Lisa Harrison Rivas, Staff Writer

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

Photo: San Antonio Board Of Realtors

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

Go beyond the basic bathroom

These days with more of us spending a lot more time at home, homeowners are opting to give their homes a makeover. Home offices are being revamped or created, and people are also updating their outdoor spaces. New flooring and kitchen countertops are often at the top of the list when it comes to giving a house a new look. But don't forget the bathroom. Bathrooms, half or full, provide opportunities for creative renovations.

Bathrooms don't have to be boring. Why not apply many of the decorating trends used in other rooms of the house to the bathroom.

San Antonio interior designer Lee Ann Kramer said wallpaper is coming back in a big way. Imagine wallpaper in a variety of wild patterns, metallic or grass cloth. Kramer said natural elements and black are also trending, but so are colors such as green, mustard, and ocher. And she said velvets in all colors are very popular too.

So, whether you hire a contractor or do it yourself, why not add a little pizzazz to your powder room or make the master bathroom unique. Here are a few examples of homes that are now or were recently on the market in San Antonio and surrounding areas that have done just that.

Lisa.harrison@express-news.net

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Go beyond the basic bathroom - mySA

Aninterior designer must serve many functions. Is it the right role for you? Image: zhu difeng/Shutterstock

Are you always receiving compliments on your interior design taste? Do you love decorating rooms and arranging furniture? If you answered yes to these questions, then maybe a career in interior design is right for you.

Before you make a life-altering career choice, there are some things you should know about the design world. Interior designers face challenges every day; some of these may not appeal to you, while others may excite you and open doors to a career that you never thoughtwas possible.

Read on to learn the10things you should know before becoming an interior designer.

Whats thedifference between interior decorators and interior designers?Inone word: education.

Literally anyone can become an interior decorator. Someone who loves playing with colors, fabrics and textiles can become a decorator by simply printing business cards and promoting themselves to clients. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but educational background is also important.

On the other hand, an interior designer must have an accredited education; an associate or bachelors degree is a requisite for working in theinterior design field. Do you want to pursue an education, or jump immediately into the decorating world? Keepreading to see if interior design could be the right fit for you.

It may seem obvious, but in order to become an interior designer, you need to have an innate flair for color, spatial arrangements, architecture and textiles.Doyou enjoy decorating your home and getlots of compliments on your decor? That doesnt necessarily meanyou should be aninterior designer, but its certainly a good sign.

The first step to a successful career is to follow your passion. After all, doing something you love will never feel like work. Take this fun quiz to see which field you should consider majoring in. Is a career in interior design in your future?

While fabrics, furniture and color may play a large role in interior design, there are plenty of other tasks that are required of interior designers many of whichmay seem less like fun and more like work.

Interior designers need to be educated in the history of design, the structural integrity of buildings, building codes, ergonomics, spatial concepts, ethics, psychology, computer-aided drawing (CAD) and much more.

It might seem that interior designers are expected to be Jacks (or Jills) of all trades, doesnt it? This broad range of skills isrequired because designers work with not only homeowners, but alsobuilders, architects, government agenciesand business owners. To become a successful interior designer, one needs to be educated and well-rounded.

Show me the money! After all, shouldnt someone with such a vast education get paid well? It depends. Statistics show that the mediansalary of an entry-level interior designerin the U.S. is$42,380 per year.

Of course, this depends on a lot of factors, such as education, location, work experience and size of the firm/company. An interior designer ata furniture company will most likely make less than a designer whoworks for a high-end architectural firm.

Essentially, you can dictate your rate of pay by gaining as much exposure and experience as possible. Someone with education in the fields of architecture, building codes/laws and structural design will more likely become financially successful.

Ask interior designers to share their experiences, and they will surely relatesome horror stories of past clients. People are finicky, especially when it comes to their homes.While some clients have clear goals in mind, others may think they know what they want only to discover that they hate the final product and are dissatisfied with your work.

A successful interior designer is a people pleaser and a mitigator (and sometimes a mind reader) someone who cansteer clients toward a favorable outcome while making them feel they are in full control of the design choices. Interior designers are constantly balancingtheir design decisions and their clients desires. Its not a cakewalk, to say the least.

A picture says athousand words, and this is definitely true when it comes to an interior designers portfolio. You can talk all day long about colors and textiles, but unless you have an outstanding portfolio that showcases your designs and projects, your successes will be few and far between.

If you are just coming out of school and are newto the job market, it may be necessary to offer your services for free or at a reduced rate. This is probablythe best way to get a portfolio started; its also a great way to get to know local merchandisers and suppliers, and develop a rapport for future projects.

Everybody starts at the bottom. With some effort, experience and proper marketing, you can become a successful force in the interior design field.

Interior design is a competitive business. The key to success is getting yourself noticed. As mentioned above, an amazing designer portfolio will certainly help you land jobs.

Another important factor isacquiring an extensive education. The more you know, the better off you will be. Consider looking toward future trends such as population growth, designing for the elderly, modern architecture and green design; education within these specific fields of design will give you the upper hand in the job market.

It is also a good idea to stay abreast of design trendsbyreading design publications and websites such as Freshome, communicating with fellow designers and following a mentor. When competition is high, you need to work hard in order to get noticed and rise to the top.

When people hire an interior designer, they may not realize that they can actually hire from anywhere in the world. Yes, designers can telecommute, too! Thanks to technological innovations such as Skype and design software, designers are discovering a whole new world of virtual design.

Although severalfree online virtual room design tools available to the general public, interior designers have an edge on this competition thanks to their exclusive relationships with elite design lines.Severalhigh-end textile companies offer discounts to designers working in the trade, thereby allowing themto get their clientsthe best prices.

This is where would-be designers may opt to avoid the education and become decorators, thereby avoiding some of the doldrum of learning building codes and local laws.

Some of the detailscan certainly be boring, but they are required knowledge for interior designers. Learning about plumbing codes, electricity and load-bearing walls may not excite you, but it is required.Staying abreast of such thingsgives interior designers an advantage and marketability that decorators simply do not have.

While designers can offer their clients a wide range of design styles to choose from, it is important to remember that it is up to the clients to choose what style suits them best.

Just because designers are educated and have good taste does not make their choices superior to their clients. The interior designers job is to offer a variety of styles and direct the client toward the right design choice while allowing the client to feel in charge.

For example, you may work as an interior designer for years and never design a house that suits your personal tastes. It is all about the clients style and you must put your own aside.

After reading all the pros and cons of becoming aninterior designer, do you think its oneyoud like to pursue?If youre considering interior design as a career, then remember all 10 of thethings mentioned above. The fieldmay be competitive, but with a little hard work and a stellar portfolio, you can become a successful interior designer.

