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Secluded within a national park and renown for abundant Australian flora and fauna, Lizard Island beckons both adventurers and leisure-seekers. A prime location on the Great Barrier Reef grants easy access to one of the world’s most coveted natural wonders, while ample amenities and services ensure indelible experiences. Explore the natural beauty or opt to lounge at the pool, beach, spa, or private chartered yacht for a truly unforgettable getaway.
Stay: While a variety of suites and rooms are offered, ultimate luxury is found at The House at Lizard. This modern three-bedroom villa features wellness amenities including outdoor baths, a private swimming pool, adjoining yoga deck, and a rooftop hot tub along with spacious bedrooms and floor-to-ceiling island views from every turn.
Staying at The House has its privileges, like the intuitive service of a Private Host who will curate your dream itinerary and attend to your every request, and a private chef and sommelier on-hand for all meals. Other notable inclusions are access to two private beaches, unlimited use of “Mojo” (a twin outboard Searanger boat), naturalist-led tours, chauffeured transfers to the resort and airport, and more.
Savor: Your all-inclusive stay includes gourmet meals, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and spirits, and an in-room mini bar. Multiple dining options are available from elevated to casual. Take in ocean views and a daily rotating menu at Salt Water, which serves up modern Australian fare infused with Asian flavors — all crafted with local produce and fresh seafood. For intimate, exclusive dining, reserve the Degustation Dining experience — available for only two couples per evening. Meet with your chef prior to dinner to discuss your seven-course meal and matching wine selection. Minimal service interruptions ensure ultimate privacy.
See & Do: The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living coral reef system and the seventh Wonder of the World. Snorkel, scuba dive, or swim with schools of colorful fish and other ocean life among a rainbow of coral. Snorkeling gear is available for the duration of your stay, along with a selection of dive charters and scuba classes. For those who prefer to stay dryer, rent a sea kayak, which offers a window into the underwater world from above the waterline.
Getting There: Scheduled twice daily, take a scenic 60-minute flight between Cairns and Lizard Island — with aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef, the flight is a highlight of the journey.
For more information on this trip please feel free to contact Staci Spittler with Travelstix at staci@travelstix.com. More on Staci here - Signature Travel Network.
xx, Danae
I am always trying to find products and services in addition to what we offer at Elite Design Assistants in the interior design industry that would greatly benefit all designers. Below is a list of some great products and services that many of our clients use. I am an affiliate for most of them so I do get a commission if you purchase from my link.
NEW! The Key – Fee Calculator
The Key is a FEE CALCULATOR from interior designer business coach Nancy Ganzekaufer. Whether you work on e-design, décor only, new builds, remodels or full-service, The KEY does the math for you!
Enter Your Desired Hourly Rate
Estimate Hours Per Room
Estimate Sales Tax on Services and/or Goods
Estimate Furniture / Décor Investment
OPENING SOON! The Standard
Grow your firm into a thriving luxury design business while giving yourself more freedom, creativity and joy. The Standard is a course that walks you through streamling and organizing your process, attracting your idea high-end luxury clients and provides you all the templates and information you need to start landing luxury clients NOW!
Metrique Solutions – The Ultimate Money Dashboard
This is perfect for scaling your service-based business, especially if you aren’t a ‘money person’. This platform integrates with your most-loved financial tools and puts all your money data in one easy-to-understand dashboard.
The Designer’s Collaborative – Buying Group
I’m always asked about buying groups/clubs and this is one I recommend! Many of my clients use The Designer’s Collaborative and I’ve always heard great things! Tell them Danae sent you. 😊
SideDoor
SideDoor is a behind-the-scenes service for independent interior designers, e-designers, stagers, and home influencers. They built proprietary tools that allow you to share your favorite products directly with clients and to make your website and social media pages shoppable. As of the time I wrote this (2/7/23) there are over 4,000 users, 150 vendors and the average commission is 30%. Create your own online shop using SideDoor and make some passive income!
If there are other products and services you are searching for, please let me know! We love researching the industry to find the best recommendations to make interior designers lives easier and more joyful!
xx, Danae
One of my favorite things is to keep interior designers abreast of what’s NEW in the industry and I found you a new FEE CALCULATOR. Check this out!
Attention: Interior Designers
Ready to maximize your profitability?
Then you need The KEY™!
The KEY™: The Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool was developed by well-known Business Coach, Certified Body Language Trainer, and best-selling author, Nancy Ganzekaufer.
Proven successful by 100's of designers, I want YOU to reap the benefits of this easy-to-use pricing tool!
This is the ONLY pricing product you need to realize your highest profit margins. The KEY™ lets you quickly and accurately calculate pricing estimates for your clients...
>> NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF DESIGN SERVICES YOU OFFER! <<
Yes, you read that right. And it gets better!
The KEY™ includes a step-by-step video training that explains how to use the Pricing Tool, reducing your learning curve to almost zero. That means as soon as you grab your copy, you can benefit from it IMMEDIATELY!
The KEY™ also includes these essential bonus resources:
✔️ Project Scope Planner
Helps you think through every aspect of your project so you include each and every detail
✔️ Good, Better, Best Guide
A pricing guide to help you set expectations for your clients on the appropriate investment amounts (aka budgets) for each room
✔️ Client Proposal Templates
Four (4) fully customizable Canva Proposal Templates that align perfectly with The KEY™: The Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool. Go from potential to paying client seamlessly!
Grab your copy of The KEY™ today to start maximizing your profits. Click below to learn more!
Open enrollment is coming up for the program that can help you break into the luxury market of interior design; it’s called The Interior Design Standard!
As you know, I’m here to share with you the helpful tips, tricks, and information I learn in the interior design industry that will help you succeed in running the most fulfilling and profitable business possible. Once again, I want to share with you a business program I came across that’s goal is to improve the interior design industry one design firm at a time.
The Interior Design Standard, created by East Coast interior designer Sandra Funk (House of Funk), is making a huge impact on a number of interior designers’ businesses across the country.
Why is this program making such an impact? Because the Interior Design Standard is House of Funk’s business structure. That’s right! The program includes a variety of modules with templates, processes, tools, and tech for designers to implement the structure into their own businesses. Within each module are videos explaining the ‘why’ behind Funk’s processes, with her personal experiences and lessons learned weaved in.
The program is delivered in a friendly digital format. Designers receive lifetime access, live virtual community events and access to the ultimate design community: the Standard Inner Circle. “Our mantra is ‘Rise, Designers, Rise’. By helping one designer at a time, we hope to see the entire design industry improve,” says Funk.
I want to tell you a little bit more about the designers that the Standard will benefit the most.
They've been in business for at least two years
They have at least two team members
Interior design is their calling - they've got the design stuff locked down
They're ready to level up and break into the luxury design market
They desire to have more confidence, joy, creativity, freedom... and profit
Of course, the Standard is not exclusive to designers that check every box, but their data and testimonials have shown that this is who has fantastic results with the Standard.
This program is perfect for any designer who needs organized processes, wants to learn more about how a thriving and successful design practice does it and wants to bring the joy and passion back into their business.
They give you digestible video explanations accompanied by Sandra’s process, broken down into step-by-step tasks for you to download and customize for your business. Here are a few of the highlights:
Interior Design Services Agreement
20+ Client email templates
Trade Agreement
HR Docs galore (job listings, roles and responsibilities, employee agreements with office policies, onboarding processes and more)
Full-Service Asana template (100+ tasks of our detailed full service and build/renovate process)
Potential Client Asana template (detailed tasks outlining and digging into this process from initial outreach to onboarding)
And tons of bonuses that will knock your socks off!
Plus, anyone who signs up using my link below will get our Passive & Multiple Income Streams for Interior Designers e-Book for FREE*!
Enrollment only happens twice per year and the next enrollment period is March 29 - April 5, 2023. If you are interested, you can reserve a spot now by clicking this link: https://interiordesignstandard.com/danae
*The FREE e-Book will be sent via email 60 days after payment has been made in full for The Interior Design Standard.
As always, please feel free to reach out if you have questions!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
xx, Danae
As a designer, you've probably spent countless hours perfecting your craft. But let's face it, sometimes the daily grind can get a little monotonous. Adding some variety to your life can not only make you a more well-rounded person and make life more stimulating for you, but it can also lead to new creative inspiration and new opportunities in your professional life. Here are some ways to broaden your skills and horizons.
