Niche-Specific Interior Design Career Opportunities

So, you want to be an interior designer. That’s wonderful. Interior design is a great profession, it is exciting and enlightening, but it is also hard work. However, it can be a lucrative venture if you approach it in a strictly business-like manner, no matter the scale of your operations.



It is so delightful and satisfying when an interior concept you develop on paper is brought to reality. It is also fulfilling when you see the expression of delight and satisfaction on your client's face. But the interior design profession goes beyond home decorating, interior upgrades, renovations, and procurement of materials on behalf of clients.

There are a great number of top-earning niches in the interior design industry; call them sub-categories if you wish. Some of these niches are best described as specialized fields and each field has its own sub-niches too.

Many aspiring interior designers fail to recognise them. They fail to realise how profitable a niche or sub-niche might be for their interior design business. And for the Jill (or Jack)-of-all-trades, avoid getting enmeshed in every aspect of the profession by doing anything from general interior décor tasks and window treatments to choosing furniture, lights, and gutting an interior for remodelling purposes. When you lack focus and accept any interior design or decoration job that comes along, it may become a sure-fire way of working under stressful conditions and losing revenue.

In this book, you will find many career and job opportunities you can choose from. So, forget the not-so-true fact that interior design is strictly limited to the interior spaces of buildings. There are many more viable and gainful ways interior designers can increase the profitability of their businesses.

Think of the dozens of things that come to play in residential and commercial interior design and find the one you think you’ll excel most in. Focus on a couple of related areas, or better still, on a standalone niche. Remember; some of the best job opportunities in the industry remain mostly for interior designers working in specialized interior design niches.


Further reading:

Interior design workbooks:
Mood Board Pages for Interior Designers (A portfolio organizer journal)


Why Interior Designers Must Have Contract Agreements with Clients

Running an interior design business is just like any other business. It must be approached with seriousness. Unfortunately, creative people seem to forget this. 

Yes, the profession is exciting, and designers appear to have an I'm-enjoying-this-task mindset. But businesses can't be operated like that. You can't lose focus and get entangled in the designing aspect alone. It is a business and you are in it to make money.

Signing a contract.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

The Importance of Signing an Agreement

Most clients are great to work with, and some fabulous client-designer relationships have developed into long-lasting friendships. But it isn't always so. Some clients are difficult to work with, indecisive, and unpleasant. On the other hand, some interior designers don't deliver on promises and do shoddy jobs.

So, to avoid back-and-forth arguments that may result in rancour, losses, and litigations, there must be a signed pact between the designer and his or her client. 

This ensures that everything is documented, clear, accepted and signed by both parties. Only then can the design and build process begin.

The Contract Agreement

The contract agreement does not need to be complex or full of technical jargon. All that’s required are a few interior design-related clauses stating the: 
  • Scope of work.
  • Deliveries.
  • Duration.
  • Aagreement.
  • Variables.
  • Terms and conditions.
Avoid starting any project solely on a friendly note. There is nothing like a handshake agreement. It will only lead to doom.

Whether your contract costs are as little as $250, or in the tens of thousands, a formal agreement will help to keep things clarified, tidy, and legal.

It will also protect both the designer and the client. If there is a disagreement (or dispute) between both parties, the signed document is the saving grace.

As long as everything is spelt out in clear terms, and both parties sign it, neither will be held legally responsible for any action, or inaction.



*This book Important Clauses to Add to an Interior Design Contract Agreement, shows the key clauses to add to interior design contract agreement documents. Whether you are a beginner in the industry or a veteran, this book is for you.


Further reading

How Do Interior Designers Charge Their Clients for Design Services?

How do interior designers charge their clients for services rendered? This question is relevant to both interior designers and their clients. To an interior designer, knowing how to bill a client for a potential contract that they hope to get, without over-billing or under-charging can be somewhat challenging. As a professional interior designer, I know the dilemma of trying to charge reasonably without shooting myself in the foot. I know I am not alone.


And then there are the clients. Most clients don’t know what to expect. Many people believe that interior designers are very expensive and would not even dare to think about employing their services. Some ask why they need a designer’s input when they can do it all by themselves - the DIY enthusiasts, of course.

But what happens when you have a project that does require the input of a professional designer? Something more complex like renovations or partial upgrades; interior design works that require design layouts, blueprints, 3D drawings, etc? How about the not-so-complex tasks like a kitchen or bathroom upgrade on a budget or upgrading a dull, drab living room?

There are many ways that an interior designer can charge for services rendered, and this book (also available as an e-book), will show you how. In this book, you’ll find different billing structures. There will be at least a couple of pricing structures that will work best for you and your interior design business.

So whether you are a client who wants to be sure and happy about the way you are being billed, a designer that plans to start up an interior design business or you are already a practising interior designer who wants to avoid costly mistakes that will either make you lose revenue (despite your hard work) or, at best, allow you to just break even, you will be glad you got this book that comes in both digital and paperback forms.

16 Reasons Why Slate Kitchen Countertops are Increasingly Popular


Slate is one of the finest traditional natural stone materials used as kitchen worktops for hundreds of years. It is attractive, has a surprisingly modern look, is durable, and is non-porous. Today, slate worktops are popular for kitchen and bathroom top surfaces. Below are the reasons why.

