Over the years, I have read many business articles on how I should market my services and what I should tell potential clients as any business would do. These articles focused on the designers and not the clients, and that never felt right to me. My intention and love are to help my clients, educate my clients and guide my clients. So having said that and after many projects and client relationships I have realized that every potential client looking to complete a home improvement project has questions they want to ask but don’t. Well I say be bold and do ask.

In lew of asking, I will try to answer one question I think clients want to ask but hesitate.

What do designers really bring to a project?

Designers should bring:

· Education - As a Certified Interior Design Professional, I have graduated college with a degree specifically in Interior Design, completed three years of full-time work experience, sat and passed the professional exam to become a Certified Interior Designer by NCIDQ. The test is administered by a National Organization verify to the high standards and caliber of a Certified Interior Designer.

· Experience – Before starting my residential interior design business I worked many years for a luxury residential interior designer as his right-hand person, both designing and assisting on full home design-build and decoration. Once starting my firm I have completed over 80 projects that involved design-build, construction management, design decoration, and decorative project implementation and installation. You can’t negate years of experience when a project hits a roadblock, or problem experience allows every issue to be solvable.

· Knowledge of the Market – Experience is huge; however, no project can come together unless I also know the market. If you have ever sat down and google I need a dining table you know its a never-ending list of websites to view. Every click you ask what am I looking at, is it good quality? It can be overwhelming. As an Interior Designer I am lucky to be based in NYC and have amazing design showrooms such and D&D Building and 200 Lex however NYC doesn’t have it all. Sushhhhh don’t tell us New Yorkers 😊 However it is true. Many times, a year there are wonderful trade shows in NYC that we attend to find new vendors, speak with existing vendors and develop new ties to international sources. These fairs are New York Gift Fair or NY Now, ICFF, NYCx Design, Collective Design, Affordable Art Fair, Salon Art + Design, Outsider Art Fair, New York Art Fair, to name a few. I also travel to the largest furniture market in High Point, North Carolina to attend the spring and fall furniture markets which are the biggest in the country. I have also attended Las Vegas Market and the market in Atlanta, Greenbuild, Brimfield Antique Market, and National Kitchen and Bath Association yearly show.

There is so much to know, bring to projects that there is a reason it's an actual job and not a hobby! I hope this helps you and let me know if you have any other questions you want me to answer!

Creating a HEALTHY STYLED HOME by Carolyn Tierney

DESIGN + WELLNESS + LIFESTYLE

What do designers really bring to a project?