How Virtual Interior Design Is Making Luxury Spaces More Accessible, Scalable, and Client-Driven

This is iDesignLab, a podcast where creativity and curiosity meet style and design. Curator of interiors, furnishings, and lifestyles. Hosted by Tiffany Woolley, an interior designer and a style enthusiast, along with her serial entrepreneur husband Scott. iDesignLab is your ultimate design podcast where we explore the rich and vibrant world of design and its constant evolution in style and trends. Today on the iDesignLab, we're joined by Christy Salowski, founder of Crew Collective Design, a San Diego-based boutique studio redefining luxury interior design through an accessible, streamlined approach. Blending her background in corporate strategy and performance with a designer's eye, Christy creates warm, refined, livable spaces for clients across the country, both virtually and full service. Welcome to the iDesignLab podcast. Today we are joined from San Diego. We have Christy Salowski, and she is another high-end interior designer who has a really interesting approach through the virtual life that we all now adapt to on our phones and screens. So I'm really excited that she's here to join us and to hear about her process, but let's start by welcoming Christy, and we want to hear a little bit about you to our audience. Tell us a little about yourself. Yeah, thank you so much for having me. I'm so happy to be here. It's a great honor, and I love that we're able to do this. I'm in San Diego, and you're over on the East Coast in Florida, and we're able to have this interaction and reach out to clients, so it's fantastic. A little bit about me. I have not always been in the interior design world, but I've always had an eye for design and creativity, so I was a dancer and kind of like a visual artist through movement for a lot of my life, and I also kind of like rearranged my room several times and helped out with friends and family, and I really do feel like I always had this creative side, but I never really had it in my work. For 20, 25 years, I was in medical skills and marketing, so that's a little bit of my background, and I worked for large corporations, Johnson & Johnson, and Boston Scientific, and I just got burned out. I got laid off one day and was like, you know what, I've been doing this on the side for friends and family, and after 2020, I realized that you can build a business and reach clients virtually, and I kind of launched a concept, launched my business, and I'm like, I think this thing's going to take off, and I think I'm actually kind of good at it, you know? I think I've solved and learned, and that's kind of how I started my business, but personally, I'm originally from the East Coast. I am born and raised in Rochester, Buffalo area in New York, and although I love my family, I just don't love snow, so I live in California. And it is cold there right now. We have clients there. How did you end up all the way in San Diego from Rochester and Buffalo? I know, I know. At that time in my life, I moved out here. I was around like 22, 23, so I was right out of college, and I worked for Club Bed for a year. I just wasn't ready to like settle down. I still wanted to travel. I studied abroad in London, and I really had that, it's like travel and tour, and somebody told me because I was a dancer and a performer, they're just like, your talent is needed, like on cruise lines or, you know, Club Medity. So interesting. You did a Club Med, and I said, no, I don't know what Club Med is, so I was introduced, and I went to New York City and did an audition, and I ended up getting a job working for Club Med on a year contract, and that's where I met people all over the world, and I met a bunch of friends from San Diego or from California, and they just said, once we're out of this, you know, we're going to go live in San Diego, you should fly out here and see how this place is, and I did with one suitcase and a one-way ticket in February because it was snowing and really blustery cold, and I just sent out my resume, and you know, back then I had that hard drive, you know, I had the hard drive of my resume and my one-packed bag, and I just met this woman that was dumb enough to hire me, and I stayed. God bless. I mean, that's the one thing I enjoy so much about doing the podcast, is everybody's stories are so interesting, and obviously through so much travel, you must have had so much inspiration. Oh, oh yeah. I mean, first of all, I grew up in a really small town, so I really didn't have a lot of travel growing up. I mean, we drove up and down the East Coast, and that was definitely my excursions, and East Coast is beautiful, I'm not saying that, but in traveling to Europe and to study over there, the architecture, the beauty, you know, I went to Italy on weekends, and then I went to Ireland on weekends, and I went to France, and then as an adult, I've been back there, and you, I would say, as a designer and just as a person, you take what you love, and something that I'm really drawn to is European architecture now, and your styles, and I might choose that in a sort of look that is innately becoming my style, because I think I've been there so many times, and just really, really admired the beauty. Absolutely, and how they marry the old and the new so eloquently. Oh, beautiful. It is. It really is inspiring. So, as your life evolved in San Diego, you obviously left the corporate world, and when you decided to tackle interior design, how did you land on the niche of this, you know, is it virtual? What's the right way to explain it? Yeah, so I consider myself a practical approach to luxury interior design. When I first launched my business, Crew Collected Design, I did launch as a virtual interior designer, and that was three years ago, so I'm entering into my third year, and I was getting clients all over the U.S. I think I reached clients in about 15 states thus far, so the virtual piece did really take off, and it was a great way to reach clients, but what I realized was the after picture, you don't really get that finished result picture, and I think I was doing locally a disservice to my community by saying I was just virtual, right? So, now I do and can do full service interior design renovations as well as furnishing in decor. So, I kind of consider it like I recognized a gap in the market place where a lot of designers and a lot of my colleagues are a full service interior designer, and that is what they offer, and that's great, but I offer more, so essentially I offer a service level that meets the client where they are, and some of those clients are just an everyday person that doesn't want the full service or doesn't need it or truthfully doesn't have the deep pockets to be able to have that service, because it really truly is a white glove service, and it's a great service, and we offer it, but a lot of the entry level clients just don't know how to put a concept together and really don't know where to shop and what looks good together, and that's really what they are paying for you and need, and I have a service for that, and that's my comprehensive virtual interior design package, and I cater it to the client. Tell us a little about virtual interior design. What does that all mean? How does that all work? How does it start? They send you a picture or a room plan or how? Because you don't go and visit the client, let's say they're in North Dakota. No, but if they want to pay me to travel there, absolutely, I'll go. But we don't need to be there, and I think that if they are, say they hire me for a kitchen or a master bedroom or a primary bedroom, we always start off with, I mean, I have a signed contract and I want to make sure that our deliverables are what they're looking for, and then I give them a scope of work. So we sign that contract, and then from there, the onboarding process is a questionnaire, a pretty intuitive questionnaire that is very comprehensive, and in that, I really get a good understanding of the space and part of the process is that they have to upload pictures, videos, as well as measurements. And sometimes it's their handwritten measurements that I put into a floor plan or a cat drawing, or if they're doing a remodel, it tends to be like an as-built that I use at that point, so I really have everything that I need to at least to get the client a conceptual. Do you find everyone to be easy to work with and giving you all this information? Thus far, yes. I'm sure because they want the support, they want the reassurance of this service. Yeah, because I also offer, I also do request payment up front, you know, so usually, or at the very minimal, I offer a 50% payment, so they already paid for the most part, so it's really up to them to give me what they need. There is a little bit of upfront work, but it is talking about their project, and in it is really, I always make sure that they have a Pinterest board and that they have inspiration for me, so that's always the start of the process. I always launch with a call, a virtual call, just to make sure that we're on the same page and possibly talk through that concept and also look through their Pinterest pictures because their board might be all over the place, it doesn't have a clear direction, but I go through each picture or majority of picture and I'm like, what did you see in this picture that you like? And what I see is something that they are not sick sharing, they're like, what I see here that I like, Christy, is the white countertops. And I was like, oh wow, what I'm seeing is oak cabinetry, you know what I mean? So their Pinterest board is basically all of the different things that they've seen that they like that they'd like to incorporate into their home. And she has to discern them. Right, exactly. So are your call Zoom calls or is it just a regular telephone call typically? I have an online design platform that I like, that I keep all my communication and my mood boards and if I do procurement, everything is in my design platform. So I try to really stay off text once I start working with clients and email. So all communications in one place. I do virtual calls initially when, I mean, I'll first, let me turn that off. I first will talk to a client on the cell phone and then I will have a virtual call to kind of like start launch the process. And then when I'm doing my first presentation of the concepts and mood boards and selections and my kind of like my direction for the design, I do that in a virtual call. And we go over everything and go over the process of do you like this and then how my online design platform works so they understand the functionality of it. And then we're kind of communicating very, very clearly from there. It is a very, the process is very tight and gets from point A to point B very, very quickly. What is your time process turnaround from, you know, the initial onboarding of the client and the assigned contract and the Pinterest board? What timeframe do you need internally to turn it? Yeah, I think that's a very good question and I get that a lot from clients. I usually try to have my design from within a month's time. Okay, so within 30 days. And finish within that time. So by the time I usually sign a contract, I know that I have room for them in my monthly allotment, right? So usually within a week after that, I will have either a floor plan or a concept, you know, something to present within a week. And then once I get that approved, I can move into the mood board stage and starting selections pretty quickly within like two, two and a half weeks. And then I try to really get them to move through those selections. Some clients are like, yes, yes, yes, yes, or I don't like this. And they kind of like know what they want. And then we cultivate it or curate it to their likes. I would say I really do try within a month process to get them from concept to even like a rendering but within a month. So I have seen online a lot of your renderings, but if we go back, is there when you said you keep everything in one space? Is it an application or is it which did you create this software or? Yep, it's a software and there's a bunch of them out there. Right. But the one that I love is design files. Okay. And it is very user friendly. I get a lot of reviews. I mean, I'm a five star review business so far. I'm right. I pride myself in that. And a lot of people comment about how easy it was to work with me and how easy my online design platform was to like see what they liked. And that's really amazing. Is most of your work remodels or just like redecorating? I started in the business with decorating because