Interior Designer Approved Back-to-School Supplies

 

As the summer comes to an end, it’s time to prep for the “back-to-school” time of year. Here’s a list of beautiful and useful objects and supplies to keep you design-enthusiasts focused.


Empowering to-do lists 

Charming letter sorters

Darling file folders

Impressive spiral notebooks

Handy (and pretty) scissors

Desktop storage that’s easy on the eyes

Late night desk lamps

Acrylic desk accessories


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Behind the Design: Ivy Designer Lindsey Borchard of Lindsey Brooke Design


Ivy Designer Spotlight: Lindsey Borchard of Lindsey Brooke Design – Thousand Oaks, CA


Lindsey – how did you get where you are today?

Here’s the short version…I grew up in San Diego, moved to Los Angeles to go to fashion school right after high school, and worked doing costume design for awhile. Fast forward five years, I left the film industry and started working for Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic; here is where I fell in love with interiors. Fast forward another five years, I got married, had my first child, and was a stay-at-home mom living in Thousand Oaks, CA. I desperately needed creativity back in my life so I started an Instagram page for all things related to interior design and decor. One thing lead to another and I started getting inquiries about designing people’s homes. I also had a few great first projects thanks to my mom and my best friend which lead me to amazing and wonderful referrals. After a year of doing this as a hobby, I finally decided to make it an actual business and that’s when Lindsey Brooke Design was born. My official one year in business is coming up and it’s amazing to me that I have been able to really find my passion and start over at the age of 35.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

Lindsey Brooke Design does not sacrifice beauty for functional spaces…how do you achieve this with your design projects?

I think it starts with balance. When you have kids and pets, it can be hard to want nice things when they are constantly getting beat up. I love finding upholstered pieces that have great protection plans on them. It’s kind of like ‘furniture insurance’. It gives peace of mind to my clients. I also like to get quality pieces that are being used everyday. Spend more money on the sofa but maybe less on the rug. Also make sure to know which fabrics and textiles will withhold a lot of wear. Function does not have to be ugly, but it does have to be realistic, so don’t spend money on designing a space that is not fit for your lifestyle. I incorporate bold textiles and unique accents to pull together a space, but that can also be easily switched out if something happens to them.

Currently, you’re based in Thousand Oaks, CA. What’s the design scene like in the Greater Los Angeles area? Who are your favorite vendors and people of the trade to work with?

We are about one hour north from Los Angeles and about 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara, an ideal spot. There are not a lot of new homes being built but a lot of new young families settling here so a lot of my clients are families with kids, have active life styles, and want to update their current homes to fit their own needs. It’s been fun seeing the transformation of older houses and bringing them back to life in a new way. My favorite vendors right now are Four Hands, Dovetail, and Selamat Designs. We also have a wonderful little Antique Market here where I find great vintage pieces.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

You dabble in E-Design as well…what’s been your experience with this so far? Do you use a specific platform to manage this side of your business?

I really got my start in E-design, so it has a special place in my heart. I do more local business now but I think it’s a great option for someone who doesn’t want to spend a ton of money on a designer or wants to manage their projects themselves. I use a lot of the same platforms for both my local clients and E-design clients. I do all of my design boards in Keynote, resource out for renderings, and use Ivy for all of my invoicing. The difference is that I provide my E-design clients with a buying packet including links to products (it’s a simple excel PDF). There are many people doing E-design and I think it’s the best way to ease yourself into design, especially if you didn’t go to design school and don’t want to jump into taking on full-service clients. We are able to knock out E-design projects much faster and it’s a great way to fill in the gaps when local business is slower.

What projects are you currently working on?

We have some amazing projects finishing up right now. A modern beach retreat in Dana Point which is a new area for me to be working. I’m wrapping up my first bathroom remodel and finishing up one of our bigger projects to date later this month. We also started two new projects. For the new Santa Monica project, we’re going a little out of the box, using a lot of color, fun prints & patterns.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

Your portfolio is stunning…who are your go-to photographers?

I love photography and almost went to school for photography instead of fashion design so I like to be involved in the shots. I’m always moving things around to see how they affect the image. I work with an amazing photographer, Lucas Rossi, here in Thousand Oaks and will also start working with Amy Bartlam later this month.

How does designing make you feel?