Why Slate Countertops Are Popular

  1. They have a distinctly handsome appearance, with an elegant and classic look.
  2. They come naturally in blue-black, grey, and muted black hues and blend beautifully with any decor style: traditional, contemporary, or ultra-modern. (You can also find a variety of red, brown, deep purple, blue, and dark green shades).
  3. Slate is non-porous. This quality makes it impermeable to oils, food stains, and bright-colored juices.
  4. As countertops, its longevity is unsurpassed. Slate material is estimated to have a lifespan of close to a century.
  5. It is an excellent antibacterial kitchen worktop material and does not encourage bacterial growth.
  6. Slate is a much better alternative to marble kitchen counters because it does not absorb stains and does not dull with age.
  7. Slate cannot be shined or polished to a glazed finish like marble or granite. Its beauty lies rather in its unique natural rustic look.
  8. The stone is hardy and will not chip or get scratched easily (if you use soft slate instead of hard slate, scratches may occur. They can be rubbed out easily with a smooth, hard-surfaced implement).
  9. It is a dream choice for high-end designs. Slate is used extensively by architects, interior designers and many homeowners who desire luxury kitchen designs.
  10. As a kitchen countertop, slate is very easy to maintain. It only requires cleaning like you will for other natural stone worktops.
  11. There is no need to use special cleaners. A mild soap and a damp cloth will suffice.
  12. It stands up very well to heat, so you can place your hot pans on its surface without worrying about marring your countertop.
  13. In comparison to granite and marble, despite its good qualities, slate countertops are much less expensive.
  14. If you do not like the bold, busy, and streaky patterns of granite and marble, slate, with its stellar looks, is a great alternative.
  15. It has a more uniform appearance than its close relatives - granite, marble, and quartz.
  16. Slate is now an on-trend kitchen material with its rising popularity.
With a kitchen worktop made from slate, your kitchen design will be a conversation topic when people walk into your home.


Blue-black shades of slate tiles will transform any kitchen into a
sophisticated food preparation cum family hub zone.


Tips:
  • Avoid the cheap, cut-throat price slate materials that dominate the market. They stain easily and will fade with time, and they delaminate often.
  • The best quality slate is natural slate smoothed with diamond-edged machines (using fine diamonds to abrade).
  • If you want a wet glazed look typical of granite (slate has a soft matte sheen), rub its surface with lemon (cut in half), or buff with coconut oil.
  • The natural slate is slightly brittle and has sharp edges, so before you install it as a worktop, have it rounded off (with a powered hand grinder) to avoid cuts or injuries.

Slate vs Laminate for Kitchen Worktops? (Video)





Related articles:
7 Ways to Upgrade your Kitchen without Spending a Fortune
Is It Wise (or not) to Use Marble for Kitchen Countertops?
Top 5 Materials for Kitchen Worktops
How to Design Your Kitchen Layout
5 Best Kitchen Layouts: How to Design Efficient Kitchens

What is a Roman Shade?

Roman shades are modern and stylish window treatments made from fabric. Categorised as soft window treatments, Roman shades can be used to add a stylish minimalist theme to an interior space.

Unlike blinds, shades have no adjustable vanes or slats that help you adjust for daylight filtering, rather, they came in various types with different levels of opacity.




Roman shades offer a clean, smooth look that is elegant without being overbearing, like heavy curtains and drapes. Its streamlined look works well with rooms that have small to medium-sized windows. This doesn’t go to say that you can’t use them for wider windows. However, with wider windows, you may need to install two or three Roman shade panels.

How you install Roman shades depends on the type of windows you have. If you have beautiful window openings with mouldings, trims, and elaborate sills, then it's best to fit them inside the window. This will keep the architectural details in view. However, if you have non-descript or plain windows typical of modern homes, it is better to mount the shades on the outside of the window frame.

Types of Roman Shades


There are different types of Roman shades. The variety of fabrics and opacities means that these shade offer a choice for every kind of window and every type of interior design concept. It also means that there is always a choice available to suit everyone’s taste and style. The different types of shades include:

  • Cascade Roman shades
  • Pleated Roman shades
  • Cassette Roman shades
  • Waterfall Roman shades
  • Flat Roman shades
  • Relaxed Roman shades
  • Cassette Roman shades, and,
  • Hobbled Shades

Features of a Roman Shade


1. They stack up evenly in horizontal folds when opened.

2. They are visibly smooth with a clean uncluttered look, and without bump or creases.

3. New innovations in liners and operating systems.

4. Can be raised or lowered with the help of a cord system and rings sewn on the back of the fabric.

5. Gives a clean, streamlined look to the window

6. Roman shades are available in both rolling and stacking options.

7. Durable and easy to clean.

8. Available in an array of colours, textures, patterns, and dramatic designs,

9. They usually have a neutral colour back lining for a smooth consistent view from the outside of the building.

10. Roman shades can be customized to feature curved bottoms, embellishments, tassels, embroidery, fringe, or other types of bottom trims.

11. Thermal or blackout liner for energy efficiency, light blockage, and complete privacy.

12. Can be equipped with cordless operation for both convenience and child safety.


Roman shades have a wide price range, from the cheaper versions to the much more expensive ones. Prices tags will depend on the fabric used, the features they have, and the type of operating system they possess. 



Further reading:
Energy Saving Window Treatments - Honeycomb Window Blinds
How to Clean Honeycomb Window Blinds
How to Clean Bamboo Window Shades the Easy Way
Soft Window Treatments - Basics of Window Dressing
Home Decorating Fabrics by the Yard Online

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