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10 Things You Should Know About Becoming an Interior Designer

They will help you to get the look you want first time, and if youre not immediately sure what you want they help you find it, working with you to design your perfect home. If your space is on the small side, or awkwardly configured, an interior designer can also help you to maximise your living space, using clever tricks to make spaces seem larger or brighter and building in multi-functional furniture and design. Working closely with interior designers will ensure you get a design you love, but also allow you to pick up some of the skills, approaches and design ideas that interior designers use to create their stunning home designs. So if you are stuck for ideas, or cant make head nor tail of how to design your living room, bedroom, or even your entire home, then find interior design companies and interior designers on Houzz that are ready to totally transform your interiors and make your life easier.Whats the difference between interior designers and interior decorators?These two closely related professions are often mistaken for the same thing, however there are some significant differences to be aware of before deciding which to hire. An interior designer, sometimes known as an interiors architect, can run full renovation and structural design projects, and will use specialised knowledge of interior architecture, construction systems and components, building regulations, materials and furnishings to arrive at your dream home design. Interior design companies are able to plan spaces and room functions down to the last detail, and can help design and renovate interiors, from initial planning phases to placing the last decorative accessory. A decorator on the other hand will typically be involved only in the aesthetic layer, the look and feel of a space, and wont be able to assist in renovations that require structural work. Interior decorators normally come on board after all structural work is complete. So choose your interior designer according to the type of work you need.Why should I hire an interior designer?They say life is what happens while youre busy making plans. Some of us are just too preoccupied with a career and/or family to think about colour schemes, wallpaper, flooring and lighting. A professional interior designer can save you bags of time, stress and months, if not years, of living in a half-finished home. Its their job to stay on top of the latest trends and to have contacts and visual references coming out of their ears. Interior designers and decorators can also save you money, sourcing products via trade contacts or offering affordable alternatives to blowout iconic designs.How do I choose the right interior designer for my home?Good design and visual inspiration are all around us. Start by searching for interior architects and interior designers on Houzz. Keep a lookout for images of rooms and features that you really like and save them to your Ideabooks to begin to develop an understanding of your own style and taste. If you notice that photos from the same interior design companies are popping up regularly then that is a good hint that they could be your perfect design match. You can feel most confident if you hire an interior designer or interior design company that has completed work similar to the look and feel that you desire, whether that is a mix-and-match lounge oozing mid-century modern style, a pale and interesting minimalist bedroom with shots of colour, or a beautiful space inspired by Scandinavian design.

You may want to check if your designer is a member of the Society of British and International Design (SBID) or The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). Both are a benchmark of quality and reliability. And check if your interior designers can offer you the right type of service some companies are design only, while others can oversee the whole project. If it is the latter that you seek, make sure any sub-contractors used are fully accredited and it is clear who they are supposed to report to. If late alterations are made to the plan, the contractor should receive a change order, thus minimising the risk of a dispute about what was and wasnt agreed to after the start date.

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Best 15 Interior Designers Near You | Houzz UK

Annie Sloan

Some people have a natural eye for design, but if you're more in the camp of those who can't do anything without consulting Pinterest board upon Pinterest board before making any major changes, we feel you. And even those of us who leave and breathe interior design, some inspiration and guidance never hurts. We'd love to have an interior designer on speed dial before deciding exactly where and how hang to hang that sweet new wall art we bought on a whim so we don't make any major mistakes. But until we win the lottery, we'll have to settle for trusting our guts, and taking plenty of decorating tips where we can get them. We've compiled some secrets straight from the pros to help you with all your decorating needs.

1 of 58

Transform Eyesores

"In this basement remodel, we would've had to spend a ton of money rerouting the HCVA air duct. Who wouldn't go with ballet-slipper pink instead?" Max Humphrey

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Add Faux Molding

"There was no ceiling molding and no molding around the doors in this apartment, so I added them with paint!Aldous Bertram

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Don't Be Afraid to DIY

"If punk rock has taught me anything, it's to do everything yourself. All of my favorite interior designers were self-taught."Max Humphrey

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Fake It 'Til You Make It

"Do something groovy on the actual steps! The bolder you go, the bigger the smile when you see them." Fawn Galli. Here, a painted on runner by Annie Sloan looks just like a carpet.

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Mix Old and New Decor

"Old and new belong together. A mix of modern pieces and antiques never tires."Caleb Anderson

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Liven Up Ordinary Spaces With Wallpaper

I love to use wallpaper in mundane spaces. Hallways, pantries, powder roomsall become moments of joy and funkiness. Areas of transition can be places you enjoy spending time in.Fawn Galli

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Choose the Right Bulbs

"Choosing the right light bulb is very important. LED bulbs are energy efficient, and they can look great."Paloma Contreras

8 of 58

Try Out Wicker

Wicker is an element I love for its texture and versatility. Wicker baskets are so functional for storage, but a wicker animal brings a sense of whimsy. Amy Berry

9 of 58

Upgrade Your Light Switches

Update your light switches! Elegant controls add a spectacular element to an older home or character to a new one. Courtney Hill

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Even Rentals Can Get an Upgrade

11 of 58

Invest in Antiques

Great art and fabulous antiques only get better with age. Its better to cry once and have a forever piece.Chandos Dodson Epley

12 of 58

Trust Your Intuition

"Follow your gut. If you have to talk yourself into liking something, you probably don't."Olivia Erwin

13 of 58

Use the Ceiling to Redefine the Room

Look up! We use ceilings a lot. Through them, we define the lines and beauty of a space.Julio Salcedo

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Add a Bar

"Every house should have a great bar. It is the central point of a party, and if you entertain a lot, it will be celebrated, so put some thought into it."Jordana Joseph

15 of 58

When in Doubt, Paint It Out

"Never underestimate the power of paint. You don't have to break the bank to achieve a new look. A fresh coat in a vibrant color takes an old piece of furniture or empty white room and gives it new life."Chauncey Boothby

16 of 58

...and Paint Doesn't Have to Be All One Color

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White Kitchens Are Forever

Classics never go out of style. I hesitated about doing a white kitchen in my own house, thinking Id been there, done that. But Im so glad I did. I will never tire of it.Alexandra Kaehler

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Live in Your Pretty Spaces

"Actually use your beautiful things! I have a chocolate lab and white furniture in my living room. It took some training, but now he knows the furniture is off limits."Lindsey Lane

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Get Inspired by Ancient Buildings

"Pull floor patterns from ancient buildings. One inspired the checkerboard pattern of the marble floors in my Los Angeles home."Nate Berkus

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Go Dark

Dont be afraid of dark. I used this rich Benjamin Moore Midnight Blue on an accent walldarker than Id ever dared. It made the whole space come to life. Jean Larette

21 of 58

Collect Art From an Early Age

"Art, art, art! Start young and buy the best you can afford. Its ability to transform a room is unlike any other design tool."Jean Liu

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Don't Be Afraid of Clutter

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Splurge on a Master Bath

"The splurge everyone should make is a fabulous master bathroom. I used hand-painted porcelain sinks in mine."Todd Richesin

24 of 58

Don't Underestimate the Coffee Table

In an open seating plan, always use a well-proportioned statement coffee table to ground the arrangement and give it a sense of place.Sean Michael

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Be Creative!

