very accommodating and understanding which made our experience much more enjoyable. We look forward to hiring TAB for future interior designing projects.” – Client of Ivy Design Firm TAB Interior Designs, LLC

Design and Photo by TAB Interior Designs, LLC

“I brought Libby in after months and months of research and head scratching when I realized I needed a professional’s eye. Libby did a great job of listening and integrating my already set-in-stone ideas. I never felt ‘on the clock’ and she always gave me an honest opinion. She did a lovely job of wrapping my ideas with a solid foundation and a cohesive feel.” – Client of Ivy Designer Libby Mansour Joy Home Interiors

Design by Joy Home Interiors, Photo by Wynne H Earle Photography

“Thank you so much for transforming our home! This whole experience has been wonderful.” – Client of Ivy Designer Jessica Williamson of JTWdesign LLC

Design by JTWdesign LLC, Photo by Alexis Courtney

“I am struggling to find the words to adequately express how grateful Kimi and I are for the amazing new room makeover. Thank you just does not seem sufficient. It was a truly magical day as Kimi experienced the big reveal. She was blown away by how special it was and it easily far exceeded both our expectations. Susan encouraged Kimi to dream big and be creative…they make quite a team! Susan is a gift to all of these warrior kids. A special thank you to Susan’s amazing team who overcame quite a few hurdles today to get the room completed…Thank you to all generous SGBD sponsors and donors who helped make this spectacular room a reality. My daughter Kimi has been battling cancer for over 7 years. She has been through so much. In all of this time, her room has always been a hodge-podge of second-hand or hand-me-downs. For her to now have this special oasis to call her own, a beautiful garden of healing, is beyond priceless. I am humbled by how much joy this has brought to Kimi.” – Client of Ivy Designer Susan Wintersteen of Savvy Interiors

Design by Savvy Interiors, Photo by Dandelion Dreams Photo

“K WILSON DESIGN is top notch. I needed some help with my main living area and was on a very tight budget. Kacey worked within the constraints and took into consideration that I also have four children and two dogs…I enjoyed K WILSON DESIGNS’s work so much that I decided to use them a second time. Kacey helped design my ten year triplet daughters bedrooms. She met with them individually and helped create rooms that were taste specific to them. They are very different and she embodied their personalities in her design so well…She has a special gift for paint color selection and overall design. She knows what color goes best with your space and lighting. She is able to tie spaces together to make them look cohesive and beautiful. The best part is she is no nonsense and understands value, so you get the most for your money. I will use her for all future projects.” – Ivy Designer Kacey L. Wilson of K Wilson Design, LLC

Design by K Wilson Design, LLC, Photo by Rita Finn

“We are absolutely enjoying the bathroom, thank you! Your efforts have been worthwhile on all fronts!” – Client of Ivy Designer Sharleen Kneeland of Home Glow Studio

Design by Home Glow Studio, Photo by Kelsey Hughes​

“We actually love being at home now and don’t want to be anywhere else.” – Client of Ivy Design Firm Mohindroo Interiors

Design by Mohindroo Interiors, Photo by Ryan Hainey

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Here at Ivy, we’re more than just an interior design software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?

Let’s face it. If you’re an interior designer, your Thanksgiving table must look glam. You are known for your eye and your guests have a certain expectation for your table that you can’t live down! Having design block? These sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing tablescapes should give you some inspiration.

Bold and Rich

Created by Gadabout for The Glitter Guide

Styled by Emily Henderson, Photo by Bethany Lynn Nauert

Rustic

David Hillegas Photography

Photo by William Ellis featuring Coral and Tusk fabric with Nicholas Newcomb

Modern Organic

Anouschka Rokebrand

Emily Dahl via ELLE Decoration

Festive Autumn

One Kings Lane

Bless’er House

Minimal

Homey Oh My x AllModern

Tending the Table

Here at Ivy, we’re more than just an interior design software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?

In a modern world where the print medium is fading, it’s so important, now more than ever, to prioritize your digital presence. With platforms like Dering Hall, interior designers have a space to share their brand story and be included in world-class editorial. Dering Hall discusses their content syndication strategy, embracing technology, and the importance of photography and editorial for interior designers.

For those who are unfamiliar, how does Dering Hall work exactly?

You have few quality outlets through which to consistently tell your brand’s whole story, from the breadth of your projects to the full range of your products. Our system was created to provide you with an easy way to digitally publish your story and the entire breadth of your work, and to have your imagery included in world-class editorial that is shared daily across deringhall.com and other websites. In turn, the content that we create (our editorial team is led by Michael Boodro, former Editor-in-Chief of Elle Décor, and Dennis Sarlo, former Site Director for Architectural Digest), drives our high-end trade and sophisticated consumer audience to connect with your story and with you. Everything we do is measurable using easy analytics tools, allowing you to continue to evolve your story to garner additional engagement.

