Journal entry: lessons learned

powellbrowerinteriors

Our blog is where we journal about our design business, what inspires us, our own homes and our lives.  Now that I have some time to breathe after a busy summer with design clients, I want to reflect on lessons learned and experiences that reinforce my love for what I do.

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Most importantly for me, is the wonderful people I have had the pleasure to design for.  I am a people person and that, along with my passion for interiors and art, is why I am an interior designer.

These past few months brought me some new friends and deeper respect for my craft.  From the lovely older woman who owns horses on 55 acres that she cares for herself, whose dining room is nearly complete, taught me that she is all about the process along with me and wants to put her personal stamp on the room.  When presented the design contract she had one objection, and that was our clause that says she is to leave the house for the several hours while we put together the room for the big reveal.  She said no, she can't do that, and is not into a 'reveal'.  I have never run into that before- who doesn't want a reveal? She wants to assist me in putting the art on the walls and adding the final touches, and wants them to be her own.  (Of course I brought a car load of goodies to aid in 'icing that cake'.)

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We are waiting for her custom roman shades to be finished, then we will photograph that room.  It is warm and handsome, with a bit of spunk on the floor with a hugely bold and colorful antique kilim rug on the floor.

The office clients that you have seen glimpses of on my IG account were 100% on board with anything I did from the initial consultation...it was a dream.  This was a referral from our photographer, Jen Dowell, who is an amazing part of our team.  We met with the client and learned the opening date was only a few months away.  So we quickly secured the approved plans, then flew through the procuring process, while meeting with contractors to configure walls and offices within this 700 sq. foot shell of a charming old townhouse in Warrenton, Va.  I couldn't buy things fast enough, and though there was a desk debacle and over 1000 miles on my car, it was so much fun, and rewarding.  This was just photographed so those pictures will be up soon, but the ultimate compliment came from my client:

"Thank you for everything—I do think that the décor has landed us several clients since we don’t look unprepared.  We look professional, classy, calm.  Thank you!"

Thank you Sarah and Nathan at Meridian Financial Partners.  Gretchen, their office manager, helped me immensely with shipments and meeting deliveries.  She is an integral part of that dream team.

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I am so proud that my husband made so many things for this office project; truly a family effort.

This next client was definitely a learning experience.  We love this couple and their family, who we know personally, and we were thrilled to design a living room and kitchen for them. After alot of work up front to knock their socks off, we presented the plans and clearly the husband was very enthusiastic and the wife not so much.  After delving deeper, we did a few edits and still no buy-in. Turns out we discovered the sticking points: she wanted to do it herself and on her own time, and she wanted to control the process. The exciting thing is that it ignited the fire under them to start renovating their home, they ordered some furniture and are going to redo the entire first floor hardwoods to a darker color and possibly include the kitchen floor. 

powellbrowerinteriors

powellbrowerinteriors

I got more practice in on my hand renderings and we did some fantastic textile combinations (if we do say so ourselves), and got more up to speed on some product research.

Lessons learned: do more qualifying of the client up front, as well as  find out their decorating problems and their decision making capabilities.  Also don't put in too many hours until you know you have the job!  We did alot of background research, estimating with painters and cabinetmakers, etc.- all great experience, for sure, but we didn't get the job.  You can't win them all!

Our next client asked for living and adjoining room plans to incorporate turquoise and orange in with her existing furnishings, and thats what I did.  

After I presented the plans, she decided she wanted to pack up all her turquoise and orange and shift to neutrals, so that's where we are with editing her plans.

  Sales is an interesting thing: how people buy, their ability to pull the trigger, their budget in relation to expectations of hiring a designer, and selling the value of our services are all a part of this process and a continual learning experience! I have been in sales for 40 years and am still learning.  I absolutely love it though, and the fun thing about all of this activity is that I am super jazzed (again) about working on my own home and finishing painting my kitchen cabinets!

Life is good.  

Client sneak peak and Friday feature

Just finished a 'soft install' of an office project we've been working on.  Seems like a lot of our business is in Bethany's new town, ....is someone trying to tell me something?  [I am becoming very fond of driving out there and getting to know the quaint town, the friendly people and wonderful shops and eateries.]

Our clients are starting a new business and leased the first floor of an old townhouse that I helped configure into 2 offices and 2 reception areas, from an empty shell.

Here is a sneak peak at some shots around the office.

 The conference room has a few watercolors that I painted.  I like to create art for each client we have, as my personal stamp on the project.