Get creative when thinking about form and function. A client in a traditional Georgian home needed it to work for her modern way of entertaining. We opted for an asymmetrical, organic space that encourages guests to float through the room while engaged in conversation. Kate Coughlin

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Make Ceilings Look Higher With Tall Furniture

"Use tall pieces in a low-height room. Short furnishings would make the ceiling feel that much lower to the ground." Jason Oliver Nixon

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Invest in Upholstery

"My clients ask about the most important pieces to invest in: I believe in upholstery and art! They help anchor a room."Ashley Darryl

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Have Fun

"Make sure you're having fun. What's more fun than making your own home more beautiful?"Eche Martinez

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Create Your Own Light

When you're given a dark space that doesn't have great light, create your own light. In this kitchen, we used Sherwin-Williams's sunny Energetic Orange, and it turned out just fabulous so cheerful.Matthew Boland

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Just like there would be no Queer Eye without the Fab Five, there would be no Say I Do without the charming hosts at its center. In the eight-episode reality series, created by Queer Eye's David Collins, co-hosts Jeremiah Brent, Thai Nguyen, and Gabriele Bertaccini help couples plan their dream weddings.

"It was literally love at first sight," Nguyen tells OprahMag.com, upon meeting his co-hosts for the first time. "They're like my brothers."

In the show, Nguyen, Brent, and Bertaccini lend their expertise to help couples plan spontaneous weddings. Nguyen, a celebrity designer, creates custom gowns and suits. Brent, an interior designer, completely transforms spaces into wedding venues. And with his elaborate meals, chef Bertaccini makes sure the wedding guests have the energy to party all night.

The hosts bring their different skill setsand their different dispositions, too. "Jeremiah is intelligent and calm. He makes me calm. For Gabe, it's all about passion. They describe me as joy. I'm the fun one," Nguyen says. However, for all their charm, Bertaccini insists that the hosts should not be the focus of the show. "The show is not about us. It's about the love stories," he says.

Inevitably, thoughthis being a tear-jerker of a Netflix reality showthe hosts open up about their own lives, also. In a stand-out moment from the first episode, Bertaccini reveals his HIV-positive diagnosis to the groom.

"It was a moment I did not plan. That really underlines the whole showwe have to be willing to make the first step," Bertaccini says, adding that many of his loved ones watching Say I Do will be surprised by the news. "My hope is that the stigma of what HIV looks like will go down. "

Similarly, Brent and Nguyen have their own on-camera moments of vulnerability, both in terms of what they share about their livesand the tears they spill. "Jeremiah is the pretty crier," Nguyen says, laughing. Here's what you need to know about the hosts, and where they are now.

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Interior designer Jeremiah Brent is no stranger to TV. Chances are, you recognize Brent from The Rachel Zoe Show, the TLC series Nate and Jeremiah By Design, or by his time as the resident interior designer on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Brent founded his own design firm at the age of 24.

In 2014, Brent married interior designer Nate Berkus, cementing their status as the ultimate design power couple. They are busy building empires and raising two children (Poppy, 5, and Oskar, 2) in their New York town house.

Referring to Say I Do as his "third baby," Brent says he connected with the show's premise instantly. "I liked the idea of a wedding show not being about the wedding, but the couples' journey to get to the decision to get married. There was never any uncertainty with these couples," Brent says.

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While filming Say I Do, Brent often reflected on his own wedding to Berkus, which took place at the New York Public Library and was officiated by then-president of OWN, Sheri Salata. The ceremony even brought Oprah to tears.

"I've heard from our friends at our wedding that it was intimate, which is the biggest compliment you can give. We tried to make sure that the people there knew that we wouldn't have been there had they not helped us in some way," Brent says.

Finally, he shared his simple relationship advice: "You just have to like the person you're married to. Nate is my favorite person in the world."

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Say I Do was Thai Nguyen's kind of challenge. A designer who specializes in custom gowns, Nguyen is a pro at working with brides. "A bridal gown is not just any gown. It's a symbol of their love. It's a symbol of the life story," Nguyen says.

Nguyen, who was born and raised in Vietnam, found his calling right at home. "I learned to sew when I was nine. My parents had this private sewing school in Vietnam, so I've always been around sewing and creating," he says. He immigrated to the United States in 1993, where he studied Fashion Design at FIDM and worked for BCBG Max Azria, before starting his own line. He's been on TV before, as a finalist on Bravo's fashion competition series, Launch My Line.

Now based in California, Nguyen has a couture atelier in Orange County and a cadre of celebrities clients, like Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, Kristen Bell, Leona Lewis, Laverne Cox, Kate Beckinsale, Samira Wiley, LaLa Anthony, and Katy Perry, per his alma mater's website.

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Though he designs for red carpets, weddings are always on his mind. Eventually, Nguyen hopes to marry his fianc, and partner of over a decade. But as he woefully revealed in the show's final episode, he's not sure if that day will come. Nguyen is waiting until his parents accept his decision to marry a man. "We wanted to have this celebration three years ago, but I'm willing to give my parents time. I will always want them to be there for me, especially on my special day," Nguyen says.

"I dream through these brides."

On July 1, when the show comes out, Nguyen plans to translate the episode for his parents into Vietnamese. "Maybe they haven't been exposed to that kind of love and that kind of beauty. It's my job to give them time and let them see this," he says.

For now, he will continue to work with brides and grooms for their special days. "There's the saying, 'If you can't do you teach.' So if I can't wed, I'll make wedding dresses. I don't know if I will ever have that day. So I put myself in their situation. I celebrate myself," Nguyen says. "It's an outlet for me to live life, be optimistic, and hopeful. I dream through these brides."

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Born and raised in Florence, Italy, Bertaccini is a self-described "crazy Italian chef" with a sleeve of tattoos, and an army of four Australian shepherds. (If you're curious, their names are Perla, Mieli, Summit, and Bernard.)

