DSA Insider: Hot Topics, Events & Fresh Reads
Welcome to DSA Insider, your go-to source for the latest buzz in the design world! This section keeps you in the know, from hot topics and expert insights to must-attend events and exciting new book releases.
A Month of Love & Inspiration!
Enjoy this month's highlights, insights, and creative journeys!
Hot Topic: The Contract Clause That Saved My Project
Ever had a client situation that could have gone sideways—if not for a well-crafted contract? We’re diving into the contract clauses that have saved designers from costly headaches.
1. Statement of Work vs. Scope of Work: These aren’t interchangeable! The Statement of Work gives a broad overview, while the Scope of Work gets into the nitty-gritty—deliverables, payments, timelines, and exclusions. A clearly defined scope prevents misunderstandings and protects your time.
2. Changes & Revisions: How many revisions are included? What happens when a client wants more? Setting expectations upfront (and outlining additional fees) keeps projects on track.
3. Client Involvement: Are clients checking in too often or not enough? Setting structured “client input periods” ensures valuable feedback without creative roadblocks.
4. Budget Transparency: Listing every cost—FF&E, procurement, delivery—helps avoid surprises. A well-documented budget prevents awkward money conversations down the line.
For more details about contracts, check out this Interior Design Guide and tips from DSA friend, Attorney Wendy Estela.
What’s the one contract clause you swear by? Message us on our DSA Instagram—we might feature your advice in our next issue!
Upcoming Event: KBIS 2025 – The Ultimate Kitchen & Bath Showcase
Join us at KBIS 2025, the largest kitchen and bath industry show in North America! With over 600+ brands showcasing cutting-edge designs and innovations, this is the go-to event for residential designers looking to stay ahead of the trends.
Dates: February 25-27, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Register Now: Click here to sign up
New & Noteworthy: Artful Home
By Josh Young | Photography by Kirsten Francis
In his debut book, artist and designer Josh Young invites readers into his world of serene, modern classicism, sharing the guiding principles that shape his creative process. Through palette, texture, form, layers, and nostalgia, Young provides a roadmap for curating a home that is both deeply personal and effortlessly beautiful.
Featuring stunning images of his Washington, DC townhouse and his newly unveiled Virginia retreat, Sycamore House, this book is more than just a design showcase—it’s an invitation to embrace creativity in every aspect of home life. With glimpses of Young’s artwork, textiles, ceramics, and floral arrangements, Artful Home is a must-read for those looking to blend artistry and interior design.
Perfect for: Design lovers seeking inspiration to craft a home with personality, depth, and timeless elegance.
That’s a wrap on this edition of DSA Insider! Stay inspired, stay connected, and let’s keep the conversation going.
New Series Alert: AI in Design with Jenna Gaidusek!
We’re beyond excited to introduce our brand-new video series, AI in Design, hosted by Jenna Gaidusek. This series explores how artificial intelligence can transform your design workflow, boost creativity, and streamline client communication.
AI is revolutionizing the way designers communicate, create, and manage projects. In this episode, Jenna dives into game-changing AI tools that can streamline your workflow, from automated note-taking to AI-powered design assistants and smart project management solutions.
Curious about which tools can save you time, energy, and creative brainpower? Don’t miss out—watch now and start transforming your design process!
Exclusive AI Training Offer for DSA Members!
Get 50% off a subscription to The DAIly—a premier AI training program designed for creative professionals. Gain access to bite-sized daily lessons, expert insights, and live events to help you integrate AI into your business with confidence. No coupon needed—just sign up and start transforming the way you work with AI today!
Learn more and claim your exclusive discount: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/dsa
Creating Design Magic With Close Friends
By Lindsay Field Penticuff
“Working with a great team means no one’s unique talents are wasted.”
Owning and operating an interior design firm can be a lone venture, especially when you’re first starting out. And as a company grows, we are typically able to add team members, people to help support our dreams of running a successful design business.
But for Jill Steinberg, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of
Fine and Dandy Co. based in Toronto, Canada, she had the privilege of starting her firm not only with others as passionate as she is about the interior design industry but two women she says are very dear friends—Carla Morano and Shelley Weinreb.
“All three of us are very drawn to things that have a history, have a story, and I think that’s because we are storytellers,” Steinberg shares. “A lot of our designs are hand painted, whether Shelley paints them or we work with incredibly talented artists who hand paint or hand draw really beautiful pieces for us. It’s been a collaborative and fulfilling process.”
Jill Steinberg feels like she was born to work in the interior design space—born to be a creative.
“It’s very instinctive to me,” she says. “I hung out in the art room in high school. I was always just drawn to creative things … ways to express myself, whether it was collecting vintage clothing and wearing things that not everyone else would wear and marching to my own beat.”
She also believes this is why she’s worn so many creative hats throughout her career after studying fashion design in college.
“I’ve done many different things and tried many creative jobs because there were so many things I was interested in,” says Steinberg, who is Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of
Fine and Dandy Co. in Toronto, Canada. “All those experiences help explain what I ‘bring to the table’ with Fine and Dandy Co.”
Her career spans from working in antique stores and creating decorative paintings to prop styling in films, and she was motivated to move into the interior design space and start her own firm because of her love of wallcoverings.
“I’m a huge fan of wallpaper and fabrics—don’t get me started!” Steinberg jokes. “I really appreciate not only the designs of things, but also the quality of things. That’s one of the reasons I love antiques and vintages, because of the beautiful details and quality workmanship.”
She co-owns Fine and Dandy with Carla Morano and Shelley Weinreb, and they launched the business in 2018 at the Interior Design Show Toronto.
“It’s a dream come true working with Shelley and Carla,” Steinberg says. “They are my two best friends, and we talked about working together one day. Working with them is amazing because it’s very collaborative. We know each other so well that we don’t even have to talk sometime. Every pattern goes through all of us, in terms of the ideas and how it’s shaped to be ready to show to the world. … It’s a huge labor of love for us and personal.”
Nature is a significant muse for many of their wallcovering designs, and they have done an excellent job of translating the beauty and intricacies of natural elements into their work.
“A lot of what we do is playing with scale, so we’ll take a pattern and really play up the scale, so a bird could be like 5 feet tall,” Steinberg explains. “And what’s amazing about that is that it really modernizes a pattern quite a bit and creates magic, especially in a small space like a powder room.”
Their mural wallcoverings, in particular, help offer homeowners and their guests a sense of travel and transformation in a space.
“To me, our murals are like beautiful backdrops,” Steinberg says. “It’s a tool anyone can use to really create anything incredible, especially when you wrap all the walls and do a mural wrap. It’s very immersive. It instantly transports you to another place. It’s so important to love where you live and be surrounded by things that make you feel good and give you comfort. It can really change the feel and mood of a space, even more than paint.”
In looking ahead for the design firm, Steinberg shares that Fine and Dandy will continue to create nature-inspired murals as the trend in bringing the outdoors in grows.
Steinberg and her colleagues will also continue to look for ways their company can be sustainable.
In the past, they have partnered with Eden: People + Project (formerly Eden Reforestation Projects), which is a nonprofit organization that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation.
“The role our planet plays in our survival as a species is vital,” Steinberg says. “We haven’t really been kind to Mother Nature, and it’s important to us to protect our planet. Resources feel more important than ever, so we really wanted to partner with an organization that not only replenishes in natural resources but engages with local communities.”
To stay inspired by
Fine & Dandy’s latest projects, be sure to follow their Instagram at
@fineanddandyco. Don’t miss out on the beautiful transformations they create!
As seen in:
Featured in
Forbes: “A mural is a fantastic way to create a feature wall and really set a mood. Using the colors in the wallcovering/mural as inspiration you can accessorize and layer your mantle accordingly to achieve a space that feels loved and lived in,” says Jill Steinberg, Chief Operations Officer of Fine And Dandy.
Featured in
The World of Interiors: Fine & Dandy Co. revels in the creative process and several designs in their collection are original paintings. With the introduction of Fine & Dandy Co. Borders, a new collection of opulent designs, a virtually infinite number of ways to customize a space are possible.
Featured in
LUXE Interior + Design: “We wanted to create a landscape that felt more primordial, with an exotic, sensual feel to it,” notes Weinreb, explaining that their murals often begin with original paintings and an imagined story.
