Mix Up Your Morning Coffee Routine

Is coffee fueling your mornings, or even your entire day? While there's no denying that a cup of coffee can be a great way to start your day, there are reasons to switch things up. Whether you want to cut back on your caffeine intake or simply try something different, there are plenty of appealing alternatives, each with unique flavors and health benefits, that could become a new staple in your morning ritual.

Green Tea

Green tea is a popular alternative to coffee, with its distinct flavor profile and health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and has a calming effect (but won't put you back to sleep).

Matcha

Matcha is a type of green tea that has recently surged in popularity, rich in antioxidants and with a unique, earthy flavor. It is often served as a latte, making it a great alternative to coffee for those who enjoy a creamy, frothy beverage.

Black Tea

Black tea comes in many varieties, including those that taste like cappuccino, such as Teeccino. It has a bold flavor and less caffeine than coffee, making it an ideal option for those looking for a change of pace. 

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea that has a tangy, slightly sweet flavor, often available in different flavors. It's packed with probiotics, so it’s an excellent choice for those looking to boost their gut health.

Chicory Coffee

Chicory coffee is made from the root of the chicory plant and has a rich, nutty flavor that can satisfy your coffee craving without the caffeine. Plus, it comes in instant powder form, making it quick and convenient.

Golden Milk

Golden milk has a warm, spicy flavor and is made with turmeric, which has anti-inflammatory properties, along with other spices. It's perfect if you want to enjoy a comforting, healthy morning drink.

Lemon Water

Lemon water is a simple, refreshing alternative to coffee. It's hydrating, high in Vitamin C, and can help to flush out toxins from your body.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink that's high in caffeine and has a grassy, slightly bitter flavor. Give it a chance, and it just might be your new favorite morning drink that provides a boost of energy.

Mushroom Coffee

If you must have your coffee but still want to try another variety, mushroom coffee is made with powdered mushrooms (without actually tasting like mushrooms) and is said to have a number of health benefits, including improved focus and energy.

One last word: whatever alternative you choose, the most important thing is to find a morning drink that makes you feel good. Pay attention to how your body and energy feel after trying different morning drinks, and be sure to savor a moment of leisure with your sips. So experiment with something new and see what it can bring to your day!

xx, Danae

Shop the Look: Spring Décor

The dreariness of winter can be such a bore; it's truly the change of spring that I adore.

Celebrate in style this Spring season with NEW decor!
Check out our fresh decor collection of seasonal must-haves on our latest Shop The Look board!

Shop The Look: The Best Clothing + Items for Easy Vacation Traveling

With spring vacations on everyone's mind, let's go shopping for The Best Clothing and Items for Easy Vacation Traveling! We have curated some of our favorites, from bags to hats; we've got you covered!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

A Sun-Filled Sojourn: Discover Australia's Lizard Island

Secluded within a national park and renown for abundant Australian flora and fauna, Lizard Island beckons both adventurers and leisure-seekers. A prime location on the Great Barrier Reef grants easy access to one of the world’s most coveted natural wonders, while ample amenities and services ensure indelible experiences. Explore the natural beauty or opt to lounge at the pool, beach, spa, or private chartered yacht for a truly unforgettable getaway.

Stay: While a variety of suites and rooms are offered, ultimate luxury is found at The House at Lizard. This modern three-bedroom villa features wellness amenities including outdoor baths, a private swimming pool, adjoining yoga deck, and a rooftop hot tub along with spacious bedrooms and floor-to-ceiling island views from every turn.

Staying at The House has its privileges, like the intuitive service of a Private Host who will curate your dream itinerary and attend to your every request, and a private chef and sommelier on-hand for all meals. Other notable inclusions are access to two private beaches, unlimited use of “Mojo” (a twin outboard Searanger boat), naturalist-led tours, chauffeured transfers to the resort and airport, and more.

Savor: Your all-inclusive stay includes gourmet meals, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and spirits, and an in-room mini bar. Multiple dining options are available from elevated to casual. Take in ocean views and a daily rotating menu at Salt Water, which serves up modern Australian fare infused with Asian flavors — all crafted with local produce and fresh seafood. For intimate, exclusive dining, reserve the Degustation Dining experience — available for only two couples per evening. Meet with your chef prior to dinner to discuss your seven-course meal and matching wine selection. Minimal service interruptions ensure ultimate privacy.

See & Do: The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living coral reef system and the seventh Wonder of the World. Snorkel, scuba dive, or swim with schools of colorful fish and other ocean life among a rainbow of coral. Snorkeling gear is available for the duration of your stay, along with a selection of dive charters and scuba classes. For those who prefer to stay dryer, rent a sea kayak, which offers a window into the underwater world from above the waterline.

