The Chaise Lounge Podcast

Cecilia "Keki" Cannon: Blogger Extraordinaire

Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with Cecilia "Keki" Cannon of Cecilia Cannon Staging & Interiors. Cecilia tells us how she got started in interior design and the staging business, and how blogging was a marketing catalyst for her interiors business. Find out on the episode how she strengthens her business through her blog, “Home with Keki”.

Getting to Know Cecilia

Cecilia started her home staging business about a decade ago, but that was quickly eclipsed by her interior designing. Not only being a designer and a mom, she also runs a robust interiors blog, “Home with Keki”. She blogs about decorating, home makeovers, paint, market updates, and design tips. Interestingly, she used her blog as a tool for marketing and eventually added it to her professional website when clients began associating her with her blog.

Design Resources

As her blog became more popular, Celia educated herself on the entire process of online writing, from research on trending keywords to writing, photography, editing, and SEO. She uses digital tricks to bump her posts up in Google searches and takes the process very seriously -- although it is a lot of fun. Recently, Cecilia wrote about the Datacolor ColorReaderPro, a fascinating tool that quickly matches color on any texture with paints from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, and half a dozen other paint companies. It's personally saved her so much time trying to match customer's preferences with paints.

Learn more about Cecilia at www.ceciliacannon.com -- and visit her blog!

The Chaise Lounge Podcast Updates

Hope you didn't miss our Instagram takeover at Las Vegas Market! Catch up here.

The Student Lounge is up and running! Visit us to hear podcast episodes produced for students, by students.

Resources

Click here to see what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Events

Las Vegas Market IS HAPPENING NOW

High Point Market – October 13 – 17

BDNY  – Nov 11 – 12

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com. Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, and you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Keep dreaming big and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Today in The Lounge we host special guest Michael Bedner, the co-founder of Hirsch Bedner Associates and a living legend in the hospitality design industry. The interview comes from the black carpet lounge of BD West 2018, when Michael looked back over his fifty-some years in the industry to reflect on drinking his first beer in Malibu, designing the first Western hotel in China, Trump, and disruption in the industry – all with a characteristic wit.

Today in The Lounge we host special guest Michael Bedner, the co-founder of Hirsch Bedner Associates and a living legend in the hospitality design industry. The interview comes from the black carpet lounge of BD West 2018, when Michael looked back over his fifty-some years in the industry to reflect on drinking his first beer in Malibu, designing the first Western hotel in China, Trump, and disruption in the industry – all with a characteristic wit.

Wade Weissmann: A Multigenerational Architecture Firm

Today in The Lounge, Nick chats with architect Wade Weissmann from Nashville, Tennessee! Wade has built an impressive, full-service architecture firm with over forty employees. Read on and listen to learn more about Wade's journey into architecture and how he's built such a successful business.

Wade grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, just outside of Milwaukee. His favorite fashion accessory is a coat -- raincoats, snow coats, wind coats, and so forth -- which are very versatile in Wisconsin. When he has time, he loves to travel to the north of the state where's he's built a few cabins near a pristine lake. The perks of being an architect, right? As for beer, wine, or cocktail, Wade prefers a cocktail. In particular, an Old Fashioned. He likes Bulleit, Jack Daniels, and the plethora of small batch bourbons in Tennessee.

The Beginnings

Wade spent his undergrad years at the University of Wisconsin, followed by a year in Paris studying architecture, and then a Master's in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. He credits the experience of living and studying in Paris as simply life changing. Being in a completely different space filled with history gave Wade the perspective that architecture can seem timeless. This is in contrast with much of America, which seems more disposable to Wade. Often, beautiful buildings are torn down for their land value, even if the buildings themselves are incredibly valuable.

He then worked in Baltimore at a design firm and won a fellowship through a graduate program. Unfortunately, he graduated in a recession and found a job building his brother's house! While there, a general contractor hired him for the summer -- and that's where he developed a love for residential design. After bouncing around at a few jobs, he launched his own firm.

Wade's Firm and Creative Business Model

By trade, Wade is an architect, but the firm itself is full-service. In fact, the firm is working on a multi-faceted community development with a hotel, high end music venue, townhouses, spas, commercial buildings and restaurants, bungalows, and over twenty garden homes! He says that project in particular is forcing Wade to launch a new planning arm.

He employs 44 people, with about eight or nine in admin. Then he has a senior coordinator and three project heads that are essentially architectural partners in the business who will succeed the leadership of the firm when Wade eventually relinquishes his 100 percent ownership. One of Wade's strategies to retain people is to build equity shares and other incentives into the fabric of the firm. That way, the staff will embrace the mentorship role, bring young staff into the spotlight and grow with the firm. That benefits Wade personally because these folks all help develop strategies for growth and build wealth all together. The end goal is a multi-generational firm that transcends personal branding. In practice, the firm has been incredibly successful.

Learn more about Wade and his business at www.wadeweissmannarchitecture.com!

The Chaise Lounge Podcast Updates

The Student Lounge is up and running! Visit us to hear podcast episodes produced for students, by students.

Nick has an exciting series of events at Las Vegas Market. Check out those and the rest here.

Not attending market this year? Get all of the action on our Facebook and Instagram! Don’t miss our Instagram takeover.

Resources

Click here to see what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Events

Las Vegas Market July 29 – Aug 2

High Point Market – October 13 – 17

BDNY  – Nov 11 – 12

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com.

Today in The Lounge, Nick is joined by interior designer Julia Molloy for a conversation on today’s interior design business models and the ways that designers are generating revenue. Plus, she details strategies to bring your business to the optimal industry-wide gross profit margin.

Today in The Lounge, Nick hosts a special interview with Angela Schuster, who has extensive expertise in both the interior design and paint contracting industries. Based in Northern New Jersey, Angela’s decorative finishing and painting business, Faux Time Design, serves a variety of clients in the greater New York City area. Through her collaboration with various interior designers and general painting contractors, Angela emphasizes the importance of effectively marketing one’s business.

Today in The Lounge we have Douglas Graneto of Douglas Graneto Design from Greenwich, Connecticut. Nick has a great conversation with Douglas about shoes, traveling, choosing a career, and finding success. Plus, they dive into marketing and Douglas’ challenges for the future.

Welcome to The Lounge! Today, Nick is joined by Glenn Gissler. He’s the founder and principal of Glenn Gissler Design, a luxury residential design firm. On the podcast, Nick and Glenn discuss Glenn’s education, how he got his start in the industry, and what his firm looks like today. Plus, we give you a sneak peak at our brand new podcast The Student Lounge. Read on for more information about Glenn, The Student Lounge, and what The Chaise Lounge has been up to!

Today we have a very special episode live from Los Angeles! Last week in “From Pitch to Press,” an all-star panel with four incredible interior designers — and Nick! — dove into the nitty gritty of getting press and different PR strategies. As Nick says, press is incredibly important for anyone running a business in this industry. After all, how else are folks supposed to hear about your interior design firm? Our four designers have all excelled in getting press and have a ton of advice to offer: Lori Gilder; Jeanne Chung; David Dalton; and Roxy Sowlaty.

Today in The Lounge, Nick is joined by Angelo Adamo, a former interior designer at Walter Robbs in North Carolina who is now running his own firm, Angelo Adamo Design. The two chat about the meaning behind designing interiors and Angelo’s fascinating design philosophy of creating memories that last.