STOP REGISTERED DESIGNER LEGISLATION IN OREGON

STOP SENATE BILL 1521

http://www.capwiz.com/nkba/issues/alert/?alertid=60951521&type=CU


I have been a kitchen and bath designer going on 30 years (yes, I started when I was 5! - okay so that's not entirely true - Barbie's house doesn't count). Anyway, in all that time, and for all those houses I created new kitchens and baths, my designs had to adhere to the current building codes set forth by our governments - both national and regional. As far as I know - no one has been injured by my designs. In fact, my clients have repetitively told me how my designs have enhanced their lives and those of their families.

My designs have been created by incorporating good design sense, by following the guidelines as created by the National Kitchen and Bath Association and by strict adherence to the codes.

Now, we are being told that to create new designs, we must also be "Registered" by the State of Oregon, due to a concern for public safety.

There are already in place sufficient protections to the public to make additional legislation of this sort unnecessary. There has been no public outcry for governmental regulation of the interior design profession, only the cries of the few designers who will gain a competitive economic advantage if this bill is signed into law.

With a state unemployment rate at 8.9% which exceeds the national average and a budget deficit of over $3 BILLION, why would the legislature even consider a bill that would harm small businesses and make it harder for us to survive and continue to work?

I have included a link so that you may write our legislature to voice your options. THEY MUST RECEIVE YOUR EMAILS AND LETTERS THIS FRIDAY FEB 10TH AS THE COMMITTEE IS MEETING ON MONDAY THE 13TH! http://www.capwiz.com/nkba/issues/alert/?alertid=60951521&type=CU

Thank you for allowing me to voice my strong opposition to Senate Bill 1521. I hope that as a designer, you consider your position and make a stand.

My stand it to OPPOSE this anti-competitive, anti-consumer and anti-small business piece of legislation. I hope you join me.

Best wishes to all of you,

Robin -.

ADAPT OR DIE

Every two weeks the blogosphere comes alive as blogger of every stripe weigh in on the same topic. The topic for this iteration of the Blog Off is "If I could turn back time."

As someone who doesn’t spend a lot of energy thinking about the past, this topic really posed a challenge to me. Since we don’t have any control over what has happened, I focus on how I can either live with the decision I made or travel a different path.

I recently met a fellow designer who is being forced to change. It’s not an easy process even if you are willing. He has been an instrumental part of the kitchen and bath industry over 35 years, but the industry has changed and he is reluctant to be a part of the revolution.

“I don’t understand all the technology”
“The new designers are changing my field”
“The client doesn’t respect or value my experience”

Instead of seeing an opportunity for growth, he is wallowing in his misery.

This attitude is becoming more and more apparent – must be now that I have fully embraced my own mid-century, but I still don’t understand it. I recognize that change is hard and SCARY. But, as I have heard over and over in my life, one must “adapt or die”. I adapt.

My career in the Kitchen and Bath industry has spanned almost 30 years, I am currently in the process of reinventing myself. I love this industry and have no plans on leaving although I am moving into a different sector. I teach. Unfortunately I can’t teach full time (there are no full time positions). I teach design part-time at our local college. I love it.

Recognizing that there are opportunities all around me, I have started coaching other designers to be more successful in their career. I have the experience that many young and energetic designers don’t have. It’s an opportunity to share and support, a position that gives me great enjoyment. Seeing others succeed and be passionate about this industry is exciting and powerful.

Turn back time – NO WAY. Adapt or Die - NOT AN OPTION!

Adapt and move forward!

SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS FOR YOUR KITCHEN WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK!

Funny thing about houses – they don’t comprehend that the economy is less than stellar. They still need regular maintenance.

January is my time for organizing, cleaning closets, cabinets and overall rearranging. This creates lots of opportunities to notice all the things I want to fix and update in our home. Unfortunately, with the holidays just finishing and a tight budget, much of our home improvements may need to be put on the back burner for a while.

However, I do have a few options to update your kitchen that are both cost effective and sustainable.

Before you read any further, I want to stress the concept of sustainability. We have lived so long with getting what we want NOW!!! That includes a kitchen remodel. I have been in this industry for almost 30 years and have seen it all. What has affected me most is when I see homeowners try to do a high-end kitchen with a very low-end budget.

The results are dismal! Recently I visited a home that I bid on to do the kitchen remodel over 10 years ago. The kitchen was done by another contractor and was completed on a budget. The client chose a low-end painted cabinet line, installed beautiful high-end granite countertops and professional appliances, only to have the cabinets begin to fall apart after only nine years! The paint is worn, doors are cracked and drawers don’t open and close smoothly. I am sure that they spent over $50k on this worn kitchen that really needs to be replaced.

Yes, it looked beautiful when it was first installed and they had a new kitchen far below my original price of $75,000, but where are they now? The existing granite – which is in fine shape, cannot be reused on new cabinets (I have yet to see a successful removal and reinstall of granite countertops). They could reface the existing cabinets, but the boxes of the cabinets were not quality to begin with. The results will be what my grandpa would refer to as “putting lipstick on a pig”. Looks good, but it is still a pig!

