Coupar Consulting | Blog

The Look of the Week

2014-03-06T08:39:00.002-08:00

The Look of the Week

Inspired by GOLD + Benson Cobb's art piece "Glimpse" & that rockin Julian Chichester console table...

I first came across Benson Cobb's art pieces at High Point Market this Fall and fell absolutely in love!

" My vision is to create a mood within the art, adding a hint of a landscape or focal point usually evoking a feeling of fluidity and emotion." says the abstract artist known for her custom colorization..

DANISH

Julian Chichester really caught my heart with the Danish 4 door cabinet.. Vellum fronted Firmdale Grey Oak with Black Vellum Doors... LOVE!

BERGER

Adore this whimsical side table by Made Goods. The Berger is made from teak root with featured silver-leaf and gold-leaf highlights.

FLUFF RILEY

Grace & Blake's Fluff Riley, Acrylic Base + Fluff. What's not to love?

ANANAS SCONCE

Ro Sham Beaux's light fixtures are seriously unreal..

Kensington Sofa

Jonathan Adler's Kensington Sofa, It's sweet & petite !

WORCESTER BOOKSHELF

Arteriors textured iron frame in a bright gold leaf finish really makes a gorgeous display for accessories and storage!

Isn't crazy how just one piece of art, a color, or a piece of furniture can spark your inspiration for a whole space?

I think it's amazing!

XXOOXX

Designed To Inspire Seminar Series

2014-03-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand...

Our three-part seminar series hosted by SF based interior designer Scot Meacham Wood is back! As part of our Spring Designer Workshop Series Scot will share his knowledge and expertise of running a successful design firm.

Session 1 is coming up quick on March 19th and focuses on Marketing Through Partnerships.

You don't have to cheer alone!!
The social media savvy designer talks about ways to tap into your connections and share the megaphone to increase your firms outreach. Scot will share ways to get involved with other like-minded industry professionals to promote one another, ultimately relieving the daunting task of marketing all on your own.

If there's anyone who understands the benefits of leveraging partnerships, it's Scot. A social media darling, he has collaborated with 1st Dibs and House Beautiful through shared boards on Pinterest and has over 500,000 follower. Recognizing the size and power behind his online footprint, Dering Hall has asked him to be a weekly contributing writer for their site, along with House Beautiful online, where Scot gives weekly advice on reader's design dilemmas.

We love Scot for his witty musings and captivating persona and are thrilled to be able to enjoy another round of his fantastic seminar. Last year seats filled up quickly, secure your seat and buy your ticket by clicking on the link. http://seminar-series.eventbrite.com
We hope to see you there!

xo,
-heather

Fringe Obsession

2014-02-28T09:48:00.002-08:00

This weeks obsession.. FRINGE

The love sparked as we came across this true beauty, " the crowd-pleaser", The Laura Kirar Guernice Lounge Chair by McGuire Furniture.

"With its undeniable presence and incredible energy, the Guernica Lounge Chair is not to be ignored. Like its artful counterpart embodying peace and symbolism, this chair is more complicated than it may first appear: the engineering is intricate and requires hand-craftsmanship that takes several weeks to complete by a single person, yet the result feels effortless and primitive. " Kirar Guernica

Its available in black & brown leather fringe; The cushions as well as the inside back are custom with COM. Just imagine what fun patterns + textures you could throw on this baby!

The Guernica Lounge Chair

Im not sure what it is about fringe that makes me head over heals, the texture? Maybe that it can turn a traditional piece of furniture into a total dramatic fashion statement..

As its been my inspiration of the week I have come across some other fringe-tastic items I would like to share with you!

Carmen Chandelier from Made Goods

Coco beads loosely draped and gathered to give a fringe-esque look to this glamorous chandelier.

Gucci Devendra Fringe Bootie

Gucci's chic black suede heel can make any casual outfit completely FAB

a white carousel

Traditional chair with a fringe make over. Could it get any sweeter?

Colorful fringe wall decal, bohemian bliss!

Prism Glass Fringe Chandelier

"The blend of rounded forged bronze adorned with five sided clear glass crystals has an allure of rustic luxury for interiors ranging from industrial to glamorous"

This black mini fringe skirt, I mean common..

White fringe maxi turned casual into glam..

Arteriors Home Maxim Four-Light Iron Beaded Oval Pendant

Dark brass chain fringe Chandelier..

XOXO

February Flurry

2014-02-21T17:37:00.000-08:00

Whew! What a whirlwind of a month February has been!

We kicked off the month by hosting the California Home +Design Awards Gala at the San Francisco Design Center with our favorite PR maven, Lisa Davis. We are still talking about how much fun we had and what a success the evening was. The most thrilling of all was the opportunity to host the supremely talented Kelly Wearstler in our space before she took home the 2014 Design Icon Award. She is just as incredible as we expected her to be.....she's absolutely stunning.

Courtney Lake, Krista Coupar Piagentini, Kelly Wearstler and Lisa Davis at the CH+D Awards

Kelly Wearstler, photo credit: CH+D

CH+D Awards, photo credit: CH+D

SFDC set up for the CH+D Awards Gala, photo credit: CH+D

As if THAT wasn't exciting enough, James Bacchi and Annette Schutz of ArtHaus presented The Fine Art of Design in our Tete-a-Tete Lounge as part of SFDC's Design Week. Design enthusiasts were all smiles as James and Annette shared their insight on introducing fine art into their design projects. Did we mention they curated our space for the event? We have some breathtaking pieces hanging in our space by Gioi Tran, Carolyn Meyer and Jhina Alvarado

Annette Schutz and James Bacchi

Annette Schutz, James Bacchi and Krista Coupar Piagentini

Speaking of our new space.... have you seen it yet?
It's kind of amazing. Lets just say we are finding no difficulty whatsoever settling in. Stay tuned for more pictures of the Tête-a-Tête Lounge. And in the mean time feel free to drop in to say hello.

