Dear Thieving Unethical Texas Interior Designer,

Initially, I wasn’t going to post this today. I had planned to give you one more day before writing this. That was mostly at the urging of my mom, who is a MUCH nicer person that I am. “Maybe she doesn’t check her e-mail everyday,” my mom said. “Maybe she’s new in the business,” she said.

Yes, I was going to give you one more day.

That was until I got home last night and took an in-depth look at your website.

Let’s look together, shall we? Your website says that you have been “Serving the Coastal Bend & Valley areas of Texas since 2004…” Wow, that’s six years–one year longer than I’ve been in business! Reading on, I learn that you are the “owner of an award winning portfolio.” Award winning?! Sounds quite impressive!!

So you’ve been in business for six years, and have an award winning portfolio. I was anxious to see this amazing portfolio! Interestingly, when I clicked over to that section on your website, this is what I saw:

PRESENTATION OF OUR PORTFOLIO IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION – SO MANY PROJECTS & PICTURES RANGING FROM DRAWINGS TO SEASONAL DECOR… COME BACK & VISIT… YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS SHOWCASE!

Our current & past projects include: private residences; commercial projects; remodel selection & design; new construction selection for contractors & buyers; classroom decoration & space planning; party consultation & planning; prom planning & decorating; ranch estates & lodges; offices; furniture stores; showcase homes; redesign; staging; custom window treatments & design; & email consultation & interior planning in the surrounding areas of South Texas.

Darn. No portfolio. Seems strange after six years in business.  It sure sounds like you’ve been busy!  Well, surely there are pictures somewhere on your website, right?!

Wanting to learn more about this “award winning” interior designer who has been in business one year longer than I have, I clicked on your “About” section, where I found a nifty little digital “brochure”.  Finally, there were pictures!  I finally get to see pictures of your “award winning” rooms!  This should be good.

It started off a little rough.  I certainly would not have chosen this room for the front of a brochure advertising design services.  But whatever.  At least I could be certain that these were your designs, right?  After all, in the bottom right corner, it says very plainly, “Design by”…

and then when the brochure is opened, there’s your business name with your name underneath.  So we have “Design by”…YOU, right?  Well, these are certainly better.  I can’t help but wonder why you didn’t choose that living room for your front cover.  It’s much more impressive.


Then I flipped to the next page.  Now we’re getting somewhere!!  I absolutely love the girl’s room on the left. 

In fact, it’s one of my all-time favorite rooms… 

THAT I’VE EVER DESIGNED

Yes, that’s my 2008 Waco Symphony Showhouse room, designed for a six-year-old girl named Chloe.  Want to see the rest of the room?  Those photos are on MY website, Kristi Linauer Interiors.  Oh, silly me.  You already knew that.  You’ve clearly already BEEN to my website, haven’t you?

Okay, so you stole a photo from my website–one of my all-time favorite rooms I’ve ever designed–and put it in a brochure that says “Design by” you.  Surely that’s the only one, right?  Well, let’s take a look.  What’s that tiny little photo in the middle of that same page?

Well, that’s a bathroom I decorated for one of my favorite clients named Jerry.  I decorated almost her entire house, and had an absolute blast doing it.

Okay, so that’s two photos.  Things aren’t looking so good here for you.  What else do you have?  Well, on the very next page, this little bathroom looks familiar.

Does that fabric look familiar at all?  It should.  It’s the same fabric used in the Symphony Designer Showhouse!  Same project…same house…same little six-year-old girl named Chloe…attached bathroom.

Well, just one more page of your brochure left–just one more chance to show your work.  What have you got?  What’s your big, grand ending? 



MY PARENTS’ BATHROOM!!! 

The master bathroom that is in the house I grew up in…the house that my mom has lived in for about 40 years…the bathroom that was completely gutted and redesigned according to MY DESIGN PLAN.

Sad little thieving designer, on your website you say that you “can help with any question or concern” that I may have.  Here’s a question:  Besides the company name, your name, and your phone number, does anything in this brochure belong to you?  You say on your website that “Design is my life and expertise…”  Really?  Do you have any real evidence of that?  And given what we’ve seen, don’t you find it a bit silly that you have this on your website?

Seriously?  Originality?!  Perhaps a dictionary might be a useful tool for you in the future.