All in all – the project they originally did was not both a good investment nor was it sustainable. The moral of this story is that if you don’t have the budget to do it right, wait until you can afford to do it right. However; there are options to make it livable in the meantime.

The list of kitchen improvements I have listed below are both a good short-term investment and sustainable.

Cabinet Upgrades:

1. Replace your hardware: Changing existing plain hardware with newer knobs and pulls is like buying new earrings! Notes to remember if replacing pulls: if you are not planning on doing anything else to the cabinets (i.e. – repaint or refinish) – be sure to measure the distance from the center of each hole. That information is paramount to minimizing your trips to the decorative hardware store.

Another fun option with cabinet hardware – they don’t all have to match. I enjoy using a few fun pulls on a decorative cabinet or just to bring a smile to my client’s face!

2. Open a cabinet – remove a few doors and paint the interior of the cabinet with a pop of color. If you are going to paint the inside of your cabinets – be sure to prepare the interior properly and to paint with high quality paint. The quality of the paint is important to the longevity of the aesthetics of the work you do. It will wear longer and look like a professional project. Many designers and painters recommend “Fine Paints of Europe” for painting cabinets and woodwork.

3. Replace a few cabinet doors with glass or another material insert. I have seen beautiful projects where the center panel was replaced with laminate, metal, laminated plastic or textured glass. All options can make your kitchen appear more open and brighter!

4. Paint all the cabinets. You don’t have to paint all of the cabinets. You can paint just the uppers, lowers or just the island. Consider painting the island or wall cabinets a different color from the lower cabinets.

I recommend painting the lower cabinets a darker color to minimize noticing dirt. The lower cabinets sustain more abuse than the upper cabinets. This will minimize wear and tear, thus allowing your painted finish to last longer.

5. Cabinet organizers. Most complaints from clients about their existing kitchen are that the cabinets don’t function well. Installing rollouts, spice organizers, dividers, recycling centers and more can give you a whole new relationship with your existing kitchen!

This is an easy fix for a more useful and functional kitchen, but it requires accurate measuring and knowledge of reading specifications. Not to worry, there are companies in town who sell these products and can help you through the process. I recommend Rev-a-shelf (www.revashelf.com) – these products are professional, functional and very pretty to look at!

6. New countertops – Laminate. Not too long ago, the most common countertop we installed was laminate. Granite, Quartz or marble was not in most people’s reach. Today’s laminates are not the same as our grandmother’s. The colors and finishes are beautiful and don’t stain or scratch as easily as they did in the past. The advantage is that they are very cost effective and will last a good 10 – 15 years.

Another option is to consider is to use materials for your countertops as you use your kitchen. For example, use a slab remnant next to your cooking surface, laminate around your sink and wood where you do most of your cutting. These options are not only cost effective, but add interest and most of all, increases the functionality of your kitchen!

There you go – six options that are sustainable, improve the functionality and aesthetics of your existing kitchen all with the added bonus of not breaking the bank. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Sustainable Design – A Thing of the Past?

Every two weeks the blogosphere comes alive when bloggers of every stripe weigh in on the same topic. The topic for today is "What are you looking forward to in the new year?"

There actually is a benefit to the recession.

It resulted in less consumerism. The Consumer has realized that they actually can survive with less.

Unfortunately, this belief created a casualty and the victim is Quality. Low quality products are an unsustainable practice in the world of design.

Even though there is a recession and the consumer is spending less, the Consumer still feels that they are entitled to everything!
Not too long ago, granite was an extravagant option for countertops. It was a luxury. Most clients were inclined to invest in quality cabinets first and install laminate countertops if the budget was tight. The plan was to get the new kitchen in now and in ten or fifteen years, the laminate countertops and surface mount sinks would be upgraded with new granite counters. The quality cabinets remained.

During the 90’s the trend changed to “I have to have granite or quartz countertops and I want them NOW! Let’s just choose low quality cabinets and save there!”

Folks, this is not “sustainable design”. First of all, when the cabinets fail, EVERYTHING has to go. Your beautiful granite cabinets are not reusable. The success rate of pulling the granite for reuse is very low.

In the past, cabinets would last 30 – 50 years. When they got worn, they would be refreshed with paint, new knobs and new countertops.

Today’s “value priced and low quality” cabinets are typically made from low quality MDF, usually on 3/8” to ½” thick and the center panels of the doors and drawer fronts are often fabricated with Masonite panels. The finish fails, drawer cease to open smoothly and the door and drawer fronts become damaged beyond repair. In short, I have seen kitchens installed only ten years prior that have to be gutted!

And don’t even get me started on poor design – that’s for another blog.

This practice is not sustainable!

My wish for 2012 is that all design, whether you purchase a lamp, table, chair or a new kitchen is - to think long term. Hire a good designer and if you have to have to wait to save for quality – do so.

And isn’t that the real definition of sustainable?

Value vs Experience and Hidden Costs

Every two weeks the blogosphere comes to life when bloggers of every stripe weigh in on the same topic. The topic this time is If you can't afford the tip you can't afford the meal. Here's my take.

Can you break this down?

Those are the most dreaded five words in the life of a Remodeling Design Salesperson.