As an interior designer, how does maintaining a Dering Hall profile give you credible and relevant exposure to the industry at large?

It’s all about brand exposure that leads to opportunity. Interior designers use our daily editorial calendar and submissions process to promote latest projects, books, new product launches, and their expertise. And unlike a print article or a print ad, our syndicated content serves as a permanently searchable front door to the rich interactive experience of your story.

Design by Kimberley Harrison Interiors, Photo by David Duncan Livingston

Why would an interior designer want to source products through Dering Hall, rather than directly through a vendor?

We are not an e-commerce company. We just want to make product sourcing easier. Establishing relationships with manufacturers and brands enables us to publish a robust and easily searchable product directory that makes it easier for our members to find the right product for their projects. In essence, we do for brands what we do for interior designers, we make it easier for them to publish the breadth of their products and we create world-class editorial featuring those products.

What are Dering Hall’s most popular categories and products?

Our most popular product categories have been what you would expect – furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories. Every day, we work to continue to unearth those incredibly crafted and new products that will inspire your work.

Design by Art Home Garden

Dering Hall maintains incredible media partnerships with the likes of Elle Décor, Cottages & Homes, and more. In what way does Dering Hall work with these partners and do you have other collaborative projects in the works?

These relationships, and others like them, are part of our content syndication strategy. It’s not about our audience necessarily visiting deringhall.com to see our content, but rather our content getting in front of our audience regardless of where they’re spending time. We are in conversations with a host of additional audience appropriate websites and look forward to many more.

Based on your knowledge of the direction of the industry, why should interior designers embrace modern technology?

How much time do you have? From our publishing and marketing vantage point, it seems like many in our community haven’t yet been properly educated on how to use the Internet to their business’s benefit (and the benefits are real). Sure, everyone at this point is comfortable with email and Amazon, but ask someone about their web presence or about SEO (search engine optimization) and you might as well be speaking a foreign language. So, they delay their involvement or convince themselves that only millenials are using the Internet. Or, they try to harness the power of the Internet but quickly get frustrated that those likes and shares they get at 3am aren’t resulting in business. What we’re trying to do is educate the marketplace regarding digital while at the same point making it super easy for the industry to succeed on the Internet.

Design by Jen Talbot Design, Photo by Dustin Halleck

Why do you think it’s important for interior designers to utilize digital tools such as Ivy to bring their operations online?

It’s all about time and efficiency. On the marketing side, why debate with yourself whether to use Facebook or Instagram? Isn’t your marketing time better spent understanding and articulating your brand, and then finding one or two trusted partners to disseminate your message? The same can be said of the billing and other tools out there. You can spend all of your time on bills and timesheets and receipts and the things you despise rather than spending your time on your creativity. Be creative and let companies like Ivy take care of the rest.

In your opinion, why should interior designers invest in good photography for their portfolio?

You live a visual life. Many of your clients live a visual life and make choices based on those visual impressions. In the digital world, your photography is your business card. And good photography is worth a million words.  

Design and Photo by Centered by Design

Why are editorial opportunities so important for interior designers?

Editorial allows you to tell your story and put context around what you do. While the image is worth a thousand words, why you chose those products and why you positioned those elements the way you did conveys an understanding of you and your aesthetic. It is that understanding that creates interest and success. And as we suggested before, it’s getting harder and harder to get published as the print industry consolidates.

How does Dering Hall prepare for the holiday season?

We enjoy our friends and families. We work in a company where the mission is the design industry’s growth. Being part of a mission creates a real focus to what we can accomplish.

Design and Photo by M and M Interior Design

What’s Dering Hall’s focus for 2018?

Accelerate how we help grow the design industry by adding product features, services and editorial offerings that position the interior designer as the expert in the world of design.

Design and Photo by Greenblott Design

Here at Ivy, we’re more than just an interior design software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?

Maegan – how did you get where you are today?

I live in the wonderful city of San Diego. I am a true California girl and was raised in Redlands, CA which is nestled between Los Angles and Palm Springs. I initially wanted to be a fashion buyer but fell into working for a few luxury home furnishing companies. I represented all of Southern California, Nevada and Arizona so I was introduced to some of the most influential interior design firms and manufacturers. When the economy took a dive in 2009, I found myself at the disposal of many designers I grew close to, many who had to let go of most of their staff in order to survive. I was able to learn more about the design process and really found myself during a hard time for most. Things just progressed from there and I was able to land my very own first design job, which led to more and more, and now I have 5 designers on my team. I am truly blessed and enjoy what I do immensely.

