Hi there, designer đź‘‹
This week, an old client from five years ago reached out again — and just like last year, I politely declined. For another restaurant opportunity!
It’s not because I didn’t appreciate them or the past project we did together. It’s because my business structure, pricing, and process have evolved — and that’s a good thing.
Learning to vet clients is one of the hardest (and most important) lessons you’ll face as a designer. It’s not about being selective for ego’s sake; it’s about protecting your energy, respecting your time, and ensuring every project supports the vision you’ve worked so hard to build.
Why I Said No (and What I Learned)
When projects stretch from a 3-month agreement into a year-long marathon, budgets stay tight, and expectations keep rising… that’s not alignment — that’s a mismatch. (I literally made no money on previous project, got paid very small fee and the project went on for over a year!)
Vetting is how you stay true to your standards and keep your creativity thriving.
And yes — it’s okay to outgrow certain clients.
If you’ve ever struggled to decline a project that didn’t feel right, you’ll love this week’s blog. I share exactly how I politely turn down misaligned opportunities (and even include the script I use to say no gracefully).
→ Read the Full Blog: Why Vetting Clients Matters
A Little Win Worth Sharing
Also this week, a designer reached out to share her gratitude for the complimentary client questionnaire I sent out last week — yay! 🎉
She told me she’s just starting her first full-home renovation and felt completely lost on where to begin since her systems weren’t set up yet. Hearing that the questionnaire arrived just in time to help her get organized truly made my day!
She also mentioned that my Schematic Design blog was super helpful — especially the example pages I shared from my own client presentation. Knowing that these resources are making a real difference in your workflows fills me with joy.
In Case You Missed It…
Here’s the Complimentary Client Questionnaire Template 📝
Simply copy & paste it into your document, then update it with your project information. You can easily adjust colors, fonts, and graphics to fit your brand.
→ Get My Free Client Questionnaire
Also, re-attaching a blog from last week for a sneak peak into formatted pages.
→ Read “Behind the Scenes: Why the Schematic Phase Makes or Breaks a Design Project”
Sneak Peek: 3D Progress for a Living Room Design
Now for something on the creative side — I'm currently working on full-gut renovation on 6,000 sq. ft. home & here’s a sneak peek at the very first 3D concept I’ve been developing this week!
Normally, I give my clients one full week to request any adjustments to their Schematic Design Package. Since this client loved everything (🎉), I went ahead and jumped straight into the 3D phase — the design for this room was already feeling so polished and cohesive!
I completed the 2D space planning in AutoCAD and then 3D modeled the space in SketchUp, keeping all of my drawings and models in-house to ensure the design intent stays consistent from concept through execution.
Right now, I’m still focusing on spatial adjacencies and architectural elements. Furniture and lighting are placeholders for now, until I begin sourcing through my to-the-trade vendors after we wrap up the Design Development phase. I’m so excited to watch it all come to life — stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes updates and final renderings soon!
When I do space planning, I think through every inch of the space — even placing lighting early on to make sure the layout and functionality are in perfect harmony. I received the CAD files from the architect, which makes the process so much smoother!
After the space planning and schematic concepts were approved, I jumped into 3D modeling in SketchUp, then rendered everything in Enscape + AI to provide an early visual of the design direction.
I’m so excited to watch it all come to life — stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes updates soon!
Here’s to designing with intention — in your projects and your boundaries.
Ana 🌸
Interior Design Den
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