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What interior designers can learn from Dr. Phil
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesLooking to get a better return on the investment of money and time you put into promoting your interior design business? Then, make "pain" your priority. You'll market yourself much more effectively and substantially increase your sales if you address the most pressing design challenges your prospects face.
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The decline of the empty nest: Millennials head back to the roost
Julie Bernhard Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesMature roommates, renting the second floor, living in mom's basement — call it what you want — but millennials are doing more of it. Living with your parents is no longer seen as the last option on your post-collegiate journey — it is now looking like one of the frontrunners.
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A consultation deserves a fee
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures"Should I charge for a consultation?" is a question I am often asked when speaking to designers. There is a lot of confusion around this topic. In practice, designers handle consultations in various ways. Some charge, some don't. Some charge if the client hires them, others charge if the client doesn't hire them. Some charge their regular hourly fee, and others charge a fixed price for a prearranged amount of time.
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Feng shui for the rest of us
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesTwo things homeowners can't get enough of are energy and time. To help maximize the number of minutes in their day, homeowners are opting for simple, contemporary, low-maintenance designs outfitted with multitasking areas and time-saving amenities such as coffee bars and smart appliances.
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Remodeling soars as home ownership dips
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAfter a tepid first quarter, the remodeling industry is on course to realize one of its best years in a decade, thanks in part to weakening home sales. Homeowners unable or unwilling to sell their current homes are deciding to refurbish them instead. Moreover, they are undertaking bigger projects and spending more on furnishings and materials.
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Before you hire, put job candidates to the test
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesInterior designers are on the move, looking to take advantage of the current hiring boom. Since demand currently exceeds supply, if they see an opportunity for a promotion they are going to go for it — whether they meet all the job requirements or not. That puts the burden on employers to validate each candidate's skills and experience.
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Living large in tiny houses
Dave G. Houser Waste Management & EnvironmentalTiny houses have been making big news in recent years, with TV coverage on networks like CNN, HGTV and FYI, articles in House Beautiful, Country Living, Mother Earth News and BusinessWeek, and countless appearances on YouTube, Pinterest and other social media forums.
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A surprising value-add for interior designers
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesDesigners are always looking for ways to enhance the value of their services in the eyes of consumers and provide additional incentive to hire them. A recent consumer study suggests designers may be overlooking a potential selling point, saving a relationship.
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Green and smart growing up together
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhile "smart" homes remain a vision more than a reality, new smart products and services continue to flow into the market. Refrigerators that alert you when you've run out of milk or stoves that text you when the roast is done have gotten a lot of media attention. Along with their "wow" factor, they offer a certain level of convenience and control, although at a price beyond the reach of most consumers.
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Designers beware: The terrible 10 selling sins
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhen it comes to selling, many interior designers have discovered the hard way that avoiding the wrong steps can be as important as taking the right ones. Those design professionals whose sales results and profits aren't what they could be, or should be, are usually guilty of some — or perhaps all — of the terrible 10 selling sins.
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