One more thing.  You claim to be the “owner of an award winning portfolio.”  I can’t help but wonder…do those awards belong to ME?  Perhaps I should give you my mailing address, and you can forward my awards to me.

Sincerely ticked off,

P.S. I was almost finished with this blog post when I got your e-mail response where you said, “I am sorry, but on top of the slideshow I posted they were inspirational design photos.”

Well, no you didn’t. This slideshow was on the “About” page of your website, and nowhere on top of, or inside of this brochure did it say anything about “inspirational photos.” The brochure clearly said “Design by” and then your company name and your name.

Even if it did say “inspirational photos” somewhere in small print, you’ve been in business since 2003 (per your e-mail), and claim to have an award-winning portfolio!!! Why in the world would you think that potential clients have any interest at all in seeing “inspirational photos” that you’ve taken from the portfolios of other interior designers in a brochure advertising your interior design services that’s located in the “About” section of your website?! 

The fact is that you knew what you were doing was wrong, misleading, and unethical.  You just never thought you’d get caught.  And when you did, you thought you could lie your way out of it.  You’re sorry you offended me?!  How about being sorry that you stole photos from my website–rooms that represent hours and hours of creativity and hard work–rooms that are essentially my artwork–and represented them as your own?!

 

 

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59 Comments

  1. OH, My! What nerve! Glad you did the post…perhaps you should just expose who she is so we can ALL write to her! I'm pretty much in disbelief that anyone would misrepresent themselves in such a way, and it's a pretty stupid thing to do as well. I think you should do another post showcasing all that fabulous work again so we all can give you the credit you deserve. How "ball-sy" of her to not only use one pic but 3! If imitation is the best form of flattery, she must like you alot!!

  2. Kristi,
    I'm so glad you told your story. This "person" is despicable and I wonder how she looks at herself in the mirror every day. Are there any repercussions for someone who does this? Besides your post (which I LOVED), do you have any other means for justice? It seems you should. ***If the "person" who stole your talent is reading this… just remember: karma, baby. Oh, and you're an a-hole.***

  3. Oh how low down & dirty could you be? Wow that chick has a big set of brass ones doesn't she? You can contact her internet service provider, blog host or someone I can't think of who it is exactly right now & have her site removed since she stole photos from you & she's posting them as her own without your permission. Can't you look her up in the designer association that I just know she's a card carrying dues paying member of & report her? Really hope you get this settled, you're so kind & giving to let something like this happen to you.

  4. I agree- you should expose the owner of this "award winning designer" so the rest of us in Texas can spread the word so they don't get ripped off by her!

  5. I think I found her. Do the initials DCD ring a bell? If so, as far as I can tell, she's taken down YOUR pics, and the ones she has left won't inspire anyone to hire her, IMO. What a lowdown dirty thing to do!

  6. I have worked a lot on the A2D photo gallery and there was one designer who tried to pass on photos that she bought from someplace as her own work when she had nothing to do with the pictures. These people tend to have no shame.

  7. At least she thinks you do good work! … 🙂

    People like that are definitely a bummer, and it just proves all the more how careful we have to be with things we fine online, since anyone can post them, true or false.

  8. You know, she didn't even put you in her link love for inspiration. That seems odd, since she was so inspired by your rooms!

  9. Un-bloody-believable. It sounds like you've sorted her out, and at the end of the day, she is the one that has to go to sleep at night knowing that she's a horrible designer who has to rip off other talented designer's work to try and make a living. You really should publish the link to her website…She deserves everything that she has coming to her. And Corie, excellent point! Which I think also makes Kristi's point that, although this designer claimed that those photos were just "insprational," if she really was inspired by Kristi's work (rather than just ripping it off), she would be in the links section.
    Well, as they say: Keep calm, and carry on! Best of luck to you.
    xoxox
    -A&J

  10. Well, I'm not going to publish her name and info. Even at my angriest, I still have some "nice" in me. But I will say that Google is a very powerful and effective tool for curious minds, as Simplicity Please (commenter above) has found. 🙂

  11. She must have changed her website a lot because, from the way it looks now, I don't know why anyone would hire her. I am new to your site and it is WONDERFUL!!!! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but that is just outright thievery!

  12. I don't know how to do this, but if you watermark your pictures, does it prevent someone else from using them in a situation like this? I can see why you're upset!!!

    You do great work and take great pictures.

  13. Wow. Not only a thief, but not a very smart one. She's got an entire world of decorators a click away on her computer, but chooses to steal from one in the same state? BTW, I've been perusing your site a lot in the past few weeks and Chole's bedroom blew me away. Just gorgeous. I'm starting a blog of my own and will probably be linking to you soon, as a couple of pieces of furniture I'm doing are definitely "inspired by" one of your posts. This is me, asking permission to CREDIT you and link back to here! I'm curious about that, too – Do you always ask first when you're using (and crediting!) photos from another site? It seems that could reeeeally slow down the posting process, but I suppose it's the only truly legal way.

  14. Gotta love INFERIOR Designers!

    Lack of integrtiy gets you nowhere and that's where she will go…nowhere.

    Your designs are fabulous enough to be stolen…awesome!!!

  15. Wow! You know she assumed she'd never get caught! She's probably been freaking out since she got your email. Imagining the scene when she opened your email…it was probably HILARIOUS to watcher try to figure her way out of that one!

    Total lack of talent….and sense!!

    The best one IMO…is using YOUR PARENTS bathroom.

  16. Website DOWN !!!
    That's one way to avoid the issue. It will be interesting to see if she puts up another site, changes her name or maybe both. Perhaps she's learned a valuable lesson in her youth!

  17. I don't blame you for being upset. I try so hard not to set small stuff get to me but this is NOT small…….she is lucky you don't have the litigious gene in you to want to SUE her…

  18. Ouch! So sorry this happened to you, but so glad you found out about it. I'd be ticked, too!!! Hope everything gets resolved to your satisfaction.

  19. WOW,how aweful. You know, the great room makeover isn't her's either. I've seen it somewhere before as well. Now I have to remember where I saw the post!

  20. Hi Kristy, I've been following your work for a while and loving it, I get properly excited to see what you've been doing when I open my reader. This inspired me to de-lurk from all the way over here in Thailand because I just can't believe that someone would do this. To steal creativity, ideas, and hard work that belong to another is despicable and I really hope that you not only name the designer, but take her to court. Some websites I visit have a pretty hardline plagiarism policy posted on the site, maybe you should think about that and watermarking.

    You do awesome work and the passion that is present in what you do is impossible to replicate. There is magic in that.

  21. You go girl!

    Well done for the integrity you have shown in "outing" this excuse for an interior designer! So sorry you have to go through such an aweful experience!

    Keep up the great work – your "inspirational photos" continue to inspire!

  22. Thanks for your comments, everyone. From what I can tell, she has removed her entire website now, which makes me wonder if she had any work of her own to show at all. Oh well. I've had my say, she's removed my pictures, hopefully she learned a lesson, and now I'm moving on.

    Deb, I wanted to answer your question regarding using other peoples' pictures on your blog. Personally, I do not ask permission when I use someone's work on my site. However, I always, always, ALWAYS give them credit AND place at least one direct link back to their site.

    I have only ever had one person complain about my using her pictures, but she was a crazy delusional person who thought that she held a copyright on a craft project that I did. lol!!! She was absurd, but I removed her photo anyway. I find that most people are appreciative for the free "advertising" and the extra traffic that they get from a mention and a link.

    On rare occasions, I have pulled photos out of my "inspiration" file that I have saved on my computer, and used them in a blog post without crediting/linking, simply because I forgot who the designer was or where I found the photo. In those circumstances, I always make it very clear that the room is not my design, and that I don't know the name of the designer. I always request that if a reader knows the designer, that they please e-mail me the info so that I can give credit where credit is due.

    Hope that helps!! And best wishes to you on your new blog!!

  23. Well done Kristi,
    I love it when a woman stands up for herself…I hope this rat gets her just rewards.
    By the way, I love your work!!!!

    Carolyn
    Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

  24. How in the hec you found this person impersentating you is amazing in itself! That makes me wonder how many other people are out there they are doing the same thing. It seems so easy to do, and would be really, really hard to find them. I am glad you found her, shame on her and her lies.

  25. @Shell I don't think they are certified anything. A "designer imposter", if you will.

    Does taking an course at "Sheffield" make you a certified designer? I thought interior designers had to have a bachelors degree and be certified? What are the ramifications of operating without a license?

    Maybe you can alert the NCIDQ, ASID, Texas Association for Interior
    Design or CID.