Getting There: Scheduled twice daily, take a scenic 60-minute flight between Cairns and Lizard Island — with aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef, the flight is a highlight of the journey.

For more information on this trip please feel free to contact Staci Spittler with Travelstix at staci@travelstix.com. More on Staci here - Signature Travel Network.

xx, Danae

What's New Industry Partners!

I am always trying to find products and services in addition to what we offer at Elite Design Assistants in the interior design industry that would greatly benefit all designers. Below is a list of some great products and services that many of our clients use. I am an affiliate for most of them so I do get a commission if you purchase from my link.

---

NEW! The Key – Fee Calculator

The Key is a FEE CALCULATOR from interior designer business coach Nancy Ganzekaufer. Whether you work on e-design, décor only, new builds, remodels or full-service, The KEY does the math for you!  

• Enter Your Desired Hourly Rate

• Estimate Hours Per Room

• Estimate Sales Tax on Services and/or Goods

• Estimate Furniture / Décor Investment

---

OPENING SOON! The Standard

Grow your firm into a thriving luxury design business while giving yourself more freedom, creativity and joy. The Standard is a course that walks you through streamling and organizing your process, attracting your idea high-end luxury clients and provides you all the templates and information you need to start landing luxury clients NOW!

---

Metrique Solutions – The Ultimate Money Dashboard

This is perfect for scaling your service-based business, especially if you aren’t a ‘money person’. This platform integrates with your most-loved financial tools and puts all your money data in one easy-to-understand dashboard.

---

The Designer’s Collaborative – Buying Group

I’m always asked about buying groups/clubs and this is one I recommend! Many of my clients use The Designer’s Collaborative and I’ve always heard great things! Tell them Danae sent you. 😊

---

SideDoor

SideDoor is a behind-the-scenes service for independent interior designers, e-designers, stagers, and home influencers. They built proprietary tools that allow you to share your favorite products directly with clients and to make your website and social media pages shoppable. As of the time I wrote this (2/7/23) there are over 4,000 users, 150 vendors and the average commission is 30%. Create your own online shop using SideDoor and make some passive income!

---

If there are other products and services you are searching for, please let me know! We love researching the industry to find the best recommendations to make interior designers lives easier and more joyful!

xx, Danae

Shop the Look: What's Inside An Interior Designer's Tote Bag

Peek inside our tote bag and shop these looks! From handy tools to techy gadgets, you won’t want to these items in our Shop the Look board for What's Inside an Interior Designer's Tote Bag!

---

---

The KEY™: The Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool

One of my favorite things is to keep interior designers abreast of what’s NEW in the industry and I found you a new FEE CALCULATOR. Check this out!

Attention: Interior Designers

Ready to maximize your profitability?

Then you need The KEY™!

The KEY™: The Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool was developed by well-known Business Coach, Certified Body Language Trainer, and best-selling author, Nancy Ganzekaufer.

Proven successful by 100's of designers, I want YOU to reap the benefits of this easy-to-use pricing tool!

This is the ONLY pricing product you need to realize your highest profit margins. The KEY™ lets you quickly and accurately calculate pricing estimates for your clients...

>> NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF DESIGN SERVICES YOU OFFER! <<

Yes, you read that right. And it gets better!

The KEY™ includes a step-by-step video training that explains how to use the Pricing Tool, reducing your learning curve to almost zero. That means as soon as you grab your copy, you can benefit from it IMMEDIATELY!

The KEY™ also includes these essential bonus resources:

✔️ Project Scope Planner

Helps you think through every aspect of your project so you include each and every detail

✔️ Good, Better, Best Guide

A pricing guide to help you set expectations for your clients on the appropriate investment amounts (aka budgets) for each room

✔️ Client Proposal Templates

Four (4) fully customizable Canva Proposal Templates that align perfectly with The KEY™: The Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool. Go from potential to paying client seamlessly!

Grab your copy of The KEY™ today to start maximizing your profits. Click below to learn more!

The Interior Design Standard: Open Enrollment Coming Soon!

Open enrollment is coming up for the program that can help you break into the luxury market of interior design; it’s called The Interior Design Standard!

As you know, I’m here to share with you the helpful tips, tricks, and information I learn in the interior design industry that will help you succeed in running the most fulfilling and profitable business possible. Once again, I want to share with you a business program I came across that’s goal is to improve the interior design industry one design firm at a time.

The Interior Design Standard, created by East Coast interior designer Sandra Funk (House of Funk), is making a huge impact on a number of interior designers’ businesses across the country.

Why is this program making such an impact? Because the Interior Design Standard is House of Funk’s business structure. That’s right! The program includes a variety of modules with templates, processes, tools, and tech for designers to implement the structure into their own businesses. Within each module are videos explaining the ‘why’ behind Funk’s processes, with her personal experiences and lessons learned weaved in.  

The program is delivered in a friendly digital format. Designers receive lifetime access, live virtual community events and access to the ultimate design community: the Standard Inner Circle. “Our mantra is ‘Rise, Designers, Rise’. By helping one designer at a time, we hope to see the entire design industry improve,” says Funk.

I want to tell you a little bit more about the designers that the Standard will benefit the most.

• They've been in business for at least two years

• They have at least two team members

• Interior design is their calling - they've got the design stuff locked down

• They're ready to level up and break into the luxury design market

• They desire to have more confidence, joy, creativity, freedom... and profit

Of course, the Standard is not exclusive to designers that check every box, but their data and testimonials have shown that this is who has fantastic results with the Standard. 

This program is perfect for any designer who needs organized processes, wants to learn more about how a thriving and successful design practice does it and wants to bring the joy and passion back into their business.

They give you digestible video explanations accompanied by Sandra’s process, broken down into step-by-step tasks for you to download and customize for your business. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Interior Design Services Agreement

• 20+ Client email templates

• Trade Agreement

• HR Docs galore (job listings, roles and responsibilities, employee agreements with office policies, onboarding processes and more) 

• Full-Service Asana template (100+ tasks of our detailed full service and build/renovate process)

• Potential Client Asana template (detailed tasks outlining and digging into this process from initial outreach to onboarding)

• And tons of bonuses that will knock your socks off!

Plus, anyone who signs up using my link below will get our Passive & Multiple Income Streams for Interior Designers e-Book for FREE*!

Enrollment only happens twice per year and the next enrollment period is March 29 - April 5, 2023. If you are interested, you can reserve a spot now by clicking this link: https://interiordesignstandard.com/danae

*The FREE e-Book will be sent via email 60 days after payment has been made in full for The Interior Design Standard.

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have questions!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

xx, Danae

Show Yourself Some Love This Valentine's Day! Shop The Look: Valentine's Gifts for Yourself

Design Your Life: Expanding Your Skills & Horizons

As a designer, you've probably spent countless hours perfecting your craft. But let's face it, sometimes the daily grind can get a little monotonous. Adding some variety to your life can not only make you a more well-rounded person and make life more stimulating for you, but it can also lead to new creative inspiration and new opportunities in your professional life. Here are some ways to broaden your skills and horizons.

Learning a New Language

Learning a new language can be a lot of fun and one of the most gratifying things you can do. Not only will it allow you to communicate with a wider range of people, but it will also open doors to understanding different cultures, helping you to have a more comprehensive view of the world. 

Technology

Another way to expand your skill set could be learning new software or technology. As we live in the digital age, keeping up with the latest technologies gives you an added advantage. Delving into topics such as artificial intelligence or virtual and augmented reality can surprise you and even potentially complement your work.

Journaling

Keeping a journal is an opportunity to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and can help you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your motivations. It also serves to highlight which things in your life are working for you and where you’d like to evolve.

Playing a Musical Instrument

Make your own music. Playing an instrument can be a great way to wind down and help you improve your concentration. Plus, learning to play an instrument can give you an appreciation for the art of composition and arranging. And who knows, you may discover a hidden talent.

Urban Exploration

You might be surprised what you find if you play tourist in your town. Urban exploration can expose you to different architectural styles and designs, abandoned buildings, and other interesting and unique spaces.

Cooking Classes

Taking classes or dedicating regular time to more special or creative recipes can be very therapeutic and help you relax, as well as produce delicious and healthy meals. It’s one way to elevate the mundane. Learning about different ingredients and techniques, not to mention cultures, is a whole world to discover.

Volunteering

Volunteering in your community is a great way to give back to society. It can also offer you new perspectives and inspiration that you might not otherwise have encountered. It helps you develop a more empathetic and understanding view of people, which can be beneficial for both your personal and professional life.

Gardening

Watching the plants you’ve nurtured grow is extremely satisfying, and it can be a refreshing change of pace from working primarily indoors. Experiment with different plants, flowers, and landscaping techniques to create cohesive and visually appealing outdoor areas.

Yoga

It’s not just a fad. Yoga can help you to improve your physical health and to reduce stress and tension in your body. The fluid movements in yoga are especially great for aligning your body and mind after hours sitting in front of the computer screen.

Photography

Photography is a great hobby for many reasons. It's flexible, mobile and learning more about photography can help interior designers visually document and showcase their work, as well as develop a keener eye for composition, lighting and color.

Picking up a new activity (or bringing back one you’ve abandoned) can be an excellent way to stay inspired and motivated – and maybe make some new friends. So, go ahead and design your life to be as beautiful and enjoyable as you can imagine.

xx, Danae