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Street style: The hot interior design trend
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThe $10 billion interior design industry is poised on the cusp of a new era that will require a winning combination of vision and resourcefulness. Not only will designers have to meet the increasing demands for their services but also have to strategically divide time and attention between clients from all strata of society.
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WELL buildings getting better
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsThe release of the WELL Building Standard last fall has helped raise awareness of ongoing efforts to make buildings of all kinds healthier for occupants. Promoted as "the world's first building standard to focus on enhancing people's health and well-being through the built environment," WELL is a great step forward in setting health and wellness objectives for building design and construction. Others also are making strides to bring occupant health and wellness to the forefront of the building industry.
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Getting to know HENRY — possibly your next best client
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWho is HENRY? HENRY stands for "High-Earners Not Rich Yet" — the group often also referred to as affluent adults. The term was first used in a 2003 Fortune magazine article to describe a segment of U.S. households with high incomes but little accumulated wealth.
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Lessons can be learned when interior designers get ‘shopped’
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesIf your prospects are "shopping" you, they're not shafting you. They're doing you a favor. Most interior design professionals cringe at the thought of providing design ideas to prospects, only to have them take their business elsewhere.
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Taking care of your building’s big 3: Metal, stone and wood
Jeff Wilhoit Facilities & GroundsFirst impressions. We all know how important they are in business or when meeting someone new, but many times their importance is discounted when it comes to how tenants or customers view your building. One of the ways people build first impression is by the condition of your metal, stone and wood surfaces on the outside and inside of your building. Nowhere are these surfaces put in the spotlight more than your building entrance and lobby areas.
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Flipping for fast funds: Home rehab programs on the rise
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThe housing market is looking strong, and the home rehab segment especially bright. Home rehab, popularly called flipping, is slowly gaining momentum with Americans who want their dream homes to come in affordable prices. Home rehab programs are focused on bridging the gap between good and pricey homes that can hardly cater to the rising demand from upcoming homeowners across the country.
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Business is booming for kitchen and bath industry
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesEven during the lean years, kitchen and bath remodels topped the list of most requested home renovation projects for those who could afford them. Now that homeowners are able, willing and eager to invest more in their homes, demand for kitchen and bath remodels is increasing.
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5 must-have home improvement apps
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWith summer knocking on our doors, home renovation projects seem to have taken priority for homeowners across the country. In 2014, U.S. home improvement stores reported revenues close to $144 billion. The pace will be even faster this year especially from the third quarter on. According to the Residential Remodeling Index (RRI), every metropolis in the country will be witnessing increasing remodeling activity this year with an average growth of 4 percent.
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Use ‘cost’ to close interior design sales
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhen it comes to pricing, most interior design professionals focus only on what it costs prospects to hire them. In contrast, savvy designers focus on what it will cost prospects if they don't. Chances are you periodically encounter price procrastination when presenting your cost to prospective buyers. They tell you that they want to "think about it" or talk it over with their spouse, or perhaps "get back to you tomorrow."
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Planning and designing a plant‑based kitchen
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAmong the many segments in the home, the kitchen seems to be a particular focus for designers and homeowners alike. A study of the various trends outlined by experts shows that the prevailing propensity is toward natural decor and simple lines, both of which are wonderfully achieved through a plant-based kitchen.
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