  26. I am glad that you are doing something about this thief! I posted a comment on her website telling her how I felt about this! If she still had her website promoting your fantastic work and ORIGINAL work, we should all post our negative comments on it….Somehow I feel we haven't heard the last of her…I am seeing a new name, new website, and somebody else's pictures for her "new and improved" business! Ha Ha! You need to keep an eye on this despicable woman! Once a thief…always a thief!

  27. I see your point Kristi but after reading all comments I do not think four pictures of your hard work on her website really implies she is impersonating you like everyone is saying. I think your work may be floating around the www and you may want to watermark your photos to protect yourself. Decorators really need watermarks just like photographers and even you posted about inspirational photos and do not remember who they are from. Common but I am sure you are not the only one out there and protecting yourself so this will not continue to happen to you in the future is the best thing to do. Best wishes.

  28. It is hard to believe, in this day and age, when everyone sees everything posted on the web, anyone would think they could take other people's work and showcase it in a way that suggests it is their own.

  29. It looks like she has pulled her website down as she should! Can you imagine having such a dishonest person working in your home, around your kids? Don't feel too bad though. The couple at Young House Love found their home listed with lovely photos and all as a vacation rental in California! They and their house is in Richmond but someone was sure trying to pass it off.

    Love your site and your work!

  30. Good morning! Feeling a bit self obsessed? This blog shows the personality of a angry mean person. The supportive posts must be from people who know you but as a stranger I would be scared to work with you.

  31. I would not normally post a comment but I have agree with the anonymous post above. As much as I enjoy reading blogs from my bed on Sunday morning this one made me feel awful. After reading both blogs I would not hire either one.

  32. It's very telling that both of the above comments are "anonymous". lol…People who support thieves show their true colors. You're absolutely right I was angry, and with good reason. If you can't see that, I feel very sorry for you. You must have a very low moral standards.

  33. To the second "anonymous"…what do you mean "after reading both blogs"?

    Sorry, but you've outed yourself. The other person does not have a blog. She doesn't even have a website anymore, so there's no way you could have read "both" blogs.

    I would bet money that these "anonymous" posters are my thief, or a family member of hers. Trying to make yourself feel better, VRM?

  34. I've just pretty much verified, through my Sitemeter, that the first comment above came from my thief. It came from someone residing in the city that my thief lives in. The second comment probably came from a relative of my thief, as it came from a different city that is basically a suburb of the city in which my thief resides…on the Texas coast.

    Pathetic.

  35. Jeez… blatant thievery much? I'm glad you let her have it. People always want to seem bigger than they are, more important than they are and better than they are. The ladder to success is long and hard and there are no shortcuts.

  36. You have every right to be upset. Had she labeled those pictures as yours and she was sharing them to show some inspirational ideas would have been one thing but not doing so leads one to believe there might be a bit of dishonesty or lack of morality. It's a shame that this person felt she had to use someone's else's work because if she took that much time to copy yours and whomever else's she could have plugged in her own "quality" images which would have been a true representation of her work. Maybe there in lies the problem.

  37. oh, well, that's disgusting…and unprofessional. don't take it too close too heart. if he needs inspirational photos, he's probably incapable of doing his work well. bad for him. you are great

  38. Hilarious! It's hard to believe some people are so dumb. I'd send a message to the better business bureau. I googled decorator of Coastal, yada, yada. and she came up. She seems to advertise in everything. The circle of life. What goes around, comes around.
    I have one of those brass shower surrounds. I thought I was really in style in 1992 or 3 when I put it in. I didn't know they were completely out of style.
    I have never had a new kitchen, so when I bought a 13 year old ski house I didn't know what the little drawer with the slanty white things were. I finally figured out it was for spices! I have never had a house with wall to wall carpets. We always called them "wood floors" Not hardwoods. Keep up the good work. What's the old Chinese Proverb? May you live in interesting times. Ann

  39. wow-this has been an entertaining post and comment session! (:

    she's an idiot, whoever she is. SO GLAD you caught her. that's wonderful she was inspired by you. it's dispicable she would RIP OFF YOUR WORK however.

    glad she took her site down. she should have taken it down out of respect but it's blatent she took it down out of embarassment.

    and even more childish is her stalking your blog and leaving irritating comments as an "anonymous" person. really-a little obvious, sweetie! "scared to work with you"??-hello, what person ENJOYS their hard work being copied?!

    GOOD FOR YOU for STICKING UP for yourself! let this be a lesson for copycats. it's all good to be inspired and credit your source, it's a whole different nasty story when you're STEALING.

    keep on bein cute, girl! (: kelli & kristi

  40. BAM!You Go Lady!
    Thank you for calling BS. The industry is small, and there is no room for fake players.
    It has happened to me: a "merchandise coordinator" was showing my work as his own. Easily remedied, but Never forgotten. He better not still be in S.F…..

  41. Great Job of you making the issue public.
    Most people don't. I really wished you would have named the person and the website. I am living in Texas and we Texans are a proud folk and we don't appreciate people like her at all.
    I hate when people copy my articles for their own websites or they rewrite them in a really bad style and still name me as the author, but what happened to you is just unbelievable. That person is nothing but a Rip Off and beware everyone to ever hire her for a job.

  42. Great Job of you making the issue public.
    Most people don't. I really wished you would have named the person and the website. I am living in Texas and we Texans are a proud folk and we don't appreciate people like her at all.
    I hate when people copy my articles for their own websites or they rewrite them in a really bad style and still name me as the author, but what happened to you is just unbelievable. That person is nothing but a Rip Off and beware everyone to ever hire her for a job.

  43. Hilarious! It's hard to believe some people are so dumb. I'd send a message to the better business bureau. I googled decorator of Coastal, yada, yada. and she came up. She seems to advertise in everything. The circle of life. What goes around, comes around.
    I have one of those brass shower surrounds. I thought I was really in style in 1992 or 3 when I put it in. I didn't know they were completely out of style.
    I have never had a new kitchen, so when I bought a 13 year old ski house I didn't know what the little drawer with the slanty white things were. I finally figured out it was for spices! I have never had a house with wall to wall carpets. We always called them "wood floors" Not hardwoods. Keep up the good work. What's the old Chinese Proverb? May you live in interesting times. Ann

  44. It's very telling that both of the above comments are "anonymous". lol…People who support thieves show their true colors. You're absolutely right I was angry, and with good reason. If you can't see that, I feel very sorry for you. You must have a very low moral standards.

  45. I am glad that you are doing something about this thief! I posted a comment on her website telling her how I felt about this! If she still had her website promoting your fantastic work and ORIGINAL work, we should all post our negative comments on it….Somehow I feel we haven't heard the last of her…I am seeing a new name, new website, and somebody else's pictures for her "new and improved" business! Ha Ha! You need to keep an eye on this despicable woman! Once a thief…always a thief!

  46. Well done Kristi,
    I love it when a woman stands up for herself…I hope this rat gets her just rewards.
    By the way, I love your work!!!!

    Carolyn
    Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

  47. Thanks for your comments, everyone. From what I can tell, she has removed her entire website now, which makes me wonder if she had any work of her own to show at all. Oh well. I've had my say, she's removed my pictures, hopefully she learned a lesson, and now I'm moving on.

    Deb, I wanted to answer your question regarding using other peoples' pictures on your blog. Personally, I do not ask permission when I use someone's work on my site. However, I always, always, ALWAYS give them credit AND place at least one direct link back to their site.

    I have only ever had one person complain about my using her pictures, but she was a crazy delusional person who thought that she held a copyright on a craft project that I did. lol!!! She was absurd, but I removed her photo anyway. I find that most people are appreciative for the free "advertising" and the extra traffic that they get from a mention and a link.

    On rare occasions, I have pulled photos out of my "inspiration" file that I have saved on my computer, and used them in a blog post without crediting/linking, simply because I forgot who the designer was or where I found the photo. In those circumstances, I always make it very clear that the room is not my design, and that I don't know the name of the designer. I always request that if a reader knows the designer, that they please e-mail me the info so that I can give credit where credit is due.

    Hope that helps!! And best wishes to you on your new blog!!

  48. It looks like she has pulled her website down as she should! Can you imagine having such a dishonest person working in your home, around your kids? Don't feel too bad though. The couple at Young House Love found their home listed with lovely photos and all as a vacation rental in California! They and their house is in Richmond but someone was sure trying to pass it off.

    Love your site and your work!

  49. it’s all over the place now. i see an awesome post, written thoughtfully with pictures including the bloggers very own hands and family.. only to see them copied elsewhere as “original” material. i call them out in comments, every.time. really sickening how often this happens.