How Can AI Help Build Vendor Websites That Designers Actually Want to Use?

Jul 31

Exploring how AI can improve vendor websites for interior designers

A conversation between Jenna Gaidusek, Founder of AI for Interior Designers™, and Julia Reinert, Founder of The Lifestyle Historian™

Let’s be real. Most vendor websites look nice on the surface but feel like they were built by someone who’s never spent a day in a designer’s shoes. Clunky search functions, outdated inventory, and a maze of filters that make sourcing feel like a punishment.

But in a recent training video featuring the team at Howard Elliott, Jenna Gaidusek discovered a vendor who’s doing something refreshingly different: combining smart AI tools with intentional User Experience (UX) to create a site that doesn’t just serve up products but also supports the way designers actually work.

So today’s big question:

Q: How Can AI Help Build Vendor Websites That Designers Actually Want to Use?

Jenna Gaidusek (Founder of AI for Interior Designers):

Honestly, there are a lot of ways and I feel that Howard Elliott just gave us the blueprint.

Their new website isn’t just a facelift. It’s a total rethinking of the vendor/designer relationship. It feels fresh, it feels fast, and it actually makes my job easier. From the minute I landed on the homepage, I could tell that someone built this with designers in mind.

One of the biggest standouts is the AI-powered image search. You can upload any photo- whether it’s a Pinterest inspo shot, a client screenshot, or something from another vendor-and the site will show you Howard Elliott products that match. That feature alone could save designers hours of sourcing time every week! To say that I was excited that this tool had been incorporated is an understatement.

But it’s not just about tech. They’ve also dialed in the User Experience (or UX for all of my tech-minded linguists!). Everything from the collections and the lifestyle photography to the new “Categories” page helps you get where you need to go without digging. Whether you’re looking for Made in the USA products or COM options, it’s easy to find and even easier to fall in love with.

Colleen Daly, vice president at The Howard Elliott Collection, said it best during our training video: “When we designed the site, we really looked at the customer experience and what was going to make it super easy to shop on the site and make things more accessible. We wanted to be clear on what we do because I think many people just think of Howard Elliott as ‘the mirror company.’ This site allows us to show that we’re so much more than that.”

Julia Reinert (Founder of The Lifestyle Historian):

While I don’t have a design background, I have explored and audited plenty of industry websites to help determine the best messaging, flow, and features to obtain high level customer experience. Often I find inaccurate data, paths that lead in circles, and a lack of answers to my questions. I’ve learned that if something isn’t clear within the first couple of minutes, people are going to move on. We are just too busy to be frustrated when searching for what we need to be successful.

So when I explored the new Howard Elliott site, I was genuinely surprised by how intuitive and calm it felt. It’s clean, it’s well-organized, and the photography is beautiful without being overwhelming. Also, I love that they’re not just showing off product. They are showing off process, people, and partnership.

The Friday Friends features, the IG stories, the behind-the-scenes on their manufacturing…all of it made me feel that they care about their audience and their relationships. That human touch matters just as much as the tech.

And the AI image search? It rocks the cool factor and without the intimidation. As someone who still feels like a beginner with AI, that feature didn’t scare me. It invited me in.

Jenna:

That’s the difference when AI is done, right?! It’s not about throwing in tech for the sake of it but about using it to remove friction. Designers don’t want to spend 30 minutes searching for a pillow. We want a system that gets us close fast, so we can spend our energy on the vision and the client.

Colleen said it herself: “We've been through a couple of really challenging websites. Our last site was just tough to maneuver. We really felt like it put up some roadblocks for customers to work with us. So, as Bree and I were looking at designing the new site, we had this long wish list combined from the previous website and feedback.”

Howard Elliott also leaned hard into storytelling. They addressed a real brand misconception in that everyone thinks they are “just a mirror company” and showed us the depth of what they actually offer. Now, with over 5,000 SKUs, they’ve got everything from poofs to pillows to fully custom programs.

That kind of transparency matters. They’re not hiding their process or capabilities. They’re saying, “Here’s who we are. Here’s how we can help. And here’s how to find what you need without the guesswork.”

Julia:

Exactly. It’s not just about better tech. It’s about better empathy. As a marketer and storyteller, I am always pushing my clients to go beyond surface level. Go past the obvious and really think about your purpose, your mission, and your people. How can you tell your story in an authentic way that sets you apart from your competition? How can you make life easier for your clients? It is obvious that the Howard Elliott team took the time to ask and answer these questions when creating their new website. I loved when Colleen said: “We don’t want to be just another vendor. We want to be partners.”

In fact, one of the best things about their website is that their sales reps can log in to their designers’ accounts and they can share notes, inspiration, and assist with their shopping carts if needed. Colleen confirmed that “There are so many solopreneurs that are independent designers and don’t have all of the staffing behind them. So their sales rep or their vendor connection is an extension of their team. This really gives us the ability to be that helpful extension to them.”

And this website proves that AI, when paired with real human intention, can create something designers will benefit from and actually enjoy using.

Final Thoughts (from both of us):

When vendor websites are built with designer empathy and smart AI tools, they stop being digital catalogs and start becoming solutions in the design process.

Howard Elliott’s new site shows that with the right tech and mindset, vendors can actually support creativity with smarter sourcing, giving more time back in the day, and more inspiration rather than frustration.

So yes, AI can help build websites that designers want to use. But only when it's backed by real care, clean UX, and a commitment to putting the designer first.

Want to make your creative work simpler, sharper, and more strategic? Jenna’s training program, The DAIly gives you the tools and training to do just that!

Expert Resources and Next Steps

The DAIly Training Program - Comprehensive AI implementation for design professionals
AI for Interior Designers Podcast - Weekly insights and tool reviews
AI Interior Design Tools: Game-Changing Technology for Creative Professionals