What is the top thing we've learned in the past 8 years of being in business that has contributed to our success?

EDUCATION!!

A couple of weeks ago we attended the "business of design" seminar that teaches professional development to designers, decorators, stagers and stylists with Kimberley Seldon from Toronto, Canada.  She is an interior designer, magazine editor, keynote speaker, broadcast personality, and author.  The event was held at the beautiful Insidesign showroom in Atlanta.

As a matter of fact, over the last 8 years we have attended the following:

David Shepherd's Business of Design Conference - Las Vegas, Palm Springs and New York City.

Attended numerous events to hear keynote speakers at ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center).  Learning from interior designs, editors, and other design industry leaders that we look up to has definitely inspired us and taught us to be better designers!

 Just a few listed here:

 Bunny Williams (seasoned designer, furniture designer, author, and speaker)

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Margaret Russell (Editor in Chief of Architectural Digest)

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Newell Turner (Editor in Chief of Hearst Publications)

The Million Dollar Decorators (Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Mary McDonald, Kathryn Ireland, Jeffrey Alan Marks and Nathan Turner)

Lisa Newsom (founder of Veranda Magazine)

Joni Vanderslice (J. Banks Design)

Steve Noble (author on interior design, faculty at New York School of Interior Design)

Here are a few more of our endeavors over the last several years:

Tobi Fairley Mastermind Coaching Program - Little Rock, Arkansas

Design Bloggers Conference - Los Angeles, CA

Design Camp with Lori Dennis & Kelli Ellis - Atlanta, GA

High Point Furniture Market - Every April and October

Brizo Blogger 19 - New York City and Memphis, TN

Kravet Blogfest - New York City

As if that wasn't enough…...

One event we are hoping to attend in 2014 is Modenus Blog Tour Milan - This includes visiting the Salone Internazional del Mobile and includes a lifestyle tour with visits to wineries, cooking classes and the Italian countryside in addition to fabulous design at the Milan fair and many events within the city (fingers crossed)!!

Modenus, founded by Veronika Miller is an interior design resource and interior design blog with a curated collection of interior design products, directory of interior designers and so much more.  Check it out here!

What was interesting for us at our most recent seminar was that Kimberley said to us that when it came to design, she felt that many of us could make homes beautiful, but what clients really want are for projects to be on time and on budget.

Kelly and I looked at each other and said "we've been doing this for 8 years and never mentioned it"!! - So let it be known that not only will we make your home BEAUTIFUL, we'll make it THOUGHTFUL, FUNCTIONAL  &  GUARANTEED ON TIME AND ON BUDGET!!

Joann