It fills up a creative side of me that I can’t get from anything else. It’s like this drug that I can’t get enough of. I have always been heavily into the arts in any form, so for me right now in my life, this feels like my calling.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

What’s your business mantra?

“You can do anything, but not everything.” Here at LBD, we are a team and work better and stronger because of it. I am where I am today because of so many people other then myself and I always want to remember that. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that’s exactly true, the same goes for starting a new business. This is not a one-woman-show and acknowledging my team’s strengths and accomplishments will only make us all more successful.

You have over 10k followers on Instagram…that’s impressive! How much time do you allocate to social media, email/newsletter marketing and content marketing?

Thank you! There is one rule in social media to gain followers: consistency. For me, Instagram is a place I like to be a real human and show not only my triumphs, but my failures and struggles, not only pretty pictures.  I want people to relate to me and make connections on social media. To be honest, I’m still figuring out Facebook and Pinterest and just started creating my newsletters and email marketing. I like to dedicate half of my day on Mondays to marketing and scheduling posts; I plan one week or two at a time. I know how important social media marketing is to my business so I specifically dedicate time or it each week, this way, it’s done and out of the way. I try not to stress if it doesn’t get done.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

Why did you join Ivy?

I needed to streamline my processes and my invoicing. The clean design of Ivy drew me in. The ease of creating proposals and invoices nailed it for me.

What have you learned from the Ivy Designer Network (the private FB Group)?

Oh my gosh, where do I even start? First of all, I learned all about product mark-ups which has helped me grow my business and my bottom line. I also learned that “competition” is not a word Ivy members use. It amazes me that many amazing designers want to help and mentor the less-seasoned designers. With the help of fellow Ivy members and my business coach, Reisa Elden of Rize Collective, I’ve probably shaved off at least 3-5 years of costly mistakes because of the knowledge I’ve learned from these powerful, incredible business owners. This part of Ivy is priceless.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography

How does Ivy help streamline your day-to-day workflow as an interior designer?

Goodbye to a million different excel spreadsheets! I have been able to actually come up with a process from start to finish with clients because of Ivy and their easy way of managing all of the moving parts. I am able to have everything I need in Ivy, all in one place, and can reach it now, no matter where I am, on any computer, iPad or phone. That’s pretty amazing.

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

There are so many, but I would say the Ivy Product Clipper is pretty genius. Having photos on proposals has helped our clients approve merchandise more easily and help move our projects along more quickly. Lately, we’ve been using the Project Tracker to help streamline larger projects; it’s so easy to see everything we need all in one place.

Lindsey Brooke Design

Lucas Rossi Photography


Are you an interior designer in search of an interior design software for your business?

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Take a Look at Behr Paint’s First Ever 2018 Color of the Year

Behr Paint has announced its new 2018 Trend palette, along with their 2018 Color of the Year, “In The Moment” (T18-15).

This cool, serene blue is inspired by nature, a soothing combination of blue, green and gray, meant to provide feelings of comfort, ease, and relaxation. This therapeutic color alongside the 2018 trend palette is meant to evoke a sense of tranquility and oasis as we are now, more than ever, busy with our always-on lifestyles. Behr shares, “In name and color, this hue speaks to our desire to take a break, be present and recharge. In The Moment is versatile and perfect to use for both interior and exterior projects.” This color is relevant for a variety of design styles including coastal, modern, traditional, contemporary, and global décor.

Take a look at the beautiful ways to use this restorative hue.


Behr

Courtesy of BEHR

Courtesy of BEHR

BEHR

Courtesy of BEHR

BEHR

Courtesy of BEHR

BEHR

Courtesy of BEHR


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Designing the Colorful & Unexpected with Apartment 415


Vendor SpotlightApartment 415


Agustin – how did you get where you are today?
My mother is an interior designer so I have been around design my entire life. I went to school at Academy of Art University in San Francisco and started designing for the president of the School in my senior year. After that, I decided to start my own business out of my small Nob Hill apartment (415 San Francisco area code). That is where Apartment 415 started.
Apartment 415

Photo courtesy of Apartment 415

 
How do you describe Apartment 415’s aesthetic in 140 characters or less?
Color, contrast, unexpected, cool kids only.
 
