We just can’t get enough of it.  Mix it and match it, the brighter the better.

Matching plaid makes a bold statement in this family room

Stripes, dots, graphic geometric s mixed together? Go for it. There are no rules in this hallway and staircase.

Stripes and Solids will be huge

Pattern Isn’t Just for Wallpaper Anymore

What a fabulous focal point!  Choose a bold pattern for your sofa, and then mix it up with the rest of the room.

The black background tames this wild print.

The retro styling of this red and silver sofa.

WOW! Fruit and flowers combined to make this splashy and colorful pattern a stunning fruit salad of a sofa.

Pink Grows-Up!

You may think of a little girl when you think pink, but think again.

Pink lemonade, bubble gum, carnations. This living room design is all about pink.

The baroque architecture of this room creates a sophisticated backdrop for this living room

Romantic and Dreamy, this master bedroom looks like it could belong to Lisa Vanderpump from Housewives of Beverly Hills

Display Your Wild Side

This design trend may not be PETA approved, but animal trophies and mounted game is all the rage this year.

Mixing two trends this year, this moose will definitely make a statement.

Formal or rustic? Why not both. The mix of these two design worlds makes for a beautiful room focal point.

Your animal trophy doesn’t have to live on your wall. I was lucky enough to experience this LIFE SIZED horse lamp in person last market. It was designed by none other than Priscilla Presley.

Unique Statement Furniture

You’ll see one of a kind artistic designer furniture pieces Everywhere this year!

Traditional twist is how I would describe this tufted one of a kind chair.

Eco-friendly is still hot. Now in this couture chair design, it’s more than a good idea, it’s glamorous.

Vintage chic is Hot Hot Hot. The 1800’s are making a comeback.

(Happy April Fools Day!)

I’ve been a designer for more than 20 years and I absolutely love my job! What’s not to love? I get to work with great clients who need my help. Every day I’m surrounded by beautiful things, and I get to create beautiful spaces for people to live in. I make great money and I have the freedom to set my own hours and work as much, or as little as I want. Sounds perfect huh?

So why isn’t every design aficionado doing this? I think it’s because there are a lot of myths about what it takes to become a designer, and even a few scare tactics circling around out there. I understand the arguments, but the problem is you really only hear one side of the issue.

If everyone who had a knack for design could go out and tell people to knock down walls or make changes to their electrical system, we would have some serious problems on our hands. Design school teaches those details like structural integrity, drafting, construction documents, and what the flammability rating on textiles mean. It would be a disaster if just anyone could advertise themselves as an Interior Designer alongside licensed and degreed designers.

With that being said, not everyone wants to take on that kind of responsibility or liability. This group simply wants to create beautiful spaces for people who need their help, and be paid handsomely for their talents. As long as they’re honest and upfront about what services they offer when finding new clients, I see absolutely nothing wrong with that business model.

The sad truth is I see more design school graduates failing because they learned how to design in college but they never learned how to be a designer. Most design schools teach how to draw a detail elevation but fail to explain how to fill out a P.O. or how to bill your clients for your time without being taken advantage of. Schools teach you everything about furniture history, and nothing about customer service. I haven’t ever heard of a class on overcoming objections in a presentation without losing your patience, or how to handle the, “nosy neighbor” who decided to tag along with her friend unexpectedly. These are the obstacles that bring down a talented designer. Designers don’t fail because they can’t create a beautiful room. They fail because they’ve never learned how to make a living doing what they’re good at, designing.

If you really want to design for a living, there are a few paths you can take to a fantastic and highly lucrative career. Maybe you don’t have the time or money to go to design school, but you CAN be an amazing decorator and have a successful business helping people design their dream space. Find your talent and build off of it. You might be a color specialist or a home stager for people selling their homes. You could take some classes in Feng Shui and help people improve their Chi. I know a designer who specializes in children’s bedrooms. She loves her business and she gets to stretch the limits of her creativity every day. Best of all, she gets paid to have fun and help people.

Interior Design is an art form. I believe it’s a God-given talent that not everyone is blessed with, but one that everyone needs at some point in their life. If you have the talent and drive, then do what you love and Design for a Living.

Once again I feel like I’m preaching about the exciting opportunities available for designers everywhere (yes even in this crummy economy).

I heard both sides of the debate while I was at the Las Vegas Design Center in November. Some designers are thriving and making more money than ever, while others were despondent, depressed, and have clearly given up.

One woman stood out of the crowd and I hope she will inspire you as much as she has inspired me. This is a designer who was firmly on the wrong side of the success fence, but gleaming with hope and desire to climb up and over to the other side.

You see, Angela had come too far to turn back. Designing is a lifelong dream that she is going after, at a time in her life when most people are looking to retire.

It wasn’t her fault that she chose to make this courageous transformation right before our economy collapsed. She also had no way of knowing that she would be trying to start a business working with homeowners in a city with some of the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in the country.