Currently, the 35-year-old chef is based in Los Angeles. He's the founder of Il Tocco Food, a catering company. But his most famous venture, Culinary Mischief, has no store frontit's an "underground dining series" held in shifting locations around the world. "It was important to create an experience that was so unique that it couldnt be replicated," Bertaccini said of the venture while speaking to BB Publications. In his free time, Bertaccini is a spinning instructor at Flywheel.

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While filming Say I Do, Bertaccini found himself in the middle of his own love story. "I actually met [my boyfriend] right before I left to film the show," Bertaccini says. "He's an amazing man."

Finally, Bertaccini knows that comparisons to Antoni Porowski, the chef of Queer Eye (also created by Say I Do's David Collins), may be coming his wayand he's ready. "Antoni is such a sweetheart. There is a lot that we have in common: The passion for food and what food represents. It brings people together. It's the glue," Bertaccini says.

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Who Are the Hosts of Netflix's Say I Do? Interviews and Bios - Oprah Mag

DUBLIN, June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Interior Design Software Market - Growth, Trends, Forecasts (2020-2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

The global interior design software market was valued at USD 3,829 million in 2019, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 6,433.9 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 9.07% over the forecast period 2020-2025.

Key Highlights

Market Trends

Residential Sector to Witness the Highest Growth

Asia-Pacific to Register the Highest Growth

Competitive Landscape

The Interior Design Software market is moderately competitive. The regional vendors are focusing on providing cost-effective solutions with limited operational capabilities and at comparatively lower prices than the international players. Major players in the market include Autodesk Inc., Dassault Systemes SE, Trimble Inc., among others.

Key Topics Covered

1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition1.2 Scope of the Study

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 MARKET DYNAMICS4.1 Market Overview4.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis4.2.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers4.2.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers4.2.3 Threat of New Entrants4.2.4 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry4.2.5 Threat of Substitutes4.3 Market Drivers4.3.1 Want for better interior design and decoration4.3.2 Rise in Government Initiatives for Promoting Construction and Real-estate Worldwide4.4 Market Challenges4.4.1 Interoperability Issues with Interior Design Software4.5 Assessment of Impact of COVID-19 on the Industry

5 MARKET SEGMENTATION5.1 End-user5.1.1 Residential Sector5.1.2 Non-residential Sector5.2 Geography5.2.1 North America5.2.2 Europe5.2.3 Asia-Pacific5.2.4 Latin America5.2.5 Middle East and Africa

6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE6.1 Company Profiles6.1.1 Autodesk Inc.6.1.2 Dassault Systemes SE6.1.3 Trimble Inc.6.1.4 SmartDraw LLC6.1.5 Foyr LLC6.1.6 Roomtodo OU6.1.7 ECDESIGN Sweden AB6.1.8 RoomSketcher AS6.1.9 Space Designer 3D6.1.10 BeLight Software Ltd.6.1.11 Chief Architect Inc.6.1.12 Infurnia Technologies Pvt. Ltd.6.1.13 EasternGraphics GmbH6.1.14 InnoPlanner Ltd.

7 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

8 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7p561m

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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Global Interior Design Software Markets 2020-2025 - Home Buying Decisions Expected to Be Postponed due to the Outbreak of COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance

Explore this unique home with us

Interior designer Gillian Dubin and her husband, civil rights and criminal defence attorney Josh Dubin, feel a deep connection to Brooklyn. The couple has not only lived in the borough for the past 20 years, but Josh comes from a long line of Brooklynites. My great-grandfather was a tailor in East New York, and my grandfather was a photographer in Flatbush, he says. Ive always been fascinated by the history of Brooklyn. When he and his wife began searching for a new home in Park Slope, they were drawn to a brownstone from 1903, the kind of construction that gives the neighbourhood its quintessential residential charm. The house was not in good shapeit had been converted into three unitsbut it maintained most of its original details, and I really appreciated that, says Gillian, who established her namesake design studio three years ago.

She worked with architect Jeffery Povero to restore the residences turn-of-the-century grandeur while adding modern conveniences like radiant-heat floors, energy-efficient windows, and new fireplaces. Even though it had been rejiggered into three apartments, the 4,600-square-foot, five-story property retained a host of elements from the early 1900s: coffered oak ceilings in one room, a latticed archway in another, intricately patterned crown mouldings, and a beautifully turned balustrade in the central staircase. For Gillian and her design partner for the project, Flavia Braga, the challenge was to create a contemporary atmosphere within the historic bones of the home, conjuring up a space that nodded to both old and new Brooklyn.

Since there was an excess of dark wood covering floors, walls, and ceilings, Gillian painted some of it white to lighten the mood. As for the furniture, she went for boldness, mixing Italian aesthetics from the 60s and 70s with contemporary geometric shapes. The living room features a set of voluminous metal-framed sofas designed by Gianfranco Frattini, a sharply structured coffee table in blackened ash wood, and a vintage Murano leaf chandelier in the style of Seguso Adesso. Gillian impressed on me that she could preserve the old details of the house and still make it cool, says her husband. Whenever she puts her personal touch on something, it comes out great. Josh, who is an ambassador for the Innocence Project, spends part of his time fighting for clients of colour who have been wrongfully accused or convicted. He also recently joined Jay-Z, Team Roc, and several civil rights groups in publishing a full-page Martin Luther King Jr. speech in newspapers across the country to honour George Floyd. The familys commitment to social justice is reflected in the artworks seen throughout the home, many of them by Black American and African artists, including a portrait by Mickalene Thomas, a neon sign with The Notorious B.I.G.s famous lyric Spread Love. Its the Brooklyn Way, and a series of head sculptures by Jacob-Tetteh Ashong.

Just like the streets of Brooklyn, the Dubins home has elegance mixed with irreverence, and Old World flair mixed with homegrown style. I think the space was pulled together in a timeless fashion, but with something dramatic and edgy at every turn, says Gillian. I enjoy having a house that has a story to tell, while also giving it a new personality.

This article first appeared in Architectural Digest US

A Japanese-style home emerges in the middle of Texas

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This Brooklyn home is equal parts traditional and whimsical - Architectural Digest India

Our latest weekly highlight of architectural employers includes professional practices, an artist workshop, and an international cultural institution with current job openings in California, New York, and Massachusetts. For even more opportunities, visit Archinect Jobs and browse Archinect's active community of architecture students and professionals, firms, and schools

Headquartered at R.M. Schindler's iconic 1922 house in West Hollywood, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture is the California satellite of the MAK Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art in Vienna andpresents programming that "challenges conventional notions of architectural space and relationships between the creative arts." The institution is currently looking for a new Director with substantial experience in museum/non-profit leadership and significant curatorial/programming contributions to contemporary art and architecture.

