What's your 'House Personality' type?

Which answer best describes you:

a) I don't think about how my home looks. It's just a place for me to live.

b) I consult with an interior designer every time I make a home-wares, furniture or redecorating decision.

c) I can envision my perfect, dream home, but the reality is a little different.

Most people are probably a c).

We lust after what we see in interior design magazines; we trawl Pinterest with a longing eye or keep "For My Dream Home" files of magazine tear-outs. Everything we'd love our perfect, future home to be.

But the reality is a little different. We work with what we've got and what we can afford. We do actually love our real homes; we create them to be comfortable, practical and hope they reflect an element of taste and style.

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to be invited into many homes through my work as an artist and designer. From Geneva to Sydney and everywhere in between, the one thread which links all of my clients is their pride in the 'personal stuff'. How they helped design the master suit layout, or the story behind treasures collected on world trips, or how they met the artist behind their favourite painting, or what they created with their own hands.

And when people design their own chairs online with My Bespoke Chair, there is always a reason why. For the nursery, to celebrate a milestone birthday, a new home-office chair for a new business venture...

Everyone has a story to tell.

And stories are what give our homes personality. And personality is very important when making your house a home. Your home should tell the story of you.

So this year, I have declared 2014 The Year of You & Your Beautiful Home.

What does this mean in terms of my plans for marketing and growing My Bespoke Chair?

It means that every piece of content I create in 2014, from my newsletter to my social media, will have the underlying theme of helping people make their homes personal, creative and beautiful - whatever their individual perception of beautiful is.

And I am launching a new range of cushions, all made from the fabrics I designed for My Bespoke Chair and all made-to-order in Australia. A custom cushion at a high street price. The launch is also part of The Year of You & Your Beautiful Home theme - something special, hand-made and made-to-order but at a lower price point.

Whether redecorating, renovating, moving, starting a new phase in life or simply indulging, I want to show that creating a personal, interesting and beautiful home is perfectly possible. Hunting, collecting, fossiking, making, creating and co-designing are all great ways to add personality to your home.




Want to be part of our growing VIP newsletter and get useful interior design tips, special offers and behind-the-scenes insights? Or be the first to find out when our new cushions are for sale? Sign up here

Pitch Perfect Pricing

Pricing your product or service is always tough. I have struggled with this all my professional life. When I started exhibiting my work back in 1998 in Switzerland and London, I often asked Fran, my husband, to price my paintings and drawings. I found it embarrassing to put a financial value on what was an extension of my soul.

I was torn - half of me delighted in earning money. The other half was ecstatic when someone else loved and wanted to own what I had spent time and passion creating. I could have given it away for free; I had found a kindred spirit.

In many ways, I still feel like that. When a client buys a chair or I deliver a painting they commissioned from me, I have butterflies in my stomach. And the soaring feeling of joy when I see my client's delight is hugely addictive. I truly live for those moments.

New - pastel chair frames with our Cupcakes and Chandelier fabrics

But I've become more business minded and now have things called profit margins and costings sheets!

As you know, I read and learn every day. I follow the blogs of business leaders I admire. I subscribe to their newsletters, go to their seminars and have taken an online business course. Pricing your value is a hot topic. And there are differing points of view.

"You deserve to charge what ever you want."
"Don't court bargain shoppers - they're not loyal."
"Price yourself high to get quality customers."
"Undercut your competition."
"Be aggressive in your pricing strategy."

My attitude to pricing is "The perfect chair at the perfect price for the perfect client."

Recently I have been revisiting my competition. There aren't many custom chair e-tailers but there are plenty of people selling chairs. I have always offered handcrafted, custom chairs at high-street showroom prices. Many chairs sold in mid-to-high end showrooms and online, are made in China, manufactured in the 1000s, bought in bulk and sold relatively cheaply. Some are still quite expensive because you're paying for the brand, despite being mass produced.

This week I lowered the prices on all chairs. Why and how?

I know my clients appreciate unique home-wares and furniture at great prices. What's more unique than a chair you had a hand in designing. Made specifically for you. But traditionally anything bespoke or customised has come with a hefty price tag. Luckily, technology and the internet have created a space for bespoke products at normal prices.

To do this, I had to negotiate with all my suppliers; they understand my vision of creating beautiful, bespoke chairs at comfortable prices. More sales for My Bespoke Chair = more business for them. And the savings I created with my suppliers are now passed onto my clients. It's a win-win-win situation.

Some people may criticise my decision, saying that I'm devaluing my brand or not taking out as much profit as I can. But I don't see it that way. I'm not taking anything away from my brand, or reducing my profits; I'm actually adding value to my client's purchase. The same Aussie craftsmen, the same chairs, the same fabrics, the same gorgeousness...just at a better price.

Free design service + free delivery + 100% returns + lower prices = pitch perfect pricing!


Sign up HERE for the My Bespoke Chair newsletter;  free design tips, offers and behind-the-scenes pics.