The Client Is Not The Designer. 

I realize now that I used to bend too easily when a client questioned my design direction. As a fledgling designer, I was confident in my designs, but unsure of how to properly navigate the conversation when a client wanted to veer away from my recommended direction.

Having confidence in design is one thing, but having confidence in gently letting the client know their proposed direction is the wrong one… a whole different ballgame.

At Some Point, You Have To Take The Leap. 

Our advice for designers just starting out is to take risks. We wish that we would have opened a storefront much sooner. Having a space where people can come and get to know your aesthetic in a comfortable environment can be inspiring to visitors and often leads to new clients!

You Set The Ground Rules, Now Stick To It. 

Being a people pleaser often made me a doormat in the beginning of my career. Afraid I would offend a client, I found myself doing extra work they requested without bringing up the extra time they would need to pay for even though they had signed a contract that addressed exactly this topic! I'd push off the conversation so many times that by the time billing came around, I found myself absorbing these extra fees instead of charging my client.

With time comes confidence. A gentle reminder that I'm happy to do the extra work but that it's not included in our original scope is all I need to say. They typically don't remember what is and what is not part of their contract!

Make Sure That They'll Fit. 

When designing a furniture layout for a client, take scale and size into consideration. As you select the furnishings or repurpose a client's piece, always measure to make sure the pieces can fit through openings, hallways, and around corners. If you are not able to get a sofa, armoire, or bed into a room, it can be a very costly mistake.

Thankfully this has not happened to me when ordering new furniture or purchasing antiques, but on occasion when I have had to work an existing piece of furniture into my design, a large piece like a one-piece armoire would not fit up a set of stairs like the client wanted. We had to find a new use for it and search for a two-piece armoire to replace it in the master bedroom.

Don't Try To Do Everything Yourself. 

Every new designer soon realizes the necessity of having to wear multiple hats when starting a business. And, as much as I loathed wearing the ‘accounting' hat, in my mind I couldn't justify hiring an accountant until I had more business. I felt as if I had to do it all myself.

Eventually, the perfect storm led to a complicated accounting debacle that was just too entangled for my Big-Picture, ADD brain to figure out and was sucking too much time away from doing the design work I love. It was a wakeup call for me to take off some hats. I had to just let go, hand certain duties over to someone else, and have faith that my business would be able to absorb the costs. I now subscribe to online accounting software and have hired an accounting firm that specializes in working with designers.

BEST thing I ever did!!!

Apparently I have to learn the hard way... as soon as I did these two simple things, my business started growing like crazy. I could almost hear the universe say: “Whew… finally! She got the message!”

It Is Not A Walk In The Park. 

Being an interior designer is not as glamorous as a lot of people think. It is hard work, quite technical and detailed. You have to be practical, tough and flexible to make it. If you are not a people person - forget it. Education and networking with great sources is key. It is not just a job - it is a passion!

How You Communicate With Your Clients Will Determine Your Success. 

The ONE thing I wish I had done differently after my years of experience is to have improved my communication skills, because how you interact with a client is more than showing samples. To have been more effective, I would have taken some anthropology classes along with architecture and interior design. Being an interior designer is all about people. How you ask questions to get the answers you need to design a space that reflects their wants and needs is a skill. Sometimes the client does not know how to articulate what they want until you translate for them what they are really trying to tell you.

Effective communication is a learning process because clients have different personalities and so you have different challenges depending upon whom you are serving. You can have great ideas including your design and graphic skills but if you cannot help them understand and visualize how your vision will look before it is completed, they will have difficulty making a decision. In the end, being professional and not taking yourself too seriously is important. If you don't have a sense of humor, you won't enjoy your work. Love what you do and your clients will love you for that.

Don't Wait Until You Graduate Before Getting Your First Client. 

One of the most valuable things I actually did as a young design student was to take a job in a Trade Only showroom. This experience taught me so much valuable information about the design industry as a whole, and it allowed me to interact with and observe professional designers working in the field.

That unique perspective taught me an enormous amount about actually being a designer. In addition, I'm so glad I started taking on my own decorating clients, on a very limited basis, while still an interior design student. This allowed me to hone my skills in the real world, right alongside my ‘book learning' in design school.

If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be: Building a successful interior design business takes time and experience. Mistakes are learning opportunities and each client will teach you something new. Relax and know that it will come. Eventually, you will have all that you're dreaming of: life as a thriving, respected interior designer.

Put Yourself In Your Client's Shoes. 

I think the most important lesson I've learned in my career is never to forget how important great design is. I inspire my clients with design, to strive for the real thing, not to compromise lest they will regret it. I endeavor to put myself in my client's shoes and to be empathetic to their needs at all times. When I meet a new client at the beginning I try to understand them. It is a process, but through our discovery together we can create the space of their dreams.

The perfect project for my client comes through a unique process of collaboration, mutual respect and love for the process. This unique distillation has evolved over time; it yields a unique, custom tailored, client centered solution every time.

Be Good In Finance And Marketing. 

One of the things I would include in my education is a business degree. For creatives like myself, finances and marketing a tough shoes to fill.

If You Feel Miserable, Do Something About It. 

Early in my career I worked for myself and I loved it. But I made the decision to work for others to receive insurance benefits. In hindsight, I wish that I would have stayed in my own business. I spent over 20 years working for others. I finally left a $100,000 a year job where I was miserable to go back out on my own 2 years ago and I could not be happier. I set my goals and have achieved them. I just moved out of my home office to a studio and have an assistant.

Fifteen years ago I read a phrase that has been guiding my career. I do not remember where I found it or who the author was. But I keep it in my appointment book as it gives me strength. "Come to the ledge” he said. "No! I'll fall” she replied. “Come to the edge” he repeated. "No I can't. I'll fall!” “Come to the ledge” he said. She finally did. Then he pushed her and she flew…. I have held on to this belief through job changes and starting my business. I wish I had taken that first step sooner. Set goals and you will achieve them.

The 3 Rules of Client Relationship. 

Payment schedules.

Not getting too personally involved with a client (hard not to do since you are spending so much time with them) because it never ends up good.

Detailed rules during the interview process (also in your contract) to avoid unrealistic expectations and God forbid they want you to be available 24/7.

Making sure clients are very clear about what your role is in the project and theirs as well. Too many clients want to manage things they know nothing about. A recipe for disaster!

All of these lessons are usually learned the hard way but once you learn your lessons by making the appropriate changes and setting your own ground rules, it becomes much easier and enjoyable to do what you are hired to do.

Become An Expert. 

We often over analyze and talk ourselves out of great ideas. Don't overthink things. Develop your intuitive skills by becoming an expert. Read everything relevant you can get your hands on. Look at inspiration photos and keep a record of your favorite ideas. The more experience you have, the more on target your intuition becomes.

My dad, an antique dealer, trained himself through years of constant reading and learning. One day, he discovered a famous painting at a household sale. He instantly knew who the artist was because of his years of training his expert eye.

How To Pick The Right Color. 

In my career I've probably chosen over 1000 paint colors, and that's the area that I think people are most often concerned about. One tip is to always go a shade or two muddier than you think based on the paint chip or sample. Once you get a color up on all 4 walls, it reflects on itself and intensifies the color. Nobody wants their faint green room to look like a shamrock shake of electric green.

Tailor Your Creativity According To Your Client's Best Interest. 

What I would have done differently is to not worry quite so much about what the client was comfortable with and nudge them into more creative choices quicker in the design process. Most clients start out wanting a safe look with a creative twist, so they feel up-to-date and a little unique (but just a little).

As we age, we discover that living in spaces that are unique (i.e. personal) is far more important than anything that might be considered up-to-date. I now use my training and experience to focus on what is meaningful to my clients, regardless of what the magazines and catalogs are showing!

Not All Clients Are Created Equal. 

I wish I had known the importance of being selective with the clients I accepted when first starting out. The biggest mistake I made was trying to be all things to all clients. I wasn't confident enough in what the future held that I accepted projects that didn't necessarily align with my long-term goals. This led to frustration, exhaustion and a general lack of accomplishment.

I suggest new designers to spend the time upfront outlining their ideal clients, projects, scopes of work and recruit a supportive mentor to help them execute their plan. Identifying your ideal client and relentlessly focusing on obtaining and retaining them are vital to your success.

It's Never Too Late. 

If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone out on my own as an interior designer much much sooner. The growth and happiness I have found just in the past few years has been incredible. I've created a business I am very proud of and have worked hard to build from the bottom up. My favorite saying is, "leap and the net will appear" by John Burroughs and I finally took the leap! It's never too late.

Befriend The Media. 

I really underestimated the intricacies of public relations and print media. As an art and design school graduate, I understood the world of juried design competitions but navigating how to appropriately pitch to the editors of national design magazine, not so much.

For example, my first major print worthy project was my NYC apartment. I had it professionally photographed and compiled these images into impressive color marketing brochures/postcards for my business. But when I entered my home into a Metropolitan Home Magazine design competition, I didn't understand the first thing about drafting a pitch and I had zero relationships with anyone in print editorial.

I now know that getting editorial coverage can take awhile, so allotting time every week to ensure the word is being spread is paramount. How and where I present my design work is as critical as the projects in my portfolio. The commitment, energy, monies and budget put into a marketing and public relations campaign can be well worth the effort.

Stay Cool Under Pressure. 

As a designer I've had to learn, and have somewhat mastered the ability, to stay cool under pressure. Design is not a science and often things come in incorrectly, break during transport, or something else may occur during the design and installation process that was not anticipated. I've learned to roll with the punches and not get too worked up about what's not in my control. Most of the time things can be resolved and the final results are always beautiful (and correct!).

The Timing Will Never Be Right. 

Several years ago, I left a well-paying, high-profile corporate job, just before our third child was born. On paper, it was absolutely the wrong time to start my own business. But I lined up a couple of clients, believed in myself, and had the courage to take a leap of faith. I learned that there is never a perfect time to do anything! Sometimes you have to listen to your heart and follow it. I haven't looked back and love what I do.

Don't Be A Technophobe. 

If I had known what was to come, I would have embraced all things technical and digital more readily. People think design is simply a visual field, and assume that you just need to be creative and artistic. In truth, to succeed in design and deliver high quality projects that stand the test of time (especially to a sophisticated luxury clientele), you must also have superior digital skills and a thorough mastery of building and design technology. But more importantly, you must be able to master the changing landscapes of these fields.

No one told me that when I went to design school! It's critical to be able to evaluate and select everything from high-tech fixtures, finishes and furnishings to technology systems that are functionally and aesthetically appropriate.

Fortunately, I'm a fast learner, and I know when to bring in partners with deep expertise. For instance, I wouldn't dream of doing certain projects today without calling on talented consultants to help me with lighting plans, technology systems or even fine art—a field that has become totally dependent on the digital landscape given the fact that artworks are often among a homeowner's most major investments.

Don't Try To Follow The Pack. 

Design is organic, and there isn't just one way to make a room beautiful. Don't try to follow the pack or be ‘trendy'. Set yourself apart from others by being your own unique self. You will be happier that way, and your clients will come to you for that. Enjoy your career, it's an exciting and fun job to have! I love what I do.

Will Your Design Still Be Relevant 5 Years From Now? 

I often work on ground up construction estates. I really wished I had a crystal ball to know the changing elements of technology. We designed so many entertainment centers in the past that now have to be ripped out. Audio visual is such an important aspect of design. When I am space planning, my first question is always if and where any audio visual (such as a television) will be located and how to conceal it in a formal space and how it will look like many years from now.

Get Them Excited About The Project. 

When initially interviewing a client, pay close attention to their degree of enthusiasm. A client who is excited about their project and passionate about design will guarantee you an enjoyable experience.

Focus On The ONE Thing. 

In my first few years, I tried my hands at a few different, but related activities, and never excelled at any. The minute I made the conscious decision to focus in ONE area, my business changed and grew. I now have a thriving interior design and home staging business, and love every second of what I do.

Surround Yourself With Great Talents. 

The one advice I have for new designers is to work for a firm that offers you a solid teamwork environment by having a large (and talented) team to work with. Many residential interior designers tend to work alone in namesake firms which is not the best way for you to ‘grow'.

By working alongside a large pool of talented individuals, it will give you a better foundation and an easier springboard when you are ready to go out on your own by having better connections, broader knowledge and even potential partnerships with individuals you already know and trust (I started an Architectural practice with 3 other Architects before we went our own ways). And when that time comes, make sure that is what you want before you take the leap.

The truth is, not many independent designers achieve great success. Having the freedom of your own business is beautiful and rewarding but the initial grind requires your total devotion.

Get Your Clients To Commit BEFORE You Start The Work. 

Respect your own intellectual property! You can't just give your ideas away. Because I'm so passionate at what I do, I'd often get excited about a project and before I had a commitment from the client, I would start rambling all these ideas or even give my designs without charging, thinking “of course they'll hire me now”. Sometimes they would but for the most part I'd lose the sale because the client felt no need for me at that point. Well duh, haha.

I can happily say that doesn't happen to me today. I have much more confidence and people respect me because I respect myself as a professional. But you learn everything in time and by making mistakes. We never stop learning.