Want your contractor to rave about you (and send you referrals)?

Turns out, the secret isn’t great design—it’s great design files!

You know: floor plans, elevations, and material lists. They aren’t just nice to have. They are essential to a smooth project!

In the latest episode of Stuff Interior Designers Need to Know, Rebecca chats with general contractors Chris and Lisa of Raincap Construction (Seattle, WA) to get the inside scoop on what makes design documentation truly contractor-friendly.

We cover:

• The mistakes designers regularly make in their design files
• What contractors wish we knew (but don’t always say)
• How better documentation = smoother installs, fewer headaches, + happier clients

Thank you to Chris and Lisa for sharing their time and real-world examples of how well-prepared design files prevent miscommunications, keep costs in check, and help projects run on time (who doesn’t love a drama-free install?!).

Whether you're a designer looking to refine your process or a contractor wishing designers would—this episode is packed with insights to help both sides collaborate more effectively and deliver top-notch results.

Give it a listen and turn your contractors into your biggest allies! 🎧💡

#InteriorDesignBusiness #ContractorCollaboration #DesignDocs #DesignSuccess #StreamlineYourProjects

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👷‍♂️💛👷🏻‍♀️ Connect with Chris, Lisa, and the team at Raincap Construction

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Looking for my Interior Design Business Coaching & Courses? 💪
👉 seriouslyhappy.com

Wanna be Interior Design & Expat Insta-Friends?! 😊
👉 @beseriouslyhappy

Follow my Moving-To-France, Living-In-Paris Expat Adventures 🇫🇷
👉 Bonjhola podcast

And here's where to find my Book on Interior Design Psychology 📚
👉 Happy Starts at Home

Want to Be the Next Joanna Gaines or Nate Berkus? Here's What You Need to Know About Licensing Your Name

Ever wondered what it takes to build a brand like Joanna Gaines, Nate Berkus, or Jonathan Adler—the kind that turns your name into a household one (and a revenue stream)? You’re not alone!

In this episode of Stuff Interior Designers Need to Know, we’re diving into the world of licensing, trademarks, copyrights, and patents with Nicole Dolgon, an attorney at ESCA Legal in New York. If you’ve ever dreamed of expanding your brand beyond client projects—whether through product lines, media deals, or collaborations—this is a conversation you need to hear.

Nicole breaks down:
✅ When to start thinking about trademarks and legal protections in your business
✅ How to avoid signing away the rights to your own name (yes, it happens!)
✅ The legal must-knows for designers who want to scale their brand

Whether you're just starting out or already eyeing brand partnerships, this episode will give you the legal foundation to protect your future empire.

🎧 Tune in now! 😀

Want to contact Nicole Dolgan?

www.esca.legal
Instagram: @nicoledolgonesq

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Looking for my Interior Design Business Coaching & Courses? 💪
👉 seriouslyhappy.com

Wanna be Interior Design & Expat Insta-Friends?! 😊
👉 @beseriouslyhappy

Follow my Moving-To-France, Living-In-Paris Expat Adventures 🇫🇷
👉 Bonjhola podcast

And here's where to find my Book on Interior Design Psychology 📚
👉 Happy Starts at Home

In this episode of Stuff Interior Designers Need to Know we enjoy a masterclass on marketing strategies for interior designers with Robyn White of RDW Design Studio, a website design firm dedicated to Interior Designers.

She may have come to the industry thanks to an embarrassing addiction to HGTV but she's since learned exactly what it actually takes to be a professional interior designer offering luxury services to exacting clients, and loves helping designers not only get found, but become The One to find! Of course, it helps that before Robyn did this work she spent ten years serving discerning clients in the luxury sector as the Vice President of the Manhattan location of an international art gallery. Fancy! ✨

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who needs to understand the big picture of marketing as an interior design business owner. Whether you're going to hire a professional website designer, or are still in the DIY phase, there is something for you in this episode!

Find Robyn at RDW Design Studio, or be friends with her on Instagram at @rdwdesignstudio!

---

Looking for my Interior Design Business Coaching & Courses? 💪
👉 seriouslyhappy.com

Wanna be Interior Design & Expat Insta-Friends?! 😊
👉 @beseriouslyhappy

Follow my Moving-To-France, Living-In-Paris Expat Adventures 🇫🇷
👉 Bonjhola podcast

And here's where to find my Book on Interior Design Psychology 📚
👉 Happy Starts at Home