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A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

In today's world being a talented interior designer isn't enough to ensure that you have a profitable and successful interior design business. Design school doesn't always teach you the critical business skills to be sure your interior design business be everything you imagined it would be! A Well Designed Business is here to fill in the gaps and give you real live business skills from some of the top interior designers. Your host, LuAnn Nigara shares her 35 years of success in the interior design industry, and she finds the most successful guests to share their interior design business best practices.
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Now displaying: November, 2021
Nov 30, 2021

Today on A Well-Designed Business:

Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! We are continuing the year-end review mini-series! Over the next few weeks, I will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year-end.

To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on. 

In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are talking about our marketing plan for 2022. I am going to kick this off with a line from one of my partners at Exciting Windows!, Steve Wishnow. "Always be marketing." No matter what kind of firm you have, no matter how large or how small or how busy or slow you are—always be marketing. Let's get to it!

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Inside Voice, Outside Voice

Windowworksnj.com

Shop38east.com

Comfortex.com

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Nov 26, 2021

Today with Jude Charles: 

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday and Jude Charles is back on the show! Today, Jude shares the final part of his video storytelling framework - Dramatic Leverage. Jude shares some of his 70 ideas for distributing your brand videos so you can help people understand who you are, how you can help them, and why they want to choose you for their next project.

Pick it apart:

[5:36] Jude shares the story of lipstick brand found Keyshia Ka’oir

 

[14:15] Jude recaps why story is so important to building your brand

 

[26:40] Jude share the re-engagement tactic he uses to get more projects

 

[29:52] Jude relays the story of a business coach he worked with on her testimonials

 

[33:18] Jude offers his advice for interior designers who want to create videos 

LuAnn and Jude Charles’ Ah-Ha moments:

“What you want more than anything is to resonate with your audience.” - Jude Charles

 

“We have gold in our hands but we’re searching for silver.” - Jude Charles

 

“Think bigger and go deeper”. - Jude Charles

 

“It is not optional to be in business and not tell your story.” - Jude Charles

 

More About Jude Charles:

Jude Charles is a story-driven filmmaker, brand strategist & speaker. For over 13 years, he has been producing documentaries & videos for purpose-driven entrepreneurs. He lives and breathes YOUR brand. He digs deep to find the compelling stories that no one else knows & then leverages those stories to scale your business.

 

Connect with Jude Charles

Website 

LinkedIn

Jude's Book

What's new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

www.luannnigara.com/cob

 

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

 

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

 

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Kravet is a fifth generation family business that distributes top quality fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, trimmings, carpets and accessories. To view their selection, visit Kravet.com and make sure to use coupon code AWDB10.

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#516

#626

#718

Nov 23, 2021

Today on A Well-Designed Business:

Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! We are continuing the year-end review mini series! Over the next few weeks I will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year-end.

To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on. 

In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are going to do a revenue generator review. 

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Inside Voice, Outside Voice

Windowworksnj.com

Shop38east.com

Comfortex.com

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Nov 19, 2021

Today with Duke Renders: 

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today’s sponsored show with Fernando Duque of Duke Renders is valuable on multiple levels.  Not only will you get a unique insight into what the world of high-quality 3D rendering offers you and how Duke Renders can help you take advantage of it, but you’ll also hear from an expert business owner who knows what it takes to grow a business to full fruition within just a year.

Pick it apart:

  • [8:12] Fernando shares the story of how helping his wife led to the creation of Duke Renders. 
  • [13:45] LuAnn and Fernando discuss the importance of core values and how sticking to them makes business decisions easier. 
  • [31:39] Fernando highlights the process of designers working with Duke Renders, from start to finish. 
  • [48:27] Fernando points out what makes Duke Renders different and why you should work with them. 
  • [51:48] Fernando shares the company’s referral system and previews the Black Friday offer you need to take advantage of.