Acclaimed American artist and filmmaker Doug Aitken defies genre boundaries with a body of work that spans from film and photography to installations and architectural interventions. His workshop in Los Angeles is currently looking for a Visualization and Rendering Specialist with working experience in Rhino and Cinema4D.

Located in theArts District of Los Angeles, Relativity Architects offers master planning, building design, interior architecture, and project management services. A full-time Architectural Project Manager position is available for applicants with 5 to 10+ years of experience.

Founded in 1985 by Anthony J. Amenta and Robert A. Emma, architectural and interior design practice Amenta Emma Architects is now operating from offices in Hartford, CT, New York, NY, and Boston, MA. A motivated Project Architect with 5 to 8 years of experience is invited to join the firm's Boston team.

New York City-based studio Hernandez-Eli Architecture was established by Harvard GSD graduate Juliet Hernandez-Eli and boasts a growing portfolio of residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and public projects. If you are anArchitectural Designer with3 to 5 years of experience in all phases of architectural design and construction, consider applying now.

If you don't already, follow Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or the Archinect Jobs Instagram.

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Featured employers are hiring architects and designers in NYC, LA & Boston - Archinect

This week, we celebrated Prideperhaps a little differently than usual, but nonetheless championing the boundless ways that people find connection. And with the holiday weekend on the horizon, BOH wishes you a warm and relaxing July 4th. Until then, stay in the know with our weekly news digest, including business headlines, launches and events, recommended reading and more.

BUSINESS NEWS

Direct-to-consumer mattress company Casper is grappling with some legal trouble: The sleep industrys former unicorn is facing a lawsuit that accuses the company of misleading investors leading up to its February IPO by withholding critical figures on narrowing profit margins. While Casper denies the foul play, theres no denying that investors are disappointed in the returns from the bed-in-a-box disruptor. According to Bloomberg, when the company went public, it closed its first day with a market capitalization that amounted to less than half of the $1.1 billion it was valued at in a private funding round in 2019. Flash forward a few months, and Caspers market value has plummeted to $337.2 million.

On June 29, High Point, North Carolinabased Fine Furniture Design announced that it will close its U.S. offices and distribution operations after more than 18 years of manufacturing, as reported by Furniture Today. The company is known for its two collections with Veranda, as well as its detailed, handcrafted case goods and upholstered furniture. As it winds down operations, the manufacturer will accept orders on stocked inventory while supplies last.

Following a surge of orders during the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon announced that it will pay $500 million in one-time bonuses to employees, front-line workers, delivery drivers and some contractors, reports The Wall Street Journal. Those in part-time positions will receive $250, full-time employees $500, and leaders at Amazon and Whole Foods $1,000.

The Grand Tours flagship retail shop in Palm Beach will close as co-owners Caroline Rafferty and Julie Cummings pivot their focus toward the home goods brands growing e-commerce presence and to-the-trade showroom. The move reflects changing shopping patterns in the pandemic era; since launching the online portion of the business last July, 70 percent of The Grand Tours business has come from online and trade sales.

Hospitality startup Sonder has raised $170 million in a series E round of funding led by Fidelity, Westcap Group and Inovia Capital, reports Forbes. The San Franciscobased company, valued at $1.3 billion, leases and renovates apartments in desirable urban neighborhoods, renting them to customers through Airbnb, Expedia and its own siteand the model seems to have adapted well to the COVID-era collapse. Sonder directed its marketing toward those displaced by the virus, and while some painful cuts were made in the early days of the pandemic, the occupancy rate has returned to its pre-pandemic level of near 80 percent.

Facing a slow recovery from the coronavirus-ravaged retail landscape, Macys is laying off approximately 3,900 corporate staffers. The cuts represent about 3 percent of the companys total workforce (excluding seasonal employees), adding to the 2,000 corporate employees who already lost their jobs in February, reports WSJ.

In a wave of controversial press over Facebooks underwhelming response to hate speech, a number of major brands have pulled millions of advertising dollars from the platform. According to The New York Times, the growing list of boycotters ranges from Ben & Jerrys and Coca-Cola to the Clorox Company and Unilever, but the financial pressure from the pandemic puts smaller companies in a tough spot. As business ramps back up, many will go under if they dont generate sales: Facebook is a double-edged sword. You dont want to support it, but you have to use it in order to reach a large audience, says Jason Dille of ad agency Chemistry. While no major home retailers have pulled their ads yet, the movement spotlights the evolving landscape of ethical consumerism in the age of Black Lives Matter, #MeToo and climate change.

LAUNCHES, COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

Domino is launching a new podcast, Design Time, in which editor in chief and host Jessica Romm Perez sits down with design visionaries to explore the emotional side of design. The first episode will debut on July 2, featuring guest (and Domino cover star) Kelly Wearstler.

Perigold, Wayfairs luxury off-shoot, has onboarded nearly 100 additional design brands of note, trade-focused companies like Visual Comfort, Bernhardt Design and Simon Pearce will now sell through the e-commerce platform.

Pillows from Casa Brancas debut lineCourtesy of Casa Branca

Interior designer Alessandra Branca has launched a new brand, Casa Branca. Infused with healthy doses of color, it features fabrics, table linens, wallpaper, lighting and accessories in patterns inspired by travel and exploration.

Design Miami has launched a new e-commerce platform, Design Miami Shop. In partnership with 52 galleries from around the world, the online marketplace offers more than 800 pieces of 20th- and 21st-century design directly to collectors.

Norwalk, Connecticutbased Diane James Home, known for its luxury faux-floral arrangements and plants, has partnered with Aerin Lauder to pair its high-end botanical creations with vases and cachepots from her home and lifestyle brand, Aerin.

Pieces from Feathers new furniture lineCourtesy of Feather

Feather, known for its hand in disrupting the furniture rental sector, has launched its own home decor collection. With more than 200 pieces of furniture manufactured exclusively for its customers, the private label items join the hundreds of offerings from the sites partner vendors, including West Elm and Leesa. In addition to its in-house collection, the New Yorkbased brand has expanded the categories of rental items, introducing rugs and artwork to its rental platform.

The Venetian decorative lighting manufacturer Studio Italia Design has been rebranded as Lodes, marking a new phase for the company as it commemorates its 70th anniversary.

SHOWROOM REPRESENTATION

Benjamin Moore paints and stains are now available through Ace Hardware stores across the country. Ace is now the only national retailer offering the brands products and color sampling program, which allows for in-home wall testing.

CALENDAR UPDATES

Cersaie, the worlds largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, has announced the cancellation of its 2020 show, which had previously been postponed until November. The next edition will be held in Bologna, Italy, from September 27 to October 1, 2021, accompanied by an immersive digital experience.

