Only Girl On The Jobsite

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