October 13, 2021

On this week’s “From the Tap” KBB podcast, we spoke to Sharon Sherman, founder of Wyckoff, N.J.-based Thyme & Place Design, about the importance of having a great contractor on your team and how to foster that relationship.

Sherman feels that this is an important conversation for the design industry and that any negative talk regarding this topic just adds to friction between designers and the very valuable team that realizes their designs. She has had an 18-year, highly successful relationship with her contractor, who has helped her create a multitude of amazing projects for their clients.

She shares how that relationship came about and their stories of success thus far and says now it the worst time to be bashing contractors, given what our industry is going through in terms of the labor shortage.

Sherman shared her thoughts on what qualities make for a great contractor and how designers can look out for them as part of the team. She let us in on how she found her contractor and offers tips on how other can find their perfect match.

The designer also talks about being burned by previous relationships with contractors that didn’t work out so well, and how to avoid that challenge moving forward. There are certain things she can sense are red flags, and she also notes some misgivings contractors have regarding designers.

Sherman also has several tips for creating a team atmosphere and making sure everyone feels like they are an important part of the process of creating beautiful kitchens and baths for their clients. And finally, she addresses the tough decision of having to part with a contractor you are just not meshing with.

Watch the full video above or listen to the podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets.