237. What Clients Don't Understand About Their Allowances

Are your proposals costing you projects and profit? In this episode, I break down the common mistakes designers make in their scopes of work, why vague language leads to scope creep, and how to write proposals that protect your bottom line and earn respect on the job site. Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/proposal-mistake-costing-interior-designers-projects-profit 

Today’s episode is a little different than normal—and it all started when I scheduled a Lunch & Learn at Steele Appliance in Delaware.  This is a conversation that every interior designer needs to be part of! In this episode, I share how I sat down with appliance expert Elana Steele to cover everything from common design pitfalls and emerging trends to how to find the right local partners. Whether you’re a new or seasoned designer, this conversation will help you guide clients with confidence and elevate your kitchen projects.  Mentioned in this episode:   Access the full video interview here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance  Upcoming Designer-Only Lunch & Learn on appliance specification - Wilmington, DE area: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/offers/H2FSxLJb/checkout Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/the-appliance-conversation-every-designer-needs-to-hear 

Today I’m sharing two recent wins that build on what we discussed in Ep241: What Do Interior Designers Really Do on Construction Projects? These real-life stories show how valuable designers are on job sites—and I hope they inspire you to create similar experiences in your own projects.  Mentioned in this episode: * Upcoming Designer-Only Lunch & Learn on appliance specification - Wilmington, DE area: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/offers/H2FSxLJb/checkout    Listen to Ep241 here:  https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects/ Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-invaluable-on-job-sites 

I know it probably feels a little crazy to be talking about the holidays right now. But here’s the truth: before we know it, holiday parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukkah, and New Year's will be front and center, and for all of us in construction and design, that means deadlines, delays, and client expectations that will collide all at once.  Add in the unpredictable fall and winter weather for some of us who have different weather throughout the year, and suddenly, you may have a perfect storm of challenges that will absolutely derail even the best planned projects. Today, we are talking about how to handle holiday deadlines, vacation slowdowns, and other delays. Not just to save our sanity, but to set realistic expectations with clients Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite  Follow me on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/devignierdesign/  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/holiday-design-planning-for-interior-designers  

Have you ever been asked, “So… what do you do here?” If you’re an interior designer, chances are you’ve heard this question more than once—from contractors, trades, or even clients. The truth is, many people don’t fully understand the value designers bring to a construction project. And if they don’t know what you do, they can’t value it—or hire you for it. In this episode, we dive into why it’s critical to define your role with clarity and confidence. You’ll hear how one greenhouse project revealed the gap in understanding, and how showing up as a decision-maker, problem-solver, and translator between client and contractor changes everything. You’ll leave with the exact language to position yourself as essential, not optional, so you can gain respect, influence, and bigger opportunities. Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers  Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devignierdesign/  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects 

Mistakes happen on every design and construction project—because we’re human. But how you handle them can make or break your client relationships. In this episode, I share real stories from designers (and my own experiences) about the inevitable missteps that happen, and the exact steps you can take to resolve them with professionalism and confidence. From talking to clients about the problem to navigating tricky contractor conversations, you’ll learn how to stay calm, find solutions, and keep projects moving forward—without losing sleep or credibility. Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/how-to-handle-mistakes 

I am frequently asked what it’s really like to be inside The Designer’s Edge program, and especially what these new features are inside The Studio portion of the program. Today, I’m excited to pull the curtain back and share one of The Studio’s newest features: module-specific live Q&As.  The insight that I’m sharing today, which came out of that live call, applies to each and every one of you and your current and future projects. You will feel like you were a part of that call, with actionable takeaways, just like the members did. Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers  Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/conversations-for-designers   

When a client hires an interior designer, especially for a construction project, they are not just looking for us to help with picking paint color and finishes; they’re hiring us for our eye, our foresight, our expertise, and our ability to bring it all together in a way they couldn’t do it on their own. Because let’s be real, projects get built every day without an interior designer, so those that choose to invest in our service want that elevated experience. So today, we’re going to talk about what we think of as “little things” and how they are incredibly impactful in the end, with how your client lives, moves, and experiences their home, and why we shouldn’t be taking for granted the amount of value we’re bringing to each and every project. Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/design-the-experience 

Allowances. This is what we are covering in today’s episode: why they matter so much more than designers realize, and how ignoring them can absolutely blow up your hours, your relationship with the client, and their entire budget. This might not sound sexy, but I promise you it is mission critical.  Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/allowances 

How much is this going to cost? This is a question every designer will get, especially newer designers to construction struggle with this question and will hear from every single one of their clients.  In this episode, we’re diving into the uncomfortable but crucial budget conversation. From the fear of losing a job by being too honest, to the risk of saying too little and creating unrealistic expectations—you’ll hear exactly how to navigate this with clarity, confidence, and leadership. Whether you’re a new designer unsure how to talk numbers or a seasoned pro who still finds budget talks tricky, this episode gives you the mindset, tools, and language to guide your clients through empowered decisions—not watered-down compromises. Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/budget-talk