heartbeat at all. I know this goes

against the unspoken rule of

always answering the question of

“How’s business? With a, “Me,

oh I am so busy. I hardly have

time to breath” answer and I was

feeling really defeated until a

colleague, to whom I was sharing

my tales of woe with, started

reminding me of all the things I

had accomplished. I had finally

taken the time to organize my

office, created a filing system and

systemized my operations and

finally had the time to learn my

accounting program (no small

feat on its own)!

I had been so busy (really) before

that, that these important details

of running a business, which are

the bane of my existence, and no

I never exaggerate, were never

really taken care of and always

had me scrambling for each client

to get the paperwork done and

sorted out.

So, what did I learn? Simple:

having down time is not a bad

thing. It gives you the opportuni-

ty to recharge your creativity,

think, plan, relax and enjoy time

with loved ones. Now, when the

clients come banging at my door

(a girl can dream) I have all my

systems ready. Well, almost. I

mean it was only one summer!

There is still updating my con-

tract, updating my resource ma-

terial, updating my rolodex,

meeting with new vendors…..

Well, I hate to be the bearer of

bad news but if you haven’t no-

ticed summer is over and fall is

here. Hopefully, Mother Nature

is giving your neck of the woods

a great Indian summer in lieu of

not having a stellar real summer.

I hope everyone has been busy

these last few months, with your

time being evenly balanced be-

tween work and family of course,

because with the cooler weather

comes the “We need a renova-

tion and we need it done by

Christmas!!” crowd!

I trust everyone has had the

opportunity to check out the

CDECA website. You may have

noticed a few changes and there

are some big ones (a whole new

one) coming… so stayed tuned

and keep checking back. With

the website in mind, please take

some time and update or for

some, establish yourself and your

business profile, with pictures if

you have them. However, keep

in mind that with the uploading

to the new website, you will

need to re-enter your info again.

I know that this seems like a pain

but on the upside you can get

your thoughts totally together,

get your profile exactly the way

you want it and save the info to

reinstall when the new site is up

and running.

Having your profile online is an

amazing way to promote your

business and it’s a free benefit

with your Accredited member-

ship. I have personally found that

the public does check out the

site and looks for professionals in

their area. Also keep in mind this

is for Affiliates as well!! If you are

unsure as to how to begin then

call or e-mail Seamus at head

office and he will happily guide

you through the process.

We are well on our way to

bringing you some great webi-

nars…so keep your eyes open

for that announcement too! As

someone who loves to continual-

ly learn in a business that is for-

ever changing, this is right up my

alley.

By now, you should have re-

ceived an e-mail regarding

CDECA’s Volunteer of the Year

Award. This will be presented to

that special individual at the

AGM next year. What a fabulous

idea to give credit to those that

offer their time in making our

organization so fantastic!

On a personal note, I learned a

valuable lesson this summer. It

was really slow, almost with no

Wanda Vuignier

Chair, CDECA

Message From The Chair I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

GTA West /

Toronto PD

Day Event

2

Upcoming

Events

2

NCR Chapter

Update

3

Toronto

AGM

4

Toronto

Chapter

Elections

4

Are you at

Risk?

5

What exactly

is soapstone?

6

IDEAS Newsletter F A L L 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

P A G E 2

2015 Design

and Decorating

Competition

(Opening Soon!)

Meet us at Lambton

Golf and Country

Club

Upcoming CDECA Events

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR

The 2014 GTA West / Toronto PD Day Event

Deadline to get your tickets is October 31st

THIS IS A “CAN’T MISS” EVENT SO REGISTER TODAY!

In an industry that is ever evolving, it is vital for interi-or decorators to not only stay on top of the latest design trends and industry news, but to also learn new technologies, master new design techniques, conquer internet marketing, and expand our knowledge in all areas of running a busi-ness. The annual PD Day is your chance to do all of that - plus mix and mingle with

your amazing peers - during a jam-packed day of learn-ing. The event will be held at the Lambton Golf & Coun-try Club in Etobicoke on Thursday, November 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The agenda includes a panel discussion on Winning Awards & How to Get Pub-lished, presentations from industry leaders on Mar-keting Your Brand and Les-sons in Interior Photog-

raphy, as well as a special presentation from Houzz about how to Reach New Clients & Engage a Global Community using their technology. Registration for the event closes on October 31 so get your ticket today! The cost is $85 and includes a conti-nental breakfast and buffet lunch. Plus, thanks to sever-al generous sponsors, there will also be a few wonder-ful prizes available to win.

New mobile-

friendly

CDECA.com

website

CDECA Vol-

unteer of the

Year Award

(Deadline De-

cember 31st)

I D E A S N E W S L E T T E R

Chapter Update from the National Capital Region (NCR)

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Another successful Home Show in

the Capital thanks to our own Kim

Koa ‘s tireless organization for the

7th year! Our 2014 Home and

Design Show saw 16 volunteers

altogether, including 3 Algonquin

students, 11 current Members and

2 retirees.

There was a steady flow of visi-

tors to our beautifully decorated

booth and we were very successful

in promoting CDECA as well as the

idea of using a Professional Decora-

tor/Designer. Our dedicated vol-

unteers were able to make lasting

impressions and generate

many leads. Questions were

posed concerning large reno-

vation projects, bathrooms,

basements, colour selection,

drapery, and general decorat-

ing dilemmas. We also had

possible new Affiliate interest

with whom we will follow up

shortly.

A big thank you once again to

Beth Charbonneau and Our Homes

Ottawa Magazine for their ongoing

support. It was terrific having mag-

azines to hand out, and as men-

tioned by one of our volunteers,

always a perfect conversation start-

er.

to share ideas and brainstorm

problem areas in many aspects of

our businesses. We are also look-

ing forward to our next showroom

event in November hosted by our

newest affiliate member, Boone

Plumbing/Mondeau. In addition,

planning is underway for our annual

meeting and Christmas dinner

event.

On October 9, Urban Quarry,

Cambria and Interstone hosted a

very informative half day Profes-

sional Development seminar begin-

ning at Urban Quarry to learn

about the newest Cambria innova-

tions. The tour continued through

the fabrication shop to

visit the computerized

stone-cutting equipment

and gain a better under-

standing of the complete

process, which was very

helpful in determining the

correct product for an

application.

The 15 attendees includ-

ing 6 non-members were

treated to a

luncheon served at the

beautiful Interstone

showroom, and we thank

them for their generous

hospitality.

This fall the Chapter has

begun a series of Round

Table discussion opportu-

nities to allow members

Kim at the Our

2014 Home and

Design Show

Many thanks

to our

volunteers for

their

generous

offer of time

& support to

this worthy

activity!

P A G E 4

ARE YOU A

MEMBER OF THE

TORONTO

CHAPTER AND

LOOKING FOR

WAYS TO BE

MORE INVOLVED

WITH CDECA?

Toronto Chapter Elections

SAVE THIS IMPORTANT DATE:

Toronto Chapter Event & Annual General Meeting The Toronto Chapter is pleased to announce that the chapter’s next informa-tive event will take place on Tuesday, December 2. This luncheon event is a wonderful way to network with your fellow decora-tors, meet new members and hear from a valued

CDECA Affiliate company. The event will begin with a presentation from Willis, North-American distributor of world-class building ma-terials such as Dupont Cori-an solid surface and Zodiaq quartz countertops, Arpa high pressure laminate, and Artisan and Insinkerator products.

Following this will be the proceedings for the chap-ter’s Annual General Meeting, including the elec-tion of new board mem-bers. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more infor-mation coming very soon!

working with the colleges to

reach out to decorating stu-

dents, helping develop cam-

paigns to boost chapter mem-

bership; working with our

Affiliates to create professional

development programming; or

assisting with the coordination

and execution of our many

chapter and national events.

Volunteering your

time can be a re-

warding experi-

ence, especially when that time

is spent helping an organiza-

tion like CDECA. As a mem-

ber of the executive commit-

tee of the Toronto Chapter

you could be involved with

many aspects of chapter busi-

ness, such as drafting chapter

communications and leading

local marketing initiatives;

You will

be work-

ing along-

side fellow

decora-

tors who

share your

passion for

the indus-

try and

believe

strongly in

the vision

and values

of the

Associa-

tion.

More information will be com-

ing soon regarding which posi-

tions are open and the applica-

tion process. In the meantime,

please give volunteering seri-

ous consideration. We’d love

to have you on the team!

I D E A S N E W S L E T T E R

ELECTIONS

FOR TORON-

TO CHAPTER

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS TO

TAKE PLACE

AT THE CHAP-

TER’S AGM ON

DECEMBER 2nd

Are You Exposed?

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

You never know what you are going to find when you remove an existing wall or an old floor. The same can be said about uncovering risks

assumed by your business. You manage hundreds of details for your clients; however, you are often too busy to think about your own

needs. In many cases, we discover decorators and designers are actually exposing themselves to more risk than they realize. Effectively

managing your risk is important because you cannot control every outcome. All CDECA business owners should prepare for the unex-

pected.

The Three “I’s” of Risk Management

1. Incorporation:

This is the simplest and most cost effective risk management tool available to business owners. Protect your personal assets for only a few

hundred dollars. We encourage you to seek legal advice before filing for incorporation.

2. Indemnification:

Decorators and designers should work with a lawyer to draft a standard Services Agreement to be utilized with both

subcontractors/vendors (i.e., trades people) and clients. An Indemnification clause should be included in all contracts

that you enter. The intent of this clause is to hold you harmless from claims arising from the negligent actions of third

parties you contract with.

