Interior Design with Kandrac and Kole

BIO:

Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta's Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Home Magazine, and many others as well as participants of the One Room Challenge Spring 2020. Kandrac & Kole has established a well-known reputation for their approachable, dynamic personalities, signature use of color and pattern, and one-of-a-kind, custom designs. As industry experts for residential and commercial design, Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole share upbeat and entertaining narratives regarding their design projects, travels, and personal stories on their popular blog, their podcast, and via national speaking engagements. Joann and Kelly's love and commitment to the power of interior design also extends towards their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala.

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Prosource Marietta.

Prosource Marietta is our go to for all finishing materials–wood, LVP, tile, cabinets, countertops, and plumbing. Their team, especially their showroom manager, Stacy Wray, makes our lives very easy especially being a one stop shop kind of showroom in a big city like Atlanta.Their half yearly sale is coming up. Kitchen and bath runs 6 weeks starting middle of September and ALL flooring materials will be on sale the entire month of October. Prosource National negotiates Manufacturer discounts on Wholesale and Trade Professional discounts. Nearly everything has an additional 5-10% discounted by the manufacturers. The local Prosource in Marietta goes all out for their Fall and Spring Sale Events. Stacy and the team put together Member Give-a-Ways the 1st week of October and scheduled catered lunch every Wednesday during the event for Members and their clients.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram or Facebook for a showroom tour,design updates and great before/after pictures from member projects.

QUOTES:

Funny Quote "I tried the Japanese method of decluttering where you hold every object that you own and if it does not bring you joy, you throw it away. So far I have thrown out all of the vegetables, my bra, the electric bill, the scale, a mirror, and my treadmill." - Anonymous

Serious Quote "When people talk, listen completely, don't be thinking what you're going to say. Most people never listen, nor do they observe." - Ernest Hemingway

The 4 Fascinating Projects We're Working On Right Now! Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Today we share the details of 4 fabulous projects we are working on right now.

We thrive on interesting projects that push boundaries and deliver exceptional results. Keeping these projects moving requires a combination of careful planning, effective communication, and attention to detail.

We recognize the importance of having a well-defined project plan, so watch and listen as we share the thought process of our selections, the colors we choose, the products we recommend and our goal to not only make the spaces beautiful but functional for each project.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Wall paper behind the bed wall or as an accent wall is an easy way to get color and texture without having to do a full room makeover.
Find out what we did to reimagine an unused theater room and storage area of a luxury, high rise property in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.
Hear about the level of detail in making selections for 13 bathrooms in a 10,000 square foot home!

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

As industry experts for residential and commercial design, Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole share upbeat and entertaining narratives regarding their design projects, travels, and personal stories on their popular blog, their podcast, and via national speaking engagements. Joann and Kelly's love and commitment to the power of interior design also extends towards their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala.

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

Covering 13 city blocks and over 11.5 million square feet of showrooms covering every product category, High Point Market is the epicenter of home furnishings and the one show you can't miss.

So, if you are in the trade, make sure to register and start your plans to attend the Fall Show which is October 14-18th this year. Three half-day tours will be offered on Friday, October 13th from 11:30 am to 6:00pm. The full day tours will be offered October 14th from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Qualifications to qualify for the Insiders Tour: You must be a member of the home furnishings industry who is eligible for a buyer pass and have never attended High Point Market or have not been to more than one market within the past 2 years. Here is the link to register: https://www.highpointmarket.org/InsidersTour

QUOTES:

Funny Quote: "If my email inbox were a person, it would be the neediest and attention-seeking person I've ever met." - Anonymous

Serious Quote: "The myth is that there isn't enough time. There is plenty of time. There isn't enough focus with the time you have. You win by directing your attention toward better things." - Anonymous

Behind the Scenes of the Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge with Michel Boyd Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

Join us for a lively chat with our longtime friend and well-known designer and TV star Michel Smith Boyd.

Michel is an American interior designer based here in Atlanta as well as the star of the HGTV hit shows, Luxe for Less, Rock The Block 4, and the brand new Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.

Listen and watch as we get the scoop on what it's like being on the set of the Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge while simultaneously running a successful design firm, starring in multiple HGTV shows, and kicking off retail collaborations. You might be surprised to hear what Michel really does to relax on a Friday night.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Did you realize that Barbie has been a leader in the women's movement for decades?
Michel's definition of luxury is authentically discovering what his clients consider an "indulgence" and then building from there.
As designers, we create our own retirement strategy and it comes from all different avenues – traditional design, brand collaborations, TV and more.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Outrageous Interiors.

Outrageous Interiors is a family-owned retail store in Atlanta that's been around for 34 years. They've got 4 locations – Alpharetta, Suwanee, Marietta and Kennesaw. The husband-and-wife team of Kurt and Patti Gosch do an amazing job sourcing everything from furniture to rugs to lamps and accessories to keep their stores current and fresh. They have a large inventory on their floors so it's a go to shop for us when we need something in a pinch. Even though they have 15 talented in-house designers, they are also very trade friendly.

