Only Girl On The Jobsite

A good contract is essential. But what happens when you've done everything right and the project still goes sideways?

My friend Wendy Estela, an attorney specializing in construction and design law, is back for part two of our conversation about protecting your interior design business.

Wendy is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, a contract template and subscription service created specifically for interior designers. With 25 years of experience in business law, she works with designers at every stage of their careers, from those just starting out to AD100 and Elle Decor A-List professionals.

What I appreciate about Wendy is that she understands our industry. She doesn't just look at the legal language. She understands the relationships, financial realities, and everyday decisions that can make or break a design business.

Today, we're talking about difficult client relationships, unclear expectations, scope creep, payment disputes, and why the way you run your business every day matters just as much as what's written in your agreement.

Wendy also shares why she doesn't believe in the idea of a bulletproof contract, how designers can better explain their terms to clients, and why sometimes the smartest business decision is to walk away from a dispute.

And I'm sharing some of my own experiences, including mistakes I've made with contracts, the way I walk clients through my agreements, and a payment situation that taught me a very expensive lesson.

You'll Learn:

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Why a strong contract alone can't prevent every client dispute

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How to explain your contract so clients understand what they're agreeing to

•

Why clear scopes of work and consistent business practices matter

•

How payment terms can help protect your design business

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When pursuing a dispute may cost more than it's worth

•

Why setting expectations during discovery is just as important as the contract itself

If you haven't listened to Episode 276 with Wendy, I encourage you to go back and listen to that conversation too. These two episodes really belong together.

Connect with Wendy Estela

Wendy Estela is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, where she helps interior designers navigate contracts, business transactions, and risk management with practical legal guidance.

• Website: https://www.estelalaw.com
• Contract templates and resources: https://www.designedcounsel.com
• Instagram: @estelalaw | @designed_counsel

Mentioned in this episode:

•

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-contract-protection

Have you ever promised a client their project would be finished by Christmas, only to realize there were a dozen things outside your control?

I've been there. In fact, I once found myself crawling underneath a fully decorated Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, trying to finish a curtain installation before my client's guests arrived. That experience changed how I handle holiday deadlines forever.

In this episode, I'm talking about what interior designers need to consider as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas approach. We'll look at the very different challenges of decorating and construction projects, why you need to understand exactly what your client means by "the holidays," and how to communicate realistic expectations without making promises you can't keep.

I'm also sharing how I approach decision deadlines, construction sequencing, trade availability, winter weather, and planning for time away. Plus, I'll talk about the year-end gestures I make for clients and contractors to show my appreciation.

Because your projects don't have to be finished before the holidays, but your clients should absolutely know what to expect.

In this episode, you'll learn:

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Why I stopped guaranteeing holiday completion dates

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How to uncover what your client's holiday deadline actually means

•

How to explain the impact of delayed decisions on construction schedules

•

When changing the construction sequence might be worth the additional cost

•

How to prepare your clients, contractors, and trades for the holiday break

Mentioned in this episode:

•

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/holiday-project-deadlines

I'm currently working on a beautiful historic renovation and addition that's running almost seven months behind schedule. And while that certainly wasn't the plan, it's also been a really valuable reminder of what matters most when construction doesn't go the way we expected.

In this episode, I'm talking about construction delays, what they actually mean for your project, and how to manage them without damaging your client relationships.

Because here's something I think designers need to understand: just because an activity is delayed doesn't necessarily mean your entire project is behind schedule. And before you start giving your client new completion dates, you need to understand the difference.

We're also talking about those uncomfortable conversations with contractors, why consistent communication matters so much, and what an extended construction schedule can mean for your own business and profitability.

You'll Learn:

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Why a delayed task doesn't always mean a delayed completion date

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What to ask your contractor when a project falls behind

•

How to communicate delays without making promises you can't keep

•

Why a new completion date isn't the same as a recovery plan

•

How extended construction schedules can affect your fees, capacity, and other projects

Mentioned in this episode:

•

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-construction-delays

For years, I thought the answer to making more money in my design business was simple: more projects. More clients, more opportunities, more work. But when I finally stopped and looked at what those projects were actually costing me, I realized how wrong I'd been.