LuAnn and Fernando Duque’s Ah-Ha moments:

“It’s all about core values and how to build a company from the very beginning with a nice set of rules that you live by. For us, it’s very simple. Some of our core values are that we are a client-centric company and we have to pay attention to detail because we’re serving such a specific industry. We like to have our fair share of fun too. Being a client-centric company means that we put the client first in everything that we do. I know it sounds like everyone does that focusing on creating the best experience for our clients is what we focus on. That comes with brand loyalty, and that’s why our clients keep coming back.” -Fernando Duque

 

“I love what you said—if you’re going to do something through the filter of your values, it saves you so much time. That’s something I say over and over and over again. It’s why a designer has to set their mission, their vision, and their core values.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“That line, ‘We didn’t know much about rendering but we knew how to build a business’ is the premise of the podcast...It’s like we say all the time—you don’t need to hire someone with a skillset; you need to hire someone with ethics, who shares your core values...You’re going to teach them the rest, but you can’t teach them character. This is the same thing to me with the business. You didn’t need to know about rendering. You needed to know about business.” -LuAnn  Nigara

 

“The trick to building a healthy company is that the minute you find out there’s someone better than you, hire them and spread the culture of your company. For us, we started hiring better 3D artists from very early on. That’s why we have grown so fast and been able to serve more people.” -Fernando Duque

Connect with Duke Renders

Website

Referral Program

Quote Your Project

Email: info@dukerenders.com

Instagram

Facebook

More About Duke Renders:

Fernando is a serial entrepreneur, born in Venezuela, with a bachelor in Economics and an MBA from Babson College. He has a passion for starting companies and making them grow, Duke Renders being the 5th in his career. He lives in Tulum, Mexico with his beautiful wife Mina (who you can listen to in episode 639) and their new baby Company B Penelope. io Duke Renders is a 3D Rendering Studio based in beautiful Tulum, Mexico. They serve busy interior designers with 100% accurate photo-realistic 3D renderings. Their goal is to make you and your clients feel proud, confident and empowered at every step of the design process. They have clients such as Intercontinental Hotel Group, Kate Rumson, Eneia White, Mikel Welch, Lindsey Brooke and over 300+ more. They created the renderings for the Obsidian Experience by BADG (Black Artist Designers Guild) and their work has been featured in Forbes, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful and now the Luann Nigara's Podcast.

What's new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

www.luannnigara.com/cob

insidevoiceoutsidevoice.com

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

 

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

 

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Thank you to Duke Renders for sponsoring this show!

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#47 Gail Davis: Make Your Life Count

#639 Mina Duque: Starting an Interior Design Firm in a Foreign Melting Pot

 

#297 Mikel Welch: Interior Design, TV, Self Made Man

 

#703 Leyden Lewis: The Road to AD100 and Elle Decor Top 125 Requires Innovation and Authentic Creativity

Nov 16, 2021

Today on A Well-Designed Business:

Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today starts a series that over the next few weeks will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year end.

To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on. 

In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are going to start with a session on the questions you need to ask yourself and your team when starting the autopsy process.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Inside Voice, Outside Voice

Windowworksnj.com

Shop38east.com

Comfortex.com

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Nov 13, 2021

On Today’s Flashback Friday

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s Flashback episode, we revisit episode 41 with Cheryl Janis. After an accident left her searching for help in the world of natural medicine, Cheryl realized that there was a powerful niche waiting for her—designing for boutique visionaries in the holistic health world. Niching opened up a world of possibility for her, and brought more joy to her business than she had experienced in her 19 years of design. 

Pick it apart:

    • [5:45] Cheryl shares her story of how a frightening accident and a difficult recovery led to her niche.
    • [13:08] Cheryl highlights the positives her niche brought to her business. 
    • [20:20] LuAnn and Cheryl pick apart the scary parts of niching and how Cheryl overcame them. 
    • [27:23] Cheryl explains evidence-based design and how it helped her improve as a designer. 
    • [56:08] Cheryl shares how “snail mail” gives her a unique opportunity to connect with clients.

LuAnn and Cheryl's Ah-Ha moments:

“All this creativity that felt bottled up when I was a generalist suddenly started to explode, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with that.” -Cheryl Janis

“When something is gnawing at you, and you’re not happy in what you do, you want to find that thing that does make you happy. Sometimes that’s difficult. Sometimes it takes years to do.” -Cheryl Janis

“I think it’s terrific, and it could be executed by anyone to any niche. It could be bathrooms, kitchens, nursery, commercial, lawyers offices. The point is, find the thing that when you’re doing and creating that space, you’re not looking at the clock. It’s what projects you are drawn to.” -LuAnn Nigara

Connect with Cheryl Janis

Website

Instagram  

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Cheryl's Podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

insidevoiceoutsidevoice.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Revelwoods is a family run business, led by John Dupra. They are a hyper-personalized concierge service providing wood flooring at wholesale prices to you, the interior designer. Go to revelwoods.com to find out how you can add profit to your projects by making the wood floor purchase part of your proposal. Revelwoods wants to help you be the wood flooring expert. Their design trade program is designed to help you succeed, to help you be the best resource for your client as well as helping you navigate this territory with your contractor. They know the business, the typical distribution channel and they know how you can make more money and be the expert in the room. Go to revelwoods.com and see how it works.  

Other Shows Mentioned:

#41 Cheryl Janis: Create Clarity for Your Interior Design Firm and Watch Your Profits Grow

 

#15 Nancy Ganzekaufer- Niche is Rich

Nov 9, 2021

Today with Peter Lang, Kim Merlitti, and Michele Williams

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Our financial Power Talk Friday experts, Michele Williams, Peter Lang, and Kim Merlitti are talking about year-end cleanup and planning for the new year. They cover what your balance sheet should look like, what tax strategies you can consider, what to look for in a financial professional, and why mindset matters.

Pick it apart:

[21:26] Kim shares about what’s included in the balance sheet cleanup

[28:16] Peter elaborated on the balance sheet cleanup

[31:41] Michele shares more about what issues she sees in clients’ balance sheets

[35:37] Peter talks about how to account for pending installations

[42:48] Michele explains how the Profit First account separation can help understand your revenue better

[55:08] Kim advises on cash planning with your tax accountant

[1:01:53] Kim shares how she helps clients project earnings

[1:03:56] Michele talks about how she helps clients build a three to five-year plan

[1:06:34] Michele shares how she helps clients who have empty pipelines

[1:14:11] Peter advises on the PPP and Covid grants and tax deferment options

LuAnn, Peter, Kim, and Michele's  Ah-Ha moments:

“The balance sheet should be a perfect representation of your financial state at that moment.” - Michele Williams

“It’s the day-to-day that moves us forward in any plan - it’s not just the big moment. It’s every single day being committed to the goal.” - Michele Williams

“When you put it down on paper, it happens.”  - LuAnn Nigara

More about Peter, Kim, and Michele:

Peter Lang

Peter Lang is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  He is the founder of The Designer CPA, a CPA firm that works exclusively with business owners in the design industry.  He has worked in public accounting since graduating from Providence College in 2002.  After working for several larger size firms in Boston and Rhode Island, Peter realized his true passion was to start a firm that specifically focused on designers.  

Kim Merlitti

Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. Kimberly has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies such as Swinerton Builders, WRNS Studio and Martin Group. She has her Masters in Accounting from Golden Gate University. Located in Washington D.C. her clientele includes a diverse group of service based companies, with a main focus on small interior design, construction and architectural firms. The goal of her firm is to make the businesses she works for as profitable as they can be by educating them on accounting, cash flow management, tax deductions, project reporting, and business management.

Michele Williams

Michele is the founder of Scarlet Thread and Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia. Today we will learn about Michele’s background which includes the financial software industry as well as a business in soft window treatment fabricator. She also has a BS in business administration, a diploma in Christian life coaching and she is one of the few certified profit first coaches in the United States. Michele was also the communication director and editor in chief of the Drapery and Designs Professional Magazine from 2009 to 2012. She is a member of The Design Collective in Atlanta, the Designers Work Club Council and the Window Covering Association of America. 