that's really where my eye was in the beginning and I enjoyed it and I still do that. A lot of it. I still do. But my husband is a contractor. He's a commercial contractor and I just was a, I really kind of learned a lot through working with him and I realized that I was getting leads for kitchens and bathrooms, let's say. And I just was saying no, I wasn't taking on those businesses. Businesses because I felt like or that business because I just felt like I didn't have all my ducks in a row quite yet. Right. But let's just say it's a virtual client. I mean, I found resources that I can, you know, do materials coordination at a national level where they could go locally and pick it up. That's unbelievable. I mean, really, I just didn't have that when I launched and I just felt like I wasn't, I was doing the client a disservice. So I had to kind of get my ducks in a row and build that. And yeah, I mean, that's where I can, I can really kind of get them products there locally. So are you taking like the samples yourself and curating it so you see it and then you're just having them go locally and see it themselves as well. So you both are touching feeling. Exactly. Yep. I'm just, I'm just not there for those meetings or if I, if I am, I'm, I'm virtual. So I will have the samples come to me. Yeah. And then I will curate from that. And then I will also ship samples to the client personally, like a little package for them. Right. And then, or go to the store that I'm sending them to that they can get some really good pricing locally. And I work with the local rep to like kind of position it to them. So do you budget when you say that even with pricing, it brought my mind to budget. Are you providing a budget or are they providing providing you a budget in the beginning? I always have to start with a budget from the client. That is one of my questions in my, in my questionnaire because it, that kind of scopes the work of where I'm going. Dictate the source, what vendors you use. Yeah. Exactly. Is this client like a load of mid, is this the mid to high, is this the premium client? And that goes back to my, my, my entry point. Like I like to say that my business is an entry point for a lot of people. And if they're like, you know what this bathroom remodel for, for material selection, you know, is, is 15,000, you know, which is a relatively tight budget. I know where I have to go. Right. You know, and the methods that I have to go and the cabinet lines that I have to go to, and I have to present that to the client and say, you know, I'm not even going to present you this because this is out of, this is out of budget, but here's where you're at. Right. And, you know, here's another option if you decide you have more in the budget, but that's your choice. But I'm still going to find you good solid, you know, because you can get a subway tile, let's say for, right, that's $5.00. Sir, yeah. You know, 20, you know what I mean. Yeah, totally. Do you find clients being reluctant to give you a budget? Because we've, we've had a number of podcasts just about that and budgeting and so forth because a lot of people feel like, I don't know. Whoever says the number first loses. They don't want to say what their budget is, but we've talked a lot about the fact how important it is for people to really express and explain what their budget is to their interior designer. Oh, yeah. Because how helpful that can be. Oh, extremely helpful. But I mean, I think too, if I put myself in their shoes and if I was a consumer, you're always going to probably lobel the budget, right? Because, you know, if I'm even, even if I'm presenting what I do for the client, I never say, what's your budget for an interior designer? Because they have no, they have no idea, you know what I mean. Right. And I think that's to kind of scale, scope it as this is, this is the main range of what you would spend for a full service interior designer or my full service, you know, support for this type of project. This is the range where you're going to be paying in, in the industry or within San Diego or wherever you're at. Are you comfortable with that? And, you know, if not, then we're going to be in this service level, you know, that's kind of, so I even talk very, very early on. About financials. And a lot of it comes down to education. I mean, this, they don't know. They don't know. They don't know. And even with a $15,000 budget, I'm like, the majority of that is going to be in the cabinetry, you know. Right. And these are, you know, this is average what you're going to spend for this type of product. So, it takes a little bit of education. Do you price your fees for the project? Is it based on the contents? Is it based on the budget or based on the hours or all of the above? Yeah. And that is such, I mean, this is such a, you could have like 10 zillion podcast on this topic. And every, it's such a big topic. And I network with a lot of designers and we always go back and forth on this. I think there's designers that do hourly and that's, they just think it's, you know, the easiest approach for me and my business model, what works for me. And I think that is the most approachable way where a client knows what they're getting out of that investment with me because it is an investment. It is. Right. I think when, when they start doing full service and it's hourly, they don't know how much that's exactly going to be. And it's, it's, it's in, it's in variable. So with me, I'm a flat rate. Okay. Of based off of the project and the scope is I typically have a number, but it's, if it changes, like if they don't want to rendering or I don't need to be in CAD or something like that, I can adjust and swing on a scale. But it is a flat rate for a clear deliverables listed in my contract of what they will receive and on a timeline. Anything after that, whether it's, you know, on site visits, calls, resourcing, change of scope or whatever, it goes into my hourly rate. So it's funny because, you know, talking with you and I've been in the business for longer, but I've watched the industry evolve so much, like where people like you who have a strong creative background and, you know, a lot of drive and passion for design. It's just been such a fascinating time to watch the, the opportunity for everyday people to want to tackle