The Haute Design Network by Haute Residence brought together four designers from across the country to sit down and discuss the business aspect of their Design Careers.

"The Business of Design" webinar was hosted by Haute Living Media Group Senior VP, April Donelson and included the following designers: Rafaela Simoẽs and Laila Colvin of 2id Interiors, Karlee Coble of Karlee Coble Interiors, and Dorothy Alon of Sophea Designs. While interior design can certainly be an artistic and expressive career, when one owns their own design firm, the business aspect of things comes into frame all too quickly. The talented and successful designers explained the intricacies of walking the fine line between artists and business person all at once.

Here are some of the highlights of the conversation:

April Donelson: At what point did you decide to start your own design firm and was there ever a point where you ever thought of designing in any capacity which did not involve owning your own firm?

Karlee Coble: I started out working for other firms. Right out of art school, I had worked for three major firms before I started my own firm. While there, I learned everything from working with clients, to writing contracts, to learning how to get work, how to maintain work and so on. I found that every project is different and every client is different. So, I kind of worked my way up to my own firm and I got to see everything from other design firms. Once Had my own firm, it was organic and it just naturally happened. It was a point in my career where I was ready to be on my own and do my own thing and serve my clients in my own way. I had all the knowledge from other firms on how to do so. I guess I kind of worked it out backwards but it all worked out and it has been really successful.

AD: In regard to the beginning, the early years, what is the biggest lesson you got or the biggest take away you could share?

Rafaela Simoẽs: I think the biggest lesson I've learned has actually been to learn how to say 'no' to a client when you don't feel the chemistry or when you sense that things are just not clicking and you feel the relationship will not go well. Because I'm a pleaser, I always incline to try to satisfy the client no matter what but at some pint down the road, things get ugly if you avoid saying 'no.' So now, whenever I get that feeling, I would just rather not proceed and I move on.

AD: How do you integrate social media into your business? Do you see it as a positive or negative?

Laila Colvin: I think social media, for our company at least, is so major these days, especially Instagram. I would say we have more than half of our clients coming from Instagram alone. It's unbelievable how Instagram in particular is so important to us.

AD: What is the most enjoyable component of being a business owner?

Dorothy Alon: The best part of this business is the I can drive in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, and I may not know the person who live in this home, but I do know how this house looks on the inside. We also impact the exterior of the house as well so philosophically, it's like we are part of the landscape of Los Angeles. It's exciting because you think of all the people who live in these houses and you don't know their names but I feel as if I am a part of their lives despite not knowing their names and vise-versa.

Watch the entire conversation below:

The post Watch: Haute Design Experts Explain The Fine Line Between Being Entrepreneurs And Artists appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Panelists included Raimundo Onetto, Principal & CEO of Alta Developers, the development group behind Quadro Miami; Jessica Goldman Srebnick, CEO Goldman Properties and Founder of Goldman Global Arts; Gary Nader, Gallerist/Collector; Ombretta Agro’, Freelance Curator, and Troy Simmons, Sculptor. The event was hosted by Haute Living's April Donelson.

Watch the webinar below.

Highlight quotes from the webinar:

Raimundo Onetto: "We have 36 different countries buying in one project, but what is changing is that we are seeing buyers from New York, Chicago, and Boston that are moving to this nice weather and city... In the past 10 years, it has been pretty amazing, what the city has done with lobbies and garages. I think that's an amazing opportunity to bring art to real estate. They are being pushed up through the design boards but I think it's not enough. I think we need to push it even more. Every project has the budget to bring something different and not just paint to hide the parking garages. We need to keep doing that with each project.

Jessica Goldman Srebnick: "Collaboration is really important. We are real estate developers but also advocates for art and artists and culture. It's important for developers to look at the marriage of art and architecture in different ways and support it. I come from parents that always embraced art. They were collectors and supporters; they walk the walk. It wasn't about just buying the art, but finding projects for artists so we could help elevate their platform. Artists are courageous. They have a way of amplifying what's happening during all kinds of times. They question everything and allow people to have deeper conversations on all topics. Art can change an environment, a project, and bring people to a community that wouldn't have [otherwise]."

Gary Nader: "When I told my father that it was moving to Miami, he said, 'Why Miami? With your experience, you can open in New York, LA or Paris.' I said that Miami was the future. I wanted to grow with the city, and I saw Miami was going to become one of the most important cities in the world; we are seeing that now. A huge part of that is the art community. Any building can be beautiful, but the only difference is the art that you put in front or inside of it... Miami is growing and getting more involved in the arts. When there are galleries that have 15, 20 venues in the world but not one in Miami, you realize Miami is a young city. These other cities are hundreds and thousands of years old. There is a lot to do in Miami with art, and that's exciting."

Ombretta Agro’: "One of the key aspects that is unique to Miami is that most of the known collectors are also real estate developers. This has allowed the city to merge these two forms and create neighborhoods and buildings where the art is completely interwoven into them. Art brings an element that goes beyond beautiful architecture, finishes and design because it connects people and potential buyers at a visceral and emotional level. Developers understood that art was setting a building apart and enticing clients to look at properties with a different set of eyes. We have seen lots of examples how this partnership can be successful."

Troy Simmons: "Miami offers so much. It's such a melting pot of cultures which leads to so many different artists coming with different ideas from different backgrounds, and things that they're going through, and experiences they've had. For the developers to think in that line, to move in that direction, is something that thrills me... Moving to these types of projects, it's a key point for the artist to be there during schematic design phases. It gives the artist and developer the opportunities to learn about each other and to really understand the direction in which the project is moving in, and the direction in which the artist's work can flow seamlessly into that."

To watch more webinars by Haute Residence, visit https://dev.hauteresidence.com/.

Top: Jessica Goldman Srebnick, Raimundo Onetto, Gary Nader; Bottom: Ombretta Agro', Troy Simmons

The post Watch: “Art & Real Estate Talk” Webinar On Miami’s Perfect Partnership appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.