What’s the design scene like in San Francisco?
I think San Francisco has a very unique style. There is such a mix of cultures that can be reflected in the design and architectural scene.
Apartment 415

Photo courtesy of Apartment 415

 
Who are some of your favorite local interior designers and shops?
I love what Rapt Studio does, I find their styles to be very unique and unexpected. They’ve done some of the coolest spaces not only in SF, but in the entire US. Antonio Martins is another designer that I always look up to, and of course, Ken Fulk. San Francisco has some incredible antique/vintage shops…but I can’t give my secrets away 😉 .
What’s your creative process like?
I taught Conceptual Development at Academy of Art, so I love to come up with conceptual ideas through sketching and lots of research. I would tell my students over and over again, “The more you research, the stronger your concept becomes, and the better your design will be”. I get a lot of inspiration from the fashion world, so there is a lot of fashion show watching during this process, sifting through art history books and looking back at my latin roots.
Apartment 415

Photo courtesy of Apartment 415

 
Which materials and colors do you like to use?
Color is the base of my brand so you will see a full rainbow spectrum in my designs. Friends tend to make fun of how much pink I use, but honestly, a room with a hint of pink will always make you look back and stare. Have you ever taken a photo against a pink wall? Try it, it does wonders. With the use of materials, I love mixing and matching all sorts of unexpected textures and finishes, things that you would never think would work together.
What are some of your best-selling products?

Each collection I’ve worked on has a little story behind it, but so far, the insect collection is probably the best-seller followed by the Psycho-Tropical one.

Apartment 415

Photo courtesy of Apartment 415

 
How do you typically work with interior designers?
When I do a custom design for an interior designer, I love to really understand what the space is like and what it will be used for. Right now, we are doing a super fun textile design for a TV show (can’t say who yet), but there is a lot of singing. Stay tuned.
Can you offer interior designers 3 tips of best practices for choosing the right home decor for a space?
1. Clients needs
2. Strong design concept.
3. Usage in the space.
You can’t go wrong with these three tips.
 
What’s next for Apartment 415?
We are talking to several retailers in Spain and hopefully we will hit the Asian market soon.
Apartment 415

Photo courtesy of Apartment 415


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Refreshing San Francisco’s Historic Architecture with Thomas Building Group


Custom Builder Spotlight: Thomas Building Group – San Francisco/Bay Area


Tom – how did you get where you are today?
I made a huge career change. I went from graphic design / advertising to building. In college, I had helped a friend build a couple of custom houses and realized after I got deep into advertising that I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. Thus, I took a huge leap of faith and began to learn the trade of building from the ground up.

TBG

What is Thomas Building Group’s speciality?
Tom the builder evolved to Thomas Building Group in 2012. Thomas Building Group, also known as TBG, is always striving to do more than what is just “drawn up” by an architect. We always try to build something that will last forever and make it the most special to my clients. TBG pays close attention to detail. We are always trying to create the impossible, and this is what my clients appreciate. After we receive plans from an architect, we always collaborate with the team to produce the best results for our client. TBG brings a design/build aspect to every job, every home, every project.
TBG
Are there certain elements to the building and construction process that are unique to the San Francisco/Bay Area?
Bringing a fresh new look to San Francisco’s historic architecture is always an exciting challenge.
Designing, developing, and constructing a new look for San Francisco while respecting its history is always a number one priority for TBG.
TBG
Based on your knowledge of the industry, how is technology impacting the architectural, building & design process?
Home automation is changing how clients relate to their homes. From remotely locking and unlocking doors, security monitoring, home entertainment and sound systems throughout the home, to highly efficient heating and cooling systems, technology is truly helping clients enjoy their homes to an even deeper level. Also, new materials allow homes to be more insulated and sealed. There are now better windows, waterproofing, siding, and so on, which keep homes more comfortable on the inside and helps save on overall energy costs.
TBG
How does custom building make you feel?
Building makes us feel proud. Excited is an even better word. We get excited going to work knowing we will be faced with challenges from the building side while having to figure out how to make homes aesthetically pleasing and functional. We blend function and form, and although it’s not easy, the challenge is what motivates us. Every day is different.
TBG

Custom Collaboration with Daniel Hopper Design + Adair Design Group

What’s your business mantra?
It’s never good enough until it’s perfect.
TBG
How do you typically work with interior designers?
I love working with designers – designers are an integral part of the process. Watching an empty structure turn into a home with a cohesive team behind the project assures a happy client and a job well done. Designers’ visions push me to re-think my thought process as we collaborate on turning a structure into a home.
TBG
What’s the best part about working with an interior designer? 

The necesarry help to turn sheetrock and wood into a visually stunning masterpiece.

TBG
How do you maintain healthy relationships with tradespeople? 
Listening. Taking advice. Being open to other ideas and thoughts.
TBG
Who are some of your favorite Bay Area vendors and designers that you enjoy working with?
Favorite Designers
Favorite Tradesmen
  • Daniel Hopper Design: Daniel is a Bay-Area blacksmith whose creativity is endless.
  • Steve Doriss: Steve Doriss is a mill-worker and fine furniture maker who never says no. We designed a custom bar!
  • J&A Stone & Tile: Joseph and Alex are the best of the best.
  • Goodrich Plumbers
Favorite Suppliers
TBG
Which tools do you use to help you with your project management?
QuickBooks Online. I’m always looking for ways to streamline. Hey IvyMark, when are you coming out with an affordable software for builders?
TBG

Master bath at Pacific Heights Residence

What are some of your goals for 2017?
1. Continue sourcing the best of the best in the industry.
2. Increase my team.
3. Building a home that will stand the test of time.
TBG

Custom Collaboration with Steve Dorris + Adair Design Group


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Behind the Design: Ivy Designer Firm 1 Chic Retreat


Ivy Design Firm Spotlight: 1 Chic Retreat


Mercedes and Karen – how did you get where you are today?

Mercedes: After I graduated with a Master’s Degree in interior design, I worked for Windsor Smith, an incredibly talented and highly published Los Angeles designer. Windsor taught me almost everything I know about residential design and it was invaluable. As much as I loved working for her, I wanted to venture out on my own and find my niche. I struggled for a little while searching for what that was. I knew I loved residential design, but I also love hospitality. I was trying to decide on which path to take. Then I had an ‘Aha’ moment.

My husband, two kids and I were staying in a Cambria vacation rental and as I wandered around the house visually improving it with my imagination (which I always do in vacation houses), it suddenly occurred to me that I could do this for a living. I was tickled because it perfectly combines residential design with hospitality design.

With the help of a friend versed in starting blogs, I launched 1 Chic Retreat in 2014 and the vacation rental clients have grown steadily. I joined forces with my wonderful partner, Karen Campbell, whose design background with HGTV, branding, and project management was invaluable. I couldn’t have grown the way I wanted on my own. It’s one of the best business decisions I‘ve ever made.

Karen: I travelled a number of different, albeit interesting, roads before landing at 1 Chic Retreat. I’m a former national and international television news producer who went on to co-develop and produce the show New Spaces for HGTV. When my husband and I decided to start a family, the demands of a career in television didn’t marry well with raising a family, so I decided that it was time to close that chapter in my life. I loved staying home with my girls, but as they grew older, I yearned for a new creative outlet. Painting rocks and dressing dolls wasn’t enough to fulfill me!

My daughters were riding horses and wanted a belt buckle with a pony on it. I couldn’t find anything like it so I made my own for them. When women and girls at their barn asked to buy them, a business was born. I ended up creating a belt line, beyond just horses, that was sold at small boutiques throughout the United States. But as the business grew and required me to travel, it became too difficult to balance both my family and my business. After 4 years I shut it down which was a tough decision to make. And once again I was faced with the question, “what do I do now?”.

My experience at HGTV had me working closely with architects, contractors, designers and property owners where I learned the ins and outs of design and project management. A few years ago, a friend asked me to help him finish an 18,000-square foot home he was building for a client in Southern California, where I live. Multiple deadlines were approaching fast, and he needed someone he could trust to help deliver the project over the finish line. He knew my background in project management, and valued my aesthetic and design tastes, but primarily he needed someone who could work with the finishing teams (cabinetry, flooring, and interior decorators). He wanted someone who could communicate the owner’s needs, and make important decisions quickly, on the spot when needed, to keep the massive project on schedule. He thought I would be a good fit. Today, the finished home is a stunner, with very happy owner-occupants. I have always been drawn to interior design, endlessly pouring over magazines, websites, and blogs – it is my passion. So to be working in that space, on this home, was a dream come true. When the project ended, Mercedes asked me to partner with her at 1 Chic Retreat and I couldn’t be happier.

1 Chic Retreat

1 Chic Retreat is on a mission to create the best design resource for vacation rental owners and managers. How do you achieve this using the power of design? 

There is design science to hospitality and most vacation rental owners are ignorant of what to do. They have a disadvantage to hotels in this sense. Hotels spend money on design because they know it pays off in bookings and rates and they have the finances to make it happen. 1 Chic Retreat helps vacation rental owners and managers get to a level playing field. It’s all about creating rooms that serve as “booking magnets,” or the kind of spaces that potential guests can’t resist booking.

The second part of the equation has to do with excellent reviews. By delivering comfortable, serene, and supremely engaging spaces to guests, they want to leave you an awesome review, which in turn, ensure big bookings and also repeat bookings.

In your opinion, why do well-designed homes generate more bookings and higher guest satisfaction for vacation rentals such as Airbnb, VRBO, Booking, and Home Away?

Beautiful homes are what people seek on vacation. Instead of simply “a home away from home”, people prefer “the home they wished they had away from home”. It’s all about delivering a fantasy. People work all year and yearn for get-away time. The last thing they want is an ordinary environment. Unfortunately, most holiday rentals deliver ordinary, which results in ordinary investment returns.

Owners who are willing to invest in design generally see a minimum of a 20% increase in rates and bookings. In fact, we have even seen as much as 100% increase. We have a Vermont client, for instance, who was able to double her rates after we helped her re-design her cottage. Furthermore, she has twice the bookings as her competitors.

1 Chic Retreat

Can you offer interior designers some tips of best practices for sprucing up clients’ second homes they’d like to put up for rent?

1. Everything in the house should look intentional and current with design trends. Nothing should look used, discarded, or like an afterthought. For instance, if the upholstery looks like it’s seen better days, replace it. Think like a boutique hotel. Be like a boutique hotel. You are in the hospitality business.

2. Buy comfortable mattresses! If you fail here, you will fail epically. Aim for dreamy mattresses guests will want to stay in all day.

3. Invest in beautiful, soft bed linens. White sheets are de riguer and so are two bed pillows for each guest.

4. Kitchens get a lot of use in vacation rentals so this space needs to look appealing. At the same time, a major kitchen overhaul seldom pencils out for ROI, so we recommend painting cabinets and replacing outdated pulls and knobs when appropriate.

5. The power of lighting cannot be stressed enough. Outdated or ugly lighting kills a space, so buy new lighting if the budget allows. It marries up the rest of the room.

1 Chic Retreat

What are some fun projects you’re working on now?

We are designing a romantic guesthouse in New Orleans, one of the most exciting and oldest cities in the USA. Also, we are putting the finishing touches on a boathouse in Kennebunk, Maine, which can’t be beat for charm.

1 Chic Retreat

How does designing make you feel?

Design is always rewarding, but designing vacation houses is especially so. Because we are creating spaces where friends or families gather, or where couples get away for romance, we consider ourselves happiness creators.

1 Chic Retreat

What’s your business mantra?

We love Milton Glaser’s take on design and have adapted it as our mantra – “There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.”

1 Chic Retreat

Why did you join Ivy?

We were Ivy early-adopters. As soon as we found out about it, we signed up and it has been a godsend. It has saved us countless spreadsheet and accounting hours. It’s so easy to use and we love the fact that Ivy is always innovating and making the software better to best please its users. Thank you, Ivy!

1 Chic Retreat

What have you learned from the Ivy Designer Network (the private FB Group)?

This is one of our favorite aspects of Ivy because it serves as a reality check when dealing with clients – is this normal, would you do this, how should I respond? Equally important are all the design resources we have discovered and now specify all the time.

1 Chic Retreat

How does Ivy help streamline your day-to-day workflow as an interior designer?

We can look at any project and instantly know how we stand. The dashboard is naturally chronological so it’s easy to stay on top of things.

1 Chic Retreat

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

We especially love the Proposal tab not only because we can we attach our documents to it, but because we get that documented “yes,” which is so important in documenting client-designer communication.

1 Chic Retreat


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Now Easily Purchase From 260 Trade-Only Vendors on Ivy!

 

Today, Ivy launched a Discovery Portal for its users to connect and transact with purchasing agents, contractors, freight providers, 3-D renderers, industry bookkeepers and vendors all within the Ivy platform. This allows interior design firms to easily work with the best service providers in the industry, exponentially expanding their trusted professional network.
Ivy’s goal with this feature is to further empower firms to streamline operations and be more profitable on projects by working with the right resources. For instance, Ivy Members can now purchase from over 260 trade-only vendors through Ivy purchasing agents, as well as connect with the best pros for their needs. This removes the hurdle of needing to meet minimums to place wholesale orders or spend time setting up trade accounts. For Ivy Members, this means more money from mark-ups, more freedom to source and more time for design.
Ivy has harnessed the power of the Ivy Designer Network and Knowledge Exchange to ensure this resource is unparalleled to any other available in the industry….and this is just the start!
#MakeTimeForDesign #IvyRevolution

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Rent Stylish & Flexible Furniture with Feather


Vendor Spotlight: Feather


What is Feather’s mission in 140 characters or less?
Our mission at Feather is to help people live a more free and flexible lifestyle.

Feather

Feather Founder & CEO, Jay Reno

Why rent?
Having comfortable and stylish furniture in your home or office is a beautiful thing. But, it’s ultimately a huge pain to have to deal with your furniture each time you move or want to swap something out.

The real culprit here is ownership. Ownership, by definition, means things are yours and are solely your responsibility to deal with. You’re tasked with finding and buying the items, picking them up or paying for them to be delivered, cleaning or fixing them if there’s an issue, moving them to a new apartment, or selling / scrapping them at the end of their useful life (to you, anyway).

Renting removes ownership from the equation and therefore the associated hassles and annoyances of ownership, allowing you to have a clean and comfortable home with zero strain.

Feather

Zeus

Where do you source your furniture from? What’s your sourcing strategy?
Feather has partnered with a number of amazing furniture manufacturers and retailers. We’re excited to announce a few core partnerships in the fall!

We consider our sourcing strategy and logistics to be our secret sauce. With the processes we have set in place, Feather can assemble and deliver you your furniture as soon as next day – faster than any other furniture company.

Feather

Zeus

What type of customer is typically renting Feather furniture?
Feather is perfect for a number of different use cases. Our customers range from interior designers helping their clients furnish their space without spending thousands or tens of thousands of dollars up front (instead, paying monthly) to Airbnb Hosts and property managers looking to fully furnish their own properties.

Feather also solves a problem for people who want to furnish their own homes or offices with stylish and affordable furniture but don’t know where to start or wouldn’t consider themselves savvy interior designers. We offer full home and room packages for folks who would rather leave the design to someone else.

Feather

In your opinion, how is technology affecting the design world?
New technology companies are fundamentally changing the speed at which consumers expect to see results. In design, that seems to show itself through instant access to seemingly endless style and design aesthetics. With so many styles, furniture makers, and furniture retailers, it’s becoming increasingly easy to get lost in the clutter.

The best designers we’ve come across are quick to adapt to the changing needs of consumers. Style and speed of delivery are, in our eyes, top of mind for most consumers today. Technology can help facilitate in addressing those needs through new platforms and furniture options.

Feather

Zeus

Based on your knowledge of the industry, how is the process of furnishing a space evolving over time?
What we’re seeing happen is companies like Amazon and other on-demand companies fundamentally changing delivery expectations. Waiting more than a week (read: two days) is no longer acceptable by today’s standards, regardless of what business you’re in.

Feather is a great fit for people who are used to getting anything at Amazon speed, and think it’s unreasonable to wait 6-8 weeks for their furniture to arrive. We can have an entire apartment furnished with stylish and affordable furniture as soon as the next day – all without the onus of ownership.

Feather

Zeus

What are your best-renting products and packages?
Our 1-BR packages are a hot commodity for someone moving between apartments and wanting to fully furnish their place at the click of a button. Feather has a few different price categories (standard, hip, and premium) that allow people with any budget to furnish their space with stylish furniture quickly and affordably.

Feather

Zeus

How does Feather typically work with interior designers?
For the savvy designer, we make it simple to choose items a-la-carte and style the place to their liking.

Feather has been a tool for dozens of designers who don’t want to spend hours coordinating the delivery, assembly, and placement of furniture in their clients’ homes or who have clients who’d rather make small monthly payments rather than thousands up front.