She didn’t have time to waste and, “learn from her own mistakes”. She needed to make this work, NOW!

She listened to my market presentation on Selling Yourself, Your Services, and Your Designs, and met up with me after the event.

I listened to her story about how hard she had been struggling, and all of the avenues she had

been down searching for a missing link. “I must be doing something wrong” she said more than once. So I asked her to tell me where she was getting stuck.

As it turns out, Angela was having the same 3 problems that most struggling designers have:

1. Believing in their talent and its’ value, so they end up giving their services away for free.

2. Establishing a fee structure that works for their business, and then actually asking for a deposit at the

initial house call before they start doing the work.

3. Choosing a specific niche based on their strengths, and then failing to go after their “ideal clients”.

Angela turns out to be a fast learner! With only a few simple tweaks of her house call routine, and a pep-talk to help build up her confidence, I hear that she has made it over the top of the fence and is on her way to having a successful design business!

The very next week; she went on a house call and put into action everything she had learned. She established a great rapport with the client. She didn’t give any of her design ideas away for free and instead, listened and acknowledged the needs and wants of the customer. Afterward, she simply said “I would love to start working together, and I’ll need a deposit before I leave.”

Much to Angela’s surprise the client was thrilled and more than happy to write her a check on the spot. Angela said the client was “putty in her hands and couldn’t wait to start working together on her home.”

I’m so honored to have helped such a deserving woman, and I can’t wait to hear of a hundred more successful house calls just like this one.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…DROP ME A LINE.

Happy Designing!

Sincerely,

Chelsea Coryell

designforaliving.com

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin

Fall is here, and to me it’s the purest illustration of the importance, and the beauty, of change.  To me personally, change means transformation for the better.

When the leaves change color in the fall, some people may think of crumbling, deterioration, and death. I look at it from a slightly different perspective.

I see the leaves on the trees transforming from a beautiful green, into gorgeous reds and yellows, and then through a rough stage to emerge as a lush and green splendor in the spring.

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.” –Unknown

Are you content with the current state of your business? Maybe now is the time for your beautiful transformation. Why don’t you take a few clues from Mother Nature and make some positive changes of your own.

Let me give you some suggestions to jump start your creative juices.
This economy may seem tough for lots of people, though for designers it’s a blessing in disguise.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… people crave change. They want to be surrounded by beauty, and they have an inherent need to create a nest for themselves and their family. Unfortunately for most, selling is out of the question so where can they turn? They can hire a professional designer to help them transform the home they already have into a fresh, new, beautiful space.

How can this information help you? Iwant you to think of this little bit of consumer psychology when you’re writing your marketing materials, or meeting potential clients out in your community, or even networking with possible professional partners.

“The chameleon changes color to match the earth, the earth doesn’t change color to match the chameleon.” -unknown

Have you noticed that there have been huge shifts in home décor trends recently? I have. So why not shout it from the rooftops? Use this information to create a client newsletter of your own. It’s a great way to stay in front of your past and potential clients, even when they aren’t currently working on a project.

You may describe a trend that really gets someone excited. So excited in fact, that they call you right away because they can’t wait to get you to their home and start a transformation for them.

This technique has worked for many of my coaching clients and it will work for you. Keeping your contacts informed and “in the loop” (without overwhelming them) will keep you fresh in their mind so when they’re ready to make some changes, you’re the first person they think of.

“Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your faults.” –unknown

Maybe now is the time to make some personal changes in your life. If you don’t realize that your own personal habits and attitudes affect your business and your career, then you’ve been fooling yourself.

So I want you to take a hard look at where you’re struggling in your business, and then analyze how something you may be doing, or a habit you have, may be holding you back from truly succeeding.

Do your clients get frustrated with you, or pester you about their project? Maybe you have problems with time management?

Are you having a tough time finding new clients? You might struggle with self-confidence or courage?

Is your client list void of great clients who really value you and your designs? Make sure you’re running your business like a true design professional?

Do you have a system that you follow and have you established a “commitment based relationship” with your clients?

“You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” -unknown

These are just a few ideas to really get you thinking about your own change. What transformations do you want to undergo this year.

Do you want to make more money, or find better clients, or have a healthier home/work balance? Whatever it is you can imagine for yourself and your life, you can achieve. Imagine what your spring will look like, understand you’ll have to go through a transformation of some kind, and then make it happen

9 amazing professionals will be discussing a wide variety of topics from

Marketing

Sales  (my portion at 8pm Eastern time)

Marketing Research

Personal Style

Financial Management

Client Retention

Outsourcing

Time Management

& Project Management

I’m going to share my secrets for turning Prospects into Presentations…(then how you can close them on the first try)

It’s going to be informative and fun, and I’d love to see you there.  Click this link to reserve a spot.   Design for a Living Webinar Wednsday!