this because for so long into your design was only for the wealthy or for super custom home was the way it was perceived. Correct. So everybody always comes into the mindset while a design, why do I need a designer? Do you ever feel like you're having to sell yourself or your services or when they come to you, they're pretty ready? Yeah. I think when they come to me, they're, they're usually ready. However, if they can't, if they can invest what I'm offering at my lowest service level, then they really should not be working with a designer. Right. Period. I mean, that's, that's how I've designed my, my business and my approach. So, and I'm okay with, with saying goodbye to that client and hope that they, they, you know, you can find great stuff at HomeGoods if you know how to put it together. So it's like, go shopping at HomeGoods, you know. That's the key thing that you just said, if they know how to put it together. Right. And I always say that, like technically you can't design a whole house out of HomeGoods. I mean, you, you can if it's like a small, but like it's tech. It's layer. And as you said, you know, in one of our previous, you know, conversations this morning was, you know, you start with just the room, but as you grow into the whole experience of interior design, it really is in the architectural and the structure and in all those components combined. So it definitely begins to overlap. Yeah, I always start my, you're so, you're so correct, Tiffany. And I always start my, my calls with them, you know, what's your biggest pain point and their biggest pain point. And I hear this over and over again, 90% of the time. I don't want to make a mistake. Right. I know what I want. I don't know how to put it together. Yes. You know, I painted my whole house. I hate it. So literally just need some advice. They need, I mean, that's really what it comes down to. So if they're telling me what the, I mean, it's a small investment for, for making a big impact that you're going to be happy with and then having to do it twice. Yeah, you don't have to do it twice and you'll get to, from point A to point B quickly. And I share the benefits of it. And like, if it's a virtual thing, then they get everything in a clean little package of what to buy, what sizes, you know, within your budget and how to, how to implement it. Right. They're like, oh, wow, that's great. You know, versus maybe like with a full service, you know, thing, they really have to, they really have to believe in the investment and not want to lift a finger, right. And trust a professional to do it. So. So going back to the virtual, you know, option, is that still something that you see a lot of need for as you've evolved, you know, into the San Diego area, or do you, you know, is that virtual part still, because that's actually something we've considered and, you know, grappled with, because we do have clients from out of state, you know, as well. I mean, it's definitely doable. But I'm wondering if you see the need as your services evolve more in your home base. I think that'll be something that we'll see how my business grows and what it grows into. Right now I'm doing a lot of remodeling, and I'm enjoying it. I mentioned earlier that I'm building a custom home right now. So and my husband's a contractor. So I'm really getting involved in the remodeling industry and working with contractors and really aligning and partnering there. So I see my business really taking off locally in more remodeling kitchens and baths and just I've done a couple new builds, but it's still something that is relatively newer in, you know, in my service levels. But I would say right now it's really, it's such an easy approach. And it's a quick streamline process the way that I have it that I think you're a little bit shooting yourself in the foot. If you say that you can't take on that client, I think what's difficult for people to understand is when they have launched their business in a full service approach, that it's hard for them to go to this approach. You know, because they're thinking more about their portfolio or they're thinking about their finished look. And it's really not about that. It's about the client at that point. And I might get a rendering out of it. And but it's it kind of, I don't know if I want to say this like verbally, I kind of say this to you guys one on one that it's quick easy money. Right. And I've had a client. It's a good news for my business. Yeah, I actually had an interior design friend who in 2020 was only doing high end work and was, you know, giving, you know, putting her nose up at a lot of opportunity along the way and then 2020 comes. And, you know, the end of the world kind of stopped and high end things. She was struggling, I should say before 2020, she was struggling. And, you know, where the opportunity was, and I said you, you would be so surprised just not to stay no to those renovation jobs. And one thing I learned in my career in the beginning by only doing those high end projects was those high end projects were two to three years in the making. So there's a lot of time in between that you could take on a lot of, you know, smaller projects that had a lot of fulfillment and a lot of, you know, you know, great income. But when you say, you know, also to a point it was, it's interesting that I still struggle because I treat each job the same. My process, I don't know how to do it any other way. Yeah. Well, I also think Tiffany would have a very difficult time with virtual projects. She's done a few, but I think part of the problem that she has is that she can't touch and feel it. She can't go, she's not there at the installation and when everything's being put in, she wants to be part of that process and see the client's face and the excitement of it. And so my question to you on that is, how does that work for you when you are in many cases not? I think, Tiffany, I think you and I could have a conversation about how to implement this. Yes. Because I do think that you can also, at the level that you've been working, you know, you can offer that into your package. Like, I will come out and fly for installation or tile installation or, you know, delivery day and install. Electric wall-throughs or what have you. Absolutely. You know, you can shift your business in that. And if a client really, truly wants you and your services and loves maybe a little bit of what you do, then they will hire you. You know, so I think that is something there. But how I manage it is, I mean, I do communicate with a client afterwards. I ask them to send me pictures and I always ask them to tell me how everything has been going. And, you know, it's a little bit of a different approach. You have to kind of give off that control. You got to let go of that control. Right. That's really what it comes down to. Right. And I think that's what the client, what they need that they would never have received on their own. Right. And that's such a different mindset. And that's not service level. I'm so impressed by that. Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely like there's, and this is what's been so interesting for me in the last 20 years is watching the business, you know, the actual industry grow and evolve to this level. Yeah. And I don't, you know, I don't really know that a lot of designers have this aspect mastered. Agreed. I really don't think they do. I get a lot of questions from designers. How do you do your business? How do you do it? Like, what do you do? You know, and it's like, it's just the business mindset of the person and how they've launched and how they're used to doing their business. Right. So for me, I feel like it is an approach that works and it's a different client. That's what it comes down to. It's a different client. It is. Okay. And you'll know the client when you're talking to them. And initially, as a full service interior designer, you might be like, this is not my client, but it is a client. If you have a minimum and a minimum to work with you for your ability and what you're going to give them, that is an investment in and of itself. And they have to pay that. And if they can't, then that client's not worth it. Right. But that there, there are clients that are willing to drop money for, for the service and the need. And they're like, oh yeah, I can execute on a plan. I can, I can buy what you're telling me to buy. That's what I need. I need somebody to curate it and I can execute it. It's like, great. And the feedback has been, has been great. So I honestly think it's just most full service interior designers might be like, no, okay, they're not ready to, you know, do the full service. Then they're not my client. And that's okay. Whereas somebody like me, I realize, okay, they're not a full service interior design client, but they are this. And if they're can afford that, then okay, good luck. And it's worth your time. When you launched your business, did you hire a company, you know, an SCL company or, you know, a company or someone to help you do an outreach on the internet to get you exposure and to get you clients? Or is that something you learned yourself and handled yourself? I've been doing this myself. And I was not, I'm a solopreneur. I'm a new entrepreneur. I have always had a, I guess a knack for, I mean, as a sales rep and as a business development person, I've always had known how to manage my business and hit my number and things like that. So I have that ability. But I think in my business, no, I mean, I started from scratch. I built my name. I started just attaching pictures on Instagram, finding out how, I mean, I'm just chat to my friend on how to grow a business. That's one of your employees. Yeah. Her name is Yolanda. Actually, I have a neighbor. So she's one of my, one of my buddies. She's like my assistant. But no, I didn't, my, I mean, my website from scratch. I mean, I definitely need some support. But I now recently, this month started with an SEO company. So we'll see how, how that has, has worked. But I'm on certain profiles, you know, so that kind of gives me a little bit of reach. But people are finding me on, on Google. I don't know how people in, in the nation are. I mean, I have, I did a job in Oklahoma. I did a job in Kentucky. And when they call me, I'm like, how did you find me? And they're like, I searched virtual interior designer. I'm just like, wow, okay, it's nice to know that somebody out there. That's my name somewhere. You know what I mean? I just, I'm so. It's so fascinating. So fascinating. So one area that we haven't talked about, that's really important from our business, but especially from a virtual standpoint, you're doing layouts, you're putting mood boards together, 3D, photo realistic. Are you doing that to show a client what they're getting, what it's going to look like, what, in the end? Yes. I'm sorry, was your, was your question, aren't my doing that? Yes. Which I know she, you are doing three dimensional drawings. Yes. Yes. And, and I added that into my package. I'll always remove it if the client is tight on investment money of working with me, but selfishly, I do want a 3D render for myself and my portfolio at the very minimal because I don't get that beautiful picture of my styled curated room. So I do at least a 3D render and clients really do like that. I sell it well and I also feel I use, I use a program that allows me to do a video as well. And it just is super unique. And I think that ties into the virtual package really nicely. And it just gives me something, something, you know, for my portfolio and to present and clients by that point are just so elated where, you know, they're like, wow, I don't know how you can do that. Like how you can take my space. You haven't, you haven't been here to measure. I'm like, yeah, like this is, this is, it's the nature of technology. It is the nature of technology. So are you doing those drawings yourself? Render? The drawings? I personally, I don't know that I want this to be live. Either, but I do outsource my rendering. Okay. So the renderings are outsourced because I was wondering, because there's so time consuming. Well, it's, it's a skill in the craft in itself. It is. And it's also another platform that I have to learn. And I think for me to scale the way that I want to, I, I wanted to spend my time doing things that I know I could do and do quickly. And I just trust other people, you know, to do it. And I have a good list of people that I, you know, I just outsource that. And I think that's what you have to do. What's your communication process with the, with your collaborator, who you do work with