Theproductivedesigner

Episode #0015 – Designer-Outdoor Lifestyle Designer for Pools & Landscaping

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

Episode #0014 – Designer-Mindset (Designer and Life Coach)

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

Episode #0013-Freelance Decorator for Busy Interior Design Professionals

Featured in this week’s episode of The Productive Designer host Crystal Collinson interviews freelance interior design consultant Joanne Dolan. Joanne works directly with homeowners and fellow designers on custom cabinetry, storage solutions, fabric selections, soft furnishings, and custom window treatments.

Since 2018 when Joanne Dolan Design began, she has focused part of her work on being a freelance interior designer to help other designers with their work, especially on large projects. Joanne will go through the importance of what she does, how she helps others, and how to manage your current work ethic to see if you need more help.

So join Crystal and Joanne as they discover different areas where more help is needed, how to keep track of how much your work you are putting into a project, and know your worth in your field.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for and call Joanne to get help with all of your interior design needs.

Joanne Dolan Contact

Website – joannedolandesign.com

Facebook – JoanneDolanDesign

Instagram – @joanne.dolan.design

Recommended Podcasts

armchairexpertpod.com

stuff-you-should-know podcast

wingnutsocial podcast

Resilient by Design Podcast – Rebecca Hay

Ep.#11 Part 1 – Why you need SOP’s in your Interior Design business.

Featured in this week’s episode on The Productive Designer, host Crystal Collinson talks about the importance of Standard Operating Procedures, what they are, why they are necessary, and how to create them for your interior design business. This episode is perfect if you are wanting to learn how to delegate tasks to others, if you are ready to bring on help, or if you are wanting to keep a set order of tasks.

Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, are a series of lists made to help keep consistency throughout your work, even if you are not the one doing the task. It gives continuity to your work and helps reduce errors. Also, these step by step procedures allows the business owner, to outsource more work, aiding in the onboarding of employees or consultants.

SOPs can be developed for meeting with clients, drawing packages, ordering processes, sourcing, contract preparations, and more. Crystal will give you examples, tips, and tricks to take your business to the next level.

Plus, if you want to an outline of the discussion and a downloadable pdf you can contact Crystal at theproductivedesigner.com or on Instagram to receive an example of an SOP.

So join Crystal and learn how SOPs can work for you and learn how to take full advantage of SOPs in your business. And do something today that your future self will thank you for.

Ep.#011 Part 2-Simulcast with Cynthia Soda of The Fizz Podcast

Join Crystal on part 2 of the simulcast where she interviews Cynthia Soda the host of The Fizz Podcast. To listen to Part 1 where Cynthia interviews Crystal, pop on over to The Fizz podcast.

A business owner and busy mom of 4, Cynthia is the Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Soda Pop Design Inc. and Host of The Fizz Podcast.

Crystal and Cynthia talk about how she got started in the interior design business, why she started a podcast, and how she manages her business as a busy Mom of 4.

https://www.instagram.com/sodapopdesigninc

https://sodapopdesign.ca/

Episode #010 Living In Place with Linda Kafka

Featured in this week’s episode on Productive Design, Crystal interviews Director of Trade Relations at Caplan’s, Linda Kafka. Linda is a specialist and industry resource on inclusive design and wellness in the residential trade sector. She also has an in-depth knowledge of living in place long before the current coronavirus pandemic began.

The living in place idea is to think about designing in ways that could make life easier in the home whether it be easier for expecting mothers to move around the house, designing a room to increase sleep quality, or creating designated spaces in the home for visitors and deliveries. The idea is that life should be adaptable and Linda gives us different ideas of how to do that.

So join Linda and Crystal as they explore different ideas to bring your home designing to the next level in comfort, care, and ease.

If you would like to know more about Linda or get in touch with her, you can reach her at livablecanada.com or on Instagram at lipnetwork.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindakafka

lindakafka@gmail.com

Episode #009 Perfectionism and Productive Procrastination

Do you find yourself looking back at the end of the day asking yourself “what did I actually get done today”? Despite being busy all day-most likely you were “busy”, you just did not really do anything that moved the needle on your business. We can all fall into this trap easily, and I am not talking about getting caught in the rabbit hole of social media either. I am talking about doing “busy work”, doing tasks that keep you occupied but distract you from what you really should be doing-you are “Productively Procrastinating”. Furthermore, I will point out the types of perfectionist tendencies, and what the downside of those behaviour are.

Key Takeaways

-Productive procrastination is the act of being busy while still procrastinating on your most valuable tasks.

-By distracting yourself with keeping busy, but at the end of the day you really have not moved the needle very far

-Aim to get the harder tasks done earlier in the day when your energy is high

-“Eat the frog”

-Typically these low value tasks are “easier” to do

-Perfectionism can stop you before you even start

-Perfectionist need to aim to product B+ work

https://www.briantracy.com/blog/time-management/the-truth-about-frogs

https://www.inc.com/matthew-jones/perfectionist-10-ways-to-stop-being-your-own-worst-enemy.html

Ep#008 Your lighting supplier making your days brighter.

Today I speak with Julia Fraser, owner of Watts Current “brick and mortar” lighting store located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. Julia and I talk about some of the pitfalls Interior Designers can run into when specifying lighting. Working with a knowledgable lighting supplier is liking having a “free employee” they are an extension of your design team, everyone can save time, the Designer, the Client, and the Electrician.

Take-Aways

-Make sure you establish and share your lighting budget, and be honest and realistic about your timelines, this will give the necessary requirements that your supplier needs to be made aware of to provide you with the best lighting solutions for your projects.

-Electricians are not allowed to install light fixtures that are not CSA or ETL approved, very important if you order lighting online

-Warranties, by working with a trusted supplier they will be able to rectify any issues on your behalf.

Mentioned in this episode:

Quote from Mark Twain “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything”

https://www.csagroup.org/testing-certification/marks-labels/csa-marks-labels-north-america/

https://www.intertek.com/marks/etl

Podcasts Julia Recommends

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/front-burner

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/current-affairs-information/sks

https://canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes

Want to get in touch with Julia and her store Watts Current

https://www.instagram.com/wattscurrentinc

https://www.facebook.com/wattscurrentinc

https://wattscurrent.com/

Episode #007 Working effectively with your luxury appliance A&D Representative

In this episode, we chat with Kitchen Design & Product Expert Margaret Macdonald. Margaret is the Ontario Architect and Design Sales Manager for Sub Zero, Wolf, and Cove – focusing on the education and specification of luxury residential appliances.

We learn why your A&D representatives can serve as a member of our team when it comes to specifying. Your A&D rep comes equipped with the tools, experience, and knowledge to take you and your client through the entire process of designing, specifying, installation, and the end-user experience of luxury appliances.

Email: mmacdonald0415@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/margaret_macdonald0415/

https://www.instagram.com/subzeroandwolf

#subzeroandwolf #luxuryappliances #kitchendesign #traderesource

Episode #006 Recommended Home Modifications for Aging and Living in Place.

With 30 years of experience in architectural design, project management, and general construction Foti Hatzidemetriou brings knowledge and experience to every collaboration he works on.

Foti is a General Contractor, accessibility expert and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), he gets his biggest satisfaction from helping his clients discover practical ways to modify their home/work so they can enjoy it for as longs as they want. He is an advocate of The Home Modification Council working on public awareness and government change.

Listen to our conversation as we discuss ideas to improve and accommodate your client’s specific needs to have a safer and more liveable environment through the use of home automation, design, and materials just to name a few.