Help Me Name My Business

wingnut4772

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am trying to get someone who actually knows how to take pictures....:)

amulford

You didn't do too bad of a job. Just make sure you can use them before you do. Some folks are funny 'bout that kind of stuff...

petrym

Talk to the painter guys that saved the last job and see what kind of availability they have, they're a keeper.
I like the: "Where style is a matter of taste, not budget" I'd drop the "not budget" part though...

come to think of it, I like "Where style matters"

ESavinon

Darla's Beautiful Interiors .

wingnut4772

I am just wondering here guys (Shack) what more would I have needed to do here to qualify myself as a 'designer'. I understand the licensing part but what would a designer have done here that I did not do? Tear down a wall? I removed cabinetry and designed the lighting layout and function. I also designed the pendant lamps. Those are custom made. Not store bought - made to my specifications. I am struggling a bit with that one.

honda cber

nothing really to add except that you should perhaps consider something starting with an "A".

something about being at the top of the list in the yellow pages...

how about "an interior vision by darla" (i take it your name is darla)? you will rank just below AAA interiors........

a

Face

honda cber wrote: »

nothing really to add except that you should perhaps consider something starting with an "A".

A friend named his business "A Best Way Towing" for that reason.

shack

wingnut4772 wrote: »

I am just wondering here guys (Shack) what more would I have needed to do here to qualify myself as a 'designer'. I understand the licensing part but what would a designer have done here that I did not do? Tear down a wall? I removed cabinetry and designed the lighting layout and function. I also designed the pendant lamps. Those are custom made. Not store bought - made to my specifications. I am struggling a bit with that one.

Darla, the article I posted was a pretty good read to differentiate between the two. An interior designer is basically an interior architect. They spend 4-5 years studying all phases of interior design. There are detailed studys of spacial relationships, human-environmental issues, codes, lighting, materials, textiles, color theory, understanding constuction and architectural plans, furniture design, physics, etc. This is in addition to spending huge amounts of time actually putting all of this into practice in studio and as interns.

You may have designed the lighting and actually made the fixture, but do you understand the reasons why you would use a particular type of light in a particular place...other that what may look good? An interior designer has knowledge of the various types of lighting, where and why it works, what effect each type of lighting would have on the intended purpose, the amount of lumens necessary, etc, etc. The interior designer deals with how the lighting affects the entire space...not what looks good with the rest of the decorations.

I understand you would like to be an interior designer. If that is the case go back to school and pursue a degree in the field. If you want to continue helping people decorate and arrange their spaces, that is a good and worthwhile profession as well. Even though some might consider it semantics...someone who has spent the time and effort to train in all the aspects of interior design really doesn't like a person without the training to call themselves an "interior designer".

Again, I'm not trying to burst your bubble...do what you would like to do. I'm just pointing out some issues because it just so happens interior design is something that I happen to know a bit about.

danger boy

how about some of these name for when you are ready to move forward.

1. Picture This Decorating

2. Beautiful Things Decorating

3. Room to Spare by Darla

4. 4 Walls Decorating

5. Off the Wall Designs by Darla

6. Darla's Feng Shui

best of luck in your biz ventures

wingnut4772

Shack, I do understand that I need the education in this day and age to be called a designer but I did not just design a pretty light. I designed it with consideration of function as well. It is on a 3 way so the owner does not have to worry about getting out of bed to turn it off from the wall. I also put it on a dimmer so she could adjust it according to her needs. The spots are also on a separate 3 way and a dimmer for the same purpose. I gave thought to the function and the beauty. I also installed a new light at her entry that is motion activated so when she comes home at night with her hands full she won't have to fumble in the dark for a switch. I am not arguing with you but I think you underestimate the knowledge someone can have without an education.

HGTV has a show called 'Design Star' and not all of the contestants have a degree in interior design. I wonder how they will work that out?

George Grand

Acme Interior Design/Decor gets you right up there with the A's in the Yellow Pages.

Maybe it's me, but I'm going with somebody that knows a good cartoon long before I go with a cheesy attempt like "A Touch Of Class" this or that. Sounds good for an escort service I guess.

shack

No Darla...I think you are underestimating what it takes to be an interior designer.

All of the stuff you mentioned is good...common sense stuff. Nothing wrong with it at all. Interior design incorporates more...much more...in a much broader sense.

The stuff on TV is decorating...nothing more.

Oh well. Go do what you want to do, call yourself whatever you want. Good luck in whatever it is.

wingnut4772

I am not going to call myself a designer. I want to do things the right way. I would like to use the word design in my name somehow though. And that may be common sense stuff for you but you should know that most average people do not think about that stuff which is why they hire designers in the first place. I have a lot to learn and I plan to but there is such a thing as talent as well as education and I would suggest that I would rather hire a talented ' decorator' rather than an educated designer with no talent any day.

wingnut4772

Anyway whatever I do I need to do quickly because this job has already gotten me some referrals!:D

obieone

No way! Get outta here! Really?
Pretty soon she'll be mocking us in her interview with Architectural Digest; "There was an online forum that didn't believe in me, but I showed them!"

Music Joe

The Design Detective

obieone

Music Joe wrote: »

The Design Detective

That'll be HER new show on HGTV!:D

demaples

Oh my! That is GOOD!

wingnut4772

I know you guys believe in me and Shack is just looking out. You guys rock!

janmike

A Touch of Class

DarqueKnight

wingnut4772 wrote: »

HGTV has a show called 'Design Star' and not all of the contestants have a degree in interior design. I wonder how they will work that out?

The contestants on HGTV's "Design Star" have scores of experienced professionals behind the scenes to help with any "snags" or legal issues. Do you think the celebrities that the contestants sometimes do projects for would trust their homes and interiors to total strangers if HGTV didn't give some reassurance that they would make right any screw ups? If there are any licensing issues in a particular location, you can be certain that the work done by the contestants will be under the watchful eye of a licensed design professional.

wingnut4772 wrote: »

I am not arguing with you but I think you underestimate the knowledge someone can have without an education.

Formal training/education provides a depth of understanding that is impossible to achieve with self study. I could watch all the reality based cop shows, read every text book and training manual published about law enforcement, and I would still be terribly deficient without practical guidance by an experienced law enforcement officer.

Shack brings up a very good point about education and licensing. In some states, you can not use the term "interior designer" unless you have the proper training and have passed the licensing exams. In some states, you could be liable for very stiff fines if you present yourself as an "interior designer" without the proper training and licensure. Licensing requirements vary from state to state and do not aways require a college degree in interior design. Apprenticing with a licensed professional for a number of years and then passing the required exam(s) is all it takes in some locations.

To answer your initial question, I propose "Darla Decor" for your decorating business and "Darla Design" if you decide to go the full fledged interior design route.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with everything.

wingnut4772

Thanks. Trust me, I am paying attention and even though I am being a brat I appreciate it. I do not want to mislead anyone and want to learn whatever it takes to get the design credentials. In the meantime I will go the decor route BUT can my name be Darla Design as a decorator? I like Darla Decor too but I also really like Design Detective. would the name be ok as long as I don't personally represent myself as a designer?

DarqueKnight

You need to check with the state board that licenses interior design professionals as to whether the word "design" can be used by non-licensed professionals offering decorating services to the public.

I know that for engineering professionals, the word "engineer" can not be used in any entrepreneurial or private practice capacity by a person wishing to offer engineering services to the public unless they are licensed. When people get caught doing so, they are fined anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars and their name and infraction is published in the state engineering board's monthly journal. They don't play.

obieone

I wouldn't get too worked up over license/certification/education requirements just yet.
Go to the local/county/ state offices and find out WHAT the requirements are.
Also, practice playing with your camera. And learn what you can from various trades along the way. Take some electrical/ plumbing code classes
Remember, knowledge is power.

Darque, you beat me!