The Chaise Lounge Podcast

Today on The Chaise Lounge, Nick hosts the designer couple, John and Theresa Dorlini. With the leaders of Circle Design Studio, we talk about juggling four kids and a successful interior design empire – something that the pair do every day out of their home in Roanoke, VA.

Happy 2016! We are happy to kick off the new year with our new weekly format and new sponsor. Benjamin Moore just joined us as a sponsor for the show, which is enabling us to produce a weekly format.  We couldn’t be more excited!

Today in The Chaise Lounge we have Shannon Scott of Shannon Scott Design, an all-female studio based out of Los Olivos, California. Living in the middle of wine country has shaped the way and the style in which she designs. She has worked with several wineries, hotels and even designed a castle in Newfoundland. Before all that though, Shannon graduated from UCSB and worked at SFA practicing large-scale hospitality design where she quickly gained recognition for her skillset in the design-build process as well as collaborating with local artisans, which laid the foundation for her comprehensive knowledge of custom design. Shannon touches on decorating verses designing and hospitality design verses commercial design. She has designed some beautiful spaces in the hospitality sphere. Though she does feel it’s important to treat all design projects in the same format. Systems, communication and attention to detail are what run her business as solid as it is. Though Shannon has had her fair shares of ups and downs since she started her business in 1999. She explains the adversity that she has overcome and manifesting the career that she desires.

Shannon can be reached on Facebook and Linked In as well as her beautiful website.

The best small business resource for learning about systems is a book by Michael Gerber called E-Myth.  If you are now into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.  BUT, if you want a free copy, all you need to do is give me a review on iTunes!  That’s right, I believe so strongly that this book will help you, that I am giving away 20 copies of The E-Myth to the next 20 people who write me a review in iTunes.  Just take a screen shot of your review, and email it to me at [email protected] with your mailing address.  I will send you one book with free shipping.

Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs.  It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics.  There are a lot of things to track in your business, don’t leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets.   If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Ivan Meade: an International Interior Designer

Big show today in The Lounge!  I announce my new sponsor for 2016, I share a listener review from iTunes, and I have a chat with an amazing designer who lives on an island in Canada, and started his design firm by working for free!   Yes, we take the #1 interior design podcast and go international today!  Ivan Meade started his Meade Design Group in 1998 in Victoria BC, Canada. He received an International Business degree in Mexico where he was born and raised. Practicing with a multiple discipline design idea, he was combined his love for graphic design and interior design in one place and business. He has also expanded his brand by adding a high-end fabric collection which can be found at ivanmeade.com

This week’s discussion hit on several points of how to sell yourself, your design and learning a very important word...NO! Ivan feels that the emotion in the design needs to convey the clients need and heart as well as his design.We also talk a lot on the marketing and social media aspect of business and life. Though he combines the two and has made social media sites available, he doesn’t often repeat information from one site to another.  You can visit him at a few different sites: MeadDesignGroup.com, IvanMeade.com, and LifeMstyle.com where he has interviewed a ton of fantastic Canadian designers.

The best small business resource for learning about systems is a book by Michael Gerber called E-Myth.  If you are now into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.  BUT, if you want a free copy, all you need to do is give me a review on iTunes!  That’s right, I believe so strongly that this book will help you, that I am giving away 20 copies of The E-Myth to the next 20 people who write me a review in iTunes.  Just take a screen shot of your review, and email it to me at [email protected] with your mailing address.  I will send you one book with free shipping.

Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs.  It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics.  There are a lot of things to track in your business, don’t leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets.   If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Kerrie Kelly: Interior Designer for the masses

This week in The Lounge I have Kerrie Kelly. Kerrie Kelly is the Creative Director for Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Northern California and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. She has authored two books and is in process of a third, California Style: A Wine & Design Tour, while writing articles for Home Depot and Zillow on a wide range of décor topics. She is also a brand ambassador with several interior design product lines launching the end of 2015 and early 2016 including the Guildery fabric line and TileBar tile line.

Today we talk about how Kerrie got into design... another interesting path.  She worked with the famous fashion and interior designer Ralph Lauren in their home collection division, where she learned a lot about how to do business the right way.  She also told us about learning marketing from the Dell Webb organization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFcGBAh-4U

Kerrie has a tremendous interior design business and has been super successful at obtaining press and creating marketing opportunities. We talk about her writing books, creating videos, and building partnerships. You will learn a ton about growing your interior design business from Kerrie.

