Only Girl On The Jobsite

Today's episode is a little different, and honestly, one of my favorites I've done in a while. Instead of teaching a specific construction management strategy, I'm bringing you two honest conversations with designers inside The Designer's Edge. Not polished testimonials. Not highlight reels. Just real conversations about what actually changes when designers start putting better systems, pricing structures, boundaries, and construction management processes into place. You'll hear from Missy Werbrich, whose background in corporate design and outdoor living helped her build incredible transferable skills — but who still found herself dramatically undercharging and looking for a framework that matched the level she was operating at. Find out more about Missy here: Website: https://www.designwithmissy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithmissy/ FB:https://www.facebook.com/DesignWithMissy LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/200803 FB: https://www.facebook.com/Werbrichs Website: https://www.instagram.com/werbrichs_landscaping/ And you'll hear from Cynthia Lacey, a seasoned designer with decades of experience who realized she had fallen into what she calls "routine without purpose" — and how construction management gave her spark for the business back. Find out more about Cynthia here: Website: https://www.lacyandco.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacyflips/ We talk about: Why so many designers undercharge The difference between scope of work and proposals Trusting your gut on projects Boundaries with contractors and clients Why systems create confidence The reality of managing construction projects And what designers actually need help with behind the scenes If you've ever wondered whether construction management coaching is really worth it, or whether you're "experienced enough already", I think these conversations will answer that better than I ever could myself. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-management-coaching-interior-designers

Most exceptional homes aren't created by one professional working alone. They happen when architects and interior designers collaborate well—and that only works when both people understand their role, communicate clearly, and respect each other's expertise. In this episode, I'm breaking down the real dynamics behind successful designer-architect relationships: how projects get set up, where friction usually starts, how to handle disagreements professionally, and why understanding the difference between "outside in" and "inside out" thinking changes everything. Because this relationship isn't about hierarchy. It's about building better projects together. You'll Learn: Why the best projects happen when both perspectives are fully respected The biggest mistakes designers make in architect relationships Why role clarity early on prevents friction, fee issues, and project delays Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-architect-collaboration

A construction project can feel like it's running perfectly fine, until suddenly, it isn't. A few missed conversations, an unanswered question, or a decision that quietly gets pushed can create delays that were completely avoidable. In this episode, I'm talking about one simple part of my construction management process that I recently removed from a project…and very quickly brought back. The client's reaction confirmed exactly why I believe it matters so much. If you're managing construction projects and wondering how to create more accountability, better communication, and calmer clients, this one is for you. You'll Learn: Why weekly site meetings prevent avoidable delays and communication breakdowns. The difference between active management and reactive consulting on construction projects. How weekly meetings and Friday updates create accountability, clarity, and client confidence. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/weekly-site-meetings-construction-project-management

If you've ever finished a construction project feeling exhausted, overextended, and quietly underpaid, I want you to hear me when I say this: the problem is probably not your efficiency. It's your pricing. In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the biggest mistakes I see interior designers make over and over again — folding construction management into their design fee instead of treating it like the completely separate professional service it actually is. We're talking about what construction management truly includes: site visits, contractor coordination, change orders, real-time problem solving, client communication, project documentation, and the constant availability these projects require from you. Because when you actually sit down and calculate the hours honestly, the undercharging becomes impossible to ignore. I'm also walking you through where this conversation should begin — and spoiler alert, it's not the proposal. It starts on your website, continues through your discovery call, and gets reinforced all the way through your scope of work before you ever present a fee. If construction projects constantly leave you feeling like the math isn't mathing, this episode will help you understand why and how to fix it. You'll learn: Why construction management should always be priced separately from design What designers consistently forget to account for in their fees How to introduce construction management pricing before the proposal stage Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-management-fee-interior-design

What if the thing that sets your design business apart isn't the design itself? In this episode, Renee sits down with Rick Campos of Design Biz Survival Guide to talk about something the design industry doesn't discuss enough: hospitality. Not restaurant hospitality. Human hospitality. The kind that makes clients feel seen, remembered, and emotionally connected to the experience of working with you. Inspired by the book Unreasonable Hospitality, Rick shares how designers can elevate their client experience through thoughtful touchpoints, small moments of surprise, and genuine attention to detail — often without spending much money at all. From custom presentations for clients' children to a private porta potty on a construction site, this conversation is packed with examples of what clients actually remember long after the project is over. If you've ever wondered what truly separates a luxury design experience from everyone else offering beautiful rooms, this episode is for you. You'll learn: Why hospitality matters more than ever in luxury interior design How small client touchpoints create lasting emotional impact The difference between checking a box and creating a memorable experience Find out more about Rick here: Website: https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/business-coaching-for-interior-designers/ Get an inside look at this year's Design Biz Retreat: https://youtu.be/sz_czKvZ3Wg?si=zkr2K-nN4zqDHXD5 Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/unreasonable-hospitality-missing-piece

Today, I want to talk about something that every designer faces, sometimes more than once, but we don't talk about it enough. And that is what to do when a client becomes difficult mid-project. Now, I'm not talking about beforehand. Today, I mean after the contract is signed, after the project is underway, after you're already in it. I want to talk about when the dynamic starts to shift, and you're not quite sure whether to manage through it or to get out. And then the harder question: how do you know when it's time to actually fire a client? And what does that even look like in practice? You'll learn: How to recognize the difference between a difficult project and a difficult client. How to reset communication, strengthen documentation, and protect your authority before a relationship reaches the breaking point. Know when walking away is the most professional decision, and how to do it without damaging your reputation or your business. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/how-to-handle-a-difficult-interior-design-client

If you've ever had a prospective client reach out to you about a construction project, or you're at the beginning of a construction project and you're thinking, okay, I need a contractor. Where do I even start? This episode is for you because finding the right contractor is one of the most important decisions on any construction project. You get it right, and everything that follows is easier. You get it wrong, and no amount of good design or careful documentation or incredibly well-thought-out processes or client communication will fully fix it. So today, I want to walk you through exactly how I approach this, from finding names worth considering all the way through the vetting conversation that tells me whether someone belongs on this project with me or not. You'll Learn: Learn the six best places to find trusted contractors—and why Google shouldn't be your starting point. Discover the interview questions that reveal how a contractor really communicates, manages projects, and works with designers. Identify the biggest contractor red flags before they become expensive problems on your job site. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/how-to-find-the-right-contractor

AI is changing interior design, but it cannot replace the expertise, judgment, relationships, and real-time problem-solving required on a construction site. Today, I am sharing how AI is disrupting decorating, why construction management remains distinctly human, and how designers can build stronger, more resilient practices around the work technology cannot replicate. You'll Learn: What AI can already do in interior design—and which services may become increasingly difficult to sell on their own. Why construction management requires human judgment, professional relationships, and real-time problem-solving that AI cannot replace. How to begin building construction knowledge, trade connections, and a more stable interior design practice now. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/what-ai-cant-replace-in-interior-design

This week, I'm re-airing one of the highest-listened interviews we've ever done — my conversation with Katie Decker-Erickson, founder of Success by Design. And I'll be honest: when I listened back, it landed completely differently than it did the first time. I was in a different place. I heard different things. That's exactly why good content is worth coming back to. Katie is a commercial interior designer turned business coach, and she has built her firm on something most designers skip entirely: airtight processes that run in the background so she can focus on the work she actually loves. We get into scaling — when to do it, when not to, and what has to be in place first. We talk about agility, the myth that more projects equals more profit, and the "lonely work" that no one sees but everyone benefits from. Whether you're hearing this for the first time or coming back around to it, there is something in this conversation you can put to work today. You'll learn: Why scaling before your processes are solid usually backfires What agility actually means in a design business — and why rigid processes create paralysis The "lonely work" that positions you for growth before the big clients arrive Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/business-of-design-power-of-process-katie-decker-erickson

Everyone talks about the contractor relationship. Nobody talks about the people underneath — the tile setter, the painter, the faux finisher, the trim carpenter doing the work with their hands every single day. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what's been happening on a current project to show you exactly what trade relationships make possible — and what they cost you when you don't have them. I'll walk you through how these relationships start, how you nurture them between projects, and how you maintain them so that when the scope triples and the timeline is tight, your people show up anyway. Because the team that stretches for you doesn't do it because you hired them once. They do it because you've shown up for them, consistently, over time. You'll learn: Why trade relationships save projects that processes alone never could How to vet, start, and maintain relationships with new subcontractors What it actually looks like when those relationships show up for you mid-project Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-trade-relationships/

Most designers skip the conversation that determines whether a client actually trusts them through the hard parts of construction. And by the time they realize it, they're already mid-project trying to unwind frustration that could have been avoided entirely. In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what to cover before a single wall comes down — timelines, contingency, allowances, change orders, daily disruption, and the four emotional stages every construction client moves through. Not as a checklist. As a conversation that builds real trust from the very first call. You'll learn: Why your first client call is already doing two jobs at once What to say about money, timelines, and change orders before they become problems The four emotional stages every client hits — and how naming them changes everything Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/pre-construction-client-conversation

Most of us measure capacity by how many projects we're running. I did it too, and it's the wrong metric entirely. In this episode, I'm breaking down the two variables that actually determine how a project feels to manage: who's running the operational machine, and how compressed the timeline is. I walk through my own current roster, including the mid-sized renovation that honestly wrecked me these past couple of months despite being the smallest project on my plate, to show you exactly how this plays out in real life. If you've ever felt buried on something that looked manageable on paper, or wondered why your fee never quite catches up to what you're actually carrying, this one is for you. You'll learn: Why project count tells you almost nothing about your real workload The two questions to ask before saying yes to any new project How to price the actual load — not just the square footage Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-capacity-project-count

