Only Girl On The Jobsite

If you think back to last year's worst project I know in a nanosecond you'd be able to tell me all about it, detail what went wrong, how much sleep you lost, the increased stress you went through, and likely profitability. I do understand that, and looking back on those projects are important, but today I want to talk about something we don't analyze from previous years, and that is our wins. Focu...

Planning your year is more than just filling your calendar—it's about aligning projects with your business goals, avoiding burnout, and staying intentional. In today's episode, I also share with you how to recognize subtle "pink flags" in projects before they turn into major red flags, and why trusting your instincts can save you time, money, and stress. Plus, learn how to set boundaries, create f...

Today, I am excited to welcome my guest, Rick Campos! Rick Campos is a former interior designer turned podcast host, business coach, and advocate for the interior design community. After years of running his own design business and working with industry professionals, Rick launched Design Biz Survival Guide, a podcast and platform that empowers designers with insights, strategies, and confidence t...

I've just returned from a family ski trip, and it was everything I needed. Vacations aren't just about getting away; it's about breathing and recharging, allowing you to come back stronger. Now that I'm home, I'm diving head first into 2025, so I want to kick off this new year's episode with a topic that's deeply personal to me, and that is defining success on your own terms . You CAN build a busi...

Today is all about reflection. I'm going to be looking back on 2024, celebrating some wins, lots of lessons learned, and appreciating the growth along the way as well as what the design community has meant to me this year,  why I'm so inspired by the changes I see in our industry and what I'm looking forward to in 2025. Find out more about my course,  The Interior Designer's Guide to Construction...

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this time of year. We've got the holidays, year-end, projects in the works, and marketing for new projects. There are all sorts of things coming this time of year, and it's really hard to take a step back and realize that you are not serving yourself, your clients, or your projects by getting caught up in that chaos.  As a whole, designers...

Today, we are tackling a topic that is so incredibly critical to the success of your project and, frankly, the success of your future projects, and that is the hidden costs of poor communication.  I think designers overlook this because they think they're already great at communicating. This is what we do. We talk with our clients. We share our design. We explain our visions. Yes, yes and yes. But...

Last week, I hosted a webinar titled Respected & Profitable, which has sparked such incredible conversations about how being respectful and respected on a project greatly impacts your profitability that I wanted to share with each of you! I also share how to approach negative comments you may hear with curiosity instead of judgment and how the client, contractor, and you, the designer, work togeth...

If you've ever wondered if local marketing could make or break your business today's episode is for you! Today, my guest, Nancy Quinn, shares valuable insights on marketing your interior design business both locally and online, reveals surprising industry statistics you might not know, and explains how to build a thriving business while enjoying a balanced and fulfilling personal life. Nancy Quinn...

Today, we're covering a topic that most designers struggle with, including myself, and that is talking with your client's about their budgets and having a clear conversation so that everybody's on the same page, right from the beginning. Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/budget-conv...

Ready you're ready or not, we're heading into the holiday season! Although the dates don't change, this time of year tends to sneak up on me, and I'm sure a lot of you as well. But it's also a time that makes me think of connection and appreciation. And that may immediately make you think of family and friends, and it should. But the connection and appreciation also ties back to the way we work as...

Today, I'm excited to share my conversation with Meredith Huck. Meredith is the owner and principal designer of House of Huck and a member of my course, Interior Designer's Guide to Construction Management. House of Huck is a full-service Interior Design firm located in Coastal Connecticut. Their homes are the essence of coastal casual—textured accents, inviting spaces, high-end finishes and timel...

No one's mind is more blown than mine that this is my 200th episode! This podcast started out as a Covid adventure, and if you had asked me at the time, would I be 200 episodes in? I honestly would have laughed at you if you'd told me that I would have started a podcast, first of all, and secondly, that I'd still be doing it 200 episodes later.  So many of you are new listeners, so I wanted to rei...

If you've struggled with setting boundaries, then today's episode is for you! If you missed last week's Episode 198 , go back and listen to that one first. Today, we are taking the next step in how to establish respect and control of a construction project with the contractor and the client. And that's all about setting boundaries– right from the start of a project to maintain the control, respect...

Today's topic is something I hear about frequently from designers, so I'm changing things up starting today and will be doing a series on this one topic: How to gain respect and authority on the job site. In today's episode, we are starting with mindset and how to shift your mindset from worker bee to becoming a project leader. This isn't an overnight shift that you will be able to create, but I d...

An often overlooked component is referral marketing—and I don't mean just with your current or past clients. You need to start looking beyond them and building specific relationships that will drive construction projects to you and fill your pipeline. So today, we're going to break down why that's so important and how to best go about it!   As always, if this episode leaves you with more questions...

Last week, we talked about how you can expand your services by moving into construction management. And I heard from many of you how you found the episode really helpful, so, thank you for reaching out! I always love hearing what resonates with each of you.  So today, we are going to expand on that conversation, and  I want to walk you through how you can showcase your expertise both in design and...

There is nothing I love more than hanging out with fellow designers and my recent webinar gave me that opportunity. What I love about it is realizing the commonalities that we all face - the good and the bad.  One of the things that came up was expanding your decorating business to include construction management. Why that's important and how to take the first steps. So today, we're going to break...

Whether you are a new designer or seasoned, there is something to learn from today's conversation with my guest, Rebecca West!   Today, we are going to dig into the marketing messages that we are projecting not only to our clients but to our industry partners. And yes, there are lots of side conversations that are really valuable for you to hear in this episode as well! Two decades as CEO of Serio...

As the name of this podcast states, being the only girl on the jobsite can be difficult, and I know I've mentioned the challenges of this before, but I don't always dive into the topic as much as I'd like to. Well today, we're diving all the way in!    As always, if this episode leaves you with more questions than answers, please feel free to reach out to me at renee@devignierdesign.com or shoot m...

I received the emails I'm sharing in today's episode from so many designers after they signed up for my upcoming webinar. They were letting me know their issues, concerns, and the top 1—and sometimes 10—problems they're having with the profitability of their projects.  In today's episode, I won't mention names, but you might hear me read yours or hear one you can truly relate to. I know I have rel...

Today, we are talking all things numbers, and I know that may make some of you cringe a little bit, but I have invited my friend Michele Williams on to share on how to unlock profitability in your business and how to master your financials. Michele Williams is the dynamic owner of Scarlet Thread Consulting and Metrique Solutions, two companies focused on empowering creative professionals to own th...

We've all been in these client meetings where you've hopefully asked the client, "Do you have a budget in mind for this project?" Hopefully, they have given this some thought. But here's the tricky part…. You have no idea what they're basing that number on or if it's all they can spend.  A course member reached out to me asking about this issue. She said time and again she is going into these meet...

Today is Part 2 of my interview with Virginia DesRoches. If you missed the first part, Episode 187 , I suggest going back and listening to that one first!  Virginia DesRoches and John Foran are the dynamic couple and trailblazing visionaries behind Ironwood Studio, an all-encompassing firm that seamlessly merges construction and interior design along the South Coast of MA. Rooted in strong family...

I hear everything from designers, from " I estimated 50 hours, and I'm now at 90. I'm totally upside down on my numbers." to "I have no idea where to start" to "I totally messed this one up, Renee, and I don't know how I'm going to get out of it."  If that is you, or you've had these pangs of anxiety, you are amongst the many, and this is why I want to talk about his topic today.  I know I've disc...