If you can’t make it live, no problem, sign-up anyway and I’ll send you the recording.

Whether you want to admit it or not, sales is a critical part of being a successful designer or decorator.  You can be the most innovative and creative person around,  consider this:

-you’ll need to sell yourself to win the client

-you have to sell your ideas and philosophies to get a retainer

-you must sell your design concept to get the project…

-and you have to sell your presentation to get paid.

Most important of all, if you don’t accomplish all of these steps, you’ll never see your beautiful designs come to life.

It took me a few years to come to this realization myself. It wasn’t until I was working at a design firm in Florida, and my boss generously paid for our entire staff to attend a one day sales workshop taught by Tom Hopkins.   Little did I know, I would be learning from one of the best sales trainers in the world.

At first I didn’t understand the need.  Why did we need sales training, when we were trained interior designers?  As I sat there in the crowded auditorium, I noticed other unlikely professionals like dentists, and military recruiters.

What I soon realized was: any career, that interacts with people in need of making an emotional decision, will benefit from having a qualified and professional salesperson.

Sales is NOT about talking people into buying something they don’t want.  It should NEVER involve lying or guilt.  It’s not applying pressure to bully a client into agreeing with you on a design.  It’s not a way for you to get a larger paycheck.

Here are just few take-a-ways, that I truly believe in, and practice today.

1. When you understand the psychological process of a customer, you can put yourself in their shoes, and better help them make decisions.

2. Your clients have a real need, and they often have a difficult time expressing what that is. It’s your job to ask the right questions to uncover what they need, and then simply fill that need.

3. For most people, making decisions can be scary.  You must take the time to earn their trust, answer all of their questions, and help put their fears to rest.

4. People usually need more than they realize. It’s up to you to educate them on everything they’ll need to achieve their goal.  It would be a  disservice to them if you didn’t.

5. Some people have a difficult time making decisions.   It’s your job to help them to make a decision, even if that decision is, no.  Sometimes a great designer and salesperson, tells people what not to buy.

I’ve been fortunate to have a long and successful career as a designer.  At first, I thought it was dumb luck and there couldn’t be any other explanation for my years of  success.  I’ve worked with some amazing designers who I felt could design circles around me, and yet I had more clients and made much more money than they did.

After my eye-opening day, learning from a true sales master, I realized that I had been instinctively practicing many of his techniques and philosophies on my own. With his guidance and my sudden realization, I began to give equal time to designing and sales.

I get so excited when I help someone make a difficult decision that’s been bothering them. I love presentations and seeing the look on their face when I unveil my interpretation of their dream room.  Of course collecting that deposit is pretty nice too.!  It means we’re one step closer to seeing our vision become a reality, and isn’t that what it’s all about?

Well I have a relatively simple exercise that can make a huge difference in your business next year (as well as your life), because I know it did to mine. It was something that was asked of me at a women entrepreneurs conference last Fall. Out of 1000 women, and three days of intense content, it was the one exercise that brought about the most “ah-ha moments”. It really seemed to enlighten everyone in the room.

It has to do with identifying your values, and incorporating them into your business. Sounds simple right? Well it is. The question is, how often do we honestly sit down and evaluate what’s truly important to us? After all, what’s important to you in your 20’s isn’t necessarily at the top of the list in your 40’s. This process doesn’t take very long, and it can make a big impact on your life, and consequently, your business success.

Has anyone ever asked you how your business is going? What do you say? “A little slow right now, but you know, it’s the economy,” or “It’s fine… I guess”. How often do you reply, “absolutely wonderful!” Or how about “Great, I’ve never been happier.”

I’m not going to pretend that we don’t have to work a little smarter to stay ahead of the game these days. Just don’t believe that nobody is spending any money right now, and that this economy is ruining designers. I know plenty of designers that are running hugely successful design practices, and in fact, they are busier now than ever.

After all, savvy investors know they shouldn’t sell their homes now while prices are so low. They have no choice but to spruce up the one they currently have and they need your help to do it.

So why is it that some designers will answer that same question with such a positive response, while others sound a little less optimistic? I talk to designers from around the world on a daily basis, and I’ve noticed a similarity amongst those who are happy, which those who are struggling lack…

Click here for the exercise

So what is a Barn Sale?

Click Here to Read More

Have you thought of having a holiday special?  The big stores do, so why can’t entrepreneurs?  It’s a wonderful excuse to reach out to those past clients and remind them of your great personal customer service.

Why not send out a holiday reminder card?  That’s right, mail something.  I still love to get mail that doesn’t include a bill of some kind.  Let them know that it’s time to get working on their holiday-home-spruce-up if they haven’t already started.

You could send out photos of a great table scape for Thanksgiving, or a beautiful front porch that has been decorated with the utmost attention to detail.  Remind them that you are available for more than just big projects, and who knows? Your simple holiday decorating scheme may lead to that remodeling project in the spring.