Learning a New Language
Learning a new language can be a lot of fun and one of the most gratifying things you can do. Not only will it allow you to communicate with a wider range of people, but it will also open doors to understanding different cultures, helping you to have a more comprehensive view of the world.
Technology
Another way to expand your skill set could be learning new software or technology. As we live in the digital age, keeping up with the latest technologies gives you an added advantage. Delving into topics such as artificial intelligence or virtual and augmented reality can surprise you and even potentially complement your work.
Journaling
Keeping a journal is an opportunity to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and can help you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your motivations. It also serves to highlight which things in your life are working for you and where you’d like to evolve.
Playing a Musical Instrument
Make your own music. Playing an instrument can be a great way to wind down and help you improve your concentration. Plus, learning to play an instrument can give you an appreciation for the art of composition and arranging. And who knows, you may discover a hidden talent.
Urban Exploration
You might be surprised what you find if you play tourist in your town. Urban exploration can expose you to different architectural styles and designs, abandoned buildings, and other interesting and unique spaces.
Cooking Classes
Taking classes or dedicating regular time to more special or creative recipes can be very therapeutic and help you relax, as well as produce delicious and healthy meals. It’s one way to elevate the mundane. Learning about different ingredients and techniques, not to mention cultures, is a whole world to discover.
Volunteering
Volunteering in your community is a great way to give back to society. It can also offer you new perspectives and inspiration that you might not otherwise have encountered. It helps you develop a more empathetic and understanding view of people, which can be beneficial for both your personal and professional life.
Gardening
Watching the plants you’ve nurtured grow is extremely satisfying, and it can be a refreshing change of pace from working primarily indoors. Experiment with different plants, flowers, and landscaping techniques to create cohesive and visually appealing outdoor areas.
Yoga
It’s not just a fad. Yoga can help you to improve your physical health and to reduce stress and tension in your body. The fluid movements in yoga are especially great for aligning your body and mind after hours sitting in front of the computer screen.
Photography
Photography is a great hobby for many reasons. It's flexible, mobile and learning more about photography can help interior designers visually document and showcase their work, as well as develop a keener eye for composition, lighting and color.
Picking up a new activity (or bringing back one you’ve abandoned) can be an excellent way to stay inspired and motivated – and maybe make some new friends. So, go ahead and design your life to be as beautiful and enjoyable as you can imagine.
xx, Danae
As an interior designer, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of the big picture. Conducting a business checkup from time to time can help you identify areas that need improvement, stay efficient and relevant, and make an enormous difference in your short-term and long-term growth. It’s a good idea to analyze various aspects of your business monthly or quarterly, and then do a more comprehensive checkup on a yearly basis. You should also revisit these points whenever your business is going through a significant change, such as a new product or service launch.
Here are seven areas to focus on during your checkup:
Take a look at all of the technology you are currently using in your business. Are there any tools or software that you could update or replace with more efficient options? For example, switching to a cloud-based project management system meant for interior designers could save time by reducing redundant work, as well as improve collaboration with team members. Apps like Canvas can save you time on site surveying.
One of the things interior designers often enjoy the most, yet sometimes don’t seem to have (or make) much time for, is to check out other designers’ work and new vendors or items. Keeping an eye on the latest design trends, materials, and technologies can help you offer fresh, innovative solutions to your clients. Additionally, staying current with industry trends can also help you anticipate changes in the market and adapt to new demands from clients.
One important aspect of streamlining internal business processes is to review and organize your design resources. This includes your 2D and 3D block and model libraries, templates, and other design assets. Having a well-organized system with a standardized file naming convention can save time and improve efficiency in the design process. You can also look into automating certain repetitive tasks such as sending invoices.
Review the roles and responsibilities of anyone else on your team. Are they clear and well-defined? Are there areas where team members are struggling or not meeting expectations? Identifying and addressing these issues can lead to a more productive and successful team. Encouraging open communication with regular team meetings and a culture of feedback is also vital.
Review your business expenses to see if there are any non-essential costs that can be cut. For example, are there memberships or subscriptions that you no longer need? Is there room for negotiating better rates with any of your vendors? Can video calls replace some of your face-to-face meetings, thus reducing travel time and costs?
