Friday, March 15, 2013

Designer Question


This vignette is by one of my favorite designers, Brooke GiannettiIf you have time, please go see the progress their new Patina Farm.


"It is up to the designer to frame the relationship so the outcome is seamless."

{Diana Mahoney}

I love this quote. In working with design clients of all types we really do have to set the stage, terms and conditions so firstly, the client is comfortable enough to proceed, and secondly the design job goes as expected and seamless. 


As we grow in our design business we are exploring all facets of the business.  As designers we LOVE the design and selling process.  As a team Bethany and I are really effective at this. Since our business is still on the newer side, we find we often do a lot of the work ourselves.  Although I enjoy getting my hands in paint and doing the hands-on part we also rely on a trustworthy team of assistants, installers, carpenters, builders, etc. to help with the execution of the design.  I know in the future we will not have the time to do some ourselves but will have to subcontract the work, but I am really enjoying the process from design to finish.


Tell us, as designers, how involved do you get in the execution of the project along the way? I know we all love the final install and staging it for photographs, but do you "get your hands dirty"? Do tell.  I have more questions to ask you all, so look for more Designer Questions..


Thanks for all of your support and wonderful comments on my One Room Challenge. You all really FUEL me! xoxo


Nancy


P.S. One reason being too hands-on may be costly: I dropped my cell phone in the paint tray today :(



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17 comments:

  1. Back when I did this I subcontracted everything but kept a close eye on the process. It has its own set of frustrations since you cannot control what other people do.

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  2. so i'm guessing you can't just put your phone in a bag of rice over night with that one....

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  3. Oh no, not the paint tray!!!! I proceed however the client wants. In many cases they like to do things themselves so I just hand hold along the way. Other times, I do the final install, it just depends on what works best for them.

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  4. Sorry about your phone. But better a paint tray than a toilet!

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  5. I design the project and order furniture,fabrics and line up contractors.... ...I don't do any of the hard labor. That is to bad about your phone....if I would of done the work the paint would of gone all over the floor. I know my limits...

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  6. Bummer about your phone...I think I would die.

    As a non-designer, I don't want to be involved in any of the dirty or hard stuff. My philosophy...let the pros handle it. But maybe that's because I suck at DIY? But if you enjoy the DIY process, like so many do, than that's a whole other story. And you're clearly quite capable, unlike me :)

    Have a great weekend Nancy!

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  7. whoa on that phone lady! I think I'd stop breathing if that happened. My freaking livelihood is tethered to that device! Loving this series! So many questions, so many answers. When I started out, I got my hands VERY dirty. I painted rooms, installed tiles, grouted said tiles, installed baseboards, crown molding plus did the proposals, tracked budgets, shopping and installation etc....I did this so I could learn the "gritty" side of the business as well as the all the pretty stuff. It has served me well because I now know when a trade is not doing his/her job correctly and I can point this out with some knowledge/experience to boot and look for tell-tale signs of great workmanship as I now hire trades. I still paint on occassion (small bedroom/bath project) but my business has gotten too busy to do so much. So I now have a trusted team of trades that I use so I can focus on generating new clients and keeping existing ones happy and keeping up with all this social media stuff. And that quote is amazing. You have to set the stage for how you'll work with clients. For example, don't respond to clients on our day off - unless the freaking project is on fire. Once you do, they'll never respect your time off and will flood you with calls/texts etc... Set boundaries and keep them.

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  8. bummer about your phone! I admire all designers! I'm not professional, my mother was, and I love to diy..so I would save money to design myself..I would be a horrible bossy client...but I love to see what professionals come up with..I am always amazed!

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  9. Awesome question. I have never painted someone's room for them or done any renovation for them either. I have passed on info about qualified subs or upholsterers who could do the work for them. I have done some furniture updating with paint and fabric for a few clients, but I try not to be decorator and laborer all in one.

    Have a fab weekend, Nancy and Bethany!

    www.chattafabulous.blogspot.com

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  10. My daughter poured a cup of bath water on my phone last night and I stopped breathing. I think I would have fallen over dead if I dropped it in a vat of paint. I'm wondering though is it cool looking all painted?! Instead of dipped kitchen utensils you have a dipped phone ;)

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  11. I've reupholstered things for clients and painted some furniture. But I leave the big room painting as well as hanging drapery hardware etc to the trades that are far better at that than me. :) Good luck with the phone!

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  12. I'm there from concept to installation! Sadly enough, I can never completely trust the contractor and subs to communicate my design ideas so I find myself on the job site as the project manager/designer/therapist/clean up crew! It's all about taking pride in your work and I can't see backing out a bit for anything :D

    Such a relevant post!
    Thank you for the blog visit loves! Hope to see you ladies back soon!

    xo-Julie
    Peace. Love. LOL!

    Haute Khuuture Blog

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  13. I'm sad for your phone. Since I am not a designer all I can say is the designers I know, don't get dirty and make a lot of money.

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  14. The only client I would do diy projects for is my mom! :) Actually, I did re-cover a lamp shade for someone recently. Have a great weekend, ladies!

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  15. While I don't actually get my hands dirty because I am not that good at that sort of thing, I am always present when the work begins and before the work ends each day to make sure it is exactly what we envisioned. But I have been known to recover chair seats with a staple gun occasionally....

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  16. When I first started out I did lost of things for clients but now I hire it done. I left the DIY and became the HIY...LOL!

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  17. So many thoughts here ... I used to do a lot more as well. Then I found reliable people. Helps me, saves time, much more efficient. And allows you to focus on design and new clients!! Now, I still do a little diy project on occasion ... generally as a "gift" to my clients. One time I painted a small accent table they wanted to throw away, another time I created a Sand Dollar Intaglio for a sweet family. Just a Thank you Note of sorts! xo

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