Only Girl On The Jobsite

In today's episode, I peeled back the curtain and looked at the crucial role we, as interior designers, play in construction projects, moving beyond esthetic contributions and into a vital function in managerial roles.    Our expertise not only enhances the beauty of a space but also its usability, efficiency, and often it's cost effectiveness. The collaboration we can foster between contractors,...

I am so excited to be able to bring on a GC that enjoys, appreciates, and understands the value that designers bring. My guest today is Sean Canada, Co-Owner of Park & Patina Design + Build, licensed Contractor/GC, and a big fan of the show! Sean has one foot in the Construction/job-site/GC world and one in the design. He has worked with both, hired both, and helped develop teams and people to wor...

One way to manage overwhelm is by hiring help and support within your firm. Today, I want to share how to be strategic and thoughtful when hiring, especially in the world of construction management.    Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/thoughtful-hiring  

Toxic clients - they exist! Perhaps you've had your own experience. I know I've had mine! Today, I'm taking a deeper dive into what you can be looking for, ways you can improve the relationship, and how to sever ties if that's ultimately the decision you make.  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/toxic-clients    

In last week's Episode 157: https://devignierdesign.com/empowering-you-construction-management/,  I talked about designers supporting fellow designers in the world of construction management and how critical it is for designers to understand there is a support system out there rooting them on. Today, I want to take it to the next step and discuss other support systems that are available to you tha...

Today's topic is critical to cover at the beginning of the year - this isn't something I was planning on talking about, but felt it was such an important topic, and that is YOU!   If you are a designer who has been feeling isolated, alone, and unsupported - today's episode is for you! Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/empowering-you-construction-management  

This year of 2024 is one we really should be looking forward to!   I have been hearing so many positive stories, studies, and forecasts that will set us up for a successful year in regard to construction management.    Some of you may be questioning this because your phone isn't ringing, you're not getting work, or you're feeling overwhelmed and like you can't possibly take on more.   This is why...

By now, you have no doubt been inundated by emails, social clips, and webinars about doing a year-end review. But if you're a small business, you may not understand the value of doing one. I came across an article where they interviewed a bunch of interior designers. They had great insight as to the questions they asked themselves, and I wanted to share them with you all today.   Get ready for a j...

  We are in the middle of the holiday season, and everyone is feeling stressed. This reminded me that this feeling and some of the actions we take during this time period are very similar to the feeling you get when you're winding down a construction project. So today, I want to talk all about controlling the chaos when finishing up a project so that you can end up strong, successful, and proud of...

In any given week, I speak with countless designs across the country and even the world. And recently, the topics seem to be coming back to marketing - which makes sense. It's a critical part of our business. But what I'm starting to realize is that the questions aren't revolving around marketing but an underlying anxiety and stress about the current state of their business.    While I'll never cl...

It's early December, and the holiday season is looming and, frankly, has already been kicked into high gear! Now is the time to get a handle on how you are going to approach the rest of the month to position yourself for success after the new year. In today's episode, I cover everything from preparing for your holiday vacation and your colleagues, to the importance of communication, tips on gift-g...

Ellie Redder is here with me today to help all designers explore the possibilities of how to present and communicate their designs using Virtual Reality.   When you think of St. Louis luxury design and construction, you think of Ellie Redders. Ellie is the seasoned and endearing design leader behind her full-service firm, Ellie Redders Interiors. For over a decade, Ellie has earned a widespread re...

Let's talk work/life balance. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with the holidays right around the corner and several projects finishing up all at the same time, and I noticed my work/life balance was even more out of wack than it normally is.  And so I wanted to acknowledge that. And let others know that work/life balance, at least for me, has been very challenging, and I was flooded with...

I hear a lot of designers struggling with how to price their services for construction management as well as decorating for potential clients. What I want to talk about today is not the actual dollars and cents but how pricing with confidence starts with knowing the value you bring to each and every project. Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/knowing-your-value  

No two projects are alike. I know that can unnerve some of you, but I want you to think about it as a positive thing as it allows you to evaluate each project. Today, I want to talk about how to evaluate each project by the value it will bring to you and your business!   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/determine-projects-value  

Today, I have my friend Lesley Myrick joining me in today's episode. Lesley is a recognized design media personality and the CEO of Lesley Myrick Interior Design, a full-service boutique interior design firm based in Macon, GA. Having lived and worked internationally, Lesley specializes in designing personality-driven, playful, and function-forward "forever homes" for professional families. Media...

Have you ever had an overly enthusiastic client take over your project? You may think that clients being involved is not what you want, but the truth is their involvement is often essential to creating a space that truly reflects them. In today's episode, I share strategies for managing overly involved clients on construction projects and how to navigate this dynamic of challenges and opportunitie...

It is critical to build confidence for your success on construction sites. But after reading a book recently, I realized I am skipping a step, and that is that courage is the precursor to confidence.    Join me in today's episode to explore how courage can be the transformative force in your career. Let's redefine our approach, embrace courage, and let confidence naturally follow suit. Mel Robbin'...

There are many unique challenges interior designers face when managing construction projects during the 4th quarter, particularly around the holiday season!   Today, I want to share how we need to start talking about the holiday season NOW with our clients! And this goes beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas meals….There will be parties being thrown, new projects being proposed, deadlines needing to b...

It's hard being the only girl on the job site. I know. I've been there. It can rock your confidence whether you're new or seasoned. But there is always someone rooting for you on a project site. On every project you are going to come into contact with the contractor, the glass shower door installer, the tile installer, the plumber, the electricians, and the flooring guy - there are a lot of guys y...

I've been talking about interior designers' superpowers on job sites, and today, I want to talk about a really practical one and why it is critical for you to be involved in your projects very early on, long before you're specifying the decorative items . Today, we're going to dive into the topic of lighting. Find out how to elevate the lighting in your clients' homes to transform their space and...

Vetting potential calls, explaining yourself and the work we do, and the value we bring to each project over and over can lead to overwhelm and be exhausting! I want you to know that I get it and have heard from a lot of designers lately about how to prove themselves and their value to various industry partners and various clients or potential clients. It is normal to experience overwhelm, stress,...

Today, we're talking confidence. There is no good that comes out of panic, wondering if you messed up, and anxiety. All it does is make you fearful of your own decision-making powers. And that is something I want you all to avoid at all costs.  Confidence is a topic that every designer, regardless of their experience level, grapples with at some point in their career. In a profession where decisio...

In the world of interior design, there's a superpower that often goes unnoticed but plays a crucial role in creating functional and comfortable living spaces. It's the ability to understand how people live in homes. In today's episode, I talk about why this superpower is essential, how it can be honed, and why it should be marketed not only to clients but also to industry partners. We'll delve int...

Today, I want to talk about some of the frustrations I hear about from other designers, such as if you're on construction sites right now and you aren't confident in your skills, the stages and steps to take, or you're unable to take a pretty significant pay cut from your current position and go back and work for an interior designer, or if you went to school and you weren't taught the basics of r...