My husband made the barn door, some shelving, base cabinets and work center tabletop...so thankful he's handy [and retired]!  We sorely miss our previous installer, our son, Michael. It was our first install since he's moved to Chicago for grad school.  Thank goodness for Bethany, [and her husband's help] though.  

We have an absolute blast on install days !

Here's the beverage center we installed in one of the reception rooms.  

  It has been so much fun working with these clients who have let me pretty much 'do my thing' without any snags.  I did have the main lobby art pieces fall of the wall and break, so one more story to add to my repertoire of designer 'shenanigans'.  Oh, and when my son and I were picking up a desk/armoire off of Craigslist, my truck died and I had to get it towed home 50 miles with the furniture in the back. 

 [the deal that was no longer a deal] 

It's all good now though.

Later this week we will be participating in " How to Create the Perfect Bed" along with 8 other fantastic bloggers.  This is a fun series created by Mary Ann Pickett of Classic Casual Home, and Cindy Hattersley of Rough Luxe Lifestyle.  This series really brings some great vision and depth to subjects like styling your coffee table, refreshing your living room and creating a gallery wall!

     After Orange County

    Classic Casual Home

       Kim Macumber Interiors 

   Maison Décor

      Powell Brower At Home

     Rough Luxe Lifestyle

  Shine Your Light

     Vintage Contessa   

                    So come back Friday, the 25th, and get some tips for the perfect bed! 

 Is there one?

Have a great week!

Happy Fall and Catching Up

Just back from a weekend at Bethany Beach, DE, it has hit me hard that fall is here.  It was 52 this morning when I got up!  The end of summer is beautiful at the beach and I was happy to get a break from our workload this summer. The bonus was that I went with Bethany, as the two of us don't get to go out of town together very often to just play!

Here are some peeks of projects going on, starting with a lovely dining room client, a traditonalist, art collector and horse lover, who took a leap with a bold vintage Kilim as a jumping off point for her room.

As you all know, it all begins with a plan....

The window treatments will be in early October after which we'll get some professional photos.

The Phillip Jeffries ( Grey on Blue) grass cloth is so beautiful and the perfect compliment to the newly painted millwork in the room.

Next is a whole office that is being installed this week.  It has been so fun to build the design from a blank space. Here are some shots of it shaping up:

This week we install the marble on the reception beverage center, hang the barn door in the bathroom,  install some custom wood features, lay more rugs, hang art, style and accessorize...so fun!

A really fun project we both are over the moon about the textiles with, is a wonderful couple who needs a total living room makeover and partial kitchen makeover.

We presented kitchen options...

and love the flow from the living room to the eat-in kitchen.  [We're waiting on their decision.]

Another prospective project is couple who wants to meld their existing things with newly acquired pieces inherited from her mother.  With a mix of his, hers and moms, we are neutralizing the basics and adding layers of rugs and accents to pull it altogether.

[Neutral drapes are waiting a selection of trim banding.]

The exciting thing about this busy summer of projects is how we are honing our brand, business model and skills.  

Have you heard of a "Hobson's Choice"? It is basically when you [more specifically a client] think there are unlimited options and are overwhelmed, the more you define your likes and dislikes and delve deep into the problems and solutions, the result boils down to just one or two ideal solutions.  This is a great way to handle the customers dilemma and insight in working with them. 

Have a great week!

On a roll here

Greetings friends! I hope you are having a great August so far.  I can't believe kids are back in school in parts of the country.  Our schools start around Labor Day here, but there is definitely a hint of fall in the air, and the swimming pool water is getting colder!  Lots happening around here so I'll share a few projects going on.

A new office project with old town charm is in the works to be installed in a month.  Here are a few of the design boards and the direction it is going in.  The wall color is BM Winds Breath.

Next we have a country dining room makeover with alot of pop, starting with this newly acquired fabulous vintage Kilim rug.

It has been fun building the design plan around this.  Here are some fabric choices (still to be edited) to go with fabulous Phillip Jeffries grass cloth on the walls.

We have 2 clients with these window walls- a very common scene in the newer houses in our area.  I love a good challenge!

The second image goes with this kitchen remodel with new counters, floors, lighting and furnishings.

We're on a roll here and also working on Bethany's home and, gulp, I started painting my kitchen cabinets- I know, a little crazy at the moment.

Follow Bethany and I on Instagram for updates! Have a wonderful last month of summer.