Christies auction house has reopened globally and is once again hosting live auctionsfrom Geneva to New York to Paris, events will be taking place beginning in the next few weeks, the soonest of which is a pre-sale exhibition in Hong Kong, opening July 4.

RECOMMENDED READING

Marketing during the early pandemic was hard, but the end of lockdown might be even more complicated, writes Nat Ives for WSJ. As businesses navigate a reopened world, advertisers across the globe are adjusting their messagingand balancing optimism with pragmatism is the name of the game: Brands cant act like the danger is gone.

When people get cabin fever, it can translate to spending fever, says Corey Damen Jenkins in a recent interview with Mansion Global covering the Birmingham, Michigan, designers COVID-era project budgets, rules to live by, and reasons why he would choose a town house over a mansion any day.

CUE THE APPLAUSE

Last week, Elle Decor revealed its 10th annual A-List issue, highlighting 125 of the top talents in the design world. The list heralds industry favorites like Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Sheila Bridges, as well as a slew of 2020 newcomers, including Kerry Joyce and Danielle Colding. This year, each winner received a wax-candle bust in their likeness, sculpted by artist Janie Korn. For the full list, click here.

Winners have been announced for the 2020 San Francisco Design Week Awardsand for the first time, the local designers, firms and creatives were celebrated in an online ceremony. The honorees include Eche, which received the Interior Design/Residential award for its Presidio Heights project, and Walker Warner Architects, which won both the Architecture/Commercial and Architecture/Residential awards for its Flower House winery project in Sonoma County and its Kua Bay Residence in Hawaii, respectively.

The Dallas Market Center, Lightovation and Furniture Lighting & Decor magazine announced the winners of the 11th annual Lighting Showroom of the Year awards. Geneseo, Illinoisbased Village Home Stores; Mount Prospect, Illinoisbased Northwest Lighting and Accents; and Sterling, Virginiabased Dulles Electric Supply won in the main categories.

GTM Architects of Bethesda, Maryland, received a number of honors at the Maryland Building Industry Associations 2020 Custom Builder Awards. The firm won for several custom home projects, as well as Best Bathroom Feature (for a project led by Doug Roberts) and Best Outdoor Living Space (for a project led by Luke Olson).

IN MEMORIAM

Milton Glaser, the designer and commercial artist best known for the iconic I NY logo, passed away on June 26 at 91 years old. Glaser designed prolifically, shaping the public perception of iconic personalities and brands ranging from Bob Dylan to Mad Men. His artistic vision and humorous spirit will be missed.

Homepage image: Faux florals from Diane James in ceramic vases from Aerin | Courtesy of Diane James Home

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Casper accused of misleading investors, Amazon gives COVID bonuses and more - Business of Home

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers we admire, state by state. Today, were chatting with St. Louisbased Jacob Laws, who launched is eponymous firm six years ago, and recently made his first big hirehis partner, Michael Feldman, as the firms COO. He shares how coming from a creative family influenced his career, the way his billing encourages creativity and camaraderie, and how winning a prestigious award brought him exciting new opportunities (and challenges).

Tell me about St. Louishow did you come to start your business there?I am St. Louis born and bred, and my family has been here for generations. But my path to design was this really lovely fairy tale story of me letting out my inner Picasso on my parents walls at age 4. I was young and my parents wanted me to have an outlet for my creativity instead of ruining things, so they enrolled me in art classes at the Saint Louis Art Museum. One of the first classes I remember takingand I was youngwas on architecture in St. Louis.

St. Louis has such a rich history of architecture. You might get this wonderful French-Norman chateau out in the country that was built in the 1930s as a familys country estate, but in the city you have these Second Empire and Italianatestyle townhouses that are just out of this world. The city is so old and spread out and when all of these different areas converge, there is this melting pot of architectural styles that make up not just the metropolitan area, but also the surrounding counties. I was always asking my mother to drive me up and down city streets like Portland Place and Westmoreland Place, wondering what it was like to live in a house that was like a museum. I was that weird kid that didnt want to go outsideId rather talk to my aunt about her new window treatments.

Did you always know you wanted to be a designer?I come from a relatively creative family, so they were always very supportive of my creative pursuits. My Uncle Phillip, my moms younger brother, was an amazing architect and interior designer, and I was just in awe of him. Some summers or spring breaks, I would go shadow him in Los Angeles or New York. I was too young to actually work, but I could peek around his life and work. He was always a hero of mine.

Thats amazing. I feel like so many people say, I didnt know this career was possible.Totally. I did, and it was just a normal thing to me. I would have these adult conversations with my friends who were my own age, and they totally didnt get it, so I started to talk to adults about the things that would eventually become my profession. I wanted to talk shop before there even was a shop.

How did you set out to pursue design?I went to college for art with a focus in art history, but it wasnt centered around interior design. During the classes at the art museum [as a kid], I was like, I love this, so this is what Ill start doing and well see where it takes me. After school, I owned a T-shirt company where I did all the designs myself. Then I started working for another firm; when the design director there left, I became their senior designer. I was there for seven years, then went out on my own six years ago.

How did you know it was time?It was just a gut feeling. There was this pivotal momentI was working on a project that was super high-stress, very intense, and it literally put me on Xanax. It was a family that moved to St. Louis from Los Angeles, and they needed everything done within 32 days. That was back when I was like, I can do anything! I dont need to sleep! And I just bit off way more than I could chew. I was doing it all on my own [and there came a] moment when I was like, If Im doing all of the work on my own, I can do this on my ownand under my own scheme, the way I want them done and branded.

I thought about what my life would look like if I told my business partner I was going to go out on my own for about a day and a halfand then I actually did it. I didnt plan on doing it, it just kind of happened. I was like, You know what, I think its time for me. And the next day I went to the bank and opened a business account and just started from there, working out of my house.

A condo renovation for an out-of-town clientCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

How did you find those early clients when you started on your own?I had a lot of very loyal clients, and luckily by that point I had been published enough locally that a lot of people knew my name. Honestly, about 90 percent of my business is referral-based. For instance, one of my favorite clients, whose house my architect and I completely dismantled, added to and rebuilta friend was having tea at her house and saw my work (she had seen my clients house before the renovation), and was like, You know, were thinking of doing A, B and C at our house in the city, give me his number. And that turned into what is now a three-and-a-half-year-long project that Im still working on.

Thats amazing.I absolutely adore these clients. Theyre wonderfulvery private, but hysterical. Theres a funny side-note story, if I can go on a tangent. So Ive been imprisoned at home for like three months longer than anybody else because I slipped down the marble front steps of that clients house when they were icy, and I shattered my ankle in three places.