Consider adding a new service to your business to increase revenue. For example, many interior designers are now offering e-design services, which allow clients to work with a designer remotely. Otherwise, consider offering a specialized service such as space planning, color consulting, or even outdoor design. Look into what other new revenue streams fit with your passions and your company. You may even set up a lucrative passive income stream, which doesn’t add to your ongoing workload.
One way to boost success is to increase the number of profitable projects you take on at once. If you feel you’ve already reached your capacity, this can be done by outsourcing certain tasks that are lower-paying, time-consuming, or not your area of expertise. You can hire a virtual design assistant, whether periodically or on a regular basis, to take some of those responsibilities off your plate. And finding ways to market your services more effectively, such as through social media or networking events, will help you win over more clients.
By gathering these insights, you can identify key areas of strength and areas that need improvement. Stay open to feedback from your team and your clients to help inform your decisions. Remember, even small changes can make a big difference in the long run.
xx, Danae
Interior design is all about creating beautiful, functional spaces that reflect the personalities and lifestyles of the people who use them. As an interior designer, you are the creative force behind these spaces, and you need to be able to communicate effectively with your clients in order to bring their vision to life. One of the most important tools for communication in the design industry is email, and there are a few key tips that can help you write effective emails with your clients.
1. Get it in writing. Email is the best method of communication for discussing the terms of revisions, refunds or anything else you want to have a clear record of, both for easy future reference and to protect your company if ever necessary.
2. Be clear and concise. When you're communicating with your clients, you want to make sure that your message is clear and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your clients may not be familiar with, and keep your emails as short and to-the-point as possible. Also consider using bullet points or numbers if there are several points that need attention.
3. Use a professional tone. As your clients are paying you for your expertise, make sure that your emails reflect this by using a formal, professional tone, while still friendly. Avoid slang or too-casual language, and be sure to proofread your emails before you send them.
4. Provide visual references. Visuals can be a great way to communicate with your clients. Whenever possible, include images or drawings in your emails so that your clients can get a better sense of what you're proposing. This will also make it easier for them to give you feedback.
5. Be responsive. When your clients email you, they want a timely response. Make sure to reply to your clients' emails as soon as possible, and let them know if you're going to be out of the office or unavailable for an extended period of time. This also sets the tone for clients to be more prompt about responding to you.
6. Be organized. Keep track of all the different emails you're sending and receiving, and make sure that you're addressing all of your clients' concerns. Use clear subject lines and add to the appropriate email threads as a means of sorting topics. You can also use email tags to help filter your conversations.
7. Follow up. If you've sent an email and haven't received a response, don't be afraid to follow up. A polite reminder can help ensure that your clients are keeping up with their end of the conversation.
8. Use a signature. A professional signature with your name, title, and contact information will give your emails a polished look and make it easy for your clients to get in touch with you.
9. Be flexible. Remember that every client is different, and you'll need to adjust your communication style to suit their needs. Be open to feedback and be willing to make changes to your emails if your clients suggest them.
Effective communication is crucial to the success of any interior design project, so it’s worth spending time crafting well-written emails. By following these tips, you'll ensure that your email conversations flow as smoothly as possible and ultimately facilitate better client relationships and more successful projects.
Discover why email communication remains the preferred method in the industry and understand the importance of crafting each message precisely to foster strong client relationships.
We cover everything you need to know about emailing, including:
Tailoring Communication to Client Types
Anatomy of an Effective Email
Email Tone and Style
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Establishing and Nurturing Client Relationships
Simple Proofreading Practices
Mastering Inbox Management
Utilizing Effective Email Templates
Action Checklist
Streamline your client communication, improve your organization, and establish better email systems with this must-have toolkit. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, Mastering Client Emails provides the solutions you've been looking for to enhance your professional interactions and boost your productivity.
Happy Emailing!
xxx, Danae
The use of fragrances in interior design is an underrated tool with the ability to influence our emotions, memories and overall mood in a way that visual elements cannot. They also impact how our brains interpret the elements we can see. By carefully selecting fragrances and incorporating them into a space, we can create a specific ambiance and enhance the overall experience of a room. And as interior designers, much of the information you will have already gathered about the personality of the clients and the mood of the space will guide you.