The Tête-a-Tête Lounge

As the buzz from February wears off there is still much to look forward to. The coming of March brings with it the beginning of our seminar series. If you missed it last year we hope you will join us for this years rendition of our Designed to Inspire Spring Designer Workshop Series hosted by nationally recognized interior designer Scot Meacham Wood as well as an all-day workshop with David Duncan Livingston on how to get your project styled, shot, published and placed.

More information and details coming soon, we will keep you posted.

This is such a busy and exciting time for us, and we are loving every minute of it.

xo,
- heather

LOVEspiration

2014-02-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air!

With Valentines day upon us this friday I can't help but to day dream of feminine, flirty, and romantic spaces..
What kind of room makes you feel your sweetest sexiest self ?
Romantic Feminine look or Trendy Chic?
Here are a few beauties that have been inspiring me..

I hope everyone has an extra romantic day whether your spoiling your loved ones or more importantly your self !
xoxo

Grammy's Inspiration

2014-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

WHILE ENJOYING A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE AND THE FUNSIES OF THE GRAMMYS I COULDN’T HELP BUT FULLY INDULGE IN ALL THE EYE CANDY. THE STUNNING DRESSES AND GORGEOUS JEWELS INSPIRED ME TO PAIR MY FAVORITE INTERIORS OF THE WEEK WITH MY FAVORITE CELEB LOOK.

KELLY WEARSTLER'S ULTRA-GLAM BEACH HOUSE & AMBER ROSE IN NAEEM KHAN

PAISAN’S “EAST MEETS WEST” ROOM & GIULIANA RANCIC WEARING ALEX PERRY

A GUEST BEDROOM BY MILES REDD & KACEY MUSGRAVES GLITSY RUFFELED DRESS

A LIVING ROOM BY KELLI WILDE AND LAURENT CHAMPEAU & MODEL CHRISSY TEIGEN IN A JOHANNA JOHNSON STAPLES GOWN.

AN ENTRANCE BY KELLI WILDE AND LAURENT CHAMPEAU & KELLY OSBURNE’S BLACK SABBATH INSPIRED LOOK.

xoxo

True Blue

2013-09-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

For a few months now we’ve been pretty positive about the next "it" color. In fact, we’ve been quite pleased with ourselves in noticing the trending popularity of what we’ve been calling good ‘ol Royal Blue. We’ve seen it on Kate Middleton...

We've seen it all over renowned designer Kelly Wearstler's blog, even naming her theme this week "Blue Lapis." (and we all know that girl is with it)

via kellywearstler.com

..and sure enough Pantone has announced the top colors for Spring 2014, and Dazzling Blue has come out on top (enter prideful snicker here).

via pantone.com

Look familiar? It matches Facebook's signature blue and the nail polish Facebook sells in their office, called "Social Butterfly Blue."

This vibrant hue is a bit more muted than cobalt but brighter and more exciting than navy. We can all expect to be seeing much more of this brilliant shade of blue (which is fine with us because we kinda love it.) Not sure how you feel about getting the blues this spring? Here are some pictures to get you in the mood of being anything but blue..

via Ralph Lauren Home

via Light Chasers, Inc

via flickr Aperture 28

via pinterest

via flickr laz'andre

via Jen Langston Interiors

via French Madame

via Pinterest

Happy Friday,
-xo

Saying goodbye to the idle days of summer...

2013-08-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

As this weekend brings summer to a close and pays tribute to the contributions working men and women have made to our country, take a moment to reflect on your business accomplishments and what you hope to achieve in the coming months. Whether you're camping with family, picnicking with friends or cozying up with a good book, honor a job well done as you celebrate labor day and enjoy this weekend as one last ode to summer.


via pinterest


via indigo crossing

via H&H blog

via classy-in-the-city

via wish!

via pinterest

via vint. on etsy

via jacqulynnsolace

via pinterest

-xo

Office du jour

2013-08-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday,

As we transition into our new space within the Hinc Showroom, we're getting inspired to find new ways to spruce up our office. These spaces caught our eye, take a peek.

We love the feel of this sophisticated office space. The dramatic black walls and formal brass accents add to the chic design. Although a dark wall color can often make a room feel small, the addition of the clear lucite desk allows this room to remain airy and inviting.

The use of a large work table in an office is great for spreading out. We love the way these trays were incorporated for both function and design. What a great tool for grouping materials and keeping your projects organized all while adding accents to your office.

The use of color in this space is so alluring. Although furniture is minimal, the many textures and patterns incorporated add enough visual interest to fill the room.

How do you like to work? Having a comfortable seating area in your office in addition to your desk is a great way to change things up.

Loving the use of turquoise in these different hues. Add some energy in your space by using a fun and punchy color.

What inspires your productivity? Stay tuned to see new additions to our space!

-XO

Designed to Inspire Seminar 2: Managing the Client Experience

2013-08-12T14:53:00.001-07:00

Navigating the treacherous waters of client interaction can be just as important to your business as a great design concept.

The way clients perceive interactions with your firm defines their experience and is a reflection of the entire business. Is the client enjoying the design process? Are you giving them opportunities to sing your praises? Creating a premier client experience through guided and strategic interactions transforms a design project from a daily grind to a grand adventure and creates opportunities for the client to promote you and your work in ways that are exciting and authentic.