Halli Aldous

How is San Diego unique from other major design hubs?

San Diego unlike most cities is very casual and it can be a challenge shopping for furniture, whereas Los Angeles or Chicago has a pretty good design district. We really depend on our reps to keep us up to date. What I love about San Diego is the intimate design community.

Who are your favorite local vendors, installers, and people of the trade in San Diego?

We love shopping at Pigment, the local wholesale nurseries, and shopping at vintage shops like Mid Century. We also throughly enjoy coming up with creative ideas and collaborating with either Cameron from Helvey Design Studio or FLB Laser Cutting + Engraving.

Halli Aldous

What trends, colors, materials and styles are you particularly into right now?

We are really inspired by hygge right now. I think we stay true to using organic materials and plants. Living in San Diego allows us to bring the outdoors in. Generally, we gravitate towards more modern clean lines though we love juxtaposing surprise “found” pieces in each room or vignette.

How does designing make you feel?

I always say the best part of the design process is when we gain our clients’ trust. I find design to be very therapeutic and I love flexing my creative muscle. When that light bulb turns on, there is no stopping me or my team.

What’s your business mantra?

Get shit done – but seriously, I would say that there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t take a moment and express gratitude for all we have. That’s the most important.

Halli Aldous

What are some creative ways your firm creates spaces with a definitive “Wow” factor?

Greenery always makes a space feel more warm and instantly more authentic. When we are designing or stylizing a space, we do our best to stay true to using natural materials. We also allow ourselves to have fun throughout the process and I think that is reflected in our design. There are pops of personality and a not-too-serious vibe that I think the average person can relate to.

How much time do you allocate towards blog and social media marketing?

Never enough time – that’s a constant challenge. We post on social media daily but blogging is tricky. I feel like once a month I can really take a moment and focus on our blog – I usually feel the pay off right away when I do it.

Halli Aldous

You have a major Instagram following – what’s your secret?

The overall feeling of the page is important. When most people click onto our page, they don’t look at an individual image, they look at the entire page and decide if they are inspired by what they are seeing. We post every day and have a lifestyle photographer on the team. She is our secret weapon.

@m.swabbdesign

Can you offer rookie interior designers some sage words of wisdom regarding business and project management?

I highly recommend Ivy not only for the software component to leverage time and business, but for the community which has acted as my day-to-day support system. Stay true to yourself and try and put blinders on to what everyone else is doing. Focus on your clients and let their personalities shine; having a diverse portfolio is important.

Halli Aldous

How do you prepare your clients for the holiday season?

This is our specialty! We have seen such an increase in the demand for holiday décor. We love shopping at wholesale nurseries for seasonal plants and florals and we try to purchase holiday décor that will last such as florals or foliage that dry naturally. We love using pomegranates and nuts and elements with a strong fragrance. The girls and I usually take a day trip to some of our favorite holiday shops to get us in the mood and it all comes together from there.

Why did you join Ivy?

We were actually on the hunt for the perfect interior design software for a while. I fell in love with how user friendly the software is and now I feel like we are a part of the Ivy Family. It’s been great seeing the software evolve, and in my opinion, it is really the best the industry has to offer.

Halli Aldous

How does Ivy make your life as an interior designer a bit easier?

Because we are in San Diego, and we don’t have much of a design district, we depend a lot on shopping online. The Ivy Product Clipper makes our lives so much easier, and now that the software has been enhanced, we love it that much more. It’s great being able to shop for a client and just keep on moving – then refer back to everything when we’re ready to put that invoice together.

Another aspect I love about Ivy is the support from the community. The resources shared through the Ivy community has saved me so much time and money. I couldn’t be happier.

What have you learned from the Ivy Designer Community (Facebook Group)?

I recently came across a challenging situation with a client and wasn’t sure how to broach the issue. I posted about it on the Facebook group and was instantly put to ease by so many designers offering advice and having my back. Because this is a creative industry, and most of us love what we do so much, it can be a challenge standing up for the business aspect of what we do. It’s important to remember that our individual expression of good design is valuable while also being supported by such a creative community.

Halli Aldous

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

I love the Ivy Product Clipper – we are usually working on several projects at one time and it’s so nice to be able to click and store so much information from the comfort of my desk.

Designers Resource Collection is Southern California’s largest multi-line interior design trade showroom offering indoor and outdoor furnishings, rugs, lighting and accessories.

If you’re local to the San Diego area, we invite you to drink and mingle alongside local interior designers at DRC San Diego. We’ll kick off the evening with some drinks followed by an exclusive presentation about how Ivy brings your business operations online so you can streamline your daily work-flow and make more time to design. Following the Q&A, DRC will present their latest collections.

When: Tuesday, November 14 from 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Where: DRC San Diego. 4060 Morena Blvd., Suite A. San Diego, CA 92117

RSVP: Space is limited, please RSVP here. For questions, please call 858-414-6646.

Lead image courtesy of DRC San Diego

How does the DRC team maintain strong relationships with manufacturers and interior designers? 

The carefully curated and well tenured professionals that work within each showroom provide unsurpassed product knowledge and dedicated service to support clientele at every stage of the business.

By aligning closely with vendors to support interior designers with access to educational events such as lunch and learns, industry expert panels, or design forums, the showrooms are valued as a hub for knowledge, inspiration and creativity, bridging the gap between designers and manufacturers.

As a one-stop-shop with items that can be purchased right off the showroom floor, the DRC showrooms are an ideal platform for vendors to display their goods, with a seasoned team of experts who stand behind the lines sold through the showroom and seamlessly support sales.’

Designers Resource Collection

Can you name some of the local San Diego and Costa Mesa interior designers you enjoy working with?

We truly value all of our clientele and consider it a privilege to have their business! As a destination for resources and products needed for a vast array of design inspirations, our designers range from emerging Millennials to well-established designers that have been in business for years. From Traditional to Modern, Coastal to Lodgey, Transitional to Industrial…we are proud to offer the latest and greatest to serve any designer with any style in mind!

Designers Resource Collection

How do you keep the local interior design community informed of the latest product trends, selections and changes in the evolving industry? 

Recognized as a hub for access to information and education for all facets of the interior design industry, DRC hosts monthly events with vendors as well as continuing education courses in partnership with ASID.

Our seasoned team is proud to serve as a resource for guidance, insight and counsel on what is happening in the industry from trends to client relationship management and more.

As a comprehensive resource, clients trust us not only with their design needs but also for advice on challenges they may be facing with business processes. Having spent many years evolving with the industry, our team has seen it all and can share their best practices as a result.

Do DRC representatives attend market? If so, what are your go-markets and what is your market strategy?

The DRC showrooms and our respective owners, buyers and managers attend High Point, Las Vegas Market and Casual Market Chicago throughout the year to stay current on new trends, gain product knowledge and source the latest and greatest for the showroom floor.

Unlike some interior design showrooms, DRC San Diego and Estate of Design Co-Owner Natasha Minasian is also a designer herself, while DRC Costa Mesa’s buyer Erica Bryen is a designer by trade too…bridging the gap between both worlds!   

When we attend market, we are placing orders for the floor since we sell and memo items directly off the showroom floor for our clients who love instant gratification. We are also on the lookout for new product releases from our favorite lines while searching for new and innovative lines we can add to our extensive vendor assortment.

Designers Resource Collection

Who are some of the up & coming lines currently featured at the DRC?

Our newest additions include Charleston Forge, Magnolia Home by Loloi, Taylor King Upholstery, Nuevo, Shine by Sho and Avasa Bedding. We are always looking to expand our line list to acquire exclusive and cutting edge brands. 

We are currently working on a few private label projects; one with a local case goods company and the other with a long standing upholstery company to create an exclusive offering of DRC branded indoor and outdoor furniture. 

Our goal is to have a resource for any and everything a client may be looking for and if we don’t have a line that offers something readily available from the current 200+ lines we carry, then we have a list of resources who can make completely custom pieces including case goods, rugs, concrete, upholstery and lighting. 

For instance, Hammerton lighting can create a fully custom light fixture that can be designed by our clients…Rene Cazares can produce fully customized upholstery, and Shine by Sho offers a fully customizable rug line where the client can choose everything including the size, color and all of the materials used for the rug construction.

Designers Resource Collection

How does DRC decide to feature a new line?

Line exclusivity and brand partnerships are very important to us. We want to showcase new and different lines that are innovative and not available to everyone outside the trade industry. We may host a lunch and learn to get the word out about a new line or showcase the product in a special way on our floor. We also put a lot of emphasis on posting information on social media and email newsletters through Constant Contact as many of our clients do not come in to the showroom for assistance, but work with our team of experts remotely via phone and email to source items.

Designers Resource Collection

Based on your knowledge of the industry, how is technology changing the industry at large?

Technology is really changing the industry by impacting the availability of product knowledge and information to the public outside the design industry. A program like Ivy allows designers to protect their sources when presenting items and invoicing their clientele.

Advancement in technology such as the Ivy platform also saves designers time and allows them to be “paperless” while keeping everything organized in one system. Although it goes without saying, the social media platforms available today and email access allow us to keep our clients informed of what is happening in the showroom in real time.

In your opinion, why is it important for interior designers to embrace tools such as Ivy to bring their business operations online?

There are so many facets of the design industry. The need is apparent for systems that allow industry standards to be implemented between designers and their clients. From how a designer presents their designs to their client, to purchasing and accounting needs, Ivy provides a functional and efficient process to be implemented, keeping both the designer and client seamlessly aligned.

From sourcing and bill pay to project tracking, Ivy seems to cover all of the bases. Designers can access Ivy on mobile so it’s constantly at the designers’ finger tips as needs arise in the field. The bottom line is that organization allows designers to save time so they are free to spend time designing and are not buried in paperwork. 

Designers Resource Collection

Here at Ivy, we’re more than just an interior design software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?

October was all about black and white hints of natural wood accents for Ivy Designers. Check out some of our favorite Ivy-designed spaces.

Lead Image designed by Ivy Firm iD8 Design Studio, Photo by Joyelle West

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Classic black and white is always a winner!! 📷: @kcharlottephoto . . . #atlantainteriordesigner #horsefarm #interiordesign #atlantainteriordesign #kiawahisland #southcarolina #oldhouselove #blackandwhitedesign #barndoor #modernfarmhouse #ARDINlivewhatyoulove #noir #newportbrass #rejuvenation #Kiawahriverstables #mountpleasantkitchen

A post shared by ARDIN interior design (@ardininteriordesign) on Oct 17, 2017 at 4:29am PDT

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Did you catch my home tour over on @apartmenttherapy? There are some great shots and angles that @lovemedophoto captured that I've never shared here on IG like this antique jelly cupboard that belonged to my grandparents. Follow the link in my profile to head over there! You'll also have the pleasure of seeing our dog steal the spotlight more than once! 😂

A post shared by Chaney Widmer (@mixandmatchdesigncompany) on Oct 24, 2017 at 5:40pm PDT

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Our master bedroom isn’t quite photo shoot ready, but all the major work is done and it won’t be long before it’s pretty like this inspo from favs @ashe_leandro – posted all the design plan details, and some info about designing with/ around a dormer. Blog link in profile and process pics in stories! #centeredbydesign #bedroomdecor #smallspacesquad

A post shared by Claire | Centered by Design (@centered_by_design) on Oct 25, 2017 at 5:58pm PDT

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White, navy and neon #mediaroom #customsectional #neonlight #moose #recleimedwood #benniamadiinteriors 📷 by @mihamateiphoto

A post shared by Benni Amadi (@benniamadiinteriors) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:32am PDT

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fbf to our #projectackerranch loving these warm + moody tones as it starts to finally feel like fall around here

A post shared by Barbara Sweetser || TLD (@barbaratown) on Oct 20, 2017 at 6:55am PDT

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More from our JP kitchen Reno featured in the @bostonglobe. Link in bio ☝🏼

A post shared by Contemporary Interior Design (@id8designstudio) on Oct 23, 2017 at 3:04pm PDT

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Luxury La Jolla AIRB+B we designed. This beautiful home just steps from the ocean is built like a tree house allowing for incredible views and lots on indoor / outdoor entertaining. #mswabbdecor #interiordesign #sandiego #lajollainteriordesign #treehouse #livingroom #interiors #luxurylife

A post shared by M. Swabb Decor + Style (@m.swabbdesign) on Oct 5, 2017 at 9:58am PDT

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#tbt to last week in Seattle to pull all the final elements together on our #grapeviewbeachhouse project with the dream team. Two years in the making and one more visit to put the finishing touches and get this amazing home photographed. It was my first new construction project and getting to see those windows, walls, entry hallway, trusses, and cabinets in 3D…in REAL LIFE was pretty amazing and was everything I imagined way back when on paper. Collab with @karenpainterinteriors and our amazing client @grapeview. Miss you both already!

A post shared by COOPER STUDIO (@cooper.studio) on Oct 12, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

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Found a pretty little orange-red twig for our bathroom yesterday and it’s bringing me a disproportionate amount of happiness 🍂 #loveyourhabitat #fallglow

A post shared by Lauren Liess (@laurenliess) on Oct 4, 2017 at 9:05am PDT

Here at Ivy, we’re more than just a software. Our mission is to provide interior designers with the community, resources and tools needed to manage your business beautifully. Are you searching for a business management tool to help streamline your workflow as an interior designer?