The Interior Collective

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors is back for her second conversation on this show. Melissa launched Oho Interiors in 2019 after a career that moved from corporate finance to wedding photography to interior photography to design. She has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Rue, Homes and Gardens, and the Wall Street Journal. She runs a nine-person studio spread across offices in Minneapolis and Black Forest, Colorado. We have covered trade vendor relationships and procurement with Melissa before, and I encourage you to go back and listen to that episode. But today we are talking about how she has grown this firm, the strategy behind it, what she has done well, what she has gotten wrong, and most importantly, the philosophy that underpins all of it: the idea that the best sales process is one the client never feels is happening. From her social media and marketing all the way through to the final client experience, Melissa has built a system that creates trust and buy-in at every touchpoint. Today she is going to walk us through exactly how that works.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guest needs absolutely no introduction - Shea McGee is back.  For those of you who were with us in Season 1, you know we had Shea on back in 2022, and that episode remains one of the most listened-to conversations in the show's history. A lot has happened since then. McGee & Co. has grown into one of the most recognizable home furnishings brands in the country. There have been books, major brand collaborations with Kohler, Ann Sacks, Target, The Shade Store, and more. And her debut cookbook, Around the Table, just released this spring. But what I find most fascinating about Shea's story is not the scale of what she has built, it's how she built it. Before there was a team, a Netflix show, or a product line, there was a blog with a consistent and deliberate way of showing up that made people feel like they knew her before they ever reached out. That instinct didn't just build an audience, it built a brand where the right clients arrive already sold. That is exactly what we are unpacking today. What it means to build a brand-led studio, the editorial decisions that create authority before anyone picks up the phone, how the client conversation changes as your brand grows, and what Shea's return to writing on Substack says about the staying power of long-form content. There are lessons in Shea's evolution that apply to designers at every stage.

Celebrate a decade of IDCO Studio with 10 days of 30% off site-wide. Use code DECADE30 at www.idco.studio today to lock in your savings. Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I am sitting down with two people whose business model sits at the intersection of residential design and hospitality ownership. Katie Labourdette-Martinez and Olivia Wahler are sisters-in-law and co-founders of Hearth Homes Interiors, a full-service residential interior design studio based in Santa Barbara. They started together in 2017 in a staging business, developed a reputation for honoring the character of older homes, and eventually pivoted their business entirely to full-service design. In 2023 they founded Hearth Hospitality Group alongside Olivia's brothers Lucas and Julian and their longtime friend Jason. They now own and operate three historic inns and two restaurants across Santa Barbara, with Hearth Homes Interiors as the design arm for all of it. The Craft House Inn was included in Goop's best of Santa Barbara guide, named one of the Best Hotels in Santa Barbara in the 2024 Sunset Travel Awards, and their design work has been featured in Luxe, Sunset, Modern Luxury, and Rue. The Hearth philosophy is simple: honor what came before, and create spaces with an unmistakable sense of place. Today we are discussing what it means to design across both residential and boutique hospitality, and what other design studios can learn and implement into their own business.

Celebrate a decade of IDCO Studio with 10 days of 30% off site-wide. Use code DECADE30 at www.idco.studio today to lock in your savings. Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I am sitting down with someone I've really been looking forward to getting to know — Sean Anderson. Sean grew up in rural Mississippi, where his mother encouraged his love of art long before he ever thought of it as a career. He never went to design school. He started in Memphis in his thirties with a small circle of loyal clients and word of mouth, and he's said that he considers every day in this industry an education — that every install is still his final exam. Since founding his namesake studio in 2013, Sean Anderson has grown into offices in both Memphis and New York. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Milieu, Garden and Gun, and Departures. He's been named to the 1stDibs 50 and the Wallpaper 400. And this fall, he's releasing his debut monograph with Rizzoli, Interior Narratives — with a foreword by architect Jeffrey Dungan, text by Sam Cochran, and photography by his longtime collaborator, Haris Kenjar. We are getting into all of it today. What it actually took to build a two-city practice from a standing start in Memphis. The creative partnerships — with an architect, a writer, a photographer — that shaped this book and his business. And for every designer who has a book on their vision board, the real, unglamorous path to publication from the inside.Seans Andersons book, Interior Narratives, is now available!

Celebrate a decade of IDCO Studio with 10 days of 30% off site-wide. Use code DECADE30 at www.idco.studio today to lock in your savings. Tiffany Piotrowski is back, and this time we are digging into her studio's 100 image exercise. This episode relies heavily on the video portion of it, as Tiffany generously shows us physical examples of what she's explaining. If you are not already watching this on Patreon or YouTube, pause, and head over there. Subscribing on Patreon gets you access to not only the full video conversation to this and all episodes, it also gains access to 2 additional episodes per month, exclusive to Patreon subscribers. Supporting the podcast directly is what makes it possible to keep this show running, and we have a lot more of it coming. Tiffany is the founder of Tiffany Leigh Design, a full-service studio based in Barrie, Ontario, known for its English-inspired interiors, layered materiality, and a deeply thoughtful approach to understanding what home means to each client. Tiffany is a close personal friend, and in one of our industry group texts, she mentioned this concept of a 100 Image Exercise. Immediately I knew we needed to record a show about it. In her process, Tiffany has developed what she calls a Dream and Scheme Meeting, a structured first meeting with every new client that goes far beyond the standard questionnaire. It has four parts, it happens in person at her studio, and it is designed to surface the things a client would never think to write down. One of the centerpieces of that meeting is the 100 image exercise, something she learned from Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors and has since made her own. Today she is walking us through the whole thing, and she is doing a live demo on camera. The 100 image exercise itself: how her team curates and prints 100 images for every client, and why the physical, printed format matters more than a digital slideshow. The exact printer she uses: https://a.co/d/0hL48rkV

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with someone whose career trajectory is genuinely one of a kind in this industry. Britany Simon grew up around construction, the daughter of a residential developer in Arizona. She earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in business and interior design, and spent years working in some of the top design firms in the state before landing her big break on HGTV.  After gaining national recognition as a runner-up and fan favorite on Design Star, she went on to appear on multiple design-focused television programs, developing a strong media presence alongside deep technical expertise. In 2015, she launched Britany Simon Design House, which she has since grown into a highly respected boutique studio known for its elevated client experience, strong internal systems, and thoughtful approach to scaling a design business. Today we are covering what those years on set taught her about delivering under pressure, and how those same instincts became the foundation for a client process that protects her time, her margins, and her relationships. We are going step by step, phase by phase, because a well-structured client experience is the difference between a busy studio and a profitable one.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I am sitting down with Claire Staszak, founder and principal of Centered by Design, a full-service residential interior design studio based in Chicago specializing in the design and restoration of historic homes. Claire came from journalism and marketing before she came to interiors, and that background has shaped everything about how she has built her firm, including how she thinks about showhouses. Most designers treat a showhouse as a client opportunity, but Claire treats it as a brand investment with a measurable return. She has done both local and national showhouses and built a team that helps make it all happen. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Domino, Luxe, and the Chicago Tribune. She has a studio and showroom in East Lakeview, a second design annex on the North Shore, a wallpaper collection with Isidore Leroy, and a debut book slated for Fall 2027. Today we are getting into the real costs of a showhouse, the brand partnerships that make them financially viable, what local versus national showhouses actually produce for a studio, and what every designer should be thinking about before they say yes to the next one.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with Emily Del Bello, founder of Emily Del Bello Interiors, a New York City-based residential design studio known for interiors that are layered, collected, and deeply personal. Earlier this season, we had a conversation that stayed with me. A designer who made the deliberate choice to leave a major market, to build something intentional in a smaller city, and to grow a studio on her own terms away from the noise. Today we are going in the opposite direction. Emily Del Bello grew up in a small town in Indiana, and she moved to New York City. And New York, as anyone who has tried to build something there knows, does not make it easy. It is a market with an almost intimidating depth of design talent, a client base that arrives at the first meeting already knowing exactly what they love, and a competitive landscape that will expose every gap in your confidence, your process, and your point of view. And she built a studio that thrives inside it. In this episode, we are getting into exactly how she did it. The leap from the Midwest, the early years of figuring out New York, what it actually costs, financially, creatively, personally, to establish yourself in this market, and what it looks like to serve clients who are as design-literate as the city they live in. We will also get into the evolution of her studio beyond client work, including her fabric and lighting collaborations, and what that expansion has meant for the business.If you have ever looked at a major market and wondered whether there is room for you, this conversation is for you.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with Nicole Fisher, founder of Nicole Fisher Interiors, a residential design studio now based in New York City. Before Nicole was designing homes, she was dressing Lady Gaga.She started her career in fashion, working as a stylist under Brandon Maxwell and Nicola Formichetti. That level of intentionality around detail, character, and originality didn't leave her when she transitioned into interior design. It became the entire foundation of how she works. And that foundation has never been more relevant than right now. Because we are living through a moment in this industry where AI tools, algorithmic feeds, and the sheer volume of visual content being produced are creating a kind of aesthetic gravity — a pull toward the same. And the designers who are going to thrive in that environment are the ones who built something so specific and so genuinely theirs that no algorithm could have produced it. Nicole is one of those designers. She's been named to Luxe's inaugural NEXT list, featured in Architectural Digest, and after ten-plus years of building her firm in Hudson, New York, she's moving her studio back to the city where her career began. In this episode, we're talking about all of it. The fashion years, what that world taught her about building a visual identity, how she thinks about originality as a business strategy, and what designers need to understand about protecting their creative point of view in an era of algorithmic sameness. This is a conversation about creativity as a competitive advantage.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Hi everyone, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with Trish Lynn, founder and principal designer of Colette Interiors, a full-service residential studio based in Chatham, New Jersey. I want to ask you something before we get into this episode. When you picture your next hire, what do you picture? Someone fresh out of a design program? Someone who's already worked at another firm? Someone whose portfolio you can scroll through? What if the best person for the job has never held a design title in their life? Trish Lynn has built a six-person studio in one of the most competitive residential markets in the country — and she did it by hiring people with backgrounds in editorial, teaching, nursing, and finance alongside her design team. Before she launched Colette Interiors, she spent years in the corporate world, which meant she came to team-building with something most designers have to figure out entirely on their own: a real framework for what makes a person the right fit, and the confidence to look for it outside the obvious places. In this episode, we're unpacking all of it. What those non-traditional backgrounds actually contribute to a design studio. How Trish hires for the qualities that don't show up in a portfolio. How she onboards someone into a creative process when they're coming from a completely different industry. And how she leads in a way that makes strong people want to stay. If you've ever felt like you're hiring from a very small pool — or like every hire you've made has been a version of yourself — this conversation is going to open something up for you.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Hi, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm thrilled to welcome back one of the most business-savvy designers working right now — and one of the most generous guests we've ever had on this show. If you were here for Zoë's first episode, you know she walked us through her six-step design process with a level of clarity and detail that genuinely stopped designers in their tracks. The questions kept coming, and honestly, so did mine. So when I started thinking about who I wanted back in Season 8, Zoë was at the top of my list. Zoë Feldman is the founder of Zoë Feldman Design, a studio with offices in both Washington DC and New York City, specializing in high-end residential interiors with a signature approach. She's been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and more — and beyond the press, she has spent years methodically building a studio that doesn't just produce beautiful work. It operates like a real business. In this episode, we're talking about something that every designer hits at some point in their growth: how do you build a service structure that captures the right clients, at the right level, without compromising your brand or burning out your team? Zoë has done exactly that. She runs a full-service design offering for complex, high-investment projects. She recently launched Demi, a design-forward but operationally lighter service tier for clients who don't need full project management. And she's the most-booked designer on The Expert platform on the entire East Coast. How she built all three of those things — how she prices them, positions them, staffs them, and protects the quality across all of them — is what we are getting into today. This one is going to be a masterclass.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm joined by someone whose story I think is going to resonate deeply with so many of you who are building businesses outside of the obvious design epicenters. Emily Tucker is the founder of Emily Tucker Design, a full-service residential studio headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with projects across the country. With a degree in Architecture and Planning from the University of Colorado Boulder and nearly a decade spent training under Kelly Wearstler, Steven Gambrel, and Ruthie Summers in Los Angeles and New York, Emily returned to Colorado in 2015 with a clear vision and a serious pedigree. She has since built one of the most respected design studios in her region, working on large-scale custom residential projects and earning a spot on Luxe's Gold List — and just this year, she was named a Luxe ‘NEXT' Designer for 2026. What makes Emily such a compelling voice for this community is her willingness to talk about the business of design with real honesty. Today we're diving into what it actually looks like to build a thriving firm in a smaller market, navigating the realities of non-linear growth and unpredictable pipelines, and why the economics of a great project start long before any furniture is selected. We're talking client alignment, budget stewardship, the right team, and what it means to do this work sustainably. If you've ever wondered how to grow beyond the market you're in, or how to weather the slow seasons without losing your footing, this conversation is for you.

Season 9 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio. Hi, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and I'm so glad to have a returning guest with us today. Julia Miller is the founder and creative director of Yond Interiors, a full-service residential design studio based in Minneapolis that serves clients across the country. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, RUE, Sunset, and more, and she's been recognized by House Beautiful's Next Wave and The Expert Top 40. Beyond Yond, Julia is the co-founder of Brunel, a custom furniture shop rooted in craftsmanship, and the founder of The Studio Table — a mentoring program built around the real operations of a working design firm. When Julia came back to the show, we had planned to dig into the systems and process side of her practice. But in the lead-up to this conversation, she brought up something she felt was even more foundational — and honestly, I couldn't agree more. Today we're talking about creative mindset: what it actually takes to get into the frame of mind to do your best work, how to protect that creativity throughout the lifecycle of a project, and what happens when the pressure of running a business starts to crowd out the thing that made you want to do this in the first place. This one is a little different, a little more personal, and I think it's going to resonate deeply.S2 E5: The Logistics of Distance DesignYond InteriorsBrunelStudio Table The Interior Collective: Website | YoutubeIDCO Studio: Website | InstagramKwin Made: Website | InstagramDesign Camp: Website | Instagram

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Today on The Interior Collective, I'm sitting down with Reed Humphrey, co-founder of Alder & Tweed, one of the largest residential interior design firms in the country, and the founder of Dezign Assist, the platform helping interior designers grow their team at a fraction of the cost. Reed built Alder & Tweed alongside his sister Heather, carved out a niche in luxury second-home and vacation destination design, and scaled the firm to a team that now relies on more than 20 remote junior designers to support projects across the country. That staffing model didn't come from a business book. It came from hitting a very real wall inside his own firm, recognizing that the way most design studios hire was making growth unnecessarily expensive and unnecessarily painful, and deciding to solve it differently. What he built became Dezign Assist. And today we're going to get into all of it: the problem it was designed to solve, who these designers actually are, how to integrate remote support into a studio without losing your standards or your client experience, and what it really means to build a team that lets you get back to the work only you can do. If you've ever talked yourself out of hiring because you couldn't justify the cost, this episode is going to reframe that conversation entirely.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Today's guest is someone who needs very little introduction: Ashley Montgomery is the founder and principal of Ashley Montgomery Design, one of Canada's most publicly recognized interior design studios. Her work is instantly identifiable. Layered, warm, deeply collected, and anchored in vintage pieces that feel storied and intentional rather than trendy. But what I'm especially excited to unpack today is not just the aesthetic. It's the operational side of building a firm around vintage. Because sourcing one of a kind pieces at scale is not for the faint of heart. It requires systems, relationships, risk management, pricing strategy, and a deep understanding of margin. And doing that from Canada adds an entirely different layer of logistics that many U.S. designers may not fully understand. Ashley has built a studio that doesn't just use vintage occasionally. It is embedded into her brand identity. And in today's conversation, we're pulling back the curtain on how she sources, how she prices, how she protects profitability, and how she has scaled a taste-driven aesthetic across a growing team. We'll talk about cross-border importing, markup strategy on antiques, client education, and whether vintage actually increases project profitability or simply increases complexity.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi. Today's episode is one I know so many of you have been curious about, because we're diving into what it actually looks like to step beyond client work and into product development. I'm joined by Callie, founder of SUPPLY Showroom-a boutique fabric and wallpaper showroom-which is the hub of Austin's design community, and whose reach extends well beyond Texas.  It's truly one of those spaces that's worth the trip, whether you're local or flying in. They've also been a longtime partner of Design Camp, generously hosting our campers each year for a welcome breakfast and private tour, and we'll be back with them again this August. You can learn more at design-camp.co. Callie has a front row seat to what makes a textile or wallpaper collection successful, and just as importantly, where designers tend to get it wrong. We're talking through the real investment required to launch a line, how to think about memos and distribution, what showrooms actually do behind the scenes, and how to approach this as a long-term business decision, not just a passion project. If you've ever considered launching your own textile or wallpaper collection, this episode is going to give you a much clearer picture of what it takes to do it well.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi. Hi, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today we're diving into one of the most important, and often overlooked, foundations of a healthy design business: contracts and scope management. I'm joined today by Brittney Hakimfar, founder of Far Studio, a Philadelphia–based interior design studio known for its thoughtful, layered work and highly organized project structure. But beyond the aesthetics, Brittney has built a reputation for running projects with clarity, strong boundaries, and systems that protect both the designer and the client experience. In this episode, we're talking about the contract and scope missteps that so many designers encounter at some point in their careers. We'll get into the specific language that helps prevent scope creep and revision overload, why vague deliverables often lead to long-term issues on a project, and how to structure revision rounds, approvals, and change orders clearly from the very beginning. Brittney also shares how Far Studio structures their team, how they approach pricing and project management today, and how those systems have evolved as the studio has grown. If you've ever had a project expand far beyond its original scope, or struggled to set clear boundaries with clients, this conversation will give you practical tools to protect your time, your creativity, and ultimately your profitability.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Today on The Interior Collective, we're talking about something that every designer eventually faces in their career: the moment when growth requires a leap of faith. Building a successful interior design studio isn't just about talent or great projects. It's about mindset. It's about trusting yourself enough to make big decisions before you feel completely ready. And it's about recognizing that the strongest businesses are rarely built alone. In this episode, I'm joined by Danielle Chiprut of Danielle Rose Design Co. a designer who has embraced that growth mentality in a meaningful way. We're talking about what it really looks like to bet on yourself, how to navigate the risks that come with scaling a creative business, and why building a strong support system outside of your internal team can be one of the most powerful decisions you make. From photographers and PR partners to the broader network of collaborators who help bring a designer's work to life, we're exploring how those relationships shape not only the visibility of a studio, but its long-term trajectory.