Learn the nuances of effective client communication this Wednesday as internationally recognized interior designer Scot Meacham Wood hosts session 2 of our Designed to Inspire Summer Designer Workshop Series: Managing the Client Experience. Come get involved and learn tips to not only help your projects run smoothly but also be able to communicate in a way that turns your clients into brand advocates.

Learn how to:

Communicate project status in a way that consistently highlights what’s going right

Best communication tactics and strategies for when things go wrong

Creating sound bytes and talking points that allow clients to promote you that are aligned with your brand

Make the process of design an enjoyable experience for the client through guided interactions and communication techniques

There are only a few seats left, buy your ticket here

http://workspaceseminarseries.eventbrite.com

Scot Meacham Wood hosts Designed to Inspire Summer Designer Workshop Series

2013-07-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

-->

The Adventures of Tartanscot continue!

Coupar Consulting is thrilled to sponsor a three-part seminar series hosted by the Tartanscot himself, internationally recognized interior designer Scot Meacham Wood. Known for his blog, The Adventures of Tartanscot, this renowned designer has a massive social media following and personality to boot. He has been featured in multiple publications including Style at Home and the SF Chronicle. One of our favorite projects from Scot is the space he designed for this years’ Peninsula Volunteers Decorator Show House. With a healthy mix of pattern scale and color, this bright and preppy “Card Room” lets Scots vibrant personality shine through.

The Card Room

Join us as Scot shares his trade secrets of running a successful design firm in his three-part series Designed To Inspire. The first of his three sessions is coming up on July 17^th and is focused on Marketing Through Partnerships. Learn how to tap into your connections and partner with other industry professionals to increase your outreach.

Scot Meacham Wood

Light fare and refreshments to follow, come mix and mingle with us.

Purchase Your Tickets Today!

Lecture Series: "Picture This: Trends and Tips for Interior Photography"

2013-04-08T11:05:00.001-07:00

Workspace at SFDC and the Bay Area photographer David Duncan Livingston are co-sponsoring a three part series called Picture This: Trends & Tips for Interior Photography. The three two hour presentations will be a feast for the eyes, fast paced with the takeaway of solid insights to promote your design practice. The three sessions are on April 24^th, May 15^th and June 5^th.

David Duncan Livingston

Renowned photographer David Duncan Livingston has been published in numerous books and magazines and has collaborated with Restoration Hardware, House Beautiful, California Home & Design, and Chronicle Books among many others.

David Duncan Livingston

The first of the three sessions will dive into PR for Interiors and a few of the topics covered will be branding, positioning and placement and long tail seo. The second seeions “Photo Styling Trends Interiors/Shelter Magazines” will breakdown what is being shown in magazines today. Learn how to stay current in your photo styling and marketing efforts and learn the tricks of the trade to make your photos feel engaging to writers and editors. Session three will cover the framework for shooting your next project to get the look and feel of the photos you want.

We highly recommend this three part series to any interior designer wanting to take the next step and get their projects published. To learn more about the sessions and to register click here.

Around for Winter Market? Stop by Workspace: Now Open at the SFDC!

2013-02-05T15:39:00.002-08:00

Coupar Consulting is pleased to announce the opening of Workspace in the San Francisco Design Center. Workspace was created with the independent interior designer's needs in mind. Located at Suite 315 inside the Galleria Building, Workspace offers daily workstation rentals for design professionals seeking a work environment away from their homes.
Starting at $85 per day, your office space comes equipped with a dedicated desk space and computer, a common space worktable for working with floor plans and design concepts, and an on-hand design assistant to help answer any project related or technology related questions to help you better access the office amenities, design center offerings or feedback on project best practices from budget conceptualization, to space planning to CAD and hand renderings.
Twice a month we offer 1/2 day full space rentals for client meetings for $295. For a 3 hour block of time you can use the space to meet with your client in a more formal setting. The rental rate comes complete with a dedicated design assistant to help conduct the meeting, an initial orientation of the space and its amenities, and light food and beverage during the meeting to give the client the premier high-end experience.

Need an extra hand completing design tasks to keep the project on track? Our team of designers can assist you in project sourcing, budget development, space planning, CAD and hand renderings. These are just a few of the project support offerings we provide. For a full list click here. Rates start at $65 per hour, and a complete account of time is provided to you for easy client billing.

Workspace is not only conveniently located, making it easy to source for projects and feel inspired but also presents a collaborative environment that encourages designers to get out of their daily routine that sometimes can feel like "designing in a bubble" and begin engaging with other like-minded design professionals; accessing the creative expertise of this fantastic community we are privileged to be a part of.

Whether you need a workspace for the day to work on client projects, or need a large space to present and hold client meetings, Workspace has all the tools and services you need. Workspace offers the most up-to-date technology, presentation amenities, and hands on assistance when you need it, offering the designers the flexibility of an office environment or conference space when they need it.

Make your reservation today and see what all the buzz is about!

Shiny, Happy People

2012-12-31T11:19:00.000-08:00

The last week of December I always take some time to reflect on the past year and set my intentions, or goals for the new year.

For me, 2012 was a magnificent year both personally and professionally. I think when you are able to balance and merge work and life magic happens, and that certainly was the case for me this year.

I was blessed with an exceptional group of clients that were not only talented and a joy to work with, but were INSPIRING. I was continually inspired by the people I surrounded myself with professionally this year. Seeing designers hitting their professional stride, watching their stars rise, and take risks were just a few of the things I was able to be a part of this year.

Watching how technology expanded and broadcasted their successes was amazing. I am excited to see how we innovate technology over the course of 2013 to celebrate our successes and deepen our relationships through the information we share.

One of my major intentions for 2013 is to savor what I am creating through deepening my happiness. So often we get caught up in the day-to-day lists of what we must accomplish I often find myself more frazzled by my full life rather than focusing on the joy of the abundance that I have. So here's to a 2013 that is light and happy! And a reminder below from author Stephen Covey on some tips on how to integrate happiness into the everyday experience.

The pursuit of happiness not only enriches our personal life, it enlivens our professional life touching each person we interact with in positive ways. I love interacting with the clients who operate at the baseline of happy. I leave the meetings feel energized and excited about the work we do together. So this year, I'm paying it forward with happiness.

Here's to happy!

xoxo,

Showcase Alum Tinsley Hutson-Wiley a semi-finalist in Grange's Colorful Exceptions Contest

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

Marin based designer, Tinsley Hutson-Wiley was chosen as one of seven semi-finalists for the Grange Colorful Exceptions contest. Her 'Stars and Stripes' finish was created by the concept of intermeshing the French and U.S. flags. Her contemporary graphic design uses red, white and blue stripes offset by an oversized silver star. The juxtaposition of the traditional lines of the piece with a modern graphic design creates an updated traditional feel reflecting her approach to interiors.

Online voting from now until February 3 will determine the grand-prize winner. Tinsley’s winning design can also be yours: 'Stars and Stripes' is available for purchase via Grange's online auction, with 75% of the proceeds donated to San Francisco’s Raphael House.

To see the final entries and to vote or bid for your favorite, visit: www.grangeny.com.

5 Marketing Resolutions for your Interior Design Business in 2012

2012-01-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

The new year seems to be off to a good start for the design community. Closing 2011 with a busy client load for most designers and then kicking-off 2012 with the anticipation of the San Francisco Showcase House, there is definitely a buzz in the air about this upcoming year. With that in mind, here is a life-hacker (a la interior design) version of your 2012 marketing goals that will allow your business to flow in the coming year.

Make your 2012 shine with these 5 marketing resolutions

Kathryn Macdonald photography Interiors by Grant K. Gibson

1. Photograph your projects with a professional interiors photographer. I know, your photographer friend does a trade for you for photos. But if you want to compete, or endeavor to be like the bigger firms you need to present yourself in the manner that they do. And with that in mind, you need a professional interior photographer. Hire a good one and your projects start to adopt a photographed "look," that in turn becomes your visual brand. A good photographer can give you tips on styling for the camera and will shoot a project, and in turn, projects with consistency. The images can be used for your portfolio, contest submissions that require magazine-ready photos, ad campaigns (Decorator Showcase Catalogue and The Fall Antique Show Catalogue should be on your short list), website, and general marketing collateral. My tip is to set aside a minimum of $2500 from each project for photography. If you do a mark-up on goods, use the mark-up profit and set it aside in savings ear-marked for photography. Right as your project wraps, choose a day where you won't be under foot and get the project shot. Expect 5-10 photos for a days worth of work. One of my favorite interior photographers to work with is Kathryn MacDonald, you can find her contract and fee structure here and a portfolio of her work at www.macdonaldphoto.com.

2. Visually organize your projects in a dropbox folder for easy pitches to magazine editors.

Free marketing and PR in the form of editorial is always at the top of the list for designers. Make it easy on you and your staff and organize the images you just had your professional photographer take into folders organized by project. In each project folder should be a brief project biography that explains the project, any unique features, design solutions, or collections that emerged during the design process. List the clients names, whether or not they want to be anonymous if their home is published, or if they want to be listed. If the client opts to be featured detail any family story that makes them unique that the reader would want to know about. For example, were there any design requirements the client imposed on the process -- all green products, child friendly, or thematic in nature? Are there any design elements you incorporated that were special to the clients -- collections from travel, smart design based on client's profession, etc. These biographies coupled with images are your go-to elements to pull from for editor requests. Most requests come in with a time crunch attached so having everything at your fingertips ensures that you breathe easy when compiling your submission. Sign up for dropbox at www.dropbox.com.

3. Get on the social media bandwagon and post consistently. One of the easiest ways to drive up your visibility in search engines is to link your business website to social media websites and post on them frequently. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, & Pinterest should all be listed on your company website. If you do client testimonials like some designers do, having your clients post through Yelp is the most effective way to add value to those references. Again, make sure that Yelp! links to your website. Meta sites and aggregator sites are also important for your search visibility. These are sites that list your company among other designers in your industry like Houzz.com, Gilthome.com, & the Elle Decor Designer Registry. On these sites you can register and create your own listing for your company, add your contact information and brief biography as well as portfolio images. Because these sites change their content frequently, they are registered higher in the Google searches, increasing the likelihood your business is easily found when searched for. Again make sure that any external sites that contain your company information are linked to your business website for easy and more efficient search-ability.

SFDC Design San Francisco

4. Make time to network. I mean in person. Go to industry sponsored events, lecture series and openings for showrooms, product launches, trunk shows, showcase houses and industry sponsored fundraisers. The SFDC's Design San Francisco is coming up in February, and that could be the first networking event of the year you can commit to doing. Other events and networking opportunities I recommend are becoming a member of the Dining by Design Steering Committee (fabulous group of people to work with), The Decorator Showcase opening Gala, The Fall Antique Show opening Gala, and the Dining by Design Table Hop n' Taste to name a few. If you subscribe to the SFDC's Designwire, you will get an email sent directly to your inbox of all seminars, lectures, trade shows and other design-related happenings at the design center. Being present increases your visibility and I've seen referrals happen as frequently through industry connections as they do through client referrals. With more clients doing some of the shopping on their own, you never know who they might run into that eventually leads to a referral to you.

