DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: BRANDI AND SAMANTHA DAY, DAY DESIGN LLC

Residents of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, know that if they want over-the-top, old-world window treatments and home furnishings, they should turn to Brandi and Samantha Day. Brandi, who owned a firm called Brandi Renee Designs for decades, has been an interior designer and seamstress for more than 35 years. Her daughter, Samantha, inherited her passion for window treatments and joined with her to create their new firm in 2015.

Brandi is a previous Workroom of the Year winner who strongly believes in programs like the VISION Design + Workroom Competition. “It’s important to enter competitions in your field of expertise to give yourself that personal boost and to know you do great work,” she says. To create an award-winning contest entry, it’s important to document the design process in writing and pictures, get permission from the client before starting the application and take contest-quality “after” pictures of any project.

Lightning round with Brandi and Samantha Day

What advice can you share with other small business owners?

Brandi: No matter how talented or skilled you are, that is only one-third of the formula for success. Two-thirds of success in a business comes from a strong partner that you trust completely who excels at things like accounting, project management and handling all the paperwork that is the foundation of each project. (Brandi)

When you’re under pressure, what do you do to keep things under control?

Samantha: Clean and organize my house and office until I feel less chaotic.

If you were talking to 20-yearold you, what piece of advice would you give?

Brandi: Always be ready to take on an opportunity to learn and grow. You never know what amazing opportunity can come from hard work and integrity.

What is your favorite work-related book?

Samantha: “Beauty by Design: Refreshing Spaces Inspired by What Matters Most” by Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs. This book breaks down the design process for so many things in such a clear way for consumers as well as designers.

If you weren’t an awardwinning interior design professional, what would your dream job be?

Brandi: Running a charity that gives people an opportunity to have at least one room created. I get more pleasure in doing pro bono projects than anything else. Samantha: A writer. I’d love to write books and be able to travel the world to write anywhere.