As we head toward 2027, I want you to look at what your business is already telling you before you start making plans for next year. In this episode, I'm walking you through five things I believe every interior designer should review, whether you're managing your first construction projects or you've been running your firm for decades.

We're talking about profitability, the projects you'd actually want to repeat, your calendar and capacity, referral relationships, and how to figure out what kind of help your business really needs.

You'll Learn:

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Why more projects don't necessarily mean more profit

•

How to recognize patterns in your fees, scope, and project profitability

•

What your calendar reveals about your capacity and personal life

•

How to attract better-fitting projects through your referral relationships

•

How to identify the support your business actually needs before hiring

Mentioned in this episode:

•

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-planning-2027

My guest today has a background that's genuinely unusual in this space, and it's exactly what makes her perspective so useful.

Deb Mitchell is a brand strategist and messaging expert who has worked with interior designers for more than a decade. She helps designers clarify their positioning, find their voice and attract the clients they actually want to work with.

But here's what makes Deb different from most people talking about branding and marketing. Before launching her own business, she worked in-house at a luxury interior design firm, shaping the firm's brand identity and managing client communications. She saw firsthand what attracts premium clients and what helps them trust a designer before that first conversation ever happens.

In this episode, we're talking about the gap between the quality of your work and what your brand may actually be communicating. We get into discovery calls, why your portfolio can't do all the talking for you, the pink flags you shouldn't ignore and the trust signals that help potential clients understand your value.

And yes, we also get into something I will preach all day long: you're interviewing the client just as much as they're interviewing you.

You'll Learn:

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Why attracting the right client starts before the discovery call

•

What your website and messaging need to communicate that your portfolio can't

•

How to recognize pink, red and green flags when talking with potential clients

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Why your discovery call should be a two-way interview

•

How trust signals help clients understand your value and feel confident hiring you

Connect with Deb here:

• Deb's Freebie mentioned in today's episode: https://debmitchellco.kit.com/34e40aabe1
• Website: https://debmitchellco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debmitchellco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebMitchellCo/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@debmitchellco

Mentioned in this episode:

•

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/communicate-value-interior-designer

Two designers can walk onto the exact same construction project, look at the exact same room, talk to the exact same contractor or trade, and leave noticing completely different things.

So today I want to take you onto a jobsite with me. This is not a checklist or 10 things you should inspect. I want to show you how I actually think when I walk through that door. Because after 32 years, a lot of it is now automatic, and I want to make it less automatic so that you can start doing it on your next site visit.

You'll Learn:

• What experienced designers look for during each phase of construction
• Why arriving early and building relationships with trades makes you a better project manager
• How to spot potential issues and ask questions without putting anyone on the defensive

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/jobsite-tips-for-interior-designers

What happens when you're standing on a jobsite, and someone asks you a question you don't know how to answer? Construction confidence isn't about knowing everything; it's knowing what to do next. Today I share the four-step process I use when construction hands me something new, how to find the right answers, and how to recognize when a question isn't yours to answer at all.

You'll Learn:

• The 4 steps to follow when you don't know the answer on a jobsite.
• How to know who to turn to for the right answer—and when the decision isn't yours to make.
• The difference between a healthy professional stretch and truly being in over your head.

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-designers-jobsite-confidence

There's a quiet assumption in the interior design industry that if you spend enough time around construction projects, eventually you'll just "figure it out."

And honestly? Most designers do.

Project by project. Mistake by mistake. Usually while undercharging, overextending themselves, and absorbing responsibilities they never intentionally agreed to manage.

In this episode, I want to talk about something I wish every interior designer understood much earlier in their career:

Construction management is not simply an extension of design work. It is a completely different body of work entirely.

We're talking about:

• the difference between consulting and managing
• why construction responsibilities quietly "creep in"
• how profitability disappears project by project
• why hourly billing often hurts designers more than it protects them
• the importance of a true scope of work
• and how better process leads to better pricing, confidence, and projects

I also share the idea of "pink flags" — the subtle client behaviors that often tell you far more about how a construction project will unfold than obvious red flags ever will.

If you've ever found yourself managing far more than you priced for, questioning your fees, or feeling exhausted by construction projects you thought you understood, this episode is for 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-designers-lose-money-construction-projects

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 Lacy, 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/appliancehttps://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