There are numerous forms of fragrances that can be used in interior design. Some of the most popular are candles, diffusers and room sprays, but there are also HVAC scenting systems that diffuse fragrance throughout a home or business. Scents can tell a unique story, and companies like Aroma360 create custom fragrances for both residential and corporate use.
An important rule to keep in mind is to keep fragrances subtle so that they are not overwhelming. This is especially important in places like an office, where not everyone has the same preferences, and harsh synthetic fragrances can even trigger allergies.
Another point to consider is longevity: how long the fragrance will last. Some fragrances are longer lasting than others, so you may choose a lighter base fragrance for a reed diffuser and reserve stronger fragrances for more controlled release formats, such as candles, which will be used occasionally.
When choosing scents for specific rooms or spaces, it’s essential to think about the desired ambiance and the activities that will take place there. Here are some examples:
Bedroom: calming scents such as lavender, chamomile, or jasmine can help to promote relaxation and restful sleep. Another option is a peaceful ylang ylang scent.
Living room: a warm, inviting scent such as vanilla or a cozy, woodsy scent like pine can create a welcoming atmosphere.
Kitchen: invigorating scents such as citrus, ginger or mint can energize the space and stimulate the senses.
Bathroom: refreshing scents such as sandalwood or peppermint can help to create a spa-like atmosphere. You could even add a eucalyptus branch in the shower area as a natural and decorative element.
Office: scents that promote focus and concentration, such as peppermint or rosemary, can be helpful for boosting productivity. Other options include an uplifting lemongrass or a refreshing tea tree scent.
Outdoor space: fresh, natural scents such as pine or cedar can help to create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere.
If you are thinking of incorporating scents into an interior design project, sit down with your client to find out what they like. This is a very personal preference, as much as the style of their home, so it's important to involve them in the selection or creation process. Use your own sensibilities to help narrow the options down to one or a limited collection of fragrances that will complement each other in the home.
Scent can make a real difference in how your clients feel when they step into their new space for the first time, as well as how they feel when they walk in the door at the end of each day after that.
xx, Danae
Sometimes you just need a break from staring at the screen and to put your feet up with a good book. We’ve rounded up a selection of some favorite coffee table books, which can serve as inspiration, decoration, and conversation starters, plus a few dreamy novels if you want to get away for a little while.
100 Interiors Around the World
How could we not start with an interior design book? This compact coffee table book is a carousel of stunning snapshots from different countries and stylistic influences, from minimalist to eclectic and Brazil to Indonesia. It's a great way to get out of your bubble and admire the work of other designers.
Wild Interiors by Hilton Carter
Hilton Carter is an author and plant enthusiast who shares his personal plant journey and his top ten favorite house plants, and also profiles the beautiful homes and plant collections of 12 other plant enthusiasts around the world. He provides tips on how to decorate with plants in different types of spaces and offers advice on plant care.
Wonderland by Annie Leibovitz
An absolute legend in the photography industry, Annie Leibovitz shares striking moments in fashion spanning five decades in her coffee table book, Wonderland. It includes her most famous photographs featuring celebrities and style, as well as otherwise unpublished gems that can only be found within its pages.
Eat Drink Nap
Soho House is a chain of exclusive hotels, restaurants and clubs that has developed a reputation for its approach to hosting events and making guests feel at home. The company has compiled this book featuring insights and advice from its experts on how to recreate the Soho House experience in one's own home, including tips on design, lighting, cooking, and cocktail mixing.
Breakfast: The Cookbook by Emily Elyse Miller
This book is one of Phaidon’s many gorgeous cookbooks and is a compilation of hundreds of easy-to-follow recipes for breakfast dishes from around the world, including notes on the cultural background and culinary characteristics of each dish. Breakfast includes recipes for a variety of sweet and savory dishes, including Egyptian Ful Medames, Mexican Chilaquiles, Chinese Pineapple Buns, American Scones, and Scottish Morning Rolls, among others.
Gold: The Impossible Collection (Special Edition) by Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter
If you’re looking to splurge, this premium Assouline book (which comes with complimentary white gloves) presents 100 examples of gold's use in art and artifacts, ranging from ancient civilizations to modern creations, and is packaged in a luxurious gold-covered case.
Remote Experiences by David De Vleeschauwer
A new gem courtesy of Taschen, Remote Experiences is a book that takes readers on a journey to 12 of the world's most isolated destinations, from a hidden kingdom in the Himalayas to the plains of Botswana. Photographer David De Vleeschauwer and writer Debbie Pappyn offer a tour of the people and places that remain untouched by modernity, from the North Pole to Antarctica.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
A cozy yet thought-provoking novel about a Tokyo back-alley cafe that has something very unexpected on the menu: time travel. Customers come hoping to get the most out of their visit - confronting and meeting people they didn’t have the chance to - but the experience doesn't come without certain rules and risks. And they must get back to the present before their coffee gets cold.
Transit by Rachel Cusk
In Transit, the second book in Rachel Cusk's Outline trilogy, Faye, a writer, embarks on a challenging flat renovation after divorcing her husband. As she works on the project, Faye observes her neighbor's seemingly perfect family and deals with difficult neighbors. The renovation becomes a symbol for Faye's own struggles to rebuild her life.
Summer Crossing by Truman Capote
This younger, less polished novel by the author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s features Grady, a 17-year-old who belongs to 1945 New York's high society. She manages to escape from family plans and stay alone in her family's Central Park apartment. This apartment is an accomplice to the chaos of teenage passion over the summer while Grady's parents are distracted.
Happy Reading!
xx, Danae
Monetizing an interior design business with products is a conversation that is ever evolving in the design industry. Between vendor accounts, affiliate links, buyer clubs and sales tools, at times it can be hard to decide what’s best for you and your business. Using a variety of these options can be very beneficial to your business and today, I’m going to share more information about one sales tool I came across that has become a real game-changer for many independent interior designers.
SideDoor is a sales tool and platform where interior designers can curate shoppable collections of products from their favorite vendors to share with their clients and/or social media followers. This tool gives you the option to create collections and invoices specifically for your clients AND it allows you to create collections in your style and brand to share on your website and social media platforms.
With over 150 popular vendors and average commissions of 30% this sales tool allows you to monetize your business in a much simpler way. There are over 4,000 creative professionals that use the tool everyday to simplify and monetize their business in all states.
So how does this work? Follow the steps below.
1. Request Access – you can go to www.onsidedoor.com and request to be a part of the program. SideDoor will review your request to see if you’ll be a good fit. Once you are accepted, you will get in on the early access program, which is currently FREE.
2. Curate Collections – After you are accepted, you can start creating collections using products from a vast array of vendors at vendor direct designer net pricing. You can share these collections in client proposals or directly online with your followers.
3. Share – Once your collections are curated you’ll be able to embed shoppable links on your website, blog and other social media platforms.
4. Earn Commission – When your clients or followers purchase products from you, you earn the spread between designer net and retail. SideDoor takes care of the rest.
5. Sit Back – Once your client makes a purchase, SideDoor will fulfill the order, get it to your client and deposit your earned commission.
If you are interested in learning more, you can visit the SideDoor website at www.onsidedoor.com to check out their current vendors, frequently asked questions and apply for access. You can also book a consultation with them to get more information.
SideDoor is a simple and easy to use tool but we know you are busy and actively growing your business. Whether you are currently using SideDoor or you decide to sign up now, we are here to help. There are several VDAs on my team who are able to help you manage your SideDoor account to make sure you are using the tool to its full potential.
As always, feel free to reply to this email with questions.
Have a wonderful day!
XX, Danae
Interior designers come in all shapes and sizes and I’m sure many you know, like yourself, may specialize in kitchen and bath or whole home. But what other niches are out there? The most recent niche to emerge is what I call the quarantine niche. Designers are designing homes with more recreational and entertaining space, more separation and sanitation and more comfort for those quarantined at home either alone or with other family members.
I thought it would be fun just to research other design niches that we often don’t think about on a day-to-day basis and this is what I found.
Aviation Design – There are interior designers who specialize in private jet design. This type of design is very challenging an extreme as you must be great with working with small spaces and working with all the codes that aircraft interior design entails.