Their team is very active on social media – especially Instagram – so check them out @outrageousinteriors. You will be very impressed!

QUOTES:

Funny Quote "Imagine if these home renovation shows existed 40 years ago: ' All that ugly hardwood is now covered in pink carpet and your entire kitchen is geese with blue bonnets' and the homeowners just stand there sobbing like 'oh my goodness, we love it so much'" - @Stash_Bham

Serious Quote "Ambition is doing your best to pursue more of what you value. A happy partnership, a playful home, a well-traveled life, rich friendships, peaceful parenting, works of service, a well mind. Those are big goals that take wholehearted dedication." - Neha Ruch

Your Interior Design Business Questions Answered Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we explore pain points and challenges faced by professionals in our industry along with effective ways to manage them.

We discuss how running an interior design business (and many other businesses) involves managing projects, prioritizing tasks, maintaining consistent communication with clients, and having tools to streamline operations.

Hear the strategies we use to onboard a new client all the way through the final install.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Our onboarding and design process from start to finish.
How to go about hiring, delegating tasks, training and paying a new employee.
What our design presentation looks like and how we present to our clients.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by High Point Market - https://www.highpointmarket.org

Covering 13 city blocks and over 11.5 million square feet of showrooms covering every product category, High Point Market is the epicenter of home furnishings and the one show you can't miss.

Every April and October the future of home is imagined by our industry's leading thinkers and innovators, defined by lifestyle trendsetters and product designers, given form by artists, artisans and manufacturers, and made a part of people's lives by interior designers and retailers. So if you are in the trade, make sure to register and start your plans to attend the Fall Show which is October 14-18th this year.

Registration is now open for the free Insider's Tour so be sure to sign up before it sells out. Here is the link to register: https://www.highpointmarket.org/InsidersTour

QUOTES:

Funny Quote "In today's episode of 'how strong is your marriage, we take a trip to Home Depot to pick out a shade of white." - Anonymous

Serious Quote "Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back, what you sow, you reap, what you give, you get, what you see in others, exists in you. Remember life is an echo. It always gets back to you so give goodness." - Anonymous

The Future Of Design Conferences with Adam Japko Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

As you all know, we are huge proponents of staying connected to our industry via design conferences, trade shows, visits to High Point Market and local offerings from places like ADAC, AmericasMart, Art gallery shows and more.

What we don't always bring attention to however, is how conference and event leaders come up with the amazing content they share on their stages.

Our industry is constantly evolving and for us as designers to stay relevant and to consistently offer value to our clients, we need to have conversations like the one we are about to have with our good friend, Adam Japko of Esteem Media.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Be sure to STOP and take TIME to work on your business. Investing in an industry related conference is a great place to start.
Web G3 and AI are coming to our industry whether you like it or not.
Get ready for the newly reimagined Design Influencers Leadership Conference In 2025!

RESOURCE LINKS:

Design Influencers Leadership Conference

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by High Point Market - https://www.highpointmarket.org

Covering 13 city blocks and over 11.5 million square feet of showrooms covering every product category, High Point Market is the epicenter of home furnishings and the one show you can't miss. Every April and October the future of home is imagined by our industry's leading

thinkers and innovators, defined by lifestyle trendsetters and product designers, given form by artists, artisans and manufacturers, and made a part of people's lives by interior designers and retailers.

So if you are in the trade, make sure to register and start your plans to attend the Fall Show which is October 14-18th this year. Visit the High Point Market and register here: highpointmarket.org. Stay tuned for open registration for the free Insiders Tour and be sure to sign up for our tour before it sells out.

QUOTES:

Funny Quote "Ladies - If your husband doesn't come in and say 'what is this crap you are watching' then casually sit down and watch 3 seasons of it with you, are you even married?" - @Stash_Bham

Serious Quote "The world you see is created by what you focus on. It is never too late to adjust your lens." - Anonymous

How to Have a Healthy Home Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

This episode is about the virtual "Future of Eco-Conscious Living" that was presented by House Beautiful on Earth Day. You will learn about the many ways that we can make small, but significant changes in our lives to reduce our environmental impact and live more sustainably by making smarter choices when it comes to buying products.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Learn what the Property Brothers, Ashton Kutcher and William Sonoma are doing for the environment.
Hear about the extreme environmental impact of toilet paper.
How you can live a luxurious and sustainable life at the same time.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

The Atlanta Market – the premier gift, décor and lifestyle Market right here in Atlanta. AmericasMart is a to-the-trade-only marketplace to discover new resources, and to connect with thousands of makers, manufacturers, and sales reps ready to help build your business.

The big shows are held in January and July and are always on our calendar. Each show we visit with like minded business owners and creatives and it's our time to get inspired by fabrics, furniture, colors and design-forward product displays on every showroom floor.

The next show is July 11-17 so we highly recommend you register by visiting Atlantamarket.com. The show is a bit overwhelming but make sure you visit the floor of temporaries, the coveted Antiques category and also five brand new floors of Casual and Outdoor Furnishings which is debuting this July. We will see you there!

AmericasMart Website: https://www.americasmart.com/

Author and Speaker Amy Flurry Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Tune in and watch this Episode as we talk to Amy Flurry, a nationally recognized speaker and author on the subject of DIY PR. She has decades of editorial experience as she shares with us the do's and don'ts in regard to pitching to editors. She also co-founded Aloka Home, a company that re-energizes vintage saris from India that were hand-stitched 60-80 years ago by shampooing, softening and dyeing them into beautiful quilts, coverlets and pillows . Check out these beautiful one-of-a-kind beauties at https://www.alokahome.com

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Learn about our guest Amy Flurry who has two decades of editorial experience and writing for top print and online publications. She authored Recipe for Press (Pitch Your Story and Create a Buzz) and Recipe for Press (Designer Edition) with tools interior designers need to take advantage of the press opportunities available to creative professionals.
Amy discusses some of the ways to do your own PR and be your own publicist when pitching a product or project to an editor.
Hear about Amy's company, Aloka Home that re-energizes hand-stitched 60-80 year old saris from India into beautiful quilts, coverlets and pillows that we love using in our designs.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Outrageous Interiors.

Outrageous Interiors is a family-owned retail store in Atlanta that's been in business for 35 years. And have 4 locations–Alpharetta, Suwanee, Marietta and Kennesaw. They are a go to source for designers because not only do they offer a trade discount, but they also sell off the floor and can special order upholstery, rugs and case goods. They have been a go to shop for us when we need something in a pinch as they have the best selection of ever-changing rugs, lamps, art, mirrors, accessories, and great quality sofas and chairs.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook @outrageousinteriors to see some fun "behind the scenes" of their design projects and their clients' gorgeous homes.

Outrageous Interiors Website: https://oiandd.com/

Intro to AI with Guest Leslie Carothers Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we chat with Leslie Carothers, Principal of Savour Partnership, who's always on top of the latest buzz in the interior design world. In this episode, we are talking all about Artificial Intelligence and how it is, and will be, affecting our jobs as interior designers. Are apps like RoomGPT, MidJourney and Reimagine Home a detriment to the value of the interior designer or can we simply use this new technology to enhance our services?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

AI will never entirely replace interior designers and the creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills we bring to our projects.
If you want to start playing around with AI as it pertains to design, check out MidJourney AI. Leslie has some tutorials on her website.
AI can be a quick and useful tool for ideation when communicating to clients.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Norwalk Furniture.

As you know we just returned from High Point Furniture Market where we spent a lot of time at Norwalk, one of our go-to brands for quality, custom-made furniture. We conscientiously went through each of the new fabric introductions which the President, Caroline Hipple, is so brilliant at sourcing. Unlike many other manufacturers, they have a particularly fabulous array of patterns and bright, fun fabrics to partner with performance fabrics, leathers, and textures like boucle and velvet. At the end of one of our long days, we curled up on the Neptune sectional with Prosecco and caught up with our friends at Coco & Dash for over an hour. It was so comfortable!

Check out Norwalk's website and especially their 360-Design tool to help visualize pieces. They are now shipping in 8 weeks!

Norwalk Furniture Website: https://norwalkfurniture.com

Our Trip To High Point Spring 2023 May 19, 2023

Show notes

This episode is all about our recent trip to the High Point Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina. We didn't set up many appointments this time so that we could be free to roam, find new accounts, build new relationships, and see where the inspiration would lead us. We had a super successful Insiders Tour on Saturday and learned a lot as usual. Listen up for all the trends and insights we discovered at the 2023 Spring High Point Market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

If you ever considered owning or designing a vacation or short-term rental, hear about the Vacation Rental Design Summit we attended in High Point.
Take the time to listen to successful people in your industry and learn from them.
The Top Trends in lighting, furniture, art, and accessories we saw at High Point Market.

RESOURCE LINKS:

BIO:

SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Gabby Home. Gabby is one of our go-to brands for everything from upholstery to lighting to case goods. Their transitional designs are easy to insert into any project.

You can visit a GABBY to-the-trade showroom in Atlanta, Highpoint, or Dallas. While you are there, check out some of our all-time favorites, like the Gordan pendant, the Arrington cabinet, and the Lambert counter stool.

GABBY Website: https://gabbyhome.com/

Special Offer on Your Next Order: https://gabbyhome.com/kk

The Interior Designer Skillset May 05, 2023

Show notes

Time for some Joann & Kelly mentoring! In this episode, we discuss how being a successful interior designer requires an extraordinary and varied skillset. We will share (5) key skills we use almost every day, from how to qualify a client, build rapport and trust with a client, and, most importantly, close the deals. The last 18 years have taught us a lot, and we are happy to share some helpful insights.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Listen to the end of the episode for a VERY BIG industry announcement.
Establishing yourself as an expert from the first impression is key to closing the deal.
We collect all procurement and design funds 100% up front. We will explain how.

RESOURCE LINKS: