Tristan de la Haye, founder of De la Haye Coaching, is now on board with the SBID community to give advantage to members bogged down by business growth challenges. His expansive experiences in the industry of design and furniture are evident in his coaching style; realism and purposeful analysis to tap the potential. These help in forecasting and directing decisions towards desired outcomes. Recognised for his dynamic approach in business, passion for developing successful businesses and affinity for the interiors and furniture industry, Da la Haye Coaching, aims to guide those in need to meet their goals to success with clarity and focus.
“Over the years, I have discovered that one of my true career passions is helping others find success and my wealth of knowledge and expertise within the industry allows my clients to do just that.” - Tristan de la Haye
Every business goes through growing pains. But the pains or issues encountered by enterprises are industry-specific. It takes the expertise of an experienced industry insider to help identify the core of the issues, find the hidden potentials, and align these with company goals and business objectives. De la Haye Coaching supports furniture and interior design business owners accomplish revenue targets; optimise costs while reducing specific expenses; and time management. He also works with teams within an enterprise - in sales, production, and other departments, covering every area of the business as needed.
"I have always loved working within the industry and partnering with some of the leading brands and manufacturers. Working together to help you understand your target market, best ways to profit from it, and how to develop foundations for long-term success are some of the first steps we will explore together."
Tristan de la Haye has worked with industry leaders in design and furniture manufacturing, as a support system to owners and their teams. He found satisfaction when working with entrepreneurs and manufacturers in helping them achieve their revenue and productivity goals at less stressful levels. Here are what he considers some of his achievements with clients:
“Tristan is a pleasure to work with, and I have truly benefited from his knowledge and his commitment to helping me achieve much more in my business life. He is an extremely focused business coach and worked hard to ensure that I achieved the targets we set together. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Tristan to any company that is looking for growth and also wanting to implement new systems that make their business more efficient and successful.” - Eleanor M.
You can contact Tristan de la Haye: +44 7825 248 508 or email [email protected]
About De la Haye Coaching
Tristan de la Haye’s career has been expansive and diverse. This gives him the advantage as a coach across business aspects - operations, financial control, marketing and sales, customer service, and profit creation. His expertise within the interior design and furniture retail industry is also helping him and his clients harness individual and team potentials.
Tristan started at John Lewis Partnership on their management training program before moving into the SME business sector where he found his niche. From small single outlet companies with modest turnovers to multi-location retail and manufacturing enterprises with revenues of tens of millions.
Commercial insurance is often synonymous with buildings, contents or employers’ liability insurance. It can be difficult to recall or understand the need for professional indemnity (PI) insurance. Marsh Commercial are here to explain all you need to know about PI insurance.
SBID members are required to take out PI Insurance as part of their overarching commitment to quality and consumer protection. Also, some commercial clients may ask to see evidence that PI cover is in place in advance of an appointment. Compulsory or not, many professionals opt for the cover because of the protection and security it provides in the event their advice or service fails to meet a client’s expectations.
Having a policy in place can reassure your existing clients and help you secure new clients. While you may endeavour to deliver perfection, occasionally mistakes will happen. A PI policy protects you and your business if your clients alleges financial loss. PI insurance is part of the SBID’s commitment to quality, promoting confidence and strengthening the industry with an appropriately equipped workforce via enhanced professional trading standards.
The SBID’s trusted insurance broker, Marsh Commercial, explains all you need to know about PI and how to choose a provider. Sign in to SBIDPro to learn more. Members also have an opportunity to join the upcoming CPD webinar with a live Q&A hosted by the insurance experts.
As an international multi-award-winning Interior Designer and Business Consultant with over 40 years of industry experience, SBID founder & CEO, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE was interviewed for FRAME Recruitment's recent Interior Design & Architecture Employment and Industry Update for 2021. In this Q&A, Vanessa comments on how the career path for an interior designer has evolved, shares her unique expertise on the key employment trends that she has witnessed throughout her professional career, and offers her predictions for the future of the industry.
The industry has seen a rise in the number of graduates choosing a career in Interior Design. In the past design was viewed as ‘not necessary’ and had a bad reputation for ‘excessive expenditure’, but in more recent years it has changed a lot. With the professional role of an Interior Designer aligning more heavily to what students learn at university, it has made it much easier for graduates to follow a clear career path. Now, the best recruitment is from university, where students know that they will have a job once they graduate.
As a result of a more career-focused and targeted university curriculum, fewer design students are ‘dropping out’ and the professional practice feed is stronger. When recruiting, practices now have candidates who are aware of the skills that they need - such as strong mathematical skills and soft skills like resilience. These are all skills that are needed to be a designer but something that was not even considered six years ago.
Now designers have to specialise to procure a job in a specific sector, such as hospitality, retail, workplace or residential.
Looking back to three years ago, projects were client-based in terms of the review that a designer received. Additionally, a designer would have to self-promote themselves to get jobs because they didn’t have the methods to gain projects or recruit staff for projects. Growing a practice was not as connected as it is today and that disconnect has held back many talented people that were unknown or in the wrong place.
As an employer, it was very difficult to recruit the right talent and find candidates with the right specialist skills. Fast forward to 2020/2021 when we were forced to go online, designers and architects have been able to create online communities and network in a new way. Now designers can upskill themselves through podcasts, free information and webinars to continue career development online. Going online has also made it great for people that work different hours by proving more flexible working options; it has created a better quality of life for work in the home and office.
However, I do believe that teams need to interact, especially in a creative industry. Sometimes just having a team meeting together at a desk makes it easier to create a concept. Online this is much more difficult, and it can take longer to converse. I think that what we will see in the future is a blended way of working, which will improve the way we communicate in business and provide a better home/life balance.
The difference now is that as designers, we are always seated at the table of a design project with investors funds. Interior design adds the extra value that helps to sell an investors product. It’s that extra value that makes people stay in the bar/club longer or buy the product. Colours influence the way people feel and act and investors want that for their businesses. It isn’t by chance that places such as restaurants are designed the way they are, they are designed with a return of investment in mind. That is a part of the designers skill-set, and investors want the designers that they choose to have the experience to link the remit with visual aid.
To mitigate risk designers need to ensure that the advice they provide is qualified. It is crucial to consider the usage that the client requires and not to over-specify. This is where it is fundamental to overlap the skills of compliance, legislation, building regulation and sustainability. Untrained designers do not necessarily pull all of these skills together.
In more recent years, the respect between the client and a designer has grown because of these skills and I think that this will only continue to develop. Designers are now required to work collaboratively with builders/contractors and as a result, there is better communication across the industry.
When something is global like COVID-19, everyone suffers simultaneously, which reduces risk because you are all in the same place at the same time. However, when we all had to work online, I was initially concerned about the lack of communication between the sectors that would suffer. I remember thinking ‘will design be the first thing to go?’.
Instead what we saw was an uptake in residential design because people were not going out and spending money, so more people had disposable income to spend on improving the home and changing furniture. This growth across the residential sector fed the smaller practitioners, which were my initial biggest concern.
In terms of the business sectors, IT and design were the only two categories of the entire creative sectors that have experienced growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Areas such as hospitality, especially smaller boutique hotels which were originally homes, have been forced to close due to COVID-19. However, many of them are now ripe for re-configuring into the super-luxury high-end residential fit-out properties. The larger hotels have taken the opportunity during ‘lockdown’ to refurbish and therefore design and construction in this area have continued.
REVIT and Vectorworks are the two most commonly used, and the most in-demand. So, they will always play an important role in both architecture and design.
Define the specialism that you want to practice in. In this industry, it is all about getting as much training and as many internships as you can. The more that you can learn about each different sector, the better. I would also say becoming more qualified in a specialism will help when it comes to securing a job, and recruiters will favour this too.
I think Instagram has made the industry more popular and reachable, but I wouldn’t say that it has influenced it. It has enabled people to see the design errors that we didn’t see previously and has pushed people to realise that they need to hire qualified designers. Instagram is great for seeing the end result, which people love but we need to show the journey to get to the result.
An industry recruitment specialist, like FRAME, has the strong ability to place people into the right roles, the right practices and the right industry. Their experience and expertise give them the ability to advise based on individual and business needs, as a result, the industry will do better.
You can watch the full webinar with Vanessa on-demand here.
SBID are partnered with FRAME Recruitment to support its membership of SBID Accredited designers with career opportunities, advice and guidance. Find out more.
Want to become SBID Accredited? Click here for more information.
As a professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) have formed a partnership with FRAME - the recruitment specialists in Interior Design, Architecture and Visualisation to support professionals working in interior design with career opportunities, career advice and guidance.
The partnership was formed to provide an important link between SBID members and a trusted recruitment business, supporting interior designers with employment and recruitment opportunities.
Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, founder & CEO of SBID says: “I’m delighted that we can now provide employment opportunities for SBID members through this partnership, whether to find their new team member or discover the latest interior design job vacancies. Finding new talent is time consuming and expensive, so it is important to recruit with care. It takes time to source an honourable partner and we are confident that FRAME Recruitment are the perfect match for the high standards we uphold, and our ever-evolving industry demands.”
“We are honoured to form a partnership with an internationally recognised professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry at this important growth stage in FRAME’s journey. We are pleased to be able to provide an important link between the esteemed members of SBID and some of the UK’s top Interior Design practices. Offering key career and recruitment advice to committed professionals is what the FRAME specialist Interior Design team does best.” Explains Martin Bennell, Managing Director of FRAME Recruitment.
Join Vanessa and Martin at FRAME's Interior Design & Architecture Spring Update Webinar on Thursday 29th April 2021 at 12pm BST.
Please contact Jasmine Stirling [email protected] to secure your place.
In the announcement of the Budget 2021, the Chancellor set out a £65 billion three-point plan to provide support for jobs and businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and forge a path to recovery.
In light of the encouraging news about the UK's social distancing restrictions due to end this Summer, and with businesses now readily preparing for post-lockdown operations, Mervyn Clarke FCCA; director of the SBID Accredited specialist advisors, Baker Clarke offers advice on how to manage business finances to help get interior design businesses back on track.
Specialising in commercial advice and having advised many companies over the years about re-structuring and recovering from bad times after recessions and banking failures, discover Mervyn's key tips to aid business recovery for the interior design sector.
Art In… announces a new partnership with international award-winning interior designer Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID).
Art In... represents an international portfolio of multi-disciplinary artists and will partner with SBID's Vanessa Brady to provide art for the yacht, hospitality and private homes of discerning clients. Art In… provides a bespoke ‘white glove’ art service. They match the most suitable artist with a client’s requirements in order to ensure a seamless process from the initial design brief and art selection through to delivery and curation.
Art In… says: “The collaboration is a really exciting next step for Art In... In true 2020 style, we started the conversation during the height of the lockdown on Zoom and during our many video calls realised there was a real synergy.
We believe that integrating art at the earliest stage possible in the design process significantly enhances the overall result. Whether we are working with interior designers on a hotel or a superyacht, a private collection for a family office, or a luxury hotel or members club, art should never be an afterthought. The collaboration with Vanesa Brady offers us a real chance to achieve our vision.”
Vanessa Brady says: “It is very important to dress a space with complimentary art to really set off what is often a neutral canvas, art focuses the eye and sets a theme. I would like to see the selected artist and designers coming together with an owner more at the beginning of a project so that the final result is truly a 360-degree design.
Art should relate to the space in which it is installed and the lifestyle of the people using it. It should also link with the function the space is used for, such as a wine cellar, a bedroom etc. making each interior as unique as the owners, their guests and the design. It is important not to leave stylising to chance at the end of a project. Quality art pieces should be considered as part of the overall installation from the concept of the design process.
It is SBID’s role to source unusual providers of interior products that are efficient, as well as beautiful to adorn such exclusive interiors - the final design presentation always requires a very special piece of art to ‘dress’ the design, and so we seek equally adventurous and exclusive partners to provide the broadest selection of art. As soon as we met, we knew it would be a perfect match”.
Cover image credits: SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Rockwell - 15 Hudson Yards
The SBID is pleased to announce that it has appointed Chris Godfrey, global principal of HBA Residential, as the new acting President of SBID to represent the British interior design body, and promote the professional practice of interior design throughout the UK and around the world.
Chris Godfrey will take the mantle of SBID Presidency from Tom Marquardt, president and founder of Marquardt+ and former vice president of HOK global interiors, who held the position for 2019 and will continue to support the growth of SBID as immediate past president. After receiving the Master of Design award at the SBID International Design Awards 2019 for significant contributions to the global interior design industry, Chris has the recognition, innovation and expertise to undertake the position as SBID President from 2nd November 2020, for the upcoming 12-month term.
Sharing his aspirations for the new position, Chris Godfrey, global principal, HBA Residential, said: ‘It is my great honour to be appointed as the President of SBID and to represent the interior design body and its membership on the global stage. I am inspired to take up the role during this particular period of time; where change is a constant, connectivity a challenge; and where proaction and vision are paramount. Throughout my career, and particularly in my role with HBA Residential, I have benefitted from working internationally and, as a result, have developed an open and global outlook.”
He added: “In this new SBID role, I want to use my experiences and lessons learnt working in both the Far East and the West and leverage off a developed network to help improve connectivity; expand awareness; and promote inclusive, cross-border engagement. With new global dynamics comes lots of new opportunities and growth potential. Through my endeavors, I would also hope to help inspire the next generation of interior designers who, despite the short-term challenges and uncertainty faced, will continue to take the industry further and wider.”
As an award-winning British Architect and designer with over 20 years’ experience producing beautifully conceived and exquisitely delivered residences for a global clientele, Chris now applies his holistic design approach as Global Principal of HBA Residential; the boutique and signature division of Hirsch Bedner Associates. Bringing his extensive professional insight and capacity for achieving interior design excellence, Chris will underpin the work SBID does to promote the interior design profession at the highest level of competence, while supporting the interests of qualified interior designers and manufacturers to drive professional standards across the industry.
With Chris Godfrey at the helm of SBID Presidency, SBID looks to the year ahead with great optimism as it promises to continue championing the profession of interior design and steering this rapidly evolving industry into long term growth and financial recovery.
Designing a home specifically with entertainment in mind requires a completely different approach and introduces another layer of consideration for the end-user and end result. Some people love elegant cocktail parties, others like a cozy space that exudes comfort. If you are a homeowner who loves entertaining and you’re about to remodel your home, you will have the perfect opportunity to really incorporate everything you need to make the space more enjoyable for yourself and your guests.
Founder of Katie Malik Interiors shares some of her tips and tricks to consider to make your home design more equipped for guests and gatherings!
The kitchen. The open plan nature of modern kitchens means that having guests, family and friends round for get-togethers has become a prime function of the space and is top of the list of requirements in most briefs. It’s important to balance the essential elements and day-to-day needs of a family kitchen with the desire to entertain. Regardless of the kitchen size, the key to making it work for entertaining is to consider how people will move around it. As well as thinking about where and how you’ll be cooking, you need to plan where to serve food and if you want your guests to gather around a breakfast bar, sit at a table or make use of more casual seating.The open floor plan trend means a kitchen space often also includes a comfortable seating area and fireplace as well.
Flexibility is the single biggest thing that an entertainment-friendly home should have. The multi-use trend extends outside as well. Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular, in part because they serve to keep guests and hosts together. There are other, less structurally invasive ways of making a home ready for entertainment. Music is one way to bring energy to a party and to tie several different spaces together, so investing in a sound system that connects rooms inside and outside is a great idea. Also, introducing both direct and indirect lighting with dimmers can help achieve a multitude of desired 'atmospheric' effects to set different moods, inside and outside.
If you’re entertaining, especially frequently, it’s important to have ample space to store items, such as platters and serving ware (either in a separate room, a pantry or a sideboard), but also provide some storage for your guests, even if they’re staying with you just for a night or two.
You can also make small changes that will make a big difference to how welcome your guests will feel in your home; think about providing a set of fresh guest towels or ways to fragrance your home that’s not too overpowering!
About the Author
Katie Malik, founder & creative director of Katie Malik Interiors built her career in residential interior design, assisting on projects in New York, Chicago and London before setting up her practice in 2014. Inspired by colours, the interplay between symmetry and asymmetry and wellbeing, Katie’s aim is to bring authenticity to each project.
If you'd like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.
Many homes tend to look similar because they share similar features, such as plain white coloured walls, simple neutral furniture, and wall to wall carpeting to name a few. To achieve a 'wow factor' in the design of your home, you must have something that is unexpected… There are things that you can do both structurally and internally - depending on your budget. The sky really is the limit, but SBID Accredited designer and founder of Katie Malik Interiors shares some of her expert ideas for simple ways to add that extra 'wow' to your interiors.
If you’re looking to create an architectural statement, add value and space to your existing property, you can definitely get creative with an extension. Instead of opting for simple rectangular roof lights and a standard flat ceiling, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce an angular ceiling-scape to complement or highlight the shape of your kitchen for example.
Adding something different in the structure of your extension with a unique ceiling design can really help add that extra dimension and visual intrigue. A combination of sloped, angled and vertical elements can definitely enhance the drama of a room! If you do decide to extend or rebuild, opt for a double-height. Not only does it provide an impressive vastness of space, but seeing it from different viewpoints can create multiple ‘wow' moments.
If building up is not an option, consider adding skylights or even an octagonal roof lantern for a similar effect; adding glass to low ceilings you can make it feel higher, flood the room with natural light and create the illusion of bringing the outside in!
If you’d like to work within the existing space, there’s still a lot you can do. The right mirror, in the right size, in the right finish, can add a touch of glamour as well as make the interior space look and feel bigger and brighter. If you experiment with different shapes, sizes and even positions of a mirror, this could certainly help you achieve wow factor. You can also add unique features such as oversized artwork to a hallway or entrance walls - really going big will create an eye-catching statement with a contemporary, gallery-esque feel.
Another trick is to introduce shiny surfaces; reflective surfaces such as mirrors, metal and high gloss is sure to add an expensive edge to any space. For an additional wow effect, lighting is a key consideration too! Pick statement lights, for example a feature lamp; choose the one that is spangly and oversized for the ultimate look-at-me designer luxury.
Don’t be afraid to get experimental with dark colours, or any colour for that matter! The use of bold colours in the right amount, can definitely give a room some extra punch - whether dark and moody or bright and playful. You can also try using luxury, patterned or textured wallpaper - it will give your walls a more opulent and intimate look. If you’d rather not wallpaper the whole room or even just one wall (which is not recommended for certain rooms), you can always frame a piece of wallpaper instead!
Adding a stand-out headboard is a simple way to take your bedroom design to the next level, and look much more luxurious - like a boutique hotel! If you have a headboard already, why not re-upholster it in a bold fabric with interesting patterns or colours? If you decide to have one made, go big! Instant designer look guaranteed!
Choose a statement rug or a cowhide - this should instantly pull a room together and tie in the whole scheme. The size of your rug is quite important too - make sure it’s big enough to cover the area between the sofas or under the bed. If it’s too small, it might look out of place and you definitely won’t achieve the designer look.
Latest figures estimate that 12 million households (44 per cent) in the UK have pets. According to the CDC, owning an animal can “increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialise”. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets can also help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship. In return, we can certainly make our homes friendly for them!
Katie Malik, SBID Accredited designer and founder of Katie Malik Interiors shares her top tips on how to design a pet-friendly home.
The most straightforward way to make our homes pet sanctuaries is to make an investment in pet furniture. As with any home furnishings, the cheaper the purchase, the less likely it will last and provide comfort for your four-legged loved ones.
Carefully weigh your furniture choices when decorating for a pet-friendly house; leather or leather- like materials that are easy to wipe clean, often durable, and can help keep a fluffy pet cool in warmer months. Try to avoid materials that might be tempting for your pet to scratch or chew!
If you are considering new flooring, you may want to opt for a wooden floor over a light coloured carpet! Wood floors are much easier to clean if our furry friends come home with muddy paws! It's also worth considering the colour. For instance, you might want chose the colour of your flooring that matches go the fur colour of your pet, so those stray hairs around the house are less noticeable.
A pet friendly home must make special considerations for just how many accidents can happen around bushy tails and clumsy paws, and one solution could be a dog-gate. Especially if you have or are thinking of getting a puppy, you might want to create a friendly separation, so that you can, for example, eat dinner without being disturbed!
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