Connect with Peter, Kim, and Michelle:

Peter Lang

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Kim Merlitti

Website

Instagram

Michele Williams

Website 

Instagram

Facebook

Podcastd

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Revel Woods offers a line of handcrafted and custom curated, premium hardwood and resilient flooring. If you want easy-to-clean flooring for your allergen-free home environment, check out Revel Woods and become a Revelwoods Trade Designer today. Find out more at www.revelwoods.com.

 

Other Shows Mentioned:

#164

#368

#284

Nov 5, 2021

Today with Jude Charles: 

We’re welcoming Jude Charles back to the show! Jude Charles, the video brand strategist, is back and this time, he’s walking us through how to take that special, differentiating moment and express it through a three-part documentary-style video series he calls “dramatic demonstration”.

Pick it apart:

[8:09] Jude recaps the why behind his storytelling framework

 

[14:20] Jude gives an example of how he did a storytelling video for an interior design client

 

[18:09] Jude reviews the three-part documentary video series for LuAnn’s podcast

 

[22:10] Jude shares the five demonstrations necessary for a good video documentary series


LuAnn and Jude Charles’ Ah-Ha moments:

“Hearing something said 1000x is not as powerful as seeing it once.” - Jude Charles

 

“The whole point is answering the question: why should I do business with you vs. every other option that is available?” - Jude Charles

 

“You are the sum of everything you’ve done.” - LuAnn Nigara

 

“It’s not just about creating a cool video. It’s about telling your story and getting people connected to you on a deeper level.” - Jude Charles

 

More About Jude Charles:

Jude Charles is a story-driven filmmaker, brand strategist & speaker. For over 13 years, he has been producing documentaries & videos for purpose-driven entrepreneurs. He lives and breathes YOUR brand. He digs deep to find the compelling stories that no one else knows & then leverages those stories to scale your business.

 

Connect with Jude Charles

Website 

LinkedIn

Jude's Book

What's new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

www.luannnigara.com/cob

 

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

 

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

 

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Kravet is a fifth generation family business that distributes top quality fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, trimmings, carpets and accessories. To view their selection, visit Kravet.com and make sure to use coupon code AWDB10.

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#516

#626

Nov 2, 2021

Today with Susan Wintersteen

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Susan Wintersteen, one of my first-year podcast guests, is back on A Well-Designed Business, to share tips on business growth and the importance of a mastermind community to get to the next step. As a business owner rock star, Susan has mastered the art of hiring people who create a positive workplace and support the functions of the business as a whole.

Listen in to learn how you can use elements of Susan’s hiring processes to level up your own business - using the predictive index, strong interviews, and detailed skill sets to get good, competent people in the right roles. Susan has applied these same hiring standards to her Savvy Giving by Design nonprofit, which is looking to raise $50,000 this year to support room makeovers for children in medical crises.

Pick it apart:

[8:46] Susan explains how some employees can divert energy from growing the business, and how important it is to find efficient people who are happy to work in that job. 

 

[13:00] Are you hiring exceptional people, or are you settling?

 

[18:00] Susan shares her tips on how to take suggestions and make your own decisions for how you are going to grow your business. Gather information, weigh the trustfulness of the source, and DO it!

 

[19:30] Join a Mastermind or get a coach to get insight from people who are succeeding in their industries at the highest level.

 

[20:40] Savvy Giving, an all volunteer-based foundation, explained.

 

[23:47] With the goal of getting into as many rooms as possible, Susan set up a “pop up designer program” to get local interior designers to volunteer and aligned with Make A Wish to maximize the outreach effort.

 

[27:00] Susan explains - What is Savvy Giving by Design?

 

[35:55] Savvy Giving by Design brings in the light and the joy to families in crisis. 

 

[39:28] The design and function of the space is essential, and we receive support through our “Fund a Need” page to gather inventory for the room.  

 

[43:34] Beyond the aesthetics - what do the children need to heal?

 

[46:50] LuAnn’s podcast is about making sure interior designers have the skills, the opportunity, to better themselves, to be a better business, and be profitable.

 

[47:40] Adding a nonprofit “layer” to your business, and partnering with Make A Wish for the greatest impact.

 

[52:13] A roadmap for success - How Susan trains volunteer interior designers for Savvy Giving wellness design standards, logistics, and processes.