Really – break down all 30 phases of a kitchen remodel? Labor AND materials?

If my 28 years of selling in the residential design build world has taught me anything, it’s this: the project will never sell once the client asks for a complete breakdown. It has never happened. It ends up turning into – “that much for an electrician?!?!” or, “I’ve changed a few outlets before, or; I have a brother who has a friend who is an electrician…”
The comments and the justifications go on and on. Eventually the client responds with “we have a friend who is going to build our project off of your specs and ideas for less.”

UGH!

The little voice in my head wants to respond with: “I read a book about brain surgery once; I think I’ll do my own!”
These people would never go to a car dealership and ask for a complete breakdown on the price of the car and say – “well, I can get a steering wheel from my brother-in-law’s friend for half the price”. It’s ludicrous!

I have spent years honing my skill, and creating relationships with my subcontractors whose only goal is to build a high quality project that they would be proud to have in their own home. This goal results in happy clients who pay their bills on time and refer us to their friends; we get to keep our house, feed and clothe our children and save for “retirement”. It’s a win-win.
Recently, I visited a project to bid on a design project. It wasn’t an overly challenging project from a design standpoint, but the client lived in a contributing home in an historical neighborhood. They also required a designer who understood construction specifications and could write them. They did not want a “hand-waving” designer. The challenge was in understanding the historical review process and how to dance with the city to get a small addition built.

The other designers they talked with had no experience with the historical review board, or writing specifications, the client also shared that they charged $85.00 an hour. After reviewing their project and sharing my experience and knowledge with the design review board, I told them that I had just recently lowered my price to $100 an hour and that was a bargain, as I was confident that I would be able to get the project through promptly and that my experience in construction would be an asset to their contractor.

I left the meeting quite confident.

The next day, I sent him an example of my specifications, and drawings for a project I had recently completed in their neighborhood along with a design retainer. I received an email back stating he was impressed with my attention to details and thoroughness, along with the comment that no one had sent in their estimates yet; even though they had visited the home over a week ago.

Again, I was feeling quite confident.

Long story short, I didn’t get the project.

Yes, he valued my experience, my knowledge and my attention to details.

No, he did not want to pay $15 more an hour, but if I could lower my hourly rate to $85, he would let me do the project.
Really????????

No thanks!

Thinking outside the box

A friend of mine sent these pictures to me - unfortunately she has no info on them.  They are quite inspiring and fun to look at.  I hope you enjoy them!

Have an inspired day!

PARADIGM SHIFT

This week’s Let’s Blog Off topic is taking a second look.  After a week of pondering the topic and 2 days of writing lots of nothing – lightning struck!  I have been working on this topic for a few weeks and didn’t realize the relationship (my own paradigm shift)! 

I hope you enjoy it!

“I have all of these great ideas, but I don’t have enough time.  I don’t know where to begin!”

So says a very successful Interior Designer  business coaching client of mine.

“How could you get more time?”  I asked.

“Well, If I could hire my assistant for time to help me, but that takes money…..”

Ah – Money – the root of most business hurdles.

I suggested another way of thinking about time.

“How is your tracking of your billable time?”

“Oh that, well, I try to write it down when I am designing, but I don’t have a very good system. Lots of pieces of paper.  Usually, I end up relying on my memory”.

Most of us know where this is heading.  We write down our time in a plethora of places and on lots of slips of paper.  When it comes time to actually write up an invoice, we spend a lot of energy fabricating our billable time, and since we don’t have accurate numbers, we decide that we are billing too much and discount the final invoice to the client.

After a few minutes of reflection, I told her about my weight loss journey (bear with me here – this has merit and a good moral to the story)

Four years ago, I joined Weight Watchers and lost 30lbs.  Yay me!  I kept it off for 2 ½ years.  Then I gained back 7 lbs.  For a year I tried to lose those nasty 7 lbs.  Two would go off, and one would come back.  One would go and two would come back. 

Yikes – the Yo-Yo!!!!!

What was I doing wrong?  I was following the plan, exercising, eating my fruits and veges and tracking most of the days.  But nothing was working.

Enter Flo -  my wise Weight Watchers leader.  She shared this lovely little tidbit of advice:

“Only track your food on the days you want to lose weight”

Really, that simple, or was it?

Well, for the next 2 months, every morning while I enjoyed my morning coffee and oatmeal, I would write down the food I thought I was going to eat for the day.  If I knew I was going out to lunch, I would plan what I was going to order.  It was much easier if I packed my lunch.  I tracked dinner, snacks and exercise.  Most of the time, I would readjust the next morning.  Remembering what I ate for 24 hours was much easier that trying to remember what I ate a week ago.

Wonder of wonders - the weight came off!

Back to my Interior Design client:

We came up with a plan.  In the morning while enjoying her morning coffee, she would plan out her day on her calendar.  She would determine how long each meeting would take and who she would be shopping for if she stopped at a showroom, what project she would be designing or working with her assistant and the next morning she would adjust as necessary.

This took about 5 minutes each morning.

At the end of one month – her billables went up on average $500 and she could now hire her assistant for more days to alleviate some of her office chores so that she could work on flushing out some of her ideas.

And all it took was a paradigm shift.