I've admired Amy Vermillion for a long time, so this conversation felt like sitting down with someone who truly understands what it takes to build a lasting career in this industry. We both started our businesses in 2000, worked our way up through firms, and learned the hard way, through experience, mistakes, and a lot of time on job sites. And what became very clear in this conversation is this: there is no single path to success in interior design, but there are patterns. In this episode, we talk about how a design career is actually built, from early jobs that teach you more than you realize, to starting your own firm, to navigating clients, construction, and the reality of running a business over decades. We also get into: Why construction knowledge changes everything for a designer How to position your value with clients (and why it's not about time) The importance of community in what can be a very isolating industry How the design industry has evolved — and where it's heading next This is one of those conversations that's equal parts practical and grounding. Whether you're just starting out or years into your business, it's a reminder that careers are built slowly — one project, one decision, and one relationship at a time. Find out more about Amy here: Website: https://www.amyvermillion.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyvermilloninteriors Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/building-an-interior-design-career-amy-vermillion

If you're an interior designer managing construction projects, you already know the feeling. You walk into a room, a jobsite, a contractor meeting, an industry event, and something in the air quietly suggests you don't fully belong there. That the builders and the architects and the trades have a kind of authority you haven't quite earned yet. And without even realizing it, you get a little smaller. In this episode, I'm talking about what happens when interior designers shrink on jobsites and in rooms they weren't expected to be in, the over-explaining, the unnecessary apologies, the deferred decisions, and why each one compounds into something that costs you more than you realize. I'm also sharing the concrete language and the 60-second practice that changes how you walk into any room from here on out. Because your authority isn't something you earn once you're in the room. It's something you carry in with you. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-confidence-jobsites

There are three documents every interior designer managing construction projects needs to understand. And most don't, not fully. Not because they're complicated. Because nobody ever explained the difference between them and why each one matters so much. In this episode, I'm walking through the scope of work, the change order, and the addendum to scope of work; what each one does, when to use it, and what it costs you when you don't. I'm also talking about how these three documents together answer the question every client is quietly asking: why do I need a designer, and is this worth the investment? Because when you run a project with clear documentation and a system your whole team understands, you stop having to explain your value. Your clients feel it. Your contractors trust it. And your projects end the way they deserve to. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/three-documents-interior-design-project

You're a few weeks into a project. Things started well. And then the contractor goes quiet. The texts take days to get a response. The updates get shorter. You show up for a site visit, and no one told you the schedule changed. And you start filling in that silence with stories; he's probably just busy, maybe I'm being too demanding, maybe I should wait a little longer before following up. Here's the thing: that silence is not neutral. It's telling you something. And the longer you manage around it instead of addressing it directly, the more it costs you — in time, in money, in your client relationship, and in the authority you've worked hard to build. In this episode, I'm breaking down the four real reasons contractors go quiet, why the responses most of us default to make it worse, and exactly what to say when you have the conversation, so you can reset the dynamic without blowing up the project. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.comcontractor-stops-communicating

I love talking to people who came up through this industry the hard way and then figured out something that makes all of our lives better. Fiona Sanipelli is one of those people. She studied architecture, spent nearly 20 years in hospitality design, worked her way through some of the most celebrated firms in New York, and somewhere in the middle of all of that, got so frustrated by the chaos of spec writing that she and her brother built a better solution. That became DesignSpec. In this episode, we talk about her path through the industry, why your specs are either saving your projects or quietly killing them, how the right software can genuinely replace a hire, and what both of us actually think about AI and where it's headed for designers. Whether you're a solopreneur juggling everything yourself or you have a team trying to get more organized, there is something in this conversation for you. Connect with Fiona here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/designspec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/designmanager/ https://www.instagram.com/designspec.com_/ https://www.instagram.com/designmanager/ Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-spec-writing-software

Most hard construction projects don't announce themselves as disasters. They arrive as a feeling. A low hum. A sense that something's slightly off and you can't quite name it yet. And most of us push through it, manage around it, or work harder to compensate for it. Because that's what we do. But in this episode, I want to talk about what that feeling is actually telling you, and what becomes possible when you act on it early instead of managing through it later. Because a lot of the projects that feel hard from the start didn't have to. They feel hard because of a handful of small moments, early in the project, that went unaddressed. And by the time the hardness is undeniable, those moments are long past. If you've ever finished a project and thought, that was so much more work than it should have been, this one is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/early-warning-signs-construction-projects

When you finish a construction project feeling like you worked for free, the instinct is to assume the number was wrong. Sometimes it is. But more often, the number was fine. What broke down was everything around it. In this episode, I'm talking about the two specific places pricing falls apart on construction projects, and neither one is your math. The first is how you present your fee. The second is how you protect it once the project starts. Both will cost you just as reliably as a loose scope of work will. They just do it more quietly. If you've ever hedged in a proposal meeting, absorbed hours you should have flagged, or finished a project and thought, that was so much more work than I accounted for, this one is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge and my May 5th workshop here: https://www.reneed evignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-project-pricing-interior-designers

I've never told this story in full before. The financial pressure when my husband's career collapsed. My son's medical crisis. My own Graves' disease diagnosis right when my business was finally gaining real momentum. The debt that stayed through all of it — not because I wasn't working hard enough, but because the structure was wrong. This episode is about what it actually took to get to the other side. And why the fix was faster than I spent years convincing myself it would be. If you're surviving right now and wondering when it turns, this one is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Join the waitlist for The Designer's Edge and my May 5th workshop here: https://www.reneed evignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-business-pricing-structure