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Hi, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey. Today's conversation is one I think a lot of interior designers are going to feel deeply seen by. I'm joined by Bri Ussery, and together we're unpacking a dynamic that quietly shapes almost every design studio: the split between the visionary and the enforcer. Designers are often asked to hold two opposing roles at once. On one hand, you're expected to be the creative leader. The person with taste, clarity, and vision. On the other, you're also expected to enforce boundaries, manage approvals, push timelines forward, and uphold fees. When both of those identities live in the same person, something starts to fracture. In this episode, Bri and I explore why that split happens, where it shows up most clearly in real projects, and how it impacts everything from client trust to profitability to a designer's sense of authority. We also talk through the structural and operational fixes that help protect the principal's role and keep designers in the visionary posturerole clients believe they're hiring them for. If you've ever felt the tension between leading creatively and enforcing operationally, or noticed moments where your authority starts to blur, this conversation will give language and structure to something you've likely been experiencing for years.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Today's guest is Nicole Salceda, founder of Eye for Pretty. Nicole built a highly visible brand at the intersection of interior design, retail, and digital influence. But what makes her story especially compelling is not just how she grew quickly, but how she chose to scale back with intention. In this episode, we're talking about what happens when growth outpaces alignment, how to downsize without feeling like you've failed, and what it really means to be an “influencer designer” in today's market. We also get into her team structure, partnerships with builders, brick and mortar retail, and how custom spec builds have reshaped her revenue model. If you've ever questioned whether bigger automatically means better, this conversation is for you.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Today we're talking about one of the most intimidating and misunderstood layers of an interior design project: art. My guest is Sarah Hurt, founder of Seattle Art Source, an art advisory that has worked alongside interior designers across the Pacific Northwest since 2017. Sarah's entire business exists to remove the hesitation designers often feel around specifying art, and to help them position it not as an afterthought, but as a strategic and emotional anchor within a home. In this episode, we're getting practical. We're talking about when to introduce art into the project timeline, how to speak about it with authority, what your role is versus an art advisor's role, and how art can actually elevate your client experience while protecting their financial investment. If art has ever felt like the most mysterious line item in your design proposal, this one is for you.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today we are diving into a topic that every single interior designer has to master if they want a profitable, sustainable business and that is creating proposals, pricing projects, and confidently selling the bid. Because here's the truth. You can be the most talented designer in the room, but if you cannot build an accurate quote, present it with clarity, and hold your ground when pricing pushback comes up, your business will feel reactive instead of strategic. And this is not just about choosing hourly versus flat rate. This is about understanding your numbers. Gathering real data from your past projects. Accounting for your team's time. Structuring a proposal that protects your profit. And then having the confidence to walk a client through that number without shrinking when they raise an eyebrow. So I invited back someone who I trust deeply on this topic, Lindsey Borchard, Principal of Lindsey Brooke Design and my co-founder of Design Camp. Lindsey has been incredibly transparent about how her pricing has evolved, what she has learned through trial and error, and how she has built systems in her studio to create accurate, timely, and profitable quotes. Today we are getting very tactical. We are talking about how to calculate flat fees behind the scenes, how to blend hourly and flat rate models, how to turn around proposals efficiently, and how to handle negotiations without discounting yourself into resentment. If you have ever hesitated before hitting send on a proposal, if you have ever wondered whether your number was too high or too low, or if you have ever reduced your fee just to secure the project, consider this episode a mini-masterclass from what you can expect at Design Camp.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Dezign Assist. DuVäl Reynolds is the founder and principal of DuVäl Design, a studio known for its layered, highly curated interiors. But alongside the studio, DuVäl has also created a completely separate brand, House of DuVäl, an e-commerce destination for furniture, lighting, décor, and objects that reflect his design perspective. In today's conversation, we're talking about what it actually looks like to build a product business as an interior designer. DuVäl shares why he intentionally kept the studio and retail brand completely separate, how he approaches sourcing and developing products, and what it takes to run an e-commerce company alongside a design firm. We also discuss licensing, including the debut of his new upholstery and casegoods collection with Sherrill Furniture Brands at High Point Market, and of course, his wildly popular “Curse of a Designer” social media series. If you've ever thought about expanding beyond client work and building a product-driven brand, this episode is a great place to start.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Hi everyone, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with Kylie K. Bass, founder of KKB Interiors. Before launching her interior design studio, Kylie built her career in advertising, working inside an industry that's deeply rooted in strategy, messaging, timelines, and performance. In today's episode, we're unpacking how those skills translated into the structure, pricing, and client experience of her design practice. We talk about the surprising ways advertising thinking shows up in everything from proposals to project pacing, how designers can borrow proven frameworks from other industries without overcomplicating their business, and why clarity, not creativity, is often the thing that unlocks growth. As always, we'll also get into the nuts and bolts. Team structure, pricing models, and how Kylie thinks about running a studio that's both creatively fulfilling and commercially sound.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Today on The Interior Collective, I'm sitting down with Erica Vassalotti and Dana Bergman Falcione, co-founders of Bergman Vass. Erica and Dana's work sits at the intersection of interior design, product development, and brand building, and in this episode, we're diving deep into what it really looks like to expand beyond services and into physical product. We'll be talking about the business realities of developing a furniture and rug line, from early concepting and manufacturing decisions to financial risk, pricing, and long-term brand strategy. Erica and Dana also share how growing a product arm has influenced the way they run their studio, how they think about visibility in a crowded market, and why investing in a new studio space was a non-optional move. If you've ever considered launching a product line, scaling your brand beyond client work, or building a studio that supports where your business is going, not just where it's been, this conversation is for you.