The Marble vs. Porcelain Problem in Your Design Fee

Years ago, I made a YouTube video explaining the difference between marble and porcelain tile. It became one of my most-watched videos ever.

But that video was for homeowners.

Today, I want to talk about marble vs. porcelain from the perspective of the person responsible for actually making the selection: the interior designer.

Because when your client looks at two tiles, they see two tiles.

You see sourcing, samples, installation, maintenance, lead times, trades, coordination, revisions, risk, and a whole lot of time that your client may never actually see.

And if your design fee doesn’t account for that invisible work, you can end up doing far more work than you priced for.

I learned this the expensive way when I charged the same design fee for two bathrooms in the same home. One used a straightforward porcelain tile. The other involved marble, stone-yard visits, additional samples, fabricator conversations, revised drawings, installation coordination, and even a reselection after approval.

Same approximate square footage.

Very different amount of work.

In this episode of Resilient by Design, I’m breaking down how the complexity of your selections can impact the profitability of your projects and why two rooms that look identical on a proposal may not deserve the same design fee.

I also share the six questions I now consider when thinking through the scope of a material category, how I handle client changes after selections have been approved, and why your pricing model needs to capture all of the little decisions and conversations happening behind the scenes.

If you’ve ever wondered why you were incredibly busy on a project but the numbers didn’t seem to reflect the amount of work you put into it, this episode is for you.

Your client isn’t only paying you to know the difference between marble and porcelain.

They’re paying you to understand which one belongs in their project, what that decision requires, and everything that happens next.

And your design fee needs to reflect that expertise.

Episode Highlights

Why two rooms of the same size can require completely different amounts of design time
The hidden work behind sourcing and specifying materials
Six questions to consider before pricing a project
Why client preferences can impact your scope before design even begins
How to create clearer boundaries around revisions and reselections
Why seemingly small client requests can quietly eat into your profit
How your past projects can help you price future projects more accurately
Why having trusted go-to vendors and materials can improve efficiency
How to think about creativity, customization, and profitability at the same time
Why tracking your hours is essential, even when you charge a flat fee

Episode Resources

Watch the Original Video: What’s The Difference: Marble vs Porcelain

If you’re realizing that your current design fee may not be accounting for all of the work happening behind the scenes, Pricing With Confidence will help you understand your project scope, calculate your design fees, evaluate different pricing models, and confidently present those fees to your clients.

Learn more about Pricing with Confidence

This episode is sponsored by Programa.

Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It’s designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems.

Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

October 13, 2026

Be the first to comment

Winter Designer Retreat

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Winter Retreat (HST Included)

Price:

2 Nights of Hotel Accommodations, Opening Night Welcome Reception, 2 Breakfast Buffets, 1 Private Dinner with Rebecca and Other Designers, Loads of Learning, The Opportunity to Connect and Build your Designer Network, And be ready to make 2023 your best year yet.

Coupon

Total

Credit Card

Card Details

Cardholder Name

Consent(Required)

I agree to the terms and conditions outlined below.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please read all of the terms and conditions set forth below. The Winter Designer Winter Designer Retreat is offered subject to our standard terms and conditions, set forth below. Upon purchase with Rebecca Hay Designs Inc., you are deemed to be accepting all “Terms and Conditions.”

Reservation Policy:

All Winter Designer Retreat prices are current at the time of publication and in CAD. To confirm your reservation, you must pay the full amount via the secured form on this website. Payments will be processed by Stripe.

Cancellation Policy:

In the event an attendee cancels prior to December 18, 2022, a refund will be issued, minus a $275CAD administration fee. As of December 19, 2022, the event is 100% non-refundable. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. There is no refund or discount for arriving late or leaving a Winter Designer Retreat early, or for not participating in any scheduled activity.

Cancellation Insurance:

We strongly recommend that you purchase flight cancellation insurance to protect yourself from unexpected circumstances that may cause you to cancel your Winter Designer Retreat. Cancellation of any travel plans, airlines, etc. will be completely your responsibility.

Cancellation by Rebecca Hay Designs Inc.:

Although it's unlikely, Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. reserves the right to cancel any Winter Designer Retreat at any time for any reason determined at our sole discretion, including too few participants, or if the quality of the Winter Designer Retreat or the safety of the participants is deemed by Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. to be compromised. In such a case, a refund of payments received from Winter Designer Retreat reservations shall constitute a full and final settlement and release of all claims against us. In the event of cancellation, Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air tickets or other unrecoverable travel costs.

Travel Requirements & Conditions:

Please ensure that you have all the relevant travel documentation for your Winter Designer Retreat location and that you arrive at the airport on time. Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. is not responsible if you lack the required documentation for your flight or for entry into another country (valid passport for the entire duration of the Winter Designer Retreat and return travel, visa, entry fee, etc.). However, if you are unsure of your requirements and need help, you are welcome to contact us for assistance. Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. cannot accept responsibility for delay or cancellation of any flights, train, buses or other forms of transport.

Resort Policies:

Your Winter Designer Retreat will be held at the JW Marriot in Muskoka, and all guests are required to follow their policies.

Responsibility of Valuables:

Upon check-in, all valuable items may be placed in your room. Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. is not liable for any breakage, loss or theft of personal items. Please limit your valuables, as traveling with such valuables will be your complete responsibility.

Personal Safety & Insurance:

Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. recommends that you obtain cancellation, travel and medical insurance prior to attending any of our Winter Designer Retreats. Prior to participating in any activities or using any facilities, please ensure that you are medically and physically fit and able. If you have any injuries or illnesses, please seek doctor’s advice prior to attending. Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. is not liable for any injuries due to use of our facilities or participation in activities or during travel to and from the Winter Designer Retreat. Any injuries or medical conditions are completely your sole responsibility. By sending a deposit toward your Winter Designer Retreat, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a hazard for you or other participants during the Winter Designer Retreat. In other words, you certify that you are healthy and fit for any activities in which you plan to participate. Furthermore, it is required that you have the proper personal and health insurance to cover your needs while present in the Winter Designer Retreat, in case of any loss of property, illness, injury or death.

Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. retains all copyright license rights and sole exclusive ownership of the information, photographs and material displayed on its website and obtained during the Winter Designer Retreats. The material may not be modified, copied or used in any other way without first obtaining written permission from Rebecca Hay Designs Inc..

Liability:

Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. shall not be liable for any failures beyond its control. This covers natural disasters, war, ‘acts of God’, closure of airports, civil strife, accidents or failure to perform by third parties, including suppliers and subcontractors.

We respect your privacy, both personal and informational. Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. will keep all information that we collect from you secure, and will not provide this information to any third party providers. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of your personal information, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

We are committed to creating special memories for you during your Winter Designer Retreat, and that includes having an on-site photographer and/or videographer to capture any special moments. If you are not comfortable having your picture taken, please let us know in advance. Otherwise you authorize Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. to use any and all photos for Social Media and Marketing purposes.

*All policies and terms and conditions may be subject to change without notice.

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions:

By making a booking with Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. for a Winter Designer Retreat, you accept on your behalf and all those named on the booking to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including the general release of liability and assumption of risk, described below.

Release of Liability:

You hereby release and discharge Rebecca Hay Designs Inc., a Canadian company, its shareholders, directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all liability, loss, cost, expense or damage arising, directly or indirectly, from the Winter Designer Retreat, including your participation in the Winter Designer Retreat activities.

Assumption of Risk:

You acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied for a Winter Designer Retreat with Rebecca Hay Designs Inc., a Canadian company. You understand that you may be traveling to a foreign country and that you will participate in various activities. You are prepared to assume the risks associated with this Winter Designer Retreat, including: forces of nature, terrorism, civil unrest, war, accidents, personal injury and similar circumstances. You also assume risks associated with illness, disease, physical exertion and alcohol consumption, knowing that access to suitable medical support may be delayed. Your hereby agree to take full responsibility for your own actions, safety and welfare, including unanticipated events, injury, illness, emotional trauma or death

CAPTCHA