3. Insurance:

There are two forms of liability insurance that all CDECA members should purchase to protect themselves from claims

brought against them by third parties:

Professional Liability (also known as Errors & Omissions or “E&O”):

Professionals are liable for their acts, errors or omissions in the rendering or failure to render professional services.

E&O protects you when third parties are alleging that they sustained a loss as a result of your negligent professional

services or advice.

Commercial General Liability (“CGL”):

CGL protects you when third parties are alleging that they sustained bodily injury or property damage as a result of

your negligence. CGL is an important part of your liability insurance package because it responds to claims that are not a result of your

professional negligence.

Insurance FAQ’s

Q. Why should I purchase my commercial insurance package through CDECA instead of my local broker?

A. The CDECA package has been customized to include both E&O and CGL insurance for less than the cost of one policy on its own. The

complete CDECA package starts at only $650 per year. Outside of the CDECA program a similar package would cost at least $1,200 per

year and the coverage is likely not as comprehensive as the CDECA package.

Q. Who pays the legal costs if I get named in a lawsuit?

A. The CDECA insurer pays the legal costs incurred to defend you in the lawsuit. The deductible is $0 for E&O claims and $1,000 for CGL

claims.

Q. What happens if I am found to be negligent?

A. The insurer will pay the damages you are responsible to pay to the third party claiming against you (up to the limit of insurance pur-

chased).

Q. Do I have a higher exposure if I sell products?

A. Yes, your exposure is inherently higher because if someone gets hurt or property is damaged as a result of the product then you could

be named in a lawsuit.

Contact us to learn more about the valuable CDECA Insurance Program exclusively available to members:

LMS PROLINK Ltd.

CDECA Insurance Program Manager

Neil Felder / P. 800-663-6828; ext. 7738 / E. NEILF@LMS.CA / Visit us at WWW.LMS.CA/CDECA

Some

information on

risk from

CDECA

Member

Insurance

Provider

LMS PROLINK

Soapstone’s talc content makes it

smooth and waxy to the touch, also

making it very water resistant and

chemically inert as well as being abso-

lutely stain resistant. Red wine, lem-

on juice, acids, oils, vinegars, etc. will

not impact the surface. Unlike gran-

ite, there is no chemical sealing re-

quired, and so no unwanted toxins on

your cooking surface. The only regu-

lar maintenance of soapstone that is

required is the periodic application of

either food grade mineral oil or a wax

made from linseed oil and beeswax.

While not required to seal the soap-

stone, these two products can be

used to enhance the color and

pattern of the soapstone.

Another huge benefit to using soap-

stone is that it is heat resistant, which

Soapstone is becoming the “newest”

trend in countertops. It is gaining in

popularity with architects, interior

and kitchen designers alike, as they

are drawn to soapstone’s soft feel

and matte finish. It is becoming a

highly coveted material and is both a

much needed and

excellent alternative

to quartz and granite.

When you mention

soapstone, the first

thing that comes to

mind is the carvings of

the Canadian Inuits.

There are essentially

two categories of

soapstone; Artistic

and Architectural.

Artistic soapstone

(including most Cana-

dian soapstone) has a

very high talc (a soft mineral) content,

approximately 80%, making it quite

soft and ideal for carving and sculp-

tures. Architectural soapstone on the

other hand has a lower talc content,

approximately 30%, making for a

superb countertop and sink material.

It still has the appearance and proper-

ties of Artistic Soapstone, but with

the strength and durability needed

for use in the home. This grade of

soapstone typically comes from the

United States, Brazil or India.

allows you to safely put a hot pot

directly on the surface with no fear of

damage. Soapstone can also be used

to make sinks. They can be made to

any size or configuration leaving its

design limitations to only one’s imagi-

nation. The sinks are put together

using a blind mortise and

tenon joint, fastened with

epoxy and guaranteed not to

leak for life. The bottoms

are sloped on all four sides

to the center drain basket.

The sinks are also made from

the same slab as the coun-

tertop to ensure colour

matching.

The design possibilities with

soapstone are endless for

both interior and exterior

projects. When designing

your next project, it might be

worth it to consider soapstone.

Green Mountain Soapstone currently

stocks 9 colors, ranging from grey/

black, green/black, grey, charcoal,

black to dark green. The slab sizes are

similar to those of granite, but can

vary in size, depending on the colour,

and are worth the time to check out

in person. Our display in The Home &

Design Expo Center located at 155

Consumers Rd. Toronto is open 7 days

per week.

10 Morrow Avenue

Suite 202

Toronto, ON M6R

Phone: 1-866-878-2155

E-mail: office@cdeca.com

CDECA is your connection to decorating and

design in Canada. We offer our members a

wide range of benefits from discounts on insur-

ance and legal services, networking opportuni-

ties and exposure to consumers through our

website. www.cdeca.com

What exactly is “soapstone”?