To learn more about Kerrie and Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, please visit their website at KerrieKelly.com.

The best small business resource for learning about systems is a book by Michael Gerber called E-Myth. If you are now into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.  BUT, if you want a free copy, all you need to do is give me a review on iTunes! That’s right, I believe so strongly that this book will help you, that I am giving away 20 copies of The E-Myth to the next 20 people who write me a review in iTunes.  Just take a screen shot of your review, and email it to me at [email protected] with your mailing address. I will send you one book with free shipping.

Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs. It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics. There are a lot of things to track in your business, don’t leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets. If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

New York Interior Designer Ghislane ViñasThis week in THE LOUNGE, I speak with Ghislane Viñas, an interior designer based in New York City.  She has done projects all around the world but talks about an interesting project she is currently working on down in Florida, where she is working on the interior design for a yacht.  Starting her career selling office furniture, Ghislane explained that it was here that she learned to sell and work with customers.  After several years, she realized she just wanted more freedom, like many of us, and decided to break out and start her design firm. She now employs about 5 designers, but is able to work on her passion for the big picture.  Now that she has created systems for her business, things run on a fairly predictable schedule.  To learn or about Ghislane and her team, visit her website at GVinteriors.com. Ghislane talked about the importance of systems.  She learned about this early on in her interior design business journey.  If you have listened to the show for a while, you know that this is an idea that is spoken of a lot by our successful designers.  The best small business resource for learning about systems is a book by Michael Gerber called E-Myth.  If you are new into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.  BUT, if you want a free copy, all you need to do is give me a review on iTunes!  That’s right, I believe so strongly that this book will help you, that I am giving away 20 copies of The E-Myth to the next 20 people who write me a review in iTunes.  Just take a screen shot of your review, and email it to me at [email protected] with your mailing address.  I will send you one book with free shipping.Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs.  It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics.  There are a lot of things to track in your business, don’t leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets.   If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com

Big week with some big announcements for the show.  Joining us this week is my good buddy Barrie from Malibu, CA.   Barrie is a successful designer and Realtor.  Today we talk about how that has worked to his benefit, how any designer can build their business through networking, and has new book Interior Design Tips Every Realtor Should Know, but Doesn't.  With over 28 years of experience in the Residential and Hospitality Design Industries, Barrie’s offices out of Malibu, CA, Miami, FL, and LA, CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=xcfozpkdbgs

Please connect with Barrie through Facebook or on his website at BarrieLivingstone.com

Lots of business learning in today’s interview with Robin.  Robin talked about the importance of systems.  He learned about this early on in her interior design business journey when a friend recommended that he read Michael Gerber’s book called E-Myth.  If you are new into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.  BUT, if you want a free copy, all you need to do is give me a review on iTunes!  That's right, I believe so strongly that this book will help you, that I am giving away 20 copies of The E-Myth to the next 20 people who write me a review in iTunes.  Just take a screen shot of your review, and email it to me at [email protected] with your mailing address.  I will send you one book with free shipping.

Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs.  It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics.  There are a lot of things to track in your business, don’t leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets.   If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Robin Bond:  From Rock Star to Interior Design

Today's show features a fantastic designer from Austin, Texas, Robin Bond of Robin Bond Interiors.  Robin, like so many other interior designers, fell into the craft in a round about way.  Her first career...Rock Star.  Yep, rock star.  She sang in a band traveling around, until she had a medical issue with her vocal cords, and fell into selling insurance.  Talk about a change of directions.  With no creative outlet, she found herself decorating spaces.  First for herself, and soon for friends.  Sound familiar?  Today, Robin leads a team of five, also owns a drapery business called Draped, and writes a blog called Wine, Dine, and Design.

Lots of business learnings in today's interview with Robin.  Robin talked about the importance of systems.  She learned about this early on in her interior design business journey when a friend recommended that she read Michael Gerber's book called E-Myth.  If you are new into your interior design business, I highly recommend you pick up a copy.  It will be the best investment of time you can make.

One of the other things we talked about at length is the sales role of an interior designer.  Most people who get into interior design, do it because they want to make spaces look and function great.  But as a designer, you are a sales person that is getting paid to solve problems and find solutions.  The better you are at this, the better your interior design business will be.

Our sponsor Design Manager is your best answer for all your back-office needs.  It will help you with your accounting, paperwork, and logistics.  There are a lot of things to track in your business, don't leave it up to Word docs and spreadsheets.   If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Moving from the East coast to Vegas to San Diego, Darcy had a vision from day one to build a certain kind of interior design business.  Being an entrepreneur early on, she wanted to create a business that would be location independent, and to cater to her love for travel.  As always, Darcy has a unique story behind starting her design business Simply Stunning Spaces, but has also written a book, and created a training program for young designers.  Darcy

Her Book Instant Dream Home is available on Amazon.com or you can find out more about the DIY decorating course at Instant Dream Home.

For those designers that want help getting their business going and to learn how Darcy has built her business, you can go to Design Biz in a Box.

 

Our sponsor Design Manager is announcing an iPad giveaway.  If you purchase in the month of September or October you will be entered into a raffle where they are giving away an iPad and an iPad Mini.  You can get additional entries to the raffle if you purchase and then tweet or facebook about the promotion using the hashtag #dmdesigner. If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Phyllis Harbinger:  New York City's ASID Chapter President

Today on the show, I talk with Phyllis Harbinger.  Phyllis is a super successful interior designer in New York.  She started her firm, Design Concepts Interiors, in 1993, after she had been in corporate marketing but was unhappy.  After renovating a property that needed a lot of vision, she decided to make a career change into interior design.   Phyllis went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she also currently teaches.  Along with teaching, she is currently serving as President of the New York Metro Chapter Board of Directors.

I must say, this is as full of an interview on running a successful interior design business, as I have ever done.  Because Phyllis speaks, teaches, and coaches other designers, I don't think there was a topic that we did not cover completely.

Phyllis recently worked on a show home for singer, song-writer, and director Rupert Holmes.

https://youtu.be/62h4G2oAtqk

 

Our sponsor Design Manager is announcing an iPad giveaway.  If you purchase in the month of September or October you will be entered into a raffle where they are giving away an iPad and an iPad Mini.  You can get additional entries to the raffle if you purchase and then tweet or facebook about the promotion using the hashtag #dmdesigner. If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

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

Great show today.  Designer Michael Del Piero for Chicago talks about her switch from going to school to be a nurse, to being an executive coach, to interior design.  I love how each person I interview has a unique and different path into design.

 

Our sponsor Design Manager is announcing an iPad giveaway.  If you purchase in the month of September or October you will be entered into a raffle where they are giving away an iPad and an iPad Mini.  You can get additional entries to the raffle if you purchase and then tweet or facebook about the promotion using the hashtag #dmdesigner. If you give DM a try, please let them know you heard about them in The Lounge.

Michael, like many of my guests, had a different path into design.  Buying items from around the world, she started selling hand-made products she would find.  A customer asked her to help place the items in her home, but quickly realize that she needed more help than just accessorizing.  This was Michael's first interior design project.  She picked paint, flooring, and furniture along with her accessories.  Michael was one of the earliest vendors on 1st Dibs, is known for her accomplished eye and uncommon knack for a serene and simple mix that bridges generations of style. Michael has a distinct aesthetic fusing rough with luxurious and ancient with modern.

 

Good Design has grown to have a staff of six, helping Michael with everything from purchasing, sketching, and designing beautiful spaces.  Michael's work has appeared in over 350 interior design blogs as well as national and regional publications such as Traditional Home, House Beautiful, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and 1st Dibs Introspective who declared her work as "truly, one of a kind". Her projects are also featured in popular interior design books including House Beautiful's Kitchens, Chicago Spaces and the international publication, Visions of Design.

Amazingly enough, Michael has no formal interior design training, but seems to have the "it" factor.  She admits in our chat that she is not a great manager, but clearly has a knack for finding talented people to compliment her to grow the business.  I know you are going to love this interview just as much as I did.  To learn more about Michael, go to her website at Michael Del Piero Good Design.

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

[share][/share]