The Real Reason Some Design Firms Grow and Others Don't | Keri Michelle Interiors
What separates a successful design firm from one that struggles to grow?
In this episode of The Builder's Blueprint, Nir sits down with Keri Michelle, founder of Keri Michelle Interiors, to discuss the realities of building a creative business in the design and construction industry.
From creating systems and processes to managing challenging clients, Keri shares the lessons she's learned over nearly a decade of growing her firm and leading a team.
Topics include:
Building a design business from the ground up
Why systems and processes matter
Learning from mistakes and owning problems
Managing difficult clients professionally
Growing and trusting a team
Design trends that are here to stay (and those that aren't)
Working effectively with builders and trades
Maintaining mental and physical health as a business owner
Whether you're an architect, designer, contractor, or entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with practical insights on leadership, accountability, and long-term growth.
Keri’s Instagram: @kerimichelleinteriors
Keri’s Website: www.kerimichelleinteriors.com
Transcript
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We looked at a situation where we missed how can we fix this? And I think that's really important this in in this industry. It's so uh a fingerpointing industry at sometimes, but you have to own your own stuff. And that's when you will be respected and you will feel respectful respected about the work that you do. >> Welcome to the uh Builder Blueprint podcast. Today I got Keri Mitchell with me and um she'll kind of introduce herself in a minute but whoever is listening and this growing community the
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idea behind our podcast Keri is to bring interior designers, architects, builders uh in discussion and talk about you know their careers uh what influencing them usually and what's how is it how is their dayto-day talk about their journey in the industry and pretty For me, the main reason to do the do this podcast is to bring awareness and to talk about, you know, things that people are not necessarily talking about all the time, which is the struggle of running a business and the journey and
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the moments you're having in between. >> Yeah. >> So, welcome in. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me. >> Yeah. Uh maybe we'll start with just an introduction. Just tell us about yourself. >> Absolutely. My name is Carrie. Uh my studio is Keri Michelle Interiors. We're here in Solana Beach as well, just across the way um across from the train station. So, yeah, we've been been in business or so for I'd say going on six, seven years. Um we're a small
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designer uh design firm. I'd say I like to say we're kind of a boutique boutique design firm. Um we do all scale projects from new builds to um renovations and a ton of furniture and um furnishings. Um I started about seven something years ago. I started design school. Um and at the same time I was in design school. I happened to run by Tile Collective with a friend um when she was over uh closer to Fletcher Cove and that was my first experience into the whole design world. She was where I
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started my career I would say um and had an internship there and then it really blossomed after that. Very cool. Uh, you got amazing an amazing crew, I must say. You know, there is really good vibe. So, I walked to Car's office the other day. We're working. >> Our crew is I'm a very lucky >> I think that that thing just stood out to me that it got like really good spirits in there and that felt really good from the first moment. So, just uh you know, full disclosure, me and Keri
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are running a project in Del Mar right now for um you know, pretty much Keri’s client and she brought me in and we kind of developed that plan into what we call now a construction process starting with an ADU, moving to the main house. Super exciting. I think the location is really good for >> it's amazing >> both of our businesses and it's just a good experience overall. >> Yes, absolutely. So, um, yeah, thank you for your introduction and maybe tell me more about your, you know, interior
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design, uh, journey. What made you kind of walk the walk? >> How did I get here? I think that's really a great question because we all have a different path and we all have a different story. Um, and we all stumble into this industry for many different reasons. For me, um, personally, I could go back to when I was a child. Um my dad um built a home when I was little and during and that was when there was a lot of land everywhere in Northern California. Um and prior to construction my dad and I would walk um
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framed houses all the time. And I just rem and I really, you know, we don't remember a lot from our childhood, but I remember these walks with my dad and looking at the spaces and wondering where the kitchen was and where the bathroom was and then, you know, imagining how it was going to be completed. It was just so intriguing to me. Like the whole world is fascinating, the construction world. So, I feel like that's a little bit of where it all stemmed for me. And then um my mom was a big was really into the interior of her
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home. So I was always helping her go out to the garden and we would we would work in the garden and bring in um stems and flowers and put them in different rooms and I would always help her with bedding. And so she was she was a big part of my inspiration as well. Grow growing up. I went to um ended up going to Santa Barbara and became a teacher but I almost went to San Francisco to design school but I didn't. So you didn't know that you Okay, that's cool. >> So I didn't I went to Santa Barbara
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instead and um I got my teaching credential and I was a teacher for 10 plus years. >> Really? Teaching what? >> Kindergarten. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> What a transition. >> Total different world. >> And I and I loved it until I became a mom. Got to be a stay at home mom for many years which and then after that I was like I don't want to go back to teaching. >> Okay. >> Had a flood in my house in Carl'sbad. um hired a designer, >> but I ended up doing the whole thing by
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myself. >> You were the nightmare client. >> No, I just She never showed up. >> I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. >> She was MIA. And it actually turned out to be a blessing. The >> I was a nightmare client. >> Oh, I'm sure you would. >> Myself, I was. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. We're her own worst critic. But >> um the contractor was wonderful. I actually ended up doing my complete downstairs renovation um with him. he
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would like it was very it was just a really great learning experience. Unfortunately during that time though afterwards I um got a divorce and my mom uh really encouraged me to go to design school and I did I started I went to design school and at the same time I was at design school that's when I started interning for Devon at Tile Collective and um here we are a little bit about my journey and it's I really do love it. I would I would encourage anyone to do this if you have a creative side, but
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also um a passion just working with with people and a team and um it's so I love the be I love the be the beginning to the end. It's it's a really hard process but amazing. You know what's interesting krie that people are telling me sometimes about their you know previous careers and where they where they were before coming into the design build you know industries or whatever it is and >> it is always something that now when when I'm a little older I'm not that old
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but when I'm a little older I can understand how even even teaching can help you yeah >> uh managing energies managing parents man managing situations and and being with this concierge uh attitude how that benefits your business and people don't understand what it means to run a business and how everything matters, how you treat your employees, how you treat your clients and how you learn from every step of the way. So really cool. >> And the other thing absolutely >> the other thing is that I really like
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that you just said you cannot come to the industry if you don't have the uh that in you. I mean you started with your dad and mom and dad when you were just a kid >> and maybe you don't have the memory but you do have the experience. >> Yes. and creation and an appreciation. I think we all of us some we don't even know our creative side until we find it. Like I couldn't sketch something for you if you asked me to, right? That's not my creativity. So we all have something. I
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think we all have creativity within us. You just have to find it. And I >> I'm grateful for my parents for sharing that with me as a as a kid and allowing me to have that experience. I never thought it would bring me to where I am today. even if there is just this one listener now listening and thinking about switching careers. I think that's really big you know it's just to be >> brave and say >> I'm not going back to where I >> don't want to go back to you know I'm
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I'm >> pursuing my passions and >> I think it will be a happier place overall uh if people actually do what they want to do. Um, >> I my children actually we to that point we've been recently I have a 19 and a 15 16year-old two boys and they've been telling me lately that they want to be rich and I can't like get it through their head that that's not the goal. The goal is to find something that you love and then make that money you make that money for you because being rich I tell
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them all the time you'll be the most you can be the most unhappy person on the planet and be rich whatever that means. So find your creativity or try find your passion and let that lead the way. So you know trying to teach two teenagers that is a little bit you know >> you can try but at the end of the day they're heading in their Instagram and there's there's so much there that pretty much you just see the end result. But >> uh I believe that if you if you are who you are and and you're giving them you
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know the best you can give them they will they will find their their way. Just lead by example. >> For sure. Well, so Tile Collective, yes. Uh, you worked there. You worked with Devon. >> I did. She was my first intern or I was her first intern, I think, at time when she opened. Yes. >> Okay. How was it? >> Amazing. And I remember knowing nothing. Yeah. I remember just looking at her studio and just thinking all the tiles were so beautiful, but I had no idea what a porcelain or a limestone or a
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marble or a, you know, I had no idea what those materials even meant. I didn't even know how they could be applied, where they could be used. But it turned out to be one of the best experiences I've ever had. She would take me to job sites, massive job sites because, you know, Devon does massive things. Um, you know, and I learned how to read architectural plans and she trusted me and I got to lead some projects and it was really just a on top of her just being a wonderful person, it was she's one of the reasons I am here
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today. >> Yeah. Do you feel like part of the reason you're here if we're talking about that talking about that? I should say is just because you got in touch with a lot of different interior designers and you got exposed to so many like different design cultures and models and >> I think um >> I want to do that as well. I think you I was wondering if you just said to yourself I want to do that. I think I'm I'm going to do it real well. >> I don't I think at that time I didn't
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have that mindset. I think my mindset was also on it. I had to also provide for my family and be a sole provider. I think that was my number one thought. So there was no like um can I do this? Is this going to work? It was just the only way. So Devon was one of my mentors. Another one um was Ruda. She's another interior designer that I really just I would I would send her my contracts. I would ask her, "Where do I go buy this? Where where do I get plumbing? what what helped me with my sourcing.
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So, I really did lay into a couple other ones as well. Um, and they they helped me pave the way to where I am today. And if it wouldn't have been for them, I'm not sure where I would be today. But I will say I will never forget and I would always like to um carry that forward and help people get get there. So, >> yeah. Amazing. Well, jumping in with in timeline and saying now I want to become interior designer. I made a decision what you know how that process been for you working for T collective and then
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transitioning. How was the communication with Devon telling her that? I'm sure you were really important to her and >> this whole thing was just emotional in a way. >> Very. >> So tell me tell me about that a little bit. >> How how I >> how you decide hey I want to that's it. I'm starting my own. And um >> so it was really she pushed me to do it. Really? Yes. I was like, "What? You're done with me here?" Um I just I think she saw that I had a knack for
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residential and I was really into construction and um sales probably wasn't I don't think I was really any good at it to be honest. Um and I remember somehow I would was getting these projects from friends. Hey, can you help me with my house? One was actually huge. Um, and I kind of did it and it was really her pushing me out the door. Okay, go to start your career, Carrie. So, again, like she I think she knew I was it was a great foundation that she laid, but that wasn't >> that wasn't it for me.
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>> Yeah. And she was smart enough to say, I'm keeping the relationship good. Yeah. >> Because that will lead me to more success instead of me keeping somebody that doesn't want to that's not their place. >> Exactly. So she was smart to teach you that as well or >> just show that. Yeah. And now look at you. You're neighbors. >> We're neighbors. >> You're neighbors. >> Full circle. >> Yeah. So you you start as an interior designer at this point and you're you're
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starting to get clientele. I'm sure there are moments that it feels >> scary or intimidating or got a lot of exper. Tell me about the uh the feeling of like, okay, I got this one big one project and I'm figuring it out as I'm going. What how that felt >> for you? Oh, that one back then, the first one that I was talking about, >> the first one, the second one, the third one when it just felt like it's big and it's all you now, >> right? Um, I felt like if you I feel I
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don't ever remember feeling like intimidated like I can't do this. I feel like if you look at a project and kind of dissect it, it doesn't feel as overwhelming. And um, you know, we all we have a step-by-step process now. So yes, if it's a large project or even a tricky kitchen remodel, I don't ever look at it like oh my gosh, can I do that? I think you just have to you have again it comes with working with a good team, having good system and processes. Um and that is how we take these large projects and or
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small or tricky or whoever um and and they don't feel overwhelming. Also having like you spoke on a few minutes ago, I have a wonderful team. I couldn't do it without them. >> You do? No names, but they're just amazing. They're they're fun to work with and the energy is good. >> Um well, I think I think now your your your work kind of speaks for for itself and and and your portfolio is growing and and things are actually happening for you and your business. Um so you're kind
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of moving from >> a young interior designer into this business, right? And maybe maybe tell me about >> some aha moments in your in your you know in your six years now that you've kind of you felt like oh I think I figured that thing out or for me I'll talk for myself >> I figure things out every day and then the next day um or improving them or saying oh that's not a good idea >> for sure >> and for me you know I came from military background and you used to shoot you
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know as training used to shoot your weapon a lot and you use >> old weapons sometimes from the 70s And sometimes they tweak right, go left, and all you do is you're just doing this very slight adjustment to your weapon, you know, and you're and you're starting to shoot in the middle every single time. >> Yes. >> And uh you But you must shoot. >> Yep. >> Right. >> Yes. >> So for me, it was just to make act to take actions and make moves. >> Not to be too dumb and too rushed on
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them, but to make moves even if they are scary to get better. And I was wondering what what was it for you? I feel like yes, of course, we this is a mistake industry. There's it they happen and you have to own them. Um I think for one we when Robin started with me who is my operations manager um years ago at least I think five years ago when we were I was using Manila envelopes as my I mean folders for like my jobs. Uh we have we have gone to so many workshops and trainings and um and just really and podcasts, you name
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it, to just really define and make our systems and processes to be the most organized as we possibly could be. So yes, when we aim, sometimes we do miss a little bit, but we get we evaluate what did we do wrong? What could we do differently and we we sharpen the tool and we we change things and that's always evolving in our business. I mean, we just had a meeting on that two days ago. What we looked at a situation where we missed how can we fix this? And I think that's really important this in in this
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industry. It's so uh a fingerpointing industry at sometimes but you have to own your own stuff and that's when you will be respected and you will feel respectful respected about the work that you do. Um I think on to that point too I'm always receiving information. I don't ever know I don't ever feel like I know everything. I always want to be open-minded. I always want to be aware and able to receive from you contractors, trades, reps, vendors. um because there's we're always learning
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and growing. Construction is a whole different language. I always joke that it's it's it's like another language, right? So, I I always want to receive that information um and and appreciate it and be aware of it. Otherwise, don't even do this job. >> Yeah. You talk about people, you know, people around you if that's your own people, in-house people or just collaborators. Yep. that are smarter than you, better than you, can teach you, can feed you, and you can feed them
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back. >> And I think that's really important because that's that's the same here for at least for me. I the moment that changed me >> was anyways my first employee, her name was Paige. She walked in, she was she had purple hair and she came with >> this, you know, Rastaman vibe into my office. I had no employees and she knocking the door and I'm looking for a job and I was like, >> "Sit down. We'll figure something out because I'm drowning. I I cannot
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continue like that. So part of growth is letting go of the vine and just um >> Yes. >> Let people do what they do the best. Sometimes they're more organized. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> And they're more or they can have the time to be organized in a different way because I'm >> running around with their head cut off. >> Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Um business ownership and our mindset is jumping from one thing to another >> and we need people to help us stay
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focused and uh sometimes we also need talent. for example, I could never do what Jenny is doing. I just don't have the skills. >> Same with same with Rosie. She's my CAD SketchUp queen. I could never do it. >> Yeah. I just I just can't, you know, and I can I cannot be on in on all those multiple job sites. I do have an amazing carpentry team and amazing PM teams that that are doing it for me. But at the same time, we kind of lead the vision. Yes. >> But we take back and we're staying
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humbled. >> Absolutely. >> So that's amazing. >> Yes. >> Um now you're kind of you got your own business. I mean, you got a DNA at this point. >> Yep. >> For yourself, I mean, if somebody's looking at your jobs, and we'll talk about that later, but >> they can see a cohesive line of design. This is how it looks, right? >> Uh maybe tell me about, you know, what kind of leads your design uh line today and why. I think it goes back to again my being
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raised by a mom who was very much into the outdoors and being um always bringing flowers and stems and we would we were very outdoorsy family always hiking and camping. So I feel like that is something that I like to bring into my projects. Um we are definitely known to be earthy, slightly coastal um and a more gentle approach to design. So that's kind of I think where we are now or I think earthy would probably be our number one. I love bringing texture, real materials um into our projects. Not
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much not much fake that we do. >> Yeah, it's done. I mean, >> got enough designers to do the fake thing, right? >> We can stick to what >> what's less. >> Yeah. >> Um which kind of leads me to my next question. What do you feel like is now here but not going to be here tomorrow? just this one trend. >> I know. I think about that a lot to be honest. Um I What do I think is going to be gone? >> Yeah. Like everybody's doing it now, but it's
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it is already boring and I know it's not going to last. >> Um I mean I feel like natural's here to stay. >> Um the man-made materials like the quartz and the porcelain, not so much. I think those are to go. As far as like cabinetry, I know that there was the fluted cabinetry stage or uh door stage, but I still like in certain projects actually it actually works. I just think it has to be used appropriately and in the right space and not be overwhelming. Um I think that was a really big big
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phase and I don't think it's going anywhere, but I think it just needs to be used correctly and um and and and not be overwhelming. I'm trying to think of other fads. Can you think of any? >> For me, I'm just seeing a lot of white oak and it is very very beautiful, but I think that at some point another wood will come into play and and change >> the vibe. >> I we're I'm doing a lot of white oak now and I love it. I think it's beautiful. My house is with
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>> everybody wants it. That's the most requested. >> Yeah, >> I I would say we're using a lot of alder as well. Alder um and I'm doing a project down in San Diego with walnuts. um those particular clients come from the east coast, a very more traditional clientele and they want that rich and so that's that's really important. I think it also depends on where you live and what's your environment. You know, >> different areas call for different materials. So I don't again I think it
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the white oak will stay but I'm like I said I'm doing in a project right now in San Marcos where we're doing >> um alder and white oak was not for their project. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I think I think as a designer, you have to know when to bend and flex. >> Yeah. >> With the client, with their story, and with the location. >> Now, you sense kind of jumping from like more uh you know, emotional questions to very like technical and taste uh related questions, but I'm going back to
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>> some of the uh >> I'm going to say not emotional, but I think I think at the end of the day, people really want to listen to a story and we want to tell that story and we want to help. Yes, >> we have 30 minutes, maybe 40 minutes that we can give back. Um, but it's just my brain again jumping from one thing to another. Uh, but I'll go back to maybe something that people feel like that's the number one issue and it's not necessarily related to us always as the
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uh professionals or the high achiever professionals whatever. It's the clientele, >> right? We're getting client, we don't know what we're getting ourselves into, right? >> And sometimes um we were trying to test them, you know, sometimes we had this one client together, we tested it, we just felt it's not it's not exact, we just it's not going to work. We both dropped it at the same time and I think for the good >> but we are getting I'm sure you're
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getting because I'm getting that as well a very sometimes more challenging clients and we need to walk now for two years three years four years who knows >> the new world. Yeah. And uh and sometimes you're deep into the process. Boom. Their faces are you know things are changing and things are escalating sideways or moving moving to a whole different direction >> smiling because we're just finishing that with a client but and we're we're almost there. I promise the girls we're
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all going to spa day. >> Yeah. >> It happens. It happens >> for us. We we were just having this client board and we were looking at it sometimes and we're like hey it's always like this 20 30% of our clients going to give us hard time. It doesn't matter what we do. uh and we need to accept it as part of the industry. But tell me about your approach like what's what what >> my approach? Yeah, my approach is to only to say less. Number one, I feel like my or my is your question is my when I have
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a difficult client, >> you got a difficult client and you need to manage them now for your their energy, their marriage, their family. >> At the end of the day, it's their money, right? It's their money. So, it's my job to walk them through it as gracefully as I can. And if they're hardnosed about a certain material or a certain look, even though I don't think it's timeless, I don't think that material is pretty. I have learned that it's their money and I've done my job as
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educating them and showing them the material that I think should be used in their space with drawings and renderings, but it's their space, so I have to accept that. Um, I think another to that point I tell my team all the time, we can learn and grow from this client. You know, it's it's how our attitude and how we deal with this is what's going to make it um not as stressful, not keep you up at night. Um, so it's also our approach and what can we learn from that? And from the job that we're we
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just basically one of the just finished um we we had that that discussion. you know, it's so easy again to point fingers and this person's difficult and that client's, you know, not appreciative, which doesn't feel good because we're working so hard behind the scenes, as you know, to make everything as seamless as possible. But you can always there's things we can always do differently and accept our responsibility and accept our faults as and how can we turn this around. And at
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the end of the day, I'm grateful. They're my clients and um they help they help keep the doors open. I must tell you something personally. I had this one client back in the days and we're we're you know I'm looking at my clients. I'm giving them the best services I can the best services we can as a team >> but at the end of the day I really want them because that's our marketing. We want them to refer us out. We want them to keep on rolling our names to their neighbors and sometimes you finish like
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off not necessarily because of you. Sometimes just this this project is not going well. You know it's just >> everything just goes wrong. the clients are not appreciative as you just said and you're like okay I'm I'll never get a referral from them and I got this client and it's really interesting >> that I'm keep on getting referrals from this client that ended up like in such a door slam >> there you go they were like >> we're not happy blah blah blah and we I
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was there every single day at the end of project just to make sure finishes are being done right and they were trying to shake hands when when I'm done all the subs like left not getting paid not because of anything just I don't want that money I just want out >> done you want to be done >> I want you know, you owe me five grand. I'll give up on that. Go hire somebody else. And I did. And I did. And we managed. >> Yeah. >> But at the same time, I was like, you
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know what? We spent like a year here. >> This property is beautiful. They're very private on, you know, what how they do business and I'm not going to get business from them, >> right? >> And we are getting from them. >> So, it is like you never know. >> You never know. >> You're looking at yourself and you're saying, I got into that T intersection. I could turn right and be an came and left and just kill them with kindness. And I did it again and again
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again >> and help because they're fighting you, but they're fighting their family members. They're fighting their gardeners. They're fighting their lawyers. They're fighting everybody. So, >> I think you hit it the nail on the coffin. You kill them with kindness. And that's that's who we are as people anyway. >> Smiling, smiling, smiling. It's really harsh and >> not sleeping at night, but you know, it's it's And then you know that you're
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doing your best. And if you know that you're doing your best and then look at that, you're getting referrals. So, that makes >> it's all worth it. Yeah. No, I start I stopped not sleeping at nights. It was a whole year and now I'm like >> that's it. You know, I'm I'm >> no matter what, it's not worth my my mental health. It's not that. I'll tell you that. >> It's not. But when you're in the middle of a project, you can't just walk away
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either. So, >> you cannot you cannot. Uh but you use your team and your you trust your people and >> and you talk and you vent to them as well. Like that's what we're there. We're also, you know, >> your your work is your other family. So, we're there to communicate and talk every day about these kind of things because, you know, if you walked in here every day and no one if you guys weren't talking about it, that wouldn't really work, would it? You know.
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>> Yeah. So, other than design details, what keeps you up at night, you know, uh other than executing design details as you wanted them? >> I really try not to I four or five years ago, everything kept me up at night. Um I feel now that I know everything is there you there's a solution for everything that means um you know you and I and the contractor have to have a meeting or if I have to buy two more slabs or you know whatever whatever the issue is everything will work itself out
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um construction is not drawings to actuality there's a lot that happens in between so I think that now I don't I I align myself with good contractors, quality like you. So, we can sleep at night, right? >> You know, yes, things come up. It's construction and um but I really really feel I it's not good for you. So, yes, it happens here and there, but overall, I've kind of been in this industry longer now that everything it all works out. It just does. So on the other hand,
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what what keeps your uh your how's your routine your health routine or your how you keep your mind healthy in the right place? What what what is your like exercise routine if any or >> I work out every morning if I get up at 5:00 and I >> So start from the morning. You you wake up. What's what's like >> get my coffee. >> Get your coffee. >> I have my coffee. I lay in my bed for a few minutes. Maybe check my emails. Um, and I'm off to the gym at by 5:45 or I'm
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on a run every day except for the weekends. >> You're running or you're just doing a >> I run or I go to the gym. >> Amazing. >> I don't run to the gym. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that keeps mentally healthy. That's And just getting a good night's sleep is also really important. >> Nutrition, water, lots of water. Um, >> time with my friends and family. That's huge. >> Vacations. Uh I had a one of the trades I was talking to yesterday or one of these is
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like he's like you you you travel a lot and I don't even think I do that much. I'm like well I don't do this for nothing. You have to have a mental break. So I think that's important too. Another thing that I um do now that I didn't used to is I don't work on weekends. I just don't. >> Yeah. >> I don't know how do you? >> Nope. >> No. >> No. I cut it at Friday midday. Sometimes I work from home at Friday and I'll do like a >> nice day for myself with with Gil or or
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with little ones depending depending on the uh the day. >> And I do >> prioritize my mental health and my physical health before everything else in my life to be honest before before my family before my kids because I cannot provide for them if not >> that's my number one thing and I'm saying it proudly >> because I feel like if you're not really saying it proudly and you're hiding between no it's first of all my wife and my kids and my work. No, it's first of
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all me. >> If you want me my best, I need to say that again and again again and again. >> Yeah, I'm selfish and that's fine. >> It is fine because no one else can take care of you. You have to take care of yourself and and you know and I feel we're also our best >> um contractor, builder, contractor, designer for our clients if we're mentally, you know, not exhausted and >> yeah stressed. So >> So I surf that's my meditation. I work I work out
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>> and I eat really well. I'm trying to cook my own food. I'm trying to grow my own food now. >> Okay, that's that's next level. That's next level. I know. I'm I'm looking I'm not there yet. >> And I think next home I'm looking for a more farm. >> Oh, that's so cool. >> Two table. >> Um >> would you do that all yourself? >> Now we were kind of growing our our own vegetables. I'm trying to get a chicken. Gil is like, "No, you're not getting
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chicken here. Are you crazy?" But I had chickens in Israel, so I'm used to my own. >> I've heard they're a mess. >> They're a mess. But I'm I'm I'm I'm >> But if you're after the for the work, it's just >> I'm just gonna make my own wine. I'm I'm so ready. I'm so ready for for you know, I came from the Mediterranean and we are not eating any processed food. And I came here my first couple years. I ate Panda Express and Chipotle and I thought
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that's good for me. But I was just fresh out of the boat. I didn't know anything. I worked I worked as a >> locksmith for my first couple years at night and was in Chicago outside. My story is long. Maybe one day I'll I'll tell it to people. But yes, please >> uh came in extremely broke. I touched the bottom of the barrel barrel mentally >> and I picked myself up. I moved to California, started my business, changed my routine completely >> and now I'm like I'll never go back
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there. >> Never. >> Never. Ever. Doesn't matter what. You know, everybody needs to touch the, you know, the bottom >> to to understand what's how it feels. >> And I wish it for a lot of people. And I wish I wish you to go down to understand that before it was pretty nice. >> Um go back there because you can't. >> Yeah. >> U >> I don't know if my Do you ever wish your children like I I don't want my children to experience that. I sometimes want
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them to like know what that I know they've seen it but can they feel what >> I do want them to feel that and I I feel that's really important. And if I want them strong and resilient, they must >> I know >> be with their back to the wall. It doesn't matter how good I'm I'm I'm doing. and how much I can provide for them. Now they're very little. Mines are a year and four. I'm in that phase of just just protecting and making sure they're safe.
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>> Right. >> But down the line when they start being like little little jerks. Yeah. Go figure it out. >> Sorry. I mean >> I'm your safety net and that's it. >> That's right. >> Nothing else. >> Right. Right. >> Um because this is how I got raised and I felt like that's really that was really good for me personally. Mhm. And you know, there's no nor there's no like no one grows up and nothing's has a perfect childhood or a perfect life.
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That just doesn't exist. So, we're all, you know, your children, my children, they're going to go through their own different highs and lows. And um that's just, you know, that's life. >> And you got two boys. >> Two boys. >> How is it to be uh >> love boy mom love? I'm very close with both of them. So, yeah. >> Yeah. They're my everything. Yeah. As your kids are, too. they are. Um, well, I think we kind of covered a lot of things. Uh, and I think
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it was just a perfect 34 minutes of our chat. Personally, I'm really happy that I met you because I know for myself that I'm not working with tons of designers. I'm married to one and she's just a onewoman show. >> Yeah. And I'm I I was really looking for one or two other designers that I feel emotionally connected to >> professionally on the same level that can really >> speed up with me when I need it. >> Y >> and they're locally uh based and um as
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long as you're going to be part of the industry, you got me as your, you know, >> Yeah. >> as your friend. >> We're stoked. Uh we are now so whoever is following me and Carrie we're we're doing this Delmare project uh which is literally an ocean front property. >> Oh ocean front sand in your toes. >> Yeah. For for a really cool client and and a really cool mom if she's and and now we're we're right in the middle of the ADU. Uh kind of I guess both of our
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heads are in main house now in a way just how that thing turned out being >> uh the views the the everything there going to be super cool. So if you're following, please uh check it out. And whoever want to follow you, Carrie, or get in touch with you for projects, how can they find you? >> Yeah, my Instagram is @kerimichelleinteriors and my website is kerimichelleinteriors.com. So pretty easy. >> Cool. Now for every if anyone is listening and they feel like they're in the bottom barrel barrel or they want to
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get a piece of advice, feel free to reach out. Um I'm I love it. I think that if you're having and you're a contractor, designer, architect and you're financially in a problem, you're in a insurance problem, you're in a legal problem, you're in an employee problem, >> any problem, please reach out. Uh I think me or even Carrie if that's more of an interior designer niche >> will help you understand what's wrong and how you can make it better or just
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listen to you. But as Krie said, there is a solution to everything. So please keep that in mind. >> Absolutely. Um, have a great rest of your week. Any plans for the weekend? >> It's Mother's Day, so >> correct. >> Time with my children. We'll probably go to the beach, maybe play some pickle ball, maybe some champagne. You know, >> I'm taking guilt to the proper in Santa Monica. >> Oh my, how just you two? No kids. >> Just the both of us.
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>> Amazing. >> Mother's Day, so enjoy yourself. >> Exactly. Right. No dishes, no laundry, no mom mom. Yeah, mine are older, so it's different now. You know, >> we're going to stop surfing and then we're going to go and do nothing. >> She surfs, too. >> I surf. She's >> just watch enjoy. >> She loves the ocean, so we're going to figure something out. >> Your wife is very sweet. >> It's also our anniversary. So,
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>> Oh, congratulations. >> And she's very sweet. >> Yes. Yes. >> Um I think that's it for today. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for having me. Such a pleasure.