 

[57:55] Duplicating Savvy Giving at scale.

 

[58:48] The same hiring principles used to find the right employees apply to running a nonprofit. 

 

[1:00:18] Designers have so much talent to give and can make an impact on a young person.

 

[1:02:01] Savvy Giving raises the majority of its funds on Giving Tuesday. Looking to raise $50,000 on November 30th this year.

LuAnn and Susan Wintersteen’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I didn’t come this far to let it slip through my fingers.” - Susan Wintersteen

“I don’t need my team to know all the answers, I just need to know that they know where to look for them.” - Susan Wintersteen

“Marketing is not your problem. You need to get your team squared away so you can work in harmony.” - LuAnn Nigara

“You don’t always have to know the answer, but you have to be willing to go find the answers. And you have to be willing to search for it and ask for it. You have to use your voice and ask for it.” - LuAnn Nigara

“You have to be willing to invest in yourself.” - LuAnn Nigara

“A well-designed space can contribute to up to 30% of our healing.” - Susan Wintersteen

“Make an impact that will make them happy and healthy.” - LuAnn Nigara

“Focus on the basic needs first, then put the pretty in.” Susan Wintersteen

“When you grow and scale your business, there are going to be pivots, and it’s important to roll with reality.” - LuAnn

“Build something beyond you. Something that will have a life of its own and continue to grow and flourish and have longevity.” - Susan Wintersteen

“Go big or go home.” - Susan Wintersteen

More about Susan Wintersteen:

Susan believes in the transformative power of good design, and also, good chocolate—each day her vice is a good piece of Sees. Appreciating these special moments, whether savoring chocolate or spending time near the water with her husband of 30-plus years, her five daughters and dogs (the dogs are male—had to even the score a bit!), makes Susan a more empathic designer who is in tune with the needs of her clients and community. 

In all areas of life, Susan likes to have fun and isn’t afraid to push boundaries, and that translates into her exuberant designs. She has carefully curated a team of designers for their expertise and commitment to creativity. Savvy’s work embodies the laid-back California vibe while incorporating unique, personal touches. Susan prides herself on being a straight shooter with a sharp wit, and she is fluent in the language of sarcasm. Her clients know what to expect, as she engages them closely throughout the entire creative and construction process. 

about sAVVY 

In 2002 Susan founded Savvy Interiors, a full-service interior design firm in San Diego specializing in luxury full service kitchens and baths, where she serves as Principal and CEO. Savvy is the only design firm in North County San Diego that holds a General Contractors license for remodeling, making the entire process a much easier, more seamless experience for her clients. From the spaces where you hide from your kids (bathroom), binge Netflix (living room), or lose your socks (laundry room), Savvy has solutions that improve the look and function of its clients’ homes. 

 

giving back 

Not only is Susan in tune with her clients’ needs, but she also uses her expertise to help her community. In 2014, Susan learned about a local teen who had been diagnosed with cancer. Moved by the story, she volunteered to make over the teen’s room into a unique, comfortable space that promotes healing. The joy this transformation brought to the teen moved Susan to found the nonprofit Savvy Giving by Design, which has expanded to a national network of interior designers helping children and their families through a medical crisis by utilizing the power of design and creating rooms to heal.

Connect with Susan Wintersteen:

Website

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

In honor of children in medical crisis, and as a way to give thanks for our own health, our families, and our successful businesses, please think about contributing to Savvy Giving by Design this Giving Tuesday. If you are listening in real time, that date is Tuesday Nov 30. If you are listening in the future any day can be “giving Tuesday”. If you are moved by Susan and her work, reach out, donate and possibly consider running a pop-up Savvy Giving room for a deserving child in your community.  To fill out an inquiry form go to SavvyGivingbyDesign.org or message Susan Wintersteen on Instagram.

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Revel Woods offers a line of handcrafted and custom curated, premium hardwood and resilient flooring. If you want easy-to-clean flooring for your allergen-free home environment, check out Revel Woods and become a Revelwoods Trade Designer today. Find out more at www.revelwoods.com.

 

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