San Francisco Decorator Showcase

5. Participate in industry events that allow your designs access to a larger audience. Any showcase house or large-scale industry design event (think Dining by Design), opens up opportunity for increased firm visibility for up to a year after the event. That means increased editorial features on your room design, increased editorial features on your firm, opportunities to be discovered by design bloggers, and general design community awareness by virtue of name recognition in conjunction with the event. Of all the clients I work with in the design community, the ones that have participated in these types of events are recognized by showrooms and vendors I work with almost immediately compared with the designers who have never been featured in an event. The name recognition has historically made it easier to get items on loan, get items in a shorter turn-around time, or allowed access to inventory for other design events and photo shoots for the recognized designer.

Feel like you have these top five under your belt? Send me an email and I'll send you numbers 6-10 marketing musts for the new year. krista@couparconsulting.com.

Questions on the top five or marketing related? I'll answer those too.

Here's to a wonderful 2012!

www.dropbox.com

Happy Holidays from Coupar Consulting!

2011-12-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Five Simple Steps to Keep your Business Stress-free During the Holidays

2011-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

The holidays are in full swing and if you are like many of the designers I work with you might be feeling a bit frazzled as internal and external timelines and project goals loom. Here are five tips to keep the joy in your holiday and the stress at bay, so come January 1st you are ready to make 2012 your best year yet.

1. Be realistic about the work you can achieve. In a perfect scenario, plan to take the month of December "off". By "off" I mean no HUGE project ramp-ups, no BIG installations, no mid-project grinds that call for excessive site management or vendor management. Floor refinishing, kitchen cabinet installations, tile and paint should all be scheduled to begin in the new year. Keep the work you do choose light and fluid. Holiday decorating for your favorite clients, new client meetings, and marketing are all low-impact and fun ways to keep your business buoyant and spirits high during the season. One easy way to make sure you are on the right path is doing an internal check: "is the work I am about to commit to making me feel excited or tired?" If its tired, place it on the back burner until the new year.

2. Cut yourself (and your staff) some slack. Everyone can feel a bit distracted during December. Whether through stress or merriment of increased commitments outside of the office expect that the people who help your business run on a daily basis will have the majority of their attention elsewhere and plan accordingly. Delegate staff members on tasks that are low-impact: budget and construction schedules, marketing materials, materials sourcing, and goal setting all are tasks that keep the business moving forward without impacting the end result. Stay away from measures, specifying materials, custom furnishing, window coverings or vendor direction and supervision. Those are all New Years' tasks that will fare better when the staff returns focused on the business in January.

Kendall Wilkinson has her staff put together a beautiful newsletter that gets sent during the holidays that serves as both a holiday greeting and a marketing opportunity to connect with people. (A fabulous way to multi-task and cut down on redundant, time intensive tasks for staff). The key is to make the content of value to the recipient, and Kendall & co has this nailed: gratitude and glad tidings followed by beautiful images and a design tip or two. The key is, like Kendall, be confident in your design expertise, and don't feel intimidated by sharing a bit of your wealth of knowledge. There's no genuine design tip you can give that will not be returned to you in terms of new client possibilities.

One interior designer who has holiday appreciation in the bag is Patrice Cowan Bevans. This world-class designer is a not only fabulous at making things pretty, she is a star at making her team feel appreciated. Her holiday ritual for her staff members includes a nice lunch at the Fairmont or Big 5, followed by massages at the Nob Hill Spa among other year end bonuses. Her approach is give a little, get a little. A nice lunch and massage for yourself and your team is a great environment to set goals, intentions, and review the last years highs & lows. (The lows are much better to revisit with a glass of bubbly in hand)!

Another notable I saw pop across my social media this week was Grant K. Gibson hustling early Monday morning after giving his assistant time off during December. His Monday AM Facebook post was "My assistant is off this week and I am already loosing my mind." Giving your assistant time to regroup during the holidays ensures a loyal and refocused staff come January. You get what you give, and in this business a little loyalty goes a long way.

3. Shift the attention you give to your work to the evening social activities that come with the season. Working hard during the day can make you feel too tired to jingle and mingle at the industry hosted holiday parties at night. Those parties are just as important as the work you accomplish during the day. You may meet a contractor or architect that refers you to your next big project. I've seen designers get referrals through showrooms, wallpaper hangers, painters, carpet installers as well as general contractors and architects. Some time toasting the end of a year during December can be more impactful than the time spent building schedules in the office. Make your events and contacts count & give yourself permission to do so. The December business strategy gets things accomplished with less work and more play. Give yourself permission to play a bit, and reap the benefits come New Year.

4. Have a little cash cushion for the business that lasts through mid- January. Clients are slllooowww to pay this time of year. Not so much for lack of cash, but more for lack of attention on anything not holiday focused. Plan accordingly for your firm and don't get too hung up when your punctual paying client doesn't send a check until close to the end of the month. Send a reminder out mid-month to all clients with open balances and then let it go. Most clients will pay by the beginning of January.

5. Make some time for 2012 goal setting. Write down how you want your business to feel for the new year. What type of events would you like to participate in? How much money would you like to make? What type of marketing or expansion would you like to do? Create a plan to make it happen. A company budget is the single greatest gift you could give yourself and your business for the new year. (And building a fabulous budget can happen in January after the holidays). But make some time to day dream and write down all this possibilities you'd like to experience in the New Year. Decorators Showcase? Buying Trips? Big ticket advertising? These can all be a reality with a proper budget and a little planning.

Wishing you a happy and stress-free holiday season and a prosperous 2012!

Krista

San Francisco Designer Alexandra Torre creates a modern-day nomadic dining environment for DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN

2011-11-27T15:00:00.001-08:00

Every November the San Francisco Design Center's Galleria building plays host to DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN charity event, showcasing some of the industries top designers in a table design format that is a feast for the eyes. This highly-anticipated industry event always surprises and delights me, and this year I was able to work with one of the designers that was invited to participate in the event, San Francisco based designer Alexandra Torre.

Her design was simple, stylish and unique: a modern-day nomadic dining environment that began with her intrigue with the concept of a yurt.

From the original yurt concept, Alexandra began to form the idea of a stylish nomadic, modern-day dining environment. Something that you could set-up on a moment's notice, and still fete in style. Her finished design was a wonderful blend of high and low: decadent fabrics comprised the tent, plush peacock blue fur pillows adorned the folding chairs, and cardboard pendant lights illuminated the whimsical sophistication of the space. One of my favorite pieces in the space were the host and hostess chairs from anthropologie, which where brushed with a oversized gold stripe of paint down the front and back, and finished in what seemed to be a durable, mod podge type glaze.

Here's a sneak peek of the space prior to the Table-Hop & Taste.

And a couple other images I was able to borrow from Mink Interiors coverage of the event.

I love Alexandra's concise explanation of her process in designing the elements of the room:

Conceptually based on the philosophy of a Yurt, this dining environment plays off of the modern-day need to be flexible and mobile while communicating your personality and style. Nomads traditionally never stayed in one place for too long, picking up useful items along the way. This of course made for a very eclectic mix of items, rough in presentation but big on character.

In this dining space, you will experience a mixture of textures (some luxurious and others raw) and styles (traditional motifs and modern presentations). These contrasts emphasize how you can take bits and pieces from your life and your collections and, while not always matching, they can provide for a cozy and contextualized dining space. Outdoor iron chairs mixed with fur seats, a satin fabric contrasted by recycled cardboard pendants, a patchwork over dyed rug overlaid with hides and a plywood table top on top of an iron base.

Another notable aspect of this space is its transportability. We may not always have the ability to host a large group of people in our designated dining room, or maybe we want to move this event to another location. Here you will find many pieces that allow for flexible living while still high on style. Folding outdoor dining chairs, a structure that defines the space but can be installed in a matter of minutes, a custom designed collapsible table base on top of which sits a portable plywood table top.

Please enjoy these juxtapositions and examples of how to create a mobile feast!

Never one to not acknowledge the talented tribe of people that contributed to this nomadic environment for merry-making, I thought I'd pass on the love the Alexandra's pulled together to make sure the vendors she worked with get the kudos they so rightly deserve:

Assistant and Designer: Morena Sesana: 925.219.2491

Cardboard Pendants: Gray Pants: 206.420.3912

Custom Metal Table Base: Richard Hubbard: 415.518.1885

Overdyed Rug: Modern Fever: 415.522.6666

Sewing of table-top items: Doug Shamp: 415.668.5185

Structural & Handyman Extraordinaire: Carlos Palacios: 415.302.8215

Custom Sewing of Tent: Tea Cake’s Custom-made: Esther Bennett: 415.203.7732

To see Alexandra's complete list of services, design philosophy and examples of her work, please visit www.alexandratorre.com.

For additional information on items featured in the dining space, please contact alexandra@alexandratorre.com.

Summertime: the perfect time to develop your marketing and website

2011-07-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

Clients vacationing, longer days, and the slightest feeling of ease in the office, summertime is a great time to turn your focus on the development of your business in preparation for a busy fall.

One of the best ways is to focus on the marketing and branding of your business. Developing your visual identity can be a great creative outlet, especially when its not sandwiched between the heavy load of design deadlines that September brings.

Here are some of our most requested summertime offerings in anticipation of fall:

Basic website: Everyone needs a professional web presence that is easy to find and showcases your design talents on a visual and written level. At Coupar Consulting we offer affordable full website design & development. This service includes meeting and advisement on visual site layout, & copy development: including SERVICES & BIOGRAPHY. Our websites includes blog development and build out linked your website site and a client login page for easy communication on projects between client and designer.

Examples of basic website design & development are: www.couparconsulting.com, www.designerdujour.com, www.bdhomesf.com, www.theperfectsettingdesign.com, www.rhondalanierinteriors.com, www.thecompletekitchen.com, www.leslielundgren.com.

Recent website concept development for Julie Mifsud Interior Design

Our sites are developed to benchmark your firm with top interior designers, allowing opportunities for more meaningful visibility with clients and magazine editors. We strive to develop the sites that are easy to access from a mobile device so that the information is streamlined and easy to browse, -- a must for your client base which is most often multi-tasking while shopping for designers.

All of our websites are content manager based so that they can be updated internally by you or a staff member in your firm. A great advantage to keeping your portfolio current.

This basic site is a very comprehensive package. Beyond the design and build of the site, we also advise you on all aspects of content development so that you are competitive with other designers in the industry. Coupar Consulting focuses on maximizing and showcasing your firm's unique talents and offerings. We offer suggestions and advise on what areas of design to promote to access the most clients and maximize profits.

We develop branding landing pages for view while your full website is in development.

Recent Landing Pages for Etsy Retail Concept Goose Vintage & Event Planning Company The Perfect Setting

MARKETING ADD-ONS:

Logo Development: Every designer needs a logo that is a representation of his or her interior aesthetic. Something that shows style and industry relevance. At Coupar Consulting we develop logos that easily translate into business cards, postcards, letterhead, blog, and constant contact (email marketing) templates. Along with the logo the formatted client marketing deliverables include: formatted business cards ready for print, postcard design ready for print, letterhead jpg for all contracts, work orders, faxes and Microsoft word documents, and constant contact eblast template that matches website, is easy to update and promotes brand continuity.

Recent Logo Concepts for Interior Designer Lisa Bakamis & Designer du Jour Staffing Company

Marketing & Website Training: Once the website is built, Coupar Consulting can provide training on updating the site and integration of Social Networking and marketing. We cover basic photoshop, constant contact email creation, & blogging. Training includes tips for streamlining all social media so that it is easy to reach the maximum number of potential contacts with the least amount of effort.

Social Media Set-up: Coupar Consulting offers set-up & Integration of Linked-in, Facebook, Twitter, blog and constant contact so that updates and marketing is generated from a single point of origin and routed through all social media sites with the least effort possible. Consulting on design and direction to make the sites rich on visuals & content to stimulate interest. Design and development of additional visual templates as needed.

Photo shoots: With clients vacationing summer is a great time to update your portfolio and photograph any completed projects. Coupar Consulting works with a range of fantastic photographers that fit a variety of budgets. We are on site for the shoot and help you to train your eye for photo styling so that you can continue to work with our photographers on your own to pull together beautiful interior shots that are a reflection of your design and brand.

Recent photo shoot with talented San Francisco Interior Designer Alexandra Torre. Website currently under development. Photography by Jenny Watts.

All of our offerings are designed to be affordable and integrated to your business. We strive to create solutions that can be internalized and continued within your firm's structure, empowering you with effective business solutions that manage costs and maximize profits. Visit us online at www.couparconsulting.com for our complete list of offerings and services.

Announcing the Designer Support Service: Designer du Jour

2011-06-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest issues for interior designers and the industry at large for the past three years has been staffing for project fulfillment. We need staff to execute a particular project in a timely manner, however, upon project wrap there is no guarantee of continued pipeline to keep the team employed. So begins the principal designer's fine dance of trying to get the project fulfilled and keep the client happy on a less than full staff, in a less than ideal situation. Yes, late-night emails over a glass of wine or early AM touch-bases over your favorite cup o' joe works for the short-term, but three years later? Lets just say that many of our industry's brightest are feeling the burn of the perpetual all-nighter.

*If your evening fun looks like a flop, your canvas monogrammed bag is filled with files like these, and you get THIS excited over a cup if coffee, then you *might* need some additional staffing support. GENTLE...NUDGE.

On the other side of this staffing dilemma is the junior and senior design talent. Scrambling for work or remaining steadily under-employed also leads to industry burn-out, and over a period of time we are losing some of our support talent to other industries. Doesn't seem like an issue now, but as the industry starts to recover, we are going to have limited resources of support staff to tap as expansion begins. And make no mistake, the thought process, contribution and expertise of a principal designer and a support designer are WORLDS APART, but are deeply interconnected to the success of a firm. A good principal designer's utilization rate (ie billable hours v. non billable) should be around 50%. That is to say a principal designer should spend 50% of his time in billable activities with current clients, and 50% of his time networking for new clients to keep the pipeline full. By contrast, a support designer should be 75% - 90% billable, meaning all of the time spent is running the details of the project. Principal = broad stroke design, big picture. Junior/Senior Designer = details, details, details & project fulfillment.

Both Pierre and Kitty know that it takes a team to be THIS fabulous.

Designer du Jour was developed with this in mind: pairing great principal designers with great support staff on an as-needed basis to prevent the crazy-making balancing act of the principal working around the clock for a project, (which deteriorates the time needed to go out and get new clients), and retain the talent pool of support designers in the industry. Whether you need someone that is project specific or you would like to hire a designer, Designer du Jour gives you the flexibility to tap into talent as needed, or test drive a designer for permanent hire in your firm without the head-hunting fee or worry that its not the right personality fit.

The services offered are simple and formatted in a menu of services making it easy to order an "a la carte" item for a full day or half-day rate. And because your are hiring someone to fulfill a billable portion of the project, you are passing this cost onto your client at a mark-up: which is a revenue generating investment in your business -- always a good thing. (Business tip: Embrace your revenue centers, manage your cost centers). All pricing is set-up to be marked up at a senior design level rate (about double your cost). Your can "order" a designer and service up to 24 hours in advance and the menu option is delivered usually by the end of that business day. We also can offer custom services if there is something you are working on outside or our comprehensive menu. Just drop Designer du Jour a note and we are happy to accommodate.

So put down the cup of coffee, maybe hit the sheets early or indulge in a guilty pleasure that doesn't require a battery of emails to keep pace with your business. Schedule your support designer today and tackle your next big project with grace, ease, and some breathing room to really enjoy what you do best. Designing. www.designerdujour.com

Coupar Consulting Announces Goose Vintage Tableware on Etsy

2011-06-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

About two months ago I was asked to design a logo and landing page for one of my FAVORITE people in the interior design industry, Bill Geis, and his partner Leo. I have had a work crush on Bill since I first met him right after I opened my interior fabrics showroom in the Oakland Hills ten years ago. Forever stylish, with a wicked sense of humor to match, Bill is always fun to collaborate with on anything creative. It was such a blast taking his concept of vintage tableware, blending it with his tongue & cheek approach to design and whipping up something that was uniquely and perfectly suited for him and Leo.

landing page for the website. e-commerce site coming this fall.

