Only Girl On The Jobsite

Understanding the contract is one of the most critical steps in any construction project.   As designers, we have a superpower that makes us the most important person for your client to review the contracts and understand the numbers that are being included.   So today I want to cover why you need to see the contract as soon as you are brought onto a team that has already been formed, how early co...

Many designers have been asking me what types of materials they need to supply to the contractor for the projects they're working on.  Today I break down terms between a specification book and a project binder and when and how you should be using them, and also the level of detail you should be including so that you are not over-delivering when you're not being paid to do that service.  Find the f...

If you missed Episode 134, be sure to go back and listen to that episode BEFORE listening to today's episode. Last week I talked about practicing what I preach and why I said "no" to two recent projects that were offered my way. In today's episode, I want to go over what happened afterward, how I would have reacted a couple of years ago, why I am doing this to keep myself laser-focused, and what I...

If you're unsure about what projects you should be taking on, then today's episode is for you! I am a big proponent of ONLY taking on projects that are a good fit for you and your firm at the time that a potential client reaches out to you, but how do you determine that?  I always want to practice what I preach, so today, I am sharing with you two recent examples of this that I recently went throu...

Here we are mid-summer - if any of you are like me, you're finally starting to relax and take a moment for yourself. What that also means is you may be putting things off.   So today, I am so excited to welcome my friend Desi Creswell back to the podcast. This is her third time sharing her expertise with fellow interior designers, and it is because of an ah-ha moment I had while listening to Desi'...

It's officially mid-summer! How are you feeling about your pipeline of projects starting in the fall? If you're starting to panic, this episode is for you! We all think we will have extra time on our hands during the summer, with the best of intentions, so we will do XYZ. And for small business owners, summer is really the time we need to expand certain projects, like marketing. So that's what I w...

Do you know what the number 1 question I get is? How to price construction projects and how to best go about it. I understand why this is a scary step! You are projecting costs that may run weeks, months, or years, and you want to make sure your bottom line is covered. So today, I'm going to break this down so that your pricing can be strong and reflective of the work you're going to produce! Be s...

I want to wish everyone a very happy 4th of July! Today is a time to unplug from work and relax. And that is an important ingredient to inspire creativity.  When we are stressed out, running ragged, freaking out, frazzled, and everything in between, it is neary impossible to tap into our creative side.  In today's episode, I am sharing about how independence plays out in our businesses and the per...

There will always be issues and surprises that come up on job sites. I find that just knowing to expect it makes things easier to get through.  Anticipating and knowing the parameters of the issues that can happen make them so much less scary when they do happen and allows you to be prepared ahead of time and have confidence in taking the next steps. So today I want to break down different constru...

I know professional development isn't anything new, yet for some reason, I feel like it's lacking in the world of creatives. So today I want to talk all about professional development and why it isn't a term often used with creatives like us, yet is really the key to success. Be sure to head over to my website >>> https://devignierdesign.com/ < < < and sign up for the newsletter for a chance to wi...

Today I am so excited to share with you the conversation I had with Tobi Fairley.  Tobi is an award-winning interior designer and business consultant with over two decades of experience helping high-achieving, creative professionals take their companies and lives to the next level. When she's not running her luxury interior design firm and her consulting practice for artistic business owners, she...

When people hear that I manage construction, they automatically think of the basics - floor plans, finishes, and actual building materials. But what they aren't thinking about, and what is really the key to my success, is building the relationships on those job sites that bring the success we are all searching for.  So today, I want to talk about the 3 key relationships that are necessary in order...

If you've been listening to me for any amount of time, then you know I believe construction management is a niche inside the interior design industry, and today I want to talk about how you can niche down even further inside of construction management.  Be sure to head over to my website >>> https://devignierdesign.com/ < < < and sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win my exclusive giveaway...

Today's episode is a treat where you can listen to the conversation I had with Catherine Marrano. Catherine and I first met when she joined my first course, The Interior Designer's Guide to Construction Management. Once we got to know each other, we realized we were both seasoned designers who loved to run construction projects for our clients. Catherine has over 20 years of experience but started...

If you've been curious, skeptical, or maybe avoiding AI altogether, today's episode is for you! In this ever-changing world in which we live, it is quite understandable and normal to be fearful of technological advances such as AI (Artificial intelligence) and to worry about how it will impact our industry and how it will affect your day-to-day business. And so today, I want to talk about what ind...

Even seasoned designers have stories of having to build and rebuild their confidence in this industry, and today, I want to share with you my story. All the things we discussed in last week's Episode 121: https://devignierdesign.com/podcast/pricing-projects-rebecca-hay   came down to confidence, whether that's pricing your projects that shows your worth, whether that's taking on new projects that...

I am so excited for you to hear this conversation with fellow designer Rebecca Hay, CEO of Rebecca Hay Designs, host of the Resilient by Design podcast, international speaker and business coach. She's the creator of the revolutionary online course, Power of Process, helping time-strapped and frustrated Interior Designers eliminate the chaos of running a business so they can achieve focus and clari...

We are a few weeks into the Group Coaching VIP Calls for my course, Renovation Management for Interior Designers , and I've had a question come up more than once, so I wanted to share it with all of you today. A designer shared with me that she was working on a project and she had written the contract in two phases. One was the design and development phase, and the other was the renovation managem...

Renovation or construction management is a niche inside the interior design industry. Inside that niche, there are specialties. In particular, kitchens and baths. Today, I want to take a deeper dive into how to create a custom bath for your clients.  If this is something you already specialize in and want to elevate this skill or would like niche down into kitchen and bathroom renovations, this ep...

Most designers I speak with are already doing construction work. Maybe it's on their own home, a bath or two, or a kitchen refresh. Meaning they don't actively market for it. It happens organically. These designers may be listening to this podcast for tips and ideas. But how would renovation work improve and add value to your business? And I mean beyond financial value.  This we've got to discuss!...

I am so excited to once again have my friend Linda Holt with me today!  If you haven't heard her first episode, you definitely want to go check that out at https://devignierdesign.com/podcast/photography-using-your-iphone-linda-holt   Today I wanted to take a deep dive into professional portfolio-level photos. That is something all designers really struggle with, myself included!  Linda shares so...

Curious to hear what a 1:1 call with a designer is like? Today's episode is for you!  Last week I introduced an exciting new offer for a live group coaching program in the VIP option inside my signature course, Renovation Management for Interior Designers ! Today, I'm giving you a sneak peek into what these coaching calls can look like and the value they can bring you and your business! To find ou...

Today is a special episode and one I've been waiting to share with you for the past few weeks! Today I want to share with you the trajectory of where this podcast came from, where it is now, and an exciting new offer I have for course members that will take their knowledge, skills, and experience to a whole other level! To find out more about this exciting new offer , go to >> https://devignierdes...

Are you chomping at the bit, ready to do some better marketing for yourself? Today we're talking about the nuances we need to incorporate into our marketing pitches depending on who we are talking to.  Sending the same marketing pitch to every industry partner isn't going to cut it. Find out in today's episode how you need to be thoughtful and strategic about each category that you're marketing yo...

Offering renovation management services to your clients is so valuable.  I've mentioned in the past I was hearing chatter about 2023, the slowdown in the volume of work, and the possibility of a recession. If you have been feeling anxious about 2023 and not getting many phone calls, this episode is for you! You can get through this year and whatever the economy brings by leaning into your renovati...