Sunday, August 26, 2007

Covering Vertical Surfaces

Ok, I confess that I was once part of the (ever shrinking) group of people that has strayed away from using wallpaper. And mind you, it was only after being involved in more than a few wallpaper removal projects at a young impressionable age. The spraying, scraping and utter mess of removing wallpaper was just wicked. And, I later discovered some wonderful faux finishes and beautiful paint colors too; so it didn't seem likely that I would ever actively seek to use wallpaper again.

Then one day, I ventured into a local wallpaper store and lost myself for hours searching through wallpaper books. All I can say is that wallpaper has come a long way from the days when my Nana selected her (awful) purple floral wallpaper. There are a gazillion wallpaper patterns, colors, and textures to choose from. I bet the sales people heard me squealing with delight from the back corner of the store. And so, I was converted; and instead of using just the occasional border in my designs I am now a wallpaper and wall covering fanatic.

So even though the wallpapers made today are both easy to hang and remove, those older ones are still really tough to remove. Consider painting over any wallpaper that is adhered (read: really stuck) to unprimed dry wall or plaster. As long as you do a test run with the paint first, this may be the better option. Because ripping wallpaper off of those surfaces can almost guarantee that you'll be replacing some drywall pretty soon.

Happy Papering!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Covering Vertical Surfaces
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 12:53 PM

Monday, August 20, 2007

Who's on your Design Team?

All industries are changing and the interior design industry must also change to keep pace with the rest of society. Who then, will you need on your design team to stay competitive?

Consider these roles when reevaluating your design team:

• Trades - I bet you have a list of at least 2 - 3 good plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, and carpet installers. But how many indoor-outdoor landscape artists, and outdoor kitchen product specialists, home theatre designers and whole house audio installers do you know? New industries and products mean new experts. Make sure you can offer your clients the cutting-edge in both design and the latest creature comforts by expanding your trade circle.
• Material and fabric specialists/coordinators - Keeping up with your fabrics can be a full time job. From ordering, tracking and returning memo samples to figuring out which materials are still available from the manufacturer. Then there are the discount shops, the independent fabric designers and your clients all needing to see the correct fabric sample in the correct dye lot. Need I say more?
• Product People - Every designer should have their own bag of tricks that includes products like paint, caulk, frames, tools and decorative hardware.
• Techies - Technology (hardware and software) and the people who program technology are poised to make your design work flow so much easier. There is technology available to organize your electronic files and automate client lists. Software that comes off the shelf will keep track of your shopping expenditures, daily sales and other expenses. And while nothing takes the place of face-to-face interaction, your website-turned-design portal can make you and your client's life easier by presenting design boards, colors, fabrics and layouts to each and every client, at any time of day or night.
• Artists - As design teams go, this role is my personal favorite. Why? Because creative people look at design challenges from a unique perspective. They love to experiment with artist materials and are a wonderful resource for those sometimes odd and rather unique design challenges we all face.
• Writers Publicists and Photographers - To grow your design company you'll need to keep track of your work with really sharp photographs. Articles written about your company will carry more weight than an advertisement; so it is a wise strategy to craft a steady stream of press releases. This may lead to news coverage that can virtually eliminate the need to pay for costly advertisements; as well the chance to be featured in blogs, magazines, and design books.

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Who's on your Design Team?
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 12:51 PM

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Home Staging for Keeps

As the home market softens, if not slumps, home stagers are as busy as ever. Home staging is now seen as a must-do on the list of marketing techniques to sell a home in this type of market. Buyers are picky and with good reason; there are SO many homes on the market to choose from that sellers had better make it great. As a home stager, you are the expert at making a home great, and giving sellers a way forward when other sales efforts have stalled.

But consider what happens when everyone stages a home and staging is no longer the differentiator in helping homes sell! Well of course until that time you should ride the huge wave of new business; but you should also consider changing your own company's strategy in an effort to anticipate a new and growing market segment.

Home staging is not just for sellers - it's for people who just want to treat themselves by renewing their space. This take-me-to-the-spa mentality can be an awesome development for home stagers. Without learning new design or staging skills - you can simply tweak your marketing messages and tap into all the people who want to live well and stay put.

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Home Staging for Keeps
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 12:50 PM