EP 125 | Why Interior Designers Should Track Their Time with Nathan Vanags

August 12, 2019

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Can time tracking actually make your interior design business more profitable and efficient?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with BOD™ member and interior design professional Nathan Vanags about the surprising insights gained from carefully tracking hours across projects and team members.

Whether you charge hourly rates or flat fees, understanding how time is spent provides valuable information about productivity, profitability, staffing, and project management. Nathan explains how detailed time tracking helped improve focus, efficiency, and operational decision-making within his business.

In this episode, we learn:
• How carefully tracking hours reveals team productivity and efficiency
• Why time tracking helps identify who is overloaded and who has capacity for more work
• How focusing on one task at a time improves effectiveness and project flow
• Why understanding time requirements helps designers estimate projects more accurately
• How time tracking encourages stronger accountability and task completion
• Why accurate time data supports better pricing and profitability decisions
• How thoughtful incentives can encourage more billable hours while maintaining integrity
• Why time tracking helps interior designers build stronger systems and healthier businesses

 

Design Intervention

Focus on filling yourself full. In an interview Oprah said, “I love when people tell me I am full of myself.” I have been practicing keeping my cup full for a long time (harder than it sounds). I want to be so full of energy, life and gratitude that my cup can run over into the projects I work on, relationships I want to improve, and ultimately make me a memorable person.

 

Take Aways

Parkinson’s law is the adage that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”.

 

Thank you to our amazing sponsor!

Up-and-coming, highly artistic yet down-to-earth interior designer Nathan Vanags has worked in the design field since 2009. As owner of Nathan Vanags Design, he is considered one of the foremost young designers in Central Florida.

“My aesthetic is modern and streamlined with a touch of drama. The result is elegant but edgy design,” says Vanags, 34. He is certified by the prestigious National Council on Interior Design Qualifications and licensed by the state of Florida.

After earning a bachelor of arts degree in interior design from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, Vanags worked on the design staff at a Herman Miller certified dealer and designed company profiles throughout Florida.

In 2014 he opened his studio, Nathan Vanags Design, which is now located in the trendy Thorton Park neighborhood of Orlando. The firm’s services include luxury residential design, custom renovations, and hospitality and restaurant design.

www.NathanVanagsDesign.com

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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