Having worked full-time for 5 years as a commissioned interior designer (beginning in 1987), when I decided to start my own business I REALLY didn't want to be immersed in the "selling" arena of this business. To a point, it's where all the headaches are...but, more importantly, I felt it always put me in a tug-of-war between telling my client what I thought was in THEIR best interest vs. [instead] looking after my boss's bottom line. And, further, in my opinion the last thing the world needed then as well as now was one more designer hustling this line of carpets, or that line of fabrics, or furnishings, or lamps, etc.

So-o, I became a renegade...! And setup my interior design consultation business in 1992 deciding to solely charge for my time, take myself out of the buying equation other than to provide wholly UNbiased purchasing advice, and then pass along to my clients the exclusive trade discounts my profession makes available to me which, indeed, can usually save you 10% - 40% on just about anything you're needing to buy. And the best part is, y'all can shop WHEREVER you like -- because I'm not trying to maneuver anyone into patronizing this store vs. that store. Often, in fact, my clients are shopping on their own, discover an item, and call to have me directly arrange a discount on their behalf, often with a store I've never been to before.

For example, my clients Connie & Greg from Nevada City wanted an oversized showpiece area rug for their newly-renovated Victorian. They'd visited a local rug importer following a consult when we discussed colors, determined appropriate size, as well as reviewed materials to consider as the rug was to be in their main heavy-use dining area and I always have an eye on function, durability, and cleanability. We met at the shop, reviewed rugs, found a real stunner, and I negotiated a 20% discount with the owner right then. So Connie & Greg got an ideal look and quality, they saved a cool $1000 on their splurge-y $5,000 rug, and they paid me a whopping $50 for .30 min. of my time that day based upon my discounted shopping rate.

Another couple, Ben & Jeannie from Lake Wildwood, had been consulting with me on paint colors as well as flooring replacement throughout the home they had just bought and I also answered their questions about furnishing purchases they were planning. As they were relocating here from Colorado, they found leather furniture at a store there they decided to buy. I was able to fax the necessary documentation to the out-of-state retailer and saved them $400 on their purchase (in this instance, "just" 10% made a real difference in their bottom-line cost, and I billed $25 for .15 minutes of my time to facilitate the discount on their behalf. They also saved