Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews interior designer Robin Daly. Robin is the owner of Robin Daly Color & Design which is an interior design firm group based in the Pacific Northwest in the United States. 

Robin started working with colour and design when she was fifteen by selling paint and wallpaper for her family’s paint store. Unfortunately, the store suffered greatly during the Recession of 2008, and the store was never able to recover from its losses during that time. In 2018, Robin and her husband made the difficult decision to declare bankruptcy and close their family business permanently. 

 After closing the family business, Robin decided to start her own company Robin Daly Color & Design. She started off doing colour consultations and working mostly on the colour spectrum. However, soon she began adding design consultations, e-design services, furnishings, window treatment, floor planning, and so much more. Robin’s business is only in its second year, and her profit has exceeded her first year’s already.

Robin is now not only making money, but after years of shame and unhappiness, Robin finally feels joy in her work again. She no longer feels the shame that she once did, and she feels successful in her current state. In other words, sometimes starting over is the hardest thing to do, but it will be the best thing for you in the end. 

So, join Crystal and Robin as they have a real, honest conversation about her life and what changing her business has done for her. And then, do something today that your future self will thank you for and find out whether you having feelings of shame or joy in your current life.  

How to Get in Touch with Robyn:

robindalycolor.com  Facebook: robindalycolor

Pinterest: robindalycolor  Instagram: robindalycoloranddesign 

Recommended podcasts:
Business of Design
A Well-Designed Business
WTF with Marc Maron

Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson will discuss the importance of Time Blocking. She will go over what time blocking is, how she uses it effectively, and different ways it can change your workflow. 

Time blocking is scheduling out your days or weeks to set aside a certain time for tasks; such as social media, marketing, budgeting, current projects, and more. Time blocking is designed to put all your focus on one task at a time, so your mind is focused. It also helps challenge yourself to complete tasks during that time frame, and in most cases, you will find that it makes your workflow faster. 

Crystal will explain how she uses her planner to set up her time block schedule, how she focuses on one project at a time and limits herself to her schedule. However, she will also give examples of when or why there can be some flexibility in your time-blocking schedule. She also gives a few different suggestions to help match you to what will work best for you. 

So, do something today that your future self will thank you for and learn how you can use Time Blocking to enhance your workweek.  

Resources:

Time Blocking
Time Blocking (what it is and how to do it ) (plus apps)

Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Apps for blocking distractions:

Self-control app
Freedom
Focus Writer
Stay Focused
Focus
Cold Turkey

Time Blocking Apps & Templates

TimeBloc
Time Blocking Planner Templates

Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews designer Andrea Colman from Fine Finishes Design Inc. She started off as a painting company and painted murals and faux finishes. After taking interior design courses and working with Benjamin Moore’s Painting and Decorating Design services, her work has now evolved into Fine Finishes Design. 

Andrea takes on projects from concept to completion. Her projects vary from kitchen renovations to new home design work. She wants to help make each person feel unique in their home, and she explains the process and procedures of the work before the contractor gets involved. While her work has been affected by COVID-19, she has taken that time to reevaluate her business and see where it could be improved to be more efficient. However, Andrea took the time to still proceed with consultations and keep her clients at ease with how they feel about their projects. 

 Andrea will explain the importance of being selective with her work now, how she has improved her business during COVID-19 and how she takes time to herself each morning to better herself. She is an advocate for mental health and has great suggestions to keep your mental health a priority in your life. 

Do something today that your future self will thank you for and learn something new from Andrea that might help you in your mental health or your interior design needs.  

Connect with Andrea
Instagram : fine_finishes_design
Website : finefinishes.ca

Recommended Podcasts
Impact Theory and Health Theory I Mindvalley I Model Health

Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews exterior designer Holly Hull from Water Shapes Design. Holly creates backyard experiences that integrate from the inside of the house to the outside into the backyard to create a cohesive and welcoming environment. 

 For over 25 years, Holly has specialized in creating outdoor experiences for the back yard. This ranges from creating pools with a putting green in the middle to play in to putting in a fire pit area for everyone to sit back and relax. She caters to her clients’ needs and wants by making spaces the whole family can find suitable to their lifestyle.

Holly will explain her process in designing, how she charges, and the different experiences she creates for her clients. Her ideas and creativity will be explored, and she will give you different approaches to pools and outdoor areas she’s worked on. 

So listen in as Holly educates us to a different side of residential design, and by creating the ultimate outdoor environment. You can get in touch with Holly at watershapesbyholly.com.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for and call Holly to get ideas for all of your exterior design needs.

Connect with Holly

Website : watershapesbyholly I Facebook : watershapedesigns

Email : contactwatershapes@gmail.com

Recommended Podcasts

The Productive Designer I LearnDoBecome I Goal Digger

Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews life coach and interior designer Oriana Loduca. Oriana works with entrepreneurial women that are seeking fulfillment, joy, work life balance, and success in their lives. 

 As a life coach, Oriana’s job is to listen to others and does not give any advice. She helps others along their journey to lead to a more fulfilled and energized life. It emphasizes action particularly self-reflection and learning. Oriana explains the need to rest, take a time to sit still, and looking for signs in your life. She gives details about all the areas in life that a life coach can help with and gives some tips to better take care of yourself and your work life. 

Oriana tells how her life coaching plays into her interior design work, and how life coaching has impacted her work for the better.  She then goes onto explain some perspectives that can make any small business owner value their work more and learn how to stop devaluing their business. 

So, join Crystal and Oriana as Oriana gives Crystal tips and new views on life to benefit both her personal and work life. You might find yourself inspired by some of her ideas or finally hear the encouragement you needed to take the next right steps in your work. 

Do something today that your future self will thank you for and call Oriana to begin a more fulfilled journey in life. 

Connect with Oriana

Website : iDesignspace Instagram:@idesign_space Facebook :IDESIGNSPACECA

Recommended Podcasts

Ed Mylett and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer