Inside Design With Kandrac & Kole

Manifesting our visions for the upcoming year is something that we are very committed to doing every January and have done it for the 18 years we’ve been in business. In this episode, we are going to talk about our personal and business intentions that we have very consciously put into the universe for 2024. You might find some of our goals surprising but hopefully inspirational. Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by Currey & Company, producer of beautiful residential and contract lighting, in-stock case goods and upholstery, and a broad range of statement- making accessories. Atlanta-based and second-generation family owned, Currey is committed to being a designer’s best friend. They achieve this through constant investment in authentic designs, superior customer service, fast shipping and staying in stock. Visit their trade-only showrooms in High Point, Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas to experience the broad range of designs, each meticulously handcrafted by artisans around the world. Or visit curreya

In this episode, we share inspiration and insights from our experience attending the Aspire Summit in Atlanta, a two-day event for entrepreneurs aimed at inspiring growth financially, professionally, and personally. We are always looking for ways to grow, and thought an event NOT focused on interior design, but rather on small business success, would be a breath of fresh air.   Key Takeaways: 1.    Take time AWAY from your business to work on your business. 2.    Nobody cares more about your money than you. It’s important to increase your financial IQ. 3.    Visualize the next scene in your movie or chapter in your life. Allow yourself to daydream then vocalize that to the universe and ask the universe to send you signs and signals.   Resources and Links kandrac-kole.com/our-podcast facebook.com/kandracandkole twitter.com/KandracKole instagram.com/kandrackole   BIO: Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been featured on HG

We have HUGE gratitude to all of you for listening, watching, reviewing, and supporting our podcast this year. On our next podcast, we will have a very exciting announcement about great things to come on Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole in 2024.  In the meantime, thank you Atlanta Market for sponsoring this episode. We wish you all a joyous and safe holiday with a reminder to count your blessings and pay it forward. The holidays are a hard time for many and to those people, we send big hugs and lots of love. See you in the New Year!    KEY TAKEAWAYS:  2023 was filled with events, trips, unique installs, remodels, and a lot of learning. We cannot wait to see what 2024 will bring!  Design events are some of our favorite ways to learn about up-and-coming design elements and network with fellow designers or business owners. Gatherings such as AmericasMart Atlanta and the High Point Insider’s Tour not only offer invaluable networking prospects but also serve as a source of inspiration for fortifying our b

Interior design is fascinating and exciting but can also bring a great deal of challenges that can lead to design paralysis or feeling stuck. We believe that having an open dialogue about our process can help our listeners make the best design decisions for themselves and their homes.  With nearly 6 years of the podcast under our belts, we love it when our listeners ask us questions about this industry, how we as designers manage a busy schedule, what our favorite design elements are, designing on a budget, or how to use art to tie a design together.  During this episode, we respond to questions from our listeners regarding topics from our clothing choices, to interviewing interior designers, plumbing, and more! We are happy to share our knowledge and experience with you today to help you avoid design paralysis.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: With clear communication and expectations, a renovation or remodel can help alleviate the angst and stress of the process. Layering a sisal or jute rug underneath a Turkish or fl

We always head to High Point Market with the goal of making new relationships, seeing new products, meeting new vendors, and of course uncovering the emerging trends so that we can offer the best value to our clients! This year we decided to go a few days before the market officially opened so we could see even more throughout the market including the shops and showrooms that offer vintage and imported items from Europe.  We led a successful Insiders Tour for designers new to High Point, opened new accounts, saw old friends, and noted the top trends which we will share today!    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Watch for the color combinations of spice, terracotta, ochre, blush and slate blue to become prevalent in fabrics, art and finishes. A gallery of interesting art collections are a go to way to fill a large wall. Small textile prints are coming back but it’s not Grandma style!    RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & Kole was

We wholeheartedly believe that a well-designed home not only reflects your personal style but also has a significant financial impact on its sale or rental value. That's why we wanted to share an insightful interview with Kathleen DeWitt, a renowned real estate agent from Charleston, who sheds light on the importance of good design in the local real estate market. In our conversation with Kathleen, she emphasizes how an aesthetically appealing home can truly make a difference when it comes to attracting potential buyers or tenants. She discusses the positive impacts of thoughtful design choices and how they can set your property apart from the competition.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: A professionally designed home can help a property be more marketable, sell faster and you get your money two-fold in return. If something is very well done, a homeowner doesn’t need to panic on how it will present itself. You don’t have to do “vanilla” and worry that a future homeowner won’t like it. Don’t be afraid of navy-blue cabine

We wholeheartedly believe that a well-designed home not only reflects your personal style but also has a significant financial impact on its sale or rental value. That's why we wanted to share an insightful interview with Kathleen DeWitt, a renowned real estate agent from Charleston, who sheds light on the importance of good design in the local real estate market. In our conversation with Kathleen, she emphasizes how an aesthetically appealing home can truly make a difference when it comes to attracting potential buyers or tenants. She discusses the positive impacts of thoughtful design choices and how they can set your property apart from the competition.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: A professionally designed home can help a property be more marketable, sell faster and you get your money two-fold in return. If something is very well done, a homeowner doesn’t need to panic on how it will present itself. You don’t have to do “vanilla” and worry that a future homeowner won’t like it. Don’t be afraid of navy-blue cabine

Join us as we talk about the subject of having a functional, comfortable, and well-designed home as you age. We share the story of a homeowner having to re-design her life and the way her home functioned after an MS diagnosis.  How you can incorporate products into your home to make it safer and more convenient.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: It is possible to decorate your home in a classy, beautiful way that is both an accessible and a functional space. You are never too young to be thinking about ways to make your life easier in the future. Disabilities can come up at any age, such as MS, limitations from a stroke, or having to use a wheelchair for any period of time.  Being prepared can set you up for success in the unfortunate event that something happens. Do any renovations now before you are in a situation where they have to be done as a result of aging or an accident happening.    RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & K

Join us for an energetic conversation with Sue Wadden, Color Marketing Director, color expert and longtime employee of Sherwin Williams. Sue Wadden shares the Color of the Year along with a new collection of colors for 2024 called Anthology Volume One. Listen and watch as Sue explains what’s entailed in making these trends forecasts and the meaning behind the shades that are chosen.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Check out the new way Sherwin Williams is reporting color trends with the new Anthology Volume One collection of 48 hues organized by color family. Listen to Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing explain the work involved and the meaning behind how the Color of the Year is chosen. Go to https://www.scoty.com to read more about the Color of the Year. Spend some time on the Sherwin Williams website viewing beautiful images of the Color of the Year and the Anthology collection of colors used in rooms, on walls, cabinetry, and trim. You can order color chips and Peel and Stick samples at https://www.swsample

We are the first podcast to announce the exciting launch of Everyday Heirlooms – a brilliant collaboration between two families –Thompson Traders and Pappy & Co. - a stunning barware line that combines the Pappy’s passion for their famous bourbon, entertaining and legacy along with the artistry and quality of Thompson Traders hand-crafted products. We will chat with Alejandra and Clifford Thompson about how it all came to be and get a first-hand look at the collection.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Check out the eight inaugural products and how they are sure to become your family heirlooms. We especially love The Katie Van Sipping Spoon. Hear Clifford’s story of how his love of bourbon led him to reach out to the famous Van Winkle family. All products are sold exclusively thru Pappy &. Co. beginning September 12, 2023   RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior De

Join us as we talk with the President and CEO of High Point Market Authority and the important role she plays.   You will be surprised to learn all that happens at the Market other than “shopping.”   Hear about the exciting keynote speaker and what band hits the stage on Sunday night, October 15, 2023.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: There is much more to seeing new products and shopping at High Point Market. There are several educational events like panel discussions, roundtables and keynote speakers. Bobby Berk from Queer Eye will be the keynote speaker on Sunday October 15th at 3pm in the Theater. A great amount of support is available for your visit to High Point. Planning travel, finding on-the-ground transportation as well as the High Point Market App. The fun “Insider’s Tour” is for first time guests. Kelly and Joann and other designers will be leading tours. Go to this link to register - https://www.highpointmarket.org/InsidersTour Networking is the best way to learn more about High Point and all the

Today we share the details of 4 fabulous projects we are working on right now.  We thrive on interesting projects that push boundaries and deliver exceptional results. Keeping these projects moving requires a combination of careful planning, effective communication, and attention to detail. We recognize the importance of having a well-defined project plan, so watch and listen as we share the thought process of our selections, the colors we choose, the products we recommend and our goal to not only make the spaces beautiful but functional for each project.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Wall paper behind the bed wall or as an accent wall is an easy way to get color and texture without having to do a full room makeover.  Find out what we did to reimagine an unused theater room and storage area of a luxury, high rise property in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.  Hear about the level of detail in making selections for 13 bathrooms in a 10,000 square foot home!   RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kol

Join us for a lively chat with our longtime friend and well-known designer and TV star Michel Smith Boyd. Michel is an American interior designer based here in Atlanta as well as the star of the HGTV hit shows, Luxe for Less, Rock The Block 4, and the brand new Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge. Listen and watch as we get the scoop on what it’s like being on the set of the Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge while simultaneously running a successful design firm, starring in multiple HGTV shows, and kicking off retail collaborations. You might be surprised to hear what Michel really does to relax on a Friday night.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Did you realize that Barbie has been a leader in the women’s movement for decades? Michel’s definition of luxury is authentically discovering what his clients consider an “indulgence” and then building from there. As designers, we create our own retirement strategy and it comes from all different avenues – traditional design, brand collaborations, TV and more.   RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac &a

In this episode we explore pain points and challenges faced by professionals in our industry along with effective ways to manage them.   We discuss how running an interior design business (and many other businesses) involves managing projects, prioritizing tasks, maintaining consistent communication with clients, and having tools to streamline operations.   Hear the strategies we use to onboard a new client all the way through the final install.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Our onboarding and design process from start to finish. How to go about hiring, delegating tasks, training and paying a new employee. What our design presentation looks like and how we present to our clients. RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:   Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lif

As you all know, we are huge proponents of staying connected to our industry via design conferences, trade shows, visits to High Point Market and local offerings from places like ADAC, AmericasMart, Art gallery shows and more.   What we don’t always bring attention to however, is how conference and event leaders come up with the amazing content they share on their stages.   Our industry is constantly evolving and for us as designers to stay relevant and to consistently offer value to our clients, we need to have conversations like the one we are about to have with our good friend, Adam Japko of Esteem Media.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Be sure to STOP and take TIME to work on your business. Investing in an industry related conference is a great place to start. Web G3 and AI are coming to our industry whether you like it or not. Get ready for the newly reimagined Design Influencers Leadership Conference In 2025! RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac

This episode is about the virtual “Future of Eco-Conscious Living” that was presented by House Beautiful on Earth Day. You will learn about the many ways that we can make small, but significant changes in our lives to reduce our environmental impact and live more sustainably by making smarter choices when it comes to buying products.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Learn what the Property Brothers, Ashton Kutcher and William Sonoma are doing for the environment. Hear about the extreme environmental impact of toilet paper. How you can live a luxurious and sustainable life at the same time.    RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Home Magazine, and many others as well as participants of the One Roo

Tune in and watch this Episode as we talk to Amy Flurry, a nationally recognized speaker and author on the subject of DIY PR. She has decades of editorial experience as she shares with us the do’s and don’ts in regard to pitching to editors. She also co-founded Aloka Home, a company that re-energizes vintage saris from India that were hand-stitched 60-80 years ago by shampooing, softening and dyeing them into beautiful quilts, coverlets and pillows . Check out these beautiful one-of-a-kind beauties at https://www.alokahome.com KEY TAKEAWAYS: Learn about our guest Amy Flurry who has two decades of editorial experience and writing for top print and online publications. She authored Recipe for Press (Pitch Your Story and Create a Buzz) and Recipe for Press (Designer Edition) with tools interior designers need to take advantage of the press opportunities available to creative professionals. Amy discusses some of the ways to do your own PR and be your own publicist when pitching a product or project to an edit

Join us as we chat with Leslie Carothers, Principal of Savour Partnership, who’s always on top of the latest buzz in the interior design world. In this episode, we are talking all about Artificial Intelligence and how it is, and will be, affecting our jobs as interior designers. Are apps like RoomGPT, MidJourney and Reimagine Home a detriment to the value of the interior designer or can we simply use this new technology to enhance our services?   KEY TAKEAWAYS: AI will never entirely replace interior designers and the creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills we bring to our projects. If you want to start playing around with AI as it pertains to design, check out MidJourney AI. Leslie has some tutorials on her website. AI can be a quick and useful tool for ideation when communicating to clients.   RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Desig

This episode is all about our recent trip to the High Point Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina. We didn’t set up many appointments this time so that we could be free to roam, find new accounts, build new relationships, and see where the inspiration would lead us. We had a super successful Insiders Tour on Saturday and learned a lot as usual. Listen up for all the trends and insights we discovered at the 2023 Spring High Point Market.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: If you ever considered owning or designing a vacation or short-term rental, hear about the Vacation Rental Design Summit we attended in High Point. Take the time to listen to successful people in your industry and learn from them. The Top Trends in lighting, furniture, art, and accessories we saw at High Point Market.   RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube   BIO:  Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicl

Time for some Joann & Kelly mentoring! In this episode, we discuss how being a successful interior designer requires an extraordinary and varied skillset. We will share (5) key skills we use almost every day, from how to qualify a client, build rapport and trust with a client, and, most importantly, close the deals. The last 18 years have taught us a lot, and we are happy to share some helpful insights. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Listen to the end of the episode for a VERY BIG industry announcement. Establishing yourself as an expert from the first impression is key to closing the deal. We collect all procurement and design funds 100% up front. We will explain how. RESOURCE LINKS: Kandrac & Kole Website Kandrac & Kole on Instagram Kandrac & Kole on YouTube BIO: Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Better Homes & Gardens,