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Today on The Interior Collective, I'm honored to be sitting down with Parris of Parris McKenna Design, a Toronto-based interior design firm that has experienced what I would call true star power acceleration. Not only is Parris the principal of one of House & Home's 100 top designers, she's a close, personal friend and dear advisor. In just a few short years, Parris has grown her studio from a new business to a multi-office operation serving both Toronto and Muskoka, with a large and expanding team to support it. And what fascinates me most is not just the growth, but the infrastructure behind it. We're diving into her 0 to 60 trajectory. How she built momentum quickly, what operational decisions supported that scale, how she structured her team, and how YouTube became a serious marketing engine for her business. If you are in a season of growth, or hoping to be, this episode is going to give you a real look at what scaling actually requires.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Today on The Interior Collective, I'm joined by Alexandra Azat, founder of Plaster & Patina, a renovation-focused design studio known for its thoughtful work in historic homes and layered interiors. Alexandra has built a business rooted in trust, not just in aesthetic vision, but in process, execution, and financial stewardship. From the very first inquiry to the final walkthrough, her studio has developed a reputation for guiding clients confidently through complex renovations while protecting both the integrity of the home and the integrity of the investment. In this episode, we're unpacking what it really means to build client trust. We talk about screening for alignment before signing, creating true design buy-in, leading with clarity during construction, and positioning yourself as a financial steward once a project budget is set. If you've ever felt the tension between creativity and control, or struggled to maintain client confidence through a renovation, this conversation is for you.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm sitting down with Jess Weeth, founder of Weeth Home. Jess has built a studio known not just for beautiful, thoughtful work, but for long-term client relationships that extend well beyond a single project. And that's exactly what we're unpacking today. Instead of focusing on one finished space, we're talking about how designers can intentionally build their businesses to support repeat clients, multi-phase projects, and long-term trust. In this episode, we're diving into what it actually takes to move from one-off engagements to ongoing relationships. How you structure your services, how you communicate early on, and how your process either invites clients back or quietly pushes them away. We'll talk about operational decisions, pricing confidence, boundaries, and the systems that make longevity possible, not just creatively, but sustainably from a business perspective. Jess will also walk us through how Weeth Home is structured today, how her team operates, how they charge for their work, and what's changed as the studio has matured. If you're thinking about how to grow your business without constantly chasing new leads, this conversation is for you.

Season 8 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Loloi.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Materio. Today on The Interior Collective, I'm joined by the Brownstone Boys, a Brooklyn-based design duo who have built a studio that lives at the intersection of historic preservation, modern renovation, media, and brand partnerships. What makes their business especially interesting is not just the work itself, but the way they've expanded beyond traditional client services. From editorial features and product collaborations to a strong digital presence and storytelling-led brand, they've managed to grow visibility without diluting their design practice. In this episode, we're talking about what it actually looks like to turn attention into leverage. How they decide which opportunities to pursue, how they protect their studio operations while expanding into new lanes, and what interior designers should think about if they want to build a platform alongside a service-based business. As always, we'll also get into the practical side: team structure, pricing models, decision-making frameworks, and what's next behind the scenes.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome to The Interior Collective! Today, we're thrilled to sit down with Sarah Solis, founder and principal designer of Sarah Solis Design Studio. Sarah has made a name for herself in the design world by embracing a refined, minimalist approach that still feels incredibly warm and full of depth. As many interiors today are leaning towards bold colors and layered patterns, Sarah has perfected a nuanced style rooted in quiet layers. She combines her backgrounds in fine art, architecture, and fashion to create spaces that are thoughtfully curated and timeless. In this episode, we'll dive into Sarah's unique design philosophy—what she calls “the subtle art of restraint”—and explore how she creates livable, elegant spaces that feel both layered and minimal. Sarah will walk us through her design process, from selecting textures and materials to achieving that delicate balance between simplicity and richness. We'll also discuss the structure of her design studio, the talented team members who bring her vision to life, and how she approaches pricing her services. And finally, Sarah will give us an inside look at her latest venture, Galerie Solis, a curated collection of original furniture, textiles, antiques, and art that embodies her signature approach to design. This is a conversation about intentionality, craftsmanship, and the art of storytelling through design—I encourage you to take note and begin the practice of refinement in design.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm thrilled to be joined by Sam Sacks—Ontario-based interior designer, former magazine editor, and consummate storyteller—whose work masterfully blends creativity, strategy, and historical context. As the founder of Sam Sacks Design, Sam has carved out a niche working with highly analytical clients—think lawyers, doctors, and finance professionals—who don't just want a beautiful home, they want to understand the why behind every decision. In this conversation, we're diving into how Sam has built a design process and presentation style that speaks directly to the left-brained client. From using architectural history as a strategic storytelling tool to delivering visually refined yet logic-driven presentations, Sam shares how she earns trust, builds alignment, and avoids hours of costly back-and-forth. You'll hear how her time as a writer gave her the language to translate intuition into clarity, and how her detailed intake process filters for client compatibility from the very first conversation. We also unpack how she structures presentations to maintain creative control while still appealing to highly analytical thinkers—essentially, selling her design process like a business case. Whether you're refining your presentation style, working with more corporate clients, or just want to build a more efficient and aligned process—this episode is full of gems.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Scaling a design firm isn't just about taking on more projects—it's about stepping into the role of CEO, redefining your creative direction, and building a business that can grow with you. Because the truth is, if you own your own studio, you are an entrepreneur, even if you first identify yourself as a designer. On today's episode of The Interior Collective, I'm joined by Hilary Matt, founder and principal of Hilary Matt Interiors, a New York–based residential design studio with projects spanning the country. Known for her fearless mix of post-modern edge and Scandinavian minimalism, Hilary creates layered, highly personal spaces rooted in comfort, function, and material depth. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, The New York Times, and House Beautiful, and she's been recognized as a member of AD's Designer Directory, House Beautiful's Next Wave class, and Better Homes & Gardens' Color Stars for 2024. In this conversation, Hilary shares how her firm evolved from a one-woman show into a nationally recognized business—and the pivotal moment that caused her to reevaluate everything from team structure to brand identity. We're unpacking the growing pains of leadership, the shifts in her creative voice, and the intentional ways she's expanding her firm's reach beyond traditional client services. This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to grow as both a designer and an entrepreneur.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today we're picking up where we left off in our SEO series with Julia Bucchese—this time zeroing in on Pinterest, the visual search engine that's become a traffic and lead-generation powerhouse for interior designers. Pinterest isn't just a mood-board tool—it's a search engine where every pin and board can be optimized to rank, attract high-intent clients, and drive valuable backlinks to your site. Julia is the founder of Julia Renee Consulting, where she helps creative businesses—many of them interior studios—use SEO and Pinterest strategies to boost visibility and bookings. Her blog post, “Pinterest Marketing Strategy for Interior Designers,” has become required reading for designers ready to up their pin game. In this episode, Julia will walk us through everything from auditing your profile for SEO success and conducting Pinterest-specific keyword research, to crafting scroll-stopping pins, A/B testing formats, and even weaving in local keywords to capture your ideal market. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your Pinterest workflow, you're about to get a wealth of tactical, actionable advice to make Pinterest your most reliable marketing channel.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective—I'm your host, Anastasia Casey. Today's guest embodies what it means to learn at the highest levels before going out on your own. Coco Greenblum spent over a decade honing her craft at five different AD100 design firms—each with its own aesthetic, leadership style, and process. From her first role at Emily Summers Design in Dallas, through creative chapters in San Francisco with Geremia, The Wiseman Group, and Ken Fulk, to leading Jeremiah Brent's West Coast studio, Coco was very intentional about where she learned, who she learned from, and why. In just two and a half months, she's launched STUDIO COCO GREENBLUM in Los Angeles—a full-service interior design studio built on the lessons she gathered, the mentors who shaped her, and the pitfalls she vowed to avoid. Today, we'll unpack how she strategically chose each firm, balanced creative vision with operational rigor, and ultimately weighed the risks of leaving brand-name studios to build her own brand. We'll dive into everything from team structure and pricing models to client onboarding rituals and mentorship philosophies—practical insights you can apply in your own practice. Whether you're dreaming of opening your own studio or aiming to level up in your current role, Coco's story offers a masterclass in turning experience into entrepreneurship.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's conversation is one that every interior designer needs to hear—especially if you've ever felt like you're running a successful business on the outside but struggling to make sense of the numbers behind the scenes. I'm joined by Gabriela Eisenhart, founder of the award-winning Silo Studio Design based in Atlanta, Georgia. Known for her sophisticated, storytelling interiors that push boundaries while honoring comfort and function, Gabriela leads a growing team creating homes and boutique commercial spaces across the country. But beyond her incredible aesthetic, what really struck me about Gabriela is how seriously she takes the business of design—especially when it comes to profitability, cash flow, and keeping your head in the books as you scale. In this episode, Gabriela opens up about the early mistakes that shaped her financial approach, the KPIs she watches like a hawk, and why staying personally connected to your bookkeeping is one of the most creative decisions you can make as a business owner. We're talking pricing strategy, cash flow, profit margins, and how to build a team while staying lean, nimble, and profitable. If you're ready to trade burnout for sustainability, and guesswork for clarity—this conversation is your permission slip to get intimate with your numbers and build a business that truly supports your life.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective What happens when you combine high-level experiential design with concierge-level project oversight, architectural fluency, and a completely fixed-fee pricing model? You get a firm that's quietly redefining what full-service interior design can look like—and that firm is Haldon House. In today's episode, I'm joined by Autumn Oser, co-founder and creative director of Haldon House, a Philadelphia-based studio delivering fully bespoke homes that reflect the lives, tastes, and aspirations of the people who live in them. Known for their soulful, client-led aesthetic and comprehensive approach, Haldon House serves as the single point of contact for their clients—overseeing not just interiors, but architecture, landscape, township approvals, and construction project management across the board. With a background leading experiential design at Google, Autumn brings a fresh perspective to the design process—rendering entire homes before materials are ever sourced and building a visual language that guides every creative and logistical decision. And at the core of it all? A flat-fee, all-inclusive structure that prioritizes trust, transparency, and strategic execution at every turn. In this conversation, Autumn shares the exact systems behind their fixed-fee model, how she defines scope across disciplines, and what it takes to run a truly client-first firm alongside her husband and business partner. Whether you're looking to streamline your pricing, refine your client experience, or reimagine what's possible in a design studio, this episode is a masterclass in doing things differently—with intention.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guests are two women whose work I've admired for years. I'm joined by Lucia Bartholomew and Cayley Lambur, the co-founders and design principals of Electric Bowery. Based in Venice, California, Electric Bowery is a design studio that has carved out a distinct niche at the intersection of residential and hospitality design. With a philosophy rooted in wellness, inclusivity, and creating spaces for “a life well-lived,” their work is as soulful as it is striking. What began with residential development projects has grown into a portfolio of hospitality destinations that celebrate landscape, site specificity, and collaboration at every level. Lucia and Cayley's story is also one of partnership—meeting at Gehry Partners, building a shared vision, and founding a female-led studio that thrives on openness and innovation. In this conversation, we'll explore what it means to run a business together as women in a male-dominated industry, how they've grown their firm, and how their signature Electric Bowery aesthetic translates seamlessly between private homes and public spaces. If you've ever been curious about partnership, hospitality, or the design philosophies shaping today's most inspiring spaces, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guest is no stranger to the show—Brooke Stoll is back, and this time we're going deep on one of the most powerful tools a designer can have in their business: SOPs. That's right—standard operating procedures might not sound glamorous, but they're the key to building a design firm that runs smoothly, scales intentionally, and actually gives you your time back. If you caught our episode with Brooke and Renee from Tandem earlier this season, you already know that Brooke is a systems genius with nearly a decade of experience helping interior designers streamline their operations and scale without the chaos. Today, she's walking us through exactly what an SOP is, how it can reduce mistakes, increase profitability, and create consistency both for your team and your clients. Whether you're just starting to document your processes or you've got a whole Google Drive full of half-finished systems, Brooke shares where to begin and how to approach SOPs in a way that actually supports creativity instead of stifling it. Plus, we're sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our collaborative product, the Interior Design Process Outline, and how it's designed to help you build your SOP library one phase at a time.