I have no idea how I had gone ten years without meeting Leo, (I mean, does Bill keep him in hiding or something?), but he is a delight to talk to, knowledgeable and passionate about the tableware pieces he & Bill acquire and sell.

move over Brangelina, Bill & Leo are my new favorite power couple.

Etsy banner designed after Bill's initial inspiration of wrapping all pieces in craft paper and twine ribbon.

There are so many elements to love about their Etsy shop and their product philosophy in general, but my two favorite aspects of their collection is that it is largely acquired through their travels, and it is one-of-a-kind, designed to be a unique setting collection for about 6-8 people (though they will custom design a collection for more upon request). My favorite is their line called "miss-matched", a single setting of a teacup, saucer, and dessert plate. I am a big believer in little decadence on a daily basis, and drinking tea from an exquisite little set fits this concept perfectly. I also like the idea of using the set for the guest of honor at a dinner party. My friend Laura does this for each party she hosts, the guest of honor gets her own special cup for soup that stands just a bit grander than everyone else's at the table.

Some of the pieces from Goose Vintage's "Miss-Match" collection

I have always described Bill & Leo's aesthetic as bohemian chic, very well edited, European & mid-century/deco American inspired items. They only buy what they love and each piece has a little story behind it. Visit their shop on Etsy, new items are added on a weekly basis, and look for them in some upcoming showcases this summer and fall! Details to follow.... Until then happy shopping with Goose Vintage. http://www.etsy.com/shop/GooseVintage

bd home launches new website

2011-05-31T09:02:00.000-07:00

One of the websites I was involved with designing and developing this Spring was for San Francisco interior designer Beth Daecher. Beth has had her own burgeoning design business since 2002, but only recently decided that she needed to grow her business from a marketing standpoint, choosing to finally pull together a website that showcases her work.

One of main issues I always run into with designers is compiling a portfolio of work that showcases a complete design aesthetic based on their past projects & arranging for a photographer to shoot at a reasonable price that allows the designer to compete with the big designers in the local industry. The project images are the crucial part of the web design and the end goal is a cohesive site that looks beautiful and doesn't break the bank.

San Mateo photographer Jenny Watts fit the bill perfectly for the interior shots. She is creative and dynamic, her prices are BEYOND reasonable and she is FAST. We left our first shoot together in three hours time and over 50 usable shots for not only Beth's website, but her blog as well. So in concrete terms, that is one house, 50 shots, including head shots and images for future blogs. Jenny is not only a pleasure to work with, her end product fits the bill perfectly for new designers who need to build a professional portfolio quickly and have the past projects to do it.

Take a peek for yourself at Beth's website. Since launch Beth has had quite a bit of traffic on the site and has landed a couple new projects. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with Beth, she is not only a smart and fun woman to work with, but as her new website can attest to, fabulous interior designer. www.bdhomesf.com.

Coupar Consulting celebrates Tinsley Hutson-Wiley's "In Her Shoes" Closet for San Francisco's Decorator Showcase House

2011-05-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Meeting Ross-based interior design, Tinsley Hutson-Wiley, it would be hard to guess someone so gracious and unassuming could pack so much drama into such a small space as she did in the Gloria Vanderbilt inspired "In Her Shoes" closet for the 2011 San Francisco Decorator Showcase House, showing now through the end of May. But that is exactly what Wiley accomplished with a mixture of large-scale patterns & bold colors.

An heiress, painter, designer, writer, entrepreneur, socialite, and icon: Gloria Vanderbilt is synonymous for impeccable style and an unmistakable eye for detail. This shoe-side escape is filled with delightful details to inspire while pondering the dilemma -- what to wear? Beyond a black and white ruffled curtain lies a Suzani-inspired runner. A pagoda lantern illuminates Chinoiserie ivory, pink, and black lacquered shelving with faux bamboo trim.

Wiley truly created a retreat that would make any woman feel like a New York Socialite. Already gaining the attention of shelter writers like Diane Dorrans Saeks and others, I can’t wait to see what Wiley comes up with next. In the meantime, I will just have to visit her home & garden store in Ross for inspiration and treats for the home. Sign-up for her news letter on the latest products, design tips, and trunk-shows by emailing tinsley@thwinteriordesign.com, or visit her website at www.thwinteriordesign.com to learn more about the designer, take a peek at her current and past projects and meander through her store offerings. I particularly like her facebook page for the latest images of store products, press features and upcoming events. You can find her on Facebook under Tinsley Home & Garden.

All of Wiley’s Showcase items go on sale on May 30th, including the beautiful pair of French Art Deco chairs, sconces from Circa Lighting with custom shades, framed fashion sketches from the 1930s and 40s, and more. Shop in-store or online.

Since 1977, all proceeds for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase house tour benefit University High School.

Welcome to Coupar Consulting: The Blog!

2011-05-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Coupar Consulting is a San Francisco based business consulting firm that specializes in providing support and structure for small businesses.

At Coupar Consulting we believe that people thrive when an organization gets strategic about how they run their business. We provide quick solutions, ground them with long-term vision and goals, and analyze how the office can operate efficiently. The end result is transformative and the work becomes satisfying.

We offer a la carte as well as expanded integrated services that support small business growth.

Business coaching: identification of business goals, timelines, and benchmarks for success

Business financials: budgeting and projections, maximizing revenue centers, and setting utilization goals

Marketing: strategies & collateral for client procurement and editorial campaigns

Product development: solidify and segue design concepts to wholesale and retail opportunities

bd home interior design. photo: jenny watts photography

As our business grows we would like to use this blog as a place to share what we're up to as well as give helpful tips for running a small business.

We hope you enjoy!