There are projects that stretch you creatively. There are projects that grow your business. And then there are projects that quietly cost you more than you realize while you're in them.

This is about one of those.

For nearly ten years, I worked with a client who, if I'm being honest, I knew was difficult from the very beginning. Not unreasonable in a glaring way. Not someone who screamed or threw things. She was particular. High maintenance. Intense. And in the early years, I convinced myself that I could manage it.

We started with decorating. We would work intensely for months, and then I wouldn't hear from her for almost a year. Throughout that time, she would tell me they were looking for their "dream home." The one we would fully renovate together. The big project.

Looking back, that may have been the carrot that kept me moving through the more frenetic moments. I believed that if I stayed steady, if I stayed patient, it would all culminate into something extraordinary.

Eventually, they found the house. It was beautiful and complicated and ver y old. It needed modernization and a large addition. It was exactly the kind of project designers dream about.

And I told myself what so many of us tell ourselves: I know her. I understand her quirks. I can handle this.

It was not fine.

So today, I want to talk about the red flags I saw — and ignored — along the way. And also the pink flags that showed up. My hope is that you'll recognize them sooner than I did and avoid this kind of client in your own business.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Grab Your Free Script Guide here:

https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/client-red-flags-in-interior-design

Today, we're talking about something that happens on every renovation project I manage:

Contractor bids that don't match.

Same project. Same drawings. Same walkthrough. And yet — the numbers come back wildly different.

Sometimes it's ten thousand dollars. Sometimes it's fifty thousand. And if you've ever stood in front of a client trying to explain why one contractor is double the other… yeah. You know the feeling.

So today, I'm walking you through why contractor bids vary (even when you've done everything "right"), how to run a contractor walkthrough that actually reduces variance, the step-by-step process to compare bids line-by-line, and how to ask tough questions without sounding confrontational. Because yes, you can push back professionally.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/how-to-compare-contractor-bids

Today, I am joined by my friend, John McClain. He and I met at High Point last October and immediately connected.

John McClain is a multi-faceted leader in the interior design industry and proudly serves in his field as an interior designer, product designer, author, speaker, business coach, and podcast host.

As the CEO and Creative Director of his internationally acclaimed award-winning interior design firm, John McClain Design, his interior design and home furnishings creations have been featured by numerous shelter publications and television networks including Elle Décor, Traditional Home, HGTV, CBS, and NBC. John is also a contributor to outlets such as Martha Stewart Living, Interior Design magazine, The Wall Street Journal, & House Beautiful. As a product designer, John has created distinctive home furnishings that have not only garnered awards but have made numerous television appearances in their own right.

John's coffee table book, The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to A Well-Styled Home, features homes designed in his signature "Comfortable Chic" aesthetic alongside helpful design tips and processes. John has now taken his 15+ years of design business experience and launched an online education & business coaching program, The McClain Method where he instructs and coaches interior designers on best business practices. He continues these lessons on his popular podcast, The McClain Method.

So in today's conversation, he and I dive into the real mechanics of running a design business, from the software we love and the ones we hate to the systems that actually support growth. We talk honestly about leadership, profitability, and why the right back-end structure can make or break a design studio.

Today's episode is equal parts practical and refreshing, the kind of behind-the-scenes discussions that designers don't get to hear enough.

Connect with John McClain:

• Check out John's AI Brand Voice Kickstart: https://www.mcclainmethod.com/kickstart_prompt

• John's Website: https://www.instagram.com/johnmcclaindesign

• Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/john-mcclain-design-business-systems

I want to ask you something today: Have you ever been on a project and had a contractor basically tell you, whether that's directly or indirectly, that procurement is his territory, his to-do? That the ordering, the tracking, the managing of all materials and finishes, and fixtures that you spend months specifying is somehow not a part of your job or your role?

Or have you ever caught yourself thinking, okay, so I take on construction.. I guess I need to give up my decorating work. I don't think I can be both things, right? Like, those are two different people, and you can only be one of them.

Well, today we're going to blow both of those up because they're just myths, truly, and believing them is quietly costing you money, costing you authority, and definitely costing your clients the full version of what you're capable of.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

• Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/designer-myths-busted

Today's episode isn't about what to do when a project is already spiraling. It's about what to do before it ever has the chance.

Because in my 30+ years in the industry, there's one pattern I see on every stressful project: The chaos wasn't born in week 5. It snuck in quietly in week zero, when structure was loose, nobody owned the conversation, and "roles" were just… implied.

So today? We're fixing that.

I'm walking you through the 5 conversations you need to have before construction starts; the ones that separate calm, steady projects from chaotic, reactionary ones. And honestly? These will save your time, your energy, and your authority.

Ready? Let's make your next project one that feels as smooth as it looks.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/5-construction-conversations

This week's episode starts with a snowstorm… but it's not really about the weather.

It's about what happens when construction gets disrupted, and how the silent spaces right after hold more power than most designers realize.

Because when a project goes off track, the real work isn't about drywall or lost days. It's about who communicates what, when they communicate it, and whether that moment creates clarity or chaos.

So today, I'm breaking down:

• Why designers go quiet during construction (& what's really driving that silence)
• How not saying anything doesn't protect your authority — it quietly undermines it
• What you can say instead (even if you don't have all the answers yet)

This isn't about calling anyone out, it's about naming a pattern I see over and over again: Silence isn't neutral during construction. It's a leadership moment missed.

Let's talk through it (so you never have to white-knuckle an update email again).

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

• Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/why-silence-isnt-neurtral-during-construction

Today's a special treat. I'm sitting down with Jessica Nelson & Stephanie Lindsey, co-founders of AI for Interiors and principals of Etch Design Group, a nationally recognized design firm based in Austin, TX.

When I first met them at a design retreat last year, I assumed we'd just be swapping project stories, not talking AI strategy. Then I realize these two are leading the conversation on how interior designers can use AI in a way that's practical, creative, and actually makes sense for real studios.

Jessica and Stephanie bring more than 30 years of combined experience, both as working designers and as tech-minded educators who know the ins and outs of this business. Their company, AI for Interiors, helps designers use tech to streamline workflow and automate the messy stuff without losing creativity, connection, or design vision.

Oh, and they also co-host two podcasts: AI for Interiors and 100 Lunches, where they break down design, business, and big tech changes in honest, easy-to-grasp conversations.

Today, we're making AI less intimidating and more actionable. So if you've been curious (but maybe a little overwhelmed), this one's for you. Grab your coffee, open your notes app, and let's get started.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/applianceFind out more about Jessica and Stephanie here:

Find out more about Jessica and Stephanie here:

Website:

http://www.aiforinteriors.com

http://www.etchinteriordesign.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/etchdesigngroup/

https://www.instagram.com/aiforinteriors/

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/ai-for-interior-designers

Last week, I dove into how the real magic on the job happens only after you take action (not before). This week, I want to show you what that looks like over time. Because honestly, what I wish someone had handed me at the start of my career wasn't just encouragement. It was context. I needed to hear how different environments teach you radically different lessons about construction, managing projects, and building a business.

So this isn't a pep talk about mindset. This is about learning by doing:

• What I picked up in the intensity of ultra high-end New York projects 30 years ago
• The (often humbling) early years of starting my own firm and still underpricing everything
• And what finally clicked, a decade ago, as my experience outgrew how I was positioning myself.

If you've ever felt capable but underpaid, seasoned but still questioned, or sure of your work but unsure how to charge for the responsibility? This episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/stopped-waiting-for-permission

Today I want to talk about something that quietly shapes almost every decision we make as designers—how we price our work, how we speak up in meetings, and which projects we feel ready to take on. That something is confidence.

But I'm not talking about the kind of confidence that's just a personality trait or bravado. I mean confidence as clarity. Most designers I meet don't doubt their talent; they doubt themselves the moment the room changes, especially when construction comes into play.

So today, let's get real about where that lack of confidence actually comes from, why it's especially strong when designers consider adding construction management to their business, and, most importantly, how you can build true confidence before you ever feel fully ready. I promise, confidence isn't something that arrives after the fact. And if you've been quietly curious about construction management, this conversation is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

• Join the waitlist for The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-confidence-myth

As we step into a new year, I want to talk today about something that sounds really simple, but in my experience has the power to quietly change everything about how we work, how we earn, and how we show up every day.

This year, my word is boundaries. And today, I'm walking you through why boundaries, not hustle, not motivation, not another strategy, are often the missing piece between intentional growth and sustainable success. So I'm going to share the boundary that would have changed everything for me in 2025, the boundaries I'm actively putting into place for this coming year, 2026, and how you can identify the one boundary that would make the biggest difference in your own business this year.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

• Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-boundaries