for renderings? Do you actually send them photos of the furniture? Obviously the drawing of the space, ceiling, heights, details, et cetera. Are you giving them fabric choices, wallpaper? Are you giving them all these details or? So I'm newer to the full service approach. So I haven't quite done that yet. But for my virtual design packages, I send them the floor plan and then the measurements. So they have, they know how to kind of scale the room. Yeah. And then I have my mood board with my selections. And that's, that's essential. So my layout shows where everything's going to be. And then my, my mood board and all the selections and I tell them the paint color and, and that. So like if I have drapes, they, it's a link to the drapes. So some virtual can tend to be a little bit more retail driven. Yes. Yeah. Versus I'm, I'm building something, you know, with materials and, and things like that. So that, that tends to be a little bit of an easier approach. Yes. It's definitely good for timing. And I understand the fast turnaround, you know, using retail links and everything. But if it would be a full service and you're, you know, you're doing a drape the size, are you giving them a size and then, and then say, here's the material. And usually a link to the material or a picture is something that they need to kind of create it. And you just kind of say to the client that like, you know, this isn't meant to be like completely bookmarked, right? Right. Like it's meant to be conceptual and this is meant to kind of show you how the look comes together. So that's, and it seems to be a pretty, a pretty quick process. Like I usually get my renderings within like a couple of days period after sending them what, what I need. That's amazing. We do them in-house and it, and I'm so, you know, amazed by the technology and really like Scott was saying the skill set of renders because, you know, we have one that's been working with us for a while who's truly a talent. And, you know, it definitely comes from lighting and just the way they can actually create pieces, you know, that aren't available. And then we've had some that are just, okay, this isn't the right, this isn't the right, because I'm still in that hands-on approach. It's not the right person. They're a little bit slower than what we're looking for. Sure. Yeah. I think people that are really skilled in it, honestly, they can just hammer it out super quick and. Oh, without a doubt. I mean, I'm just amazed by how quickly they can do it. I mean, I've gone to locally, like I can go out, I have this technology and this also fits my virtual feel is that I can scan a room and kind of do measurements and then also cross-reference that with hand measurements from like a contractor or something. But I go out and I scan a room and then I bring that into it can go into CAD, it can go into a floor plan platform and it's just, it's such a time saver. And then I just kind of cross-reference the handwritten measurements. But I brought a draft or a local drafter out with me. So while I was scanning and I started doing like the handwritten measurements, like she was already like basically like had it written up, like already in her drawn up in her platform. Wow. While I was there and I was like, wait a second, you just did that? Like that would have taken me, it's a skill set that I just don't really want to do. Was she using one of those new devices? I don't know if you've seen like Instagram and TikTok, they have ads for them where it's just like a, where you can walk around with it, a room or outside and it automatically measures it and then puts it into CAD or whatever. Yeah, that's what I was using. Yeah, there's a couple platforms out there that do that. So she had something I think similar as well that just gets it uploaded and then you do it again, like the measurements and it becomes such a quicker process. She's like, I would, I'd be taking four hours to measure this house to do this job. Exactly. You know, so it does really cut off on time and technology has gotten so good in that. But to what I was saying is like, they just do it so quickly that it's like, okay, you know, I'm going to stick to what I love doing quickly to kind of scale that way. I know and you're saying the word scale. I mean, that's one thing that Scott and I with Scott coming on board was the desire to scale. It's like, okay, we're going to do this and hopefully, you know, build a scalable business and bring the kids on board eventually or, you know, however God willing, now all that falls into place. I do believe that, you know, you being newer to the field, you know, it's like you're getting such a great learning curve on all these technical opportunities that for me, I'm so stuck in a creative process that I'm not taking advantage of. You know, to be honest, to be fair, to be to be fair, Tiffany, I hear this from a lot of designers. They might work with some designers that want to present themselves in the virtual space, but they can't conceptualize it, right? Like, like you maybe so to speak, because you're so used to doing it a certain way and that's a way that I'm learning into. So, right, somebody like me would learn significantly from you and your process. I have a skill set and a business model that you could add to scale to your business. Without a doubt. And it isn't something that you want to learn. So, I have had this conversation with probably a handful of designers and they're starting to, this is part of my growth model for this year is that I will, I have and will work for designers, either as their, as their outsourcing virtual partner. Right, right. I will go in and work with their mood boards and I will do everything and communicate with the client and, you know, it's a little bit of just setting up the correct setup. I mean, or they can refer out to me, but I think some of them want to get paid off of my service, but I basically act as an extension of their business. Which is really amazing. I mean, that's another whole opportunity level for sure. We should talk one off if you'd like. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So, let's go back a little bit to the creative process. So, when you were, you know, making this your future, what is your go to inspiration and your sourcing and like, where do you get your passion and drive and, you know, industry and all those good things? Yeah. I mean, we always love a good, a good Pinterest. I think you do so much on social media right now. Yes. I think reps are also a really good resource. Yeah, we interview a lot of them too. I think they can be so incredibly helpful on, you know, maybe finding the right product or, you know, getting just, just another design eye on a project. And they can also ask us to act as like a little sourcing partner for you. So, I think reps are an incredible resource as well. So, Pinterest, I mean, Instagram has gotten to be agreed. I really do think that TikTok and Instagram, I'm on all these platforms that people get on there and they're like, I'm doing a kitchen model. I don't know what to do. And then they go kitchen model and that is like, like a ton of things that they could, but that's also a rabbit hole. Right. But we can see very quickly and eliminate that rabbit hole and I can get really some good inspiration. I love, I follow a lot of designers that I might like emulate and I see their work and I'm not afraid to shout out and be like, that's gorgeous. Right. You know? Yeah. And take that approach and be like, how like, I don't want to copy that approach. Nobody are inspired. They are inspired. They use the color there and like that textile with that together and you know, that really speaks to me as a designer. And I've noticed that a lot about designers too. Yeah. And I've noticed that about the industry lately too through social media. It is a very supportive industry. I feel like that people are very complimentary. People do shout out. I feel like it's, you know, more of like a sisterhood versus a competition. Yeah. Yeah. Myself and two other designers here locally, we started this design huddle every month and it's, it's designed to really like, we want to learn, we want to grow from each other. We want to really elevate the industry as a whole. And that's maybe my entrepreneurial background too, but you know, selfishly, I do want to network with designers. I do want to learn, but I think it's important that we also elevate the industry because me coming in as a virtual designer, I am not trying to like, you know, demolish the industry and come in at a low price point. I'm just, I'm helping, I think the industry grow slightly. It's a good perspective. Yeah. And, and just, and just evolve. And I think I can also learn from the full service interior designers too. So we kind of just, we did like, I mean, last, last meeting we, we kind of talked about price point and we're all in the same market. And it's like, okay, how do you, how does your motto work? Like how, how do you bill? And it's like, if we're not kind of all aligned, as if a client is going to be shopping, our industry looks a little bit mishmoshed. If we aren't aligned with kind of how we're doing things a little bit. And how do you see like the act in the industry retail versus like say manufacturers that like to deal directly to the trade? Do you have any thoughts on where that all falls in? Repeat that question. I'm sorry. I think, you know, with retail items like say versus like a restoration hardware, a pottery barn versus, you know, to the trade sources. What's the question about that though? No, just in your comp, in like your design huddles, like do you see people in the industry preferring one way or another? I see in the industry, they do trade. I definitely have trade products and I can get trade products. I link trade products directly where the client can buy directly. I don't, I don't procure for them, but I get like a small commission, right? And that's kind of a boost into my virtual model as well. I prefer not to procure. So I, I found that they do procure mid, but they also will do retail items in there. Amazon, Target, for certain things. Like you kind of have to, to be a turnkey service. Absolutely. And to be honest with you, I mean, what we've, we've also gotten into that you don't want to like itemize everything because then they're not going to want to spend, you know, $180 or $200 on a lamp. But like, you know, you can mix in certain things to hit budget and there are great products out there. Without a doubt. So yeah, I would say that they, they mix in products. And honestly, as I've, I'd seen some of the designers that I emulate, that's also kind of how they, they do it as well. And they'll, they'll log very openly about how this, this bathroom remodel, the client didn't have, you know, a high budget, but you know what, she used porcelain and she did a floor tile that was very inexpensive, but was super like, you know, European, just felt very, I don't even know it was like, you know, in cottage, modern, it was just like so cool. And I just think that it just depends on where you source, honestly. So. And when you say you don't do the procurement, so your virtual system has links and the client handles all of that, the delivery date, the follow up, the payment, because that's so much of like, what our infrastructure is these days. I mean, we had three people out on installations and deliveries this morning, which is very time consuming that I guess you don't worry about. Yeah, with my virtual packages, correct. No, and that was, that was initially how I launched. Again, so different. So smart. And other processes I launched because I'm not there and I launched just with the ease of, I'm going to give you everything you need, but you buy it at your own timeline, you know, and your own budget. But you're doing the selections for them. You're picking everything. Absolutely. So. Absolutely. I'm doing the selections. I'm doing the colors. I'm giving them paint selections. You know, I'm everything they need, but I also give them edits. Like they, they assist in that, you know, I might give them options and then they pick the one that they like the best and I might shift other materials around that. Because of that choice. Yes. Are you doing that choice? But it's what they like. Are you doing flooring and wallpaper, those types, those items also? Yeah, I'll do, I'll do engineer at hardwood, carpet, wallpaper, you know, anything the design actually calls for. If it's a trade item, they, I linked to the trade item and I don't make as much. I mean, again, I probably don't want that like going out to anybody else besides you and I, but I don't make, I don't make the markup. Right. I make a percentage of commission, if you will. It might be 10% or something like that. I also aren't having to deal with the hassle. So there is, there's gain in that. And I really sell the value of white glove delivery with my clients, like when they're, if they're buying, let's say restoration hardware, do that white glove delivery, you know, it's basically going to be what an installer would do. They're going to come in, they're going to set it up to our floor plan that we've identified and you direct them, that's where it goes, clean up your stuff and go. I mean, that's essentially, so basically I sell the fact that I'm giving you everything of a full service interior designer is doing. I'm not there to set it up for you. I'm happy to have a styling call with you, you know, but it's a lot of their stuff in there too, right? I'm not seeing that, but okay, we'll work with that, you know. So I'm, I offer that to them, but they're oftentimes super happy and they're like, oh, you know, look at our living room outlooks right now. And I'm like, oh, that's great. But what the frick is that, you know, like, you know, but you're happy at the end of the day. And that's truly the end goal. And that's important that they're happy. That's important. And my reviews mean, mean everything to me. So I think, you know, as I evolve, will I be able to do fully what you do? Yes. And I can do that. It just, I think I'm still working through that entire process. And it's something that I probably won't enjoy the procurement piece and the returns and the hassles are definitely a little skill to a lot of my colleagues. For sure. At Dufuil service and tier design. And when they hear what I do, they're like, oh my gosh, that seems like so much more enjoyable. And I'm like, yeah, I'm stressed. I don't have the stress, which is such a blessing. And you get all the fun part, which is, you know, the design, correct. Which is what people really need is someone helping them design it, put it together and curate it. I'm really just going to the heart of what people need. And I'm just, just delivering to that. Honestly, I mean, I would love those high end clients. And I think I'm starting to get there, but it's, I'm okay with, because I have 90% of what you hear is not like, I want you to do everything for me. I don't want to lift a finger. It's more so those clients that are like, I'm willing to pay for your service. So I don't mess up. Right. Right. And I think I can do the rest myself. I can, I can implement this. I can tell people where to deliver things and unload it and leave. I can do that. And I, yeah, and there is a niche for that. I feel like, you know, there is a world where because we do have, you know, technology at our fingertips, people do think it's easier. But they definitely need the guidance and that's an entry, you know, a level that I feel like is so important, especially with like, even down here in South Florida, which I would think is in San Diego too. There's a lot of, you know, the Toll Brother communities. There's a lot of communities that aren't super custom where you want to be able to personalize your space and, you know, really curate something special versus falling into just the, you know, the traps of everything that's easy. Yeah. Yeah. A little bit of what I do too is, you know, educating them on how things can kind of come together. Right. Like, you know, that client that isn't fully custom just wants to understand how to mix things together. And they, they're getting really good education from me. Whereas if somebody is maybe doing a full service project, they're, they're making a lot of the decisions for them, you know. And then kind of just, it's coming together. I don't know. It's just, I don't know where I'm going with that, but. Well, it is just a really, it's a really cool niche. And I'm so happy that we were able to dive into that a little bit because I do think that your career is going to take off and you're going to have a lot of local clients. But I would say keep your hand in this virtual side for sure. I think so. Yeah. I really think so just because like that's how I built my business. That's how I've built my brand. And, you know, I think that if that client comes around and they want a full service, they're still going to get a really, really great value with me because I still might not, I don't know, do the full on procurement piece and just send them like links to things that they can buy that might be Amber Lewis. That I didn't totally like, you know, find fabric and put on that, you know, but it is, it is a designer piece that they wouldn't have access to. They weren't working with me. Agreed. So. And that is the curation that an interior designer does bring to the table. Those layers that are special. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. Well, thank you so much for joining us on the I design lab today. Can you tell our audience where they can find you? All your details. What's your website and Instagram? Absolutely. So my business name is crew collective design. I am the owner founder and principal designer. My name is Christy Stolioski. And I am, oh gosh, I'm all over social media. I'm on Instagram crew collective design. Everything is crew collective design. So CREW collective design. And on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, Pinterest, my website is crew collective design. I can help you anywhere in the United States. I mean, I'll take other countries, but no, let's just stay with the United States for now. I'm good with 50 states. What is crew? How did you come about crew collective? Is there a reason behind it? It's a good question. My husband's business and he's a builder is crew builders. Oh, that's fantastic. And I am crew collective design. So there could be an opportunity in the future for us to collaborate. Yeah, that's, I see that all happening. And so God bless on your way there. But like I said, don't give up this really interesting niche that I think really keeps you on the pulse. And if anything, it keeps the joy and all in the time. And the scalability of it is awesome. Awesome. Thank you very much. Thank you. Well, thank you so much. Thank you for listening to iDesign Lab today. Please visit TWinteriors.com.