Yacht Design – Although you could be working with more space than a private jet, this type of design is still challenging and requires knowledge of naval architecture and marine engineering.
AirStream Design – The other day I came across an interior designer on Instagram who specialized in AirStream interior design. Again, another change in our economy was the number of people who purchased RVs this spring and summer. Some of them have great bones but need an interior designer to create the luxurious and comfortable environment the owner wants.
She Shed Design – There are people who specialize in She Sheds, Man Cave, Playhouses and all sorts of room away from the home type structures. There are so many interesting options when it comes to this type of design.
Limo Design – Yes, there are people who design the interiors of limousines! I didn’t realize it until I did the research how crazy and luxurious limos can get. There are some that have narrow pools in them.
What other fun design niches can you come up with?
xx, Danae
“An inaccessible website can exclude people just as much as steps at an entrance to a physical location.” This is a reminder from the Americans with Disabilities Act website (ADA). As an interior designer, you probably frequently consider different types of accessibility in your designs, and that consideration should extend to your company's website.
While it’s not a legal requirement for all websites (see here if it is for you), complying with the standards laid out by the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design means a more inclusive and welcoming first point of contact with your business. Read on for examples of what this could look like on your website.
Colors & Contrasts
Comb through your website to see how color is currently used to highlight or distinguish content. People who are visually impaired will find it easier to navigate your website if there is greater contrast between text and its background, or if selected items are highlighted with other markers besides color, such as bold or underlined letters.
Headers & Labels
Understanding your website’s layout is much simpler with headers at the top of each page and titles introducing different sections on a page. And when it comes to forms, such as a contact form, there should be a brief description of what it is for and how to fill it out. Ideally, the settings would alert screen reader users if and how they’ve entered information incorrectly.
Alt Text
Text alternatives, also known as alt text or an alt tag, convey the purpose of an image, including photos and videos. Visually impaired people can use screen readers to hear the alt text read aloud. A useful alt text is brief yet provides a relevant description. One example would be: A bright minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets and marble countertops, and an island with leather bar stools and brass pendant lamps. Bonus: alt text is good for SEO.
Captions
Apart from alt texts, one of the most obvious - yet too easily forgotten - ways to make videos more accessible is to add captions. For example, you may have a video presentation of your studio or a project walkthrough that you can update. Just try to make them as well synchronized as possible so that the experience is smooth for the hearing impaired.
A few final tips:
● Analyze your website with an accessibility checker such as accessibilitychecker.org.
● Find more ideas on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines website.
● Remember to apply these tips to your social media posts as well!
xx, Danae
The team at Financially Wise isn’t sugarcoating it. “Your business card sucks” is their bold message, and they’ve got a revolutionary solution to bring the most classic business accessory up to date.
A traditional business card is printed on paper in large minimum batches, with information that is likely to change at some point. When handed to potential clients or business partners, it’s easy for them to lose it or never get around to taking the step of looking you up online. The result is that the card is often wasted, and opportunities fall flat.
A Ccard is a durable plastic digital card with a QR code that can instantly be scanned by anyone you’d like to share your information with, or used through the tap function on newer smartphones. This takes them right to your “mini website,” which is part of the package and works as a landing page that includes things like links to all your social media, portfolio images, and call-to-action buttons. This means your information will already be open on the other person’s phone, bringing them that much closer from the first point of contact.
This gives prospective clients and collaborators a chance to check out your work, and gives you the opportunity to address any questions or concerns they may have when considering working with you.
The pricing and features are available in three tiers. The Basic package gets you 1 card for which you can choose from a number of style options. You can also opt for the Custom package, which gives you 2 custom-designed cards to reinforce your brand image. And if you need a few more, the Team package includes 6 cards.
All packages, starting from the most basic, include a professionally designed mini website, which can serve as your main website or a bridge to your existing website. And all packages also provide Analytics, so you’ll have insights into visitors to the page. The Custom and Team packages additionally allow you to have e-commerce functions on your website.
As your business grows and evolves, you can always update your information via the dashboard or reach out to their team of specialists to edit your linked website.
It’s details like these that can help make a great impression when it comes to making new contacts…and keeping them!
xx, Danae