Oh, no!I literally could not get out of bed for a month and a half. My last follow-up appointment with my surgeon was two days before everything started shutting down, so Ive been at home for way longer than the COVID isolation. Needless to say, I am tired of looking at every single wall of my house. I was finally at a project all day yesterday placing accessories and rearranging things that have been delivered during the isolation period, and Im like a kid in a candy store. I dont have to wear a boot on my ankle, so Im just like, Im putting on Guccis and Im getting out of this house! I couldnt wait.

An alluring kitchen in gleaming shades of gray and whiteCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

So you started your own firm five years agoand it was just you for the longest time?It was just me.

What did that look like? How are you doing these big projects by yourself?Well, I am a control freak, so thats how I do it by myself. It was never a messy or disorganized operation, because Im a very organized person, but it just was overwhelming. I couldnt see the forest through the treesit became normal for me to have eight balls in the air and to be spreading myself so thin that I didnt even realize how stressed I was.

Last summer, I officially brought on my boyfriend, Michael, as the COO of Jacob Laws Interior Design. The firm was at such critical mass, workload-wise, that I either had to redevelop my operations or stay like a mom-and-pop shop and be OK with that. Its been a transitionIve had to let go a little bit and delegate, and thats been hard. Even if its something that I dont know how to do, like back-end operational stuff, and even things that I dont want to do, Ive had that do-it-yourself mentality for so long that its just kind of embedded in me.

So its just the two of you?Ive had interns and assistants [as needed], but my first real hire is my second-in-command, who is Michael.

Laws helps clients who arent already collectors discover what art resonates with them. The artists proof photograph by Michael Eastman was the starting point for this great-room renovation.Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

What made him the right person for the job, and how did you decide to jump into business together?Michael and I started dating the summer I started my firm, so he saw it grow from its infancy. He was there for it. He went to Emory and worked for mortgage companies in Atlanta for 16 years before coming back to St. Louis, because hes from here too. So he could see from an outsiders perspectiveand as someone who knew how things should be run from a professional standpointhow things were not working. For the longest time, I was like What do you mean? Ive got this! But he could see the stress and the toll it was taking privately.

How do you divide up the work now?Im doing exactly what I was born to do. Im the creative. I design and source everything, and Michael [handles] back-end operations. It works welland is something that maybe should have been done a long time ago.

If you have a new client, for example, do you take that meeting together? Or are you still spearheading that part of the business as well, like the onboarding?Weve been taking those meetings together so that Michael can learn that end of the business. To me, the first meeting with a client is kind of like a first date. Some clients arent good for me, and Im not good for some clients. Of course I would like to say yes to every project, but at this pointand Im lucky in this regardif it isnt going to be creatively fulfilling for me, I probably wont take it, because Im working on projects right now that are so special and that [do bring me] real happiness. It just isnt worth the extra stress to cram something else in there [that wont be meaningful].

A chic master bathCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

A condo kitchen with lustrous finishesCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

Left: A chic master bath Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design | Right: A condo kitchen with lustrous finishes Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

How do you decide what to say yes to, or what you have the bandwidth for, or whats going to be the right fit?Intuition? I know that its not a one-size-fits-all thing for designersand believe me, five years ago I would say yes to everything. Id be like, OK, you have a $10,000 budget and a 10,000-square-foot house? Ill do it! Thats an exaggeration, but I really would try to figure out a way to make it happen. Its trial and error, and again, Ive had really loyal clients and a lot of my business is referral-based, so in the beginning, before we even really meet clients, they know what theyre going to get with me.

And what do they get? What is working with you like, and what is the process that you go through with your clients?I think I make it fun for them. I like to educate my clients along the wayto give them the opportunity to know what theyre choosing, why Im selecting things, and why the pieces that Im selecting are important to the overall feeling and design.

I would imagine theres a lot of storytelling you have to do to make that work. Totally! One of the things I love about our industry is that what Im doing is essentially creating a story within a space. Thats how I perceive design: telling a story and creating an atmosphere. I think that its my responsibility to take my clients on this ride and let them see what the end results are going to look likeor at least have an idea of what theyve gotten themselves into, in their minds eye.

How big are your current projects, and whats the scope of work youre typically taking on?Most of the homes Im doing right now are pretty substantial. Like I said, St. Louis is an old city with amazing turn-of-the-century architecture, and those houses are quite largeanywhere from 8,000 to 11,000 square feet. And then two other projects are about 5,000 or 5,500 square feet.

Thats not to say I wouldnt work on anything smaller, because design kind of transcends space. Thats something that I am always trying to promote: It doesnt have to be a huge, expansive space to lend itself to a project or a creative vision. But most of our projects right now are pretty big.

A new development Laws completed last year features a large-scale botanical wallcovering.Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

Is most of your work in those historic neighborhoods?I was doing a new-build project in Chicago last year, as well as helping a friend whos still building her house in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Im all over the place these days, which really happened after winning the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award in 2018.

How did that come about, and what did that change about your opportunities?It wasnt planned at all! St. Louis was once the second-largest garment district in the nation after New York, and the garment and fashion industry created a lot of jobs in the Midwest. Im on the board of directors of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund, which works to create jobs here againweve already opened two factories ... for knitwear, which is awesome. And because of the designers that the fashion incubator here supports, two of our first class of designers were both up for FGI awards in 2017, so I went to New York for the awards ceremony at Cipriani and was just blown away by the other designershousehold-name designersthat were there in support of FGI.

Another Fashion Fund board member is very involved in FGI here in St. Louis, and when it came around in 2018, she told me that she nominated me for the home design and product design category. And I was like, But I dont have a product linewhat do you mean? So I took custom pieces that I had designed myself for several different projects, and those became a capsule collection, so to speak, that was presented to the FGI board in New York. I knew that I was a nominee, so we went [back to New York for the awards ceremony]the whole family packed up and went to the big city. And then I ended up winning!

What was that like?It was just this wonderful moment professionally that pivoted my expectations for what the future could beand what it will be. It made me see things in the far distance as not just a pipe dream, but tangible things that could actually happen, and that were really happening in that moment. It was that right time, right place [experience] when you feel that yes, this is what Im supposed to be doing, this is where I need to be going.

So is that collection in the works?Its still in the wings. I started taking meetings [and have mentors] pointing me in the right direction as far as what kind of collection to create and how many pieces. But with retail being what it is right now, is there a place for us in the market? And if there is, where is that place? When I started out, I was creating a luxury high-end collection, and we were talking about Bergdorfs or the fifth floor of Bloomingdales in New York. Thats how Kelly Wearstler started her product line, and where I saw myself. But the way things have changed, who knows? Maybe we take a beat, step back and revisit it in two years.

