RESA Professional Development Webinar – Free for Members
Presented by Katie Kennedy, the founder and principal designer of Katie Lynne Interiors, a coastal-based design firm serving clients across New Jersey and Delaware.
Many staging and design professionals are brought into projects after the most important layout decisions have already been made. By that point, opportunities to influence function, flow, and long-term value have often been missed.
This RESA Professional Development Webinar introduces a construction-driven design framework that helps staging and design professionals step into projects earlier, with more authority and greater impact.
Rather than being seen as a final aesthetic layer, you will learn how to position yourself as a strategic partner who contributes to layout decisions that shape how homes live, function, and ultimately perform in the market.
Through real-world examples and a guided case study, this webinar breaks down how to confidently interpret builder plans, identify potential design opportunities, and communicate your expertise in a way that builds trust with builders, agents, and clients.
Attendees will leave with practical tools that can be applied immediately, whether working on new construction, renovations, or preparing homes for resale.
This webinar is especially valuable for professionals who want to strengthen their authority, expand their service offerings, and become involved earlier in the project lifecycle.
What You Will Learn
- How to evaluate residential floor plans using core space-planning and circulation principles
- Where designers and stagers can add the most value within construction and renovation timelines
- How to identify layout strengths, limitations, and opportunities before walls are built
- How to apply lifestyle forecasting to create spaces that function for real-world living
- Strategies for communicating your value to builders, agents, and clients
- Practical methods for positioning yourself as a trusted collaborator rather than a late-stage contributor
These strategies are grounded in real project workflows and designed to help professional stagers shift from purely aesthetic roles into more influential positions within residential projects.
Who Should Attend This Webinar
- Home staging professionals working with new construction or renovation projects
- Designers looking to become involved earlier in project timelines
- Stagers seeking to expand services beyond furnishing and styling
- Professionals who want stronger collaboration with builders and developers
- Business owners ready to elevate their professional positioning and value
About the Host of this RESA Professional Development Webinar
Katie Kennedy is the founder and principal designer of Katie Lynne Interiors, a coastal-based design firm serving clients across New Jersey and Delaware.
With a professional background in business development and hands-on experience across new construction, renovations, and full-service interior design,
Katie is known for integrating functional planning with refined, livable aesthetics. Her work centers on human-centered design, thoughtful space planning, and strong collaboration with builders and trades.
Katie is an active member of the American Society of Interior Design and is passionate about helping fellow professionals expand their influence within projects while building sustainable, growth-oriented businesses.