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. This episode is brought to you in partnership with LoloiSubscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guest is someone whose career I have admired for years — the incomparable Corey Damen Jenkins. As principal and CEO of Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates, Corey has built an internationally acclaimed design and architecture firm recognized for its fearless layering of color, pattern, and texture to create spaces that are nothing short of iconic. From being named to the Architectural Digest AD100 and ELLE Décor A-List to launching bestselling coffee table books, globally recognized licensed collections, and a MasterClass viewed by millions, Corey has redefined what it means to build a design business with both creative vision and commercial success. His work spans residential and hospitality projects across the U.S. and beyond, yet his ethos is always the same — putting the client's personality and lifestyle at the center of the story. In our conversation, we're diving into the moments of triumph and challenge behind the scenes, from scaling a team and developing product lines to building partnerships that feel authentic and lasting. Corey shares what it takes to stay creatively energized while leading a growing firm, why education and mentorship remain so central to his mission, and what we can expect from his highly anticipated second book, Design Reimagined, launching this fall. This is a conversation about design, yes — but it's also about legacy, resilience, and the courage to evolve.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective What happens when a celebrated interior designer hits a wall—and chooses to rebuild everything from the ground up? In today's episode, I'm joined by Meg Lonergan, founder of Meg Lonergan Interiors, whose timeless, story-driven spaces have long stood out for their layered beauty and impeccable detail. But behind the scenes, like so many of us, Meg reached a breaking point in 2020. Burnout forced her to step back and completely rethink how she was running her business—what clients she said yes to, how her team was structured, and most importantly, how she could protect her creative energy for the long haul. This conversation is a masterclass in business resilience. Meg walks us through exactly how she restructured her firm with process at the center—shifting from reactive to intentional, from hustle to harmony. We talk about aligning with the right clients, what it really costs to ignore red flags, and how investing in team culture can completely transform the quality of your work and your life. If you've ever felt like your business was running you instead of the other way around, this episode is for you.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Today's guest is not only a seasoned design entrepreneur, but also a dear friend and a familiar voice here on The Interior Collective. I'm so excited to welcome back Bria Hammel, the visionary behind Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou. If you've been with us since the early seasons, you might remember Bria's first appearance in Season 2, Episode 2, where she shared her insights on pivoting through uncertainty with strength and strategy. That episode is still one of our most listened-to—and for good reason. This time, Bria's back to pull back the curtain on her most recent and ambitious move: opening a second interior design office in a completely different city. We'll get into the why, how, and what now of growing her team across state lines, building systems that can scale, and leading with confidence from afar. Whether you're dreaming of expanding your business or simply curious what it actually takes to make a multi-city firm run smoothly, this episode is full of practical insights and candid reflections you won't want to miss.

Season 7 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey — and if you've ever felt like running the business side of your design studio is harder than the actual design work, you are not alone. That's why I'm so excited to be joined today by Mary Beth Chau, co-founder of Materio — the first end-to-end project delivery system designed specifically for interior design and build teams. Materio brings together visual-first project management and real-time financial clarity in one connected workflow — from concept to client presentation, procurement to install. In this conversation, we're digging into what makes Materio different from clunky legacy platforms, how it helps designers make smarter decisions faster, and what it looks like to finally have one beautiful, intuitive system that handles both the creative and the business side of your projects. If you've been stuck between tools that feel overly corporate, overly complicated, or just… not built for you — this episode might just change the way you run your studio. That's why I'm genuinely excited (and proud) to introduce you to Materio.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective, where we go behind the business of interior design with the most compelling voices in our industry. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey. Today's guest is a force of creative energy and intention—Jessica Schuster, the visionary behind Jessica Schuster Design, based right in the heart of SoHo, New York. Known for her fearless use of color, sculptural form, and soulful storytelling, Jessica has carved out a design identity that's instantly recognizable, yet deeply personal. In this conversation, we're diving into the power of personal brand—how Jessica's recent rebrand became an anchor point for growth, the strategy behind her website and visuals, and how boldness and clarity can translate into business success in one of the most competitive markets in the world. We're also pulling back the curtain on her design process—where inspiration begins, how she balances client identity with her own signature style, and why her work always begins with the story behind the space. If you've ever felt like your design voice was “too much” or worried about breaking away from the status quo—this episode is for you.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today I'm joined by someone whose work has stopped me in my scroll more times than I can count—Keren Richter, the co-founder and creative director behind the New York-based design studio White Arrow. Known for her background as a commercial illustrator and painter, Keren brings a singular perspective to interiors—one that's rooted in narrative, color theory, and the emotional composition of a space. In a design world where maximalist color trends are everywhere, Keren's work stands out for its methodical restraint. Her use of color feels both intentional and expressive—never overwhelming, always artful. In this conversation, we unpack how Keren's background in the fine arts informs everything from material selection to custom furniture design, how she thinks about color as a strategic tool, and why artwork plays such an essential role in her process. For all of you listening who want to bring more color into your designs—without going full colordrenching—this one is for you. 