Feather

Zeus

What’s next for Feather?
We hope to introduce a rent-to-buy option shortly, so people who are on the fence about renting can essentially try before they buy.

Our mission is to help people live free and flexible lifestyles. Everything we do points back to this mission. If this resonates, we’d love to hear from you!

Feather

Team Feather


Are you an interior designer searching for an interior design software for your business management?

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Behind the Design: Ivy Design Firm M & M Interior Design


Ivy Interior Design Firm SpotlightM & M Interior Design – Chicago, IL


Leslie and Kim – how did you get where you are today?

We grew up in Southern California and although it was an amazing place to live, we both knew we wanted to live on the East Coast. After college, we made our way to NYC where Kim was an agent at Sotheby’s Realty and I (Leslie) was the creative director at a marketing agency. We’ve always loved decorating and were quick to help friends on the side. Our boyfriends at the time (now husbands) had friends who were moving into these great apartments that they had no idea how to decorate, so they’d hire us, hand over their credit cards, and they rarely asked questions. Neither Kim nor I were trained in interior design, we were self-taught and were learning on the job. Thank goodness our clients didn’t mind our lack of degrees and were simply grateful their apartments were now nice enough to bring a date home to! After getting married and each having children in NYC, it was time to move again; this time, to Chicago. We stopped working for a number of years as our families grew, but deep into each of our last pregnancies (Kim’s 3rd, my 5th),we decided we needed to start working again. Looking back, I’m not sure what we were thinking; the timing was nutty, but it’s never an ideal time to start your own business. We launched in February of 2015 and in December of that year, we were asked to design two rooms in the Lake Forest Showhouse which really catapulted our business to where it is now.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Scott Shigley

M&M Interior Design strives to create family-friendly homes. How do you maintain functional beauty in your designs?

When a client walks us through their home, it usually goes like this: “This is the family room, we watch TV in here. This is the dining room, we use it once a year…” We listen and then we try to challenge our clients to think deeper. It’s funny how differently your clients begin to think about their spaces when you show them how design can make their homes function better. For instance, instead of just a couch and coffee table, wouldn’t it be great to work in a big round table into your family room so you have space to play a board game? In the dining room, let’s make it less formal and incorporate more durable finishes and enjoy that room more often. When you have kids, the last thing you want is a home that is fussy, but that said, we are all for having at least one kid-free zone that is elegant, adult and remains perfect looking – it’s good for your soul to know that in all of the chaos, you have an oasis to escape to and take a deep breath.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Kim Meardon

What are some smart ways to create family-friendly homes?

It really comes down to picking materials that can stand up to almost anything. Thank goodness indoor/outdoor fabrics have come as far as they have. It’s now possible to have a white couch and kids and pets – imagine that! We use a lot of grass cloth on walls because it’s quite durable and we always suggest investing in good quality wool rugs and carpets – you will not be disappointed, they clean up beautifully unlike some lesser quality materials. Finding a beautiful ways to store things is key. Jute baskets to throw toys into quickly can work in any room. Built in bookshelves and cabinets make a space feel finished and are perfect for hiding kids’ stuff. Lastly, create designated spaces for the kids’ creations, whether it’s a framed gallery wall of art, or a big framed cork board in their bedroom – if there is a place for it, it’s less likely to overtake your space.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Leslie Martin

Who are your favorite local Chicago vendors and people of the trade to work with?

We are so lucky to have the Merchandise Mart as an invaluable resource here in Chicago – it’s home to hundreds of showrooms. We think of it as our design school because we’d spend hours wandering the massive halls and asking showroom reps ridiculous questions (which they were always happy to answer). We truly love our reps because they’ve been abundantly supportive over the last few years, especially when we came begging for the Lake Forest Showhouse. Chicago also has a long list of super talented artisans like furniture makers Aaron Bladon. We have an incredible team of tradesmen like wallpaper hanger Jef Reese and we love the workroom Zirlin Interiors.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Scott Shigley

What’s it like working as sisters day-to-day?

I guess it depends on the day! First and foremost, we are siblings (which means the occasional bumping of heads), but for the most part, it’s wonderful to have a partner who knows what you’re thinking without having to say it. Our styles are similar enough to be cohesive but we challenge each other to go beyond our comfort zones which really helps our overall style evolve. We each manage our own projects but we are always the other’s sounding board. Most importantly, we completely understand one another’s challenges of juggling kids, work, and life, so we pick up the personal slack unlike a typical business partner might.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Scott Shigley

How does designing make you feel?

Leslie: In control! Life with 5 kids under the age of 7 is a series of mishaps and unforeseeable disasters. Messes, boo-boos, tears, hyperactivity and lots and lots of requests for sugar. It’s a wonderful ride but when I am designing, I get to step off and into a world where there is order and beauty. I am in control of creating a space – a space that hopefully a family can experience their own whirling dervishes, all while enjoying the functional beauty around them.

Kim: Energized. The thrill of designing, and then bringing to life, a client’s home is so gratifying. There is nothing like the excitement of walking through a new space and being flooded with ideas and possibilities.

What’s your business mantra?

“Always exceed expectations.” Our clients entrust us with a lot of money and emotion. Creating someone’s home is a privilege and responsibility and we don’t forget that. From Phase 1 to Phase 7 we need to make sure they are blown away.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Leslie Martin

You have a thriving Instagram account @mmdesignconsultants – what’s your secret? How much time do you dedicate to social media marketing?

Probably more time than we should! It can become really time consuming. Having a highly followed account is great for business, however, it doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t doing great work behind the pretty feed. We try to do a mix of original content and inspiration pictures that are in line with our style – this way, our followers can get a sense of our aesthetic. We are always educating ourselves with podcasts and articles that have given us great tips to increase followers. The biggest bursts of followers have come when a major line like Stark or Schumacher posted one of our rooms. Anytime you can get a large account to feature/tag you, you’re going to see a lot of activity. Those accounts see you when you tag them in your posts, so do that often! Instagram can be a very collaborative platform if you need it to be.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Leslie Martin

Why did you join Ivy?

We knew going into this business that if we didn’t figure out the back-end stuff, we didn’t stand a chance of succeeding. The problem was that neither one of us were great at the back-end stuff! It was serendipitous to stumble upon Ivy. We literally had a conversation about wishing there was a tool that could keep track of all of our orders and invoices that was easy to understand and required little bookkeeping know-how. One day later, Ivy popped up on my Facebook feed. Regardless, Ivy came into our lives in the exact moment we needed it. We signed up immediately and have been nothing but blown away ever since.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Anthony Tahlier

What have you learned from the Ivy Designer Network (the private FB Group)?

If the Merchandise Mart was our design school, then the Ivy Designer Network has been our sorority – a never ending source of support and comradery. It constantly amazes us that you can post a photo of a product, and within minutes, you have 5 responses for either the exact one, or something super close. We don’t use Facebook much – personally or as a marketing tool, but we check the Ivy Facebook Group multiple times a day because we always learn something or can help someone else. It’s the best.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Anthony Tahlier

How does Ivy help streamline your day-to-day workflow as an interior designer?

We all know that the truth is, in this business, we could spend 20% of the time being creative and 80% of the time doing icky bookkeeping and logistics. Ivy’s gift to interior designers is flipping those percentages. With tools like the Ivy Product Clipper, our products are accurately cataloged and ready to be presented and purchased in minutes. Being able to have more time to design makes us better designers and ultimately benefits our clients. That’s the definition of a win-win.

M&M Interior Design

Photo by Leslie Martin

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

Our Company Dashboard with the Project Revenues Pie Chart – we obsess over that! Is it wrong that we habitually refresh the browser and love watching those numbers climb? If it is, we don’t want to be right ☺.


Are you an interior designer searching for a business management tool for your interior design firm?

Schedule a Demo with Ivy

 

San Francisco Ivy Designer Meet Up Hosted at de Gournay

For our third stop in our summer series of Ivy Member Meet Ups, local Ivy Designers gathered at the de Gournay Showroom in San Francisco. After an impressive presentation by de Gournay, Ivy Designers dove into an engaging conversation moderated by San Francisco Ivy Designer Ambassador Dina Bandman of Dina Bandman Interiors.

A special thanks to Daniel from de Gournay for hosting us, Foot of the Bed for for the drinks, and to Dina and our lovely Ivy Interior Designers who traveled to come see us! See photos from the event below.

Photography by Margaret Austin Photography


Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Iv Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography

Ivy Member Meet Up SF

Margaret Austin Photography


Are you an interior designer searching for an interior design software for your business?

Schedule a Demo with Ivy