A kitchen renovation for a client Laws calls a breath of fresh air.Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

In your design work, how do you approach billing?Thats one thing were working on now. Ive always charged a design fee instead of billing hourly because it was easier that way. It isnt necessarily a set fee, but depending on the scale and the budget of the project, I establish a design fee and then that client basically has direct access to me and my product lines for the duration of the project. I have designer friends who only bill hourly, but to me that seems very complicated; I dont want to have to be timing my conversations with a client and be billing them every time we talk. To me, that makes the relationship and connection that Im building with my clients, who do become friends of mine, seem a little forced or fake. Like, Youre paying me to be your friend so thats the only reason Im listening to you kind of thing. I feel like I have more freedom to create when Im not thinking about billing all the time.

Do you charge markup for the product youre installing as well?Yes, we do charge a markup, which depends on the project, the budget and what vendor were using. We dont use an across-the-board markup.

Do you ever get pushback from clients on how you charge?No, because were really transparentand also, some clients dont want to know. They couldnt be less interested: That is why we hired you; we just want you to do your thing and we dont want to know or need to know. And I get itits like, I didnt tell my surgeon how to fix my ankle. Thats been the mentality and the attitude of most of our clients. Its, This is your game, youre the boss. But if they want to know, Im open with them.

If I say, My fee for this project is $100,000, I cant remember the last time someone was like, Well, Im not going to pay that. And if that was the case, I probably wouldnt take the project because that just sets the tone for the entire project. Like, if this client doesnt see my value, then theyll nickel-and-dime things throughout the entire project, it makes things more stressful, and it takes double the time because then youre going to have to go back to reselect, negotiateand sometimes there just isnt room in a markup to negotiate. A price is what it is.

How did you land on your feeand for someone whos looking to make the switch from hourly to a fee, how did you start to map out what the right number was?It depends on the scale of the project, but I know now how much time Ill be investing in a project after the first couple meetings with a client. If it is a total renovation where were gutting the 8,000-square-foot house down to the studs, I know that thats about a year-and-a-half to two-year project. And thats a lot of time out of my life. So its just kind of a matter of setting a standard of what youre worth and what your time is worth

A living space in a 1948 home renovation Laws completed in Ladue, MissouriCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

You said you know what the fee should be after the first couple of meetings. When in the process do you bust out a contract and start talking money?Thats easyit just depends on the client. Some want to sign a contract within the first hour that youre meeting with them. They want to get down to business; theyve already decided that they want you to work on the project with them, and theyre all about the bottom line. Other clients want to hang out and shoot the breeze, and like I said, its kind of like a first datetheyre trying to feel you out and youre trying to feel them out, and you just want to see if youre going to vibe.

With the flat fee, do you get stuck when you have indecisive clients?That can be frustrating, because if youre going back and reselecting, youre like, Ugh, I [already] designed this whole project. Luckily, that doesnt happen often.

What are your biggest overhead expensesdo you have an office now that its the two of you?When Michael became COO, he was very opinionated about the fact that I needed a studio. It got to a point where I was working on such large projects that every surface in the house was covered in samples. My beautiful Saarinen table, you couldnt even tell it was there. I had a printer plugged in on the kitchen counter. And for a designer to live that way is a little soul-crushing. Looking back, I dont know why I dragged my feet for so longit really was the fact that I just was not used to changing the way I was doing things or delegating responsibility. It was a matter of me letting go and saying [to Michael], OK, you know better, youre seeing this from another perspective. What do you think I need to do? Now, we have a great studio in the St. Louis design districta converted loft in a former Model T factory, with the old car elevator still in place! Were on the fourth floor and we love it; the space is fantastic and it gets great light.

Has it changed the way you work?Oh, totally. I mean, I love our house again. And it has completely changed the day in, day out. I work out of trays, so Ill have like an old bracelet that I love or a piece that I bought on vacation that Ill be inspired by, and Ill put that in a tray with some fabrics and kind of wrestle with what needs to be edited for a few days. Those trays are sitting around the office, along with stacks of samples or fabrics. Now, theres a designated place for a messa beautiful mess, but a mess. Weve been there for not even a full year, so its still kind of new to me. Its a totally new way of workinga new world.

The home was originally designed by midcentury architect Eugene Mackey for himself and his family.Courtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

You said youre thinking about changing the way you charge. What would that look like? I am the kind of person that wants everything to be in place and right now, but with the restructuring of the business, in order for the firm to grow to where we want it to be, it just isnt all set in stone yet. For one project Im working on right now, weve charged our design fee, but Im also keeping track of my hours so we know which way of charging is more beneficial and more cost-effective, or where we make more money. But Ive found myself forgettingI will fall into a rabbit hole of looking at rugs online or something, and Michaels like, How long did you do that for? And Im like, I dont know, an hour and a half? So it really is hard to changethe way Im researching, even.

I was going to say, would a switch like that change the way you have to work in a lot of ways?For me, I think so. It would change my motivation. Right now, the way I charge with just a flat design fee, it gives me more space creatively to not have to worry, Did I charge enough? Am I being compensated for what Im doing appropriately? Is it worth it to totally change, to reinvent the wheel for myself? What were doing right now is kind of like trying on different hats.

Would you see growing and adding different employees? I would love to add additional employees. It would be great to oversee different designs but also be able to delegate responsibilities so that I have more time for other things. Which is, again, something Im still working on: a nice life-work balance.

When you figure that out, you call me back.I will give you the formula! Im still trying to figure it out myself. When youre somebody like us, so used to working all the timeeven if you dont mean to be working, youre kind of working. Michael and I travel a lot, and we spend the end of every summer on Cape Cod. Even when were walking up and down Commercial Street in Provincetown, Ill bop into some new store and end up shopping for a project.

Another master bathroomCourtesy of Jacob Laws Interior Design

Do you text off-hours with your clients? Are you 24/7 available?I try not to be, but Im really bad at it. So yes, I do text after-hours. That was something that even my therapist was like, Unless its an emergency, I dont take your calls. And Im like, I know, but its different! But how is it different? I try not to be text-happy with a client on the weekends; its just a matter of professionalism. At the same time, thats hard for melike I said, I become friends with my clients, and Im not charging them to be their friend. The lines become blurred as far as the whole texting thing, especially because clients will have ideas at 8 p.m. on a Sundayand I will too! But I will also screenshot something so that I remember to come back to it on Monday.

What keeps you inspired right now? What is something in the design space that youre most excited about?Going anywhere. I kid you not. History, art, architecture and travel are the things for meits a driving force behind my creativity. Not being able to travel right now, I have 100 percent felt a difference in my soul.

To learn more about Jacob Laws, visit his website or find him on Instagram.

See original here:
How this Missouri designer's flat fee frees him up to be creative - Business of Home