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guest is someone I've admired for years—Lisa Staton of Lisa Staton Interior Design. Based in Seattle with deep roots in the East Coast, Lisa brings a timeless sensibility to every space she touches. But what makes this conversation so special is Lisa's perspective after two decades of running her own design firm. We're digging into what it means to evolve as a designer—through economic highs and lows, through shifts in client expectations, and through the massive transformation of our industry from physical portfolios to the Instagram age. Lisa's insight is both refreshingly grounded and incredibly relevant, especially as so many of us are recalibrating what this “new normal” looks like after the Covid boom. We talk about staying creatively inspired in a world of algorithms, the art of sourcing outside the digital mainstream, and how to build a design career that actually lasts. Whether you're just starting out or 15 years in, Lisa's perspective is a masterclass in longevity and intentionality. Let's get into it.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Hi everyone, and welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today we're diving into a topic that's been top of mind for so many designers lately: signature style. I'm joined by Minneapolis-based interior designer Heather Peterson—principal of Heather Peterson Design and a self-proclaimed “mix master” known for her richly layered and genre-spanning interiors. As the design scene in Minneapolis continues to flourish and take on a distinct identity of its own—Heather has found herself asking: how do you stand out in a market that's beginning to look a certain way? In this conversation, Heather pulls back the curtain on the deeply personal process of defining her studio's signature style. From creating a “Love List” of materials her team consistently gravitates toward—think cork, burl, patchwork, and marble—to wrestling with the vulnerability of saying, “this is what we like,” Heather shares what it means to lead with intuition in a world that rewards trend-following. Whether you're in the thick of a rebrand or just trying to define your design identity, this episode is a must-listen. Thanks for listening.

Access the tools in this episode at www.idco.studio This bonus episode marks the beginning of something game-changing for interior designers. Today, I'm joined by two of the most trusted experts in the business of design: Studio Growth Strategist Renee Bush of Tandem and Brooke Stoll, Operations and Profitability Strategist for interior designers. When we had tapped out all possible ideas for products at IDCO Studio, I called the best in the business to create something extraordinary. Together, we've developed a brand-new suite of tools created specifically for the way interior design studios operate—and scale. Renee brings years of experience leading creative teams, including her time as Director of Design Operations at Studio McGee, and now consults studios across the country through her firm, Tandem. Brooke has spent nearly a decade inside high-performing firms, building systems that help designers grow their businesses intentionally—without sacrificing creative control or burning out. This collaboration was built from the ground up to solve the real, day-to-day challenges designers face. Inside this new collection, you'll find three powerful bundles: a Financial Toolkit that brings clarity to your numbers, a Project Pipeline System that helps you forecast and convert the right clients, and a comprehensive Process Outline that maps every step from inquiry to install. In this episode, we're breaking down what each tool does, how to implement it, and why it has the power to completely transform how you lead your business. These aren't just spreadsheets—they're decision-making systems. They're clarity tools. And they're here to help you scale your design firm with purpose, confidence, and a whole lot less stress.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective, I'm your host, Anastasia Casey — and today, I am so excited to be joined by one of the most influential voices in modern American design, Nina Freudenberger. As the founder of Freudenberger Design Studio, Nina has built a body of work that transcends trend cycles, coasts, and even design styles — yet every space she touches evokes the same feeling: grounded, effortless, and deeply personal. You might know her from her bestselling design books like Surf Shack, Bibliostyle, and most recently Mountain House, or from her projects featured in Architectural Digest and Vogue. But what's perhaps most fascinating about Nina's journey is how she's built a brand that evolves with her — from interiors, to publishing, and beyond — all while staying visually cohesive and emotionally resonant. In this conversation, we're pulling back the curtain on what it takes to grow a multidisciplinary design studio, how to build a signature style that still leaves room for reinvention, and how Nina's expanded her business into new creative categories without losing sight of what matters most. If you're a designer looking to grow a timeless business that evolves with you, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. Let's dive in.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective, where we dig into the business of beautiful spaces. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's episode is one I'm especially excited to share. We're pulling back the curtain on a beloved Canadian-based brand in the design community—Moe's Home Collection—and exploring what it really takes to evolve a 25-year-old, family-run company into a rising force in the wholesale furniture space. Joining me are Co-CEOs and siblings, Sara and Moe Jr. Samieian, who have not only scaled Moe's in impressive ways, but done so with interior designers at the center of their strategy. From streamlining shipping and inventory to launching designer-led product collaborations and educational events, they've reimagined what a wholesale partner can look like in 2025. In this conversation, we talk about what designers are asking for right now, how feedback directly influences Moe's product collections, and why building an authentic community is just as important as beautiful furniture. Whether you're a solo designer or a studio with a full team, this episode offers a refreshing, behind-the-scenes look at a company that's putting our industry first. Let's dive in.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's guest is someone I've admired for a very long time—interior designer and author Stephanie Sabbe. As the founder of Sabbe Interior Design and owner of Heirloom Artifacts in Nashville, Stephanie is known for her fresh yet deeply reverent approach to historic homes. In today's episode, we're unpacking the unique challenges and incredible opportunities that come with designing for history—how to honor a home's past without sacrificing modern function, how to find the right trades for sensitive restoration work, and how to build time into the process for the kind of thoughtful, layered storytelling Stephanie is known for. We'll also be diving into her new book, Interiors of a Storyteller, a stunning design memoir that weaves together nine projects and the personal stories that shaped them. This conversation is equal parts business, beauty, and heart—and I can't wait for you to hear it. Thanks for listening - let's get started.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That's what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it's one connected workflow. Try it for free.It's intuitive. It's fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I'm your host, Anastasia Casey, and today's conversation feels especially close to my heart. After spending the last ten years building a business, scaling a team, and pouring everything into my work, I finally took the leap into motherhood — and now, I'm sitting here with a four-month-old at home, learning firsthand what it means to balance entrepreneurship with a brand new kind of responsibility. That's why I was so excited to sit down with interior designer Kim Lapin. Kim runs a thriving, highly intentional design business while also raising three kids under the age of four. Yes — three under four. But what's even more impressive is the way she's made conscious decisions to stay small, take on projects that feel deeply fulfilling, and outsource in all the right places — both professionally and personally — in order to create the life and business she truly wants. In this episode, we talk about saying no to the pressure to scale, redefining success in motherhood, and letting go of the guilt that so many of us feel when we don't do it all. Whether you're in the thick of this same season, or just thinking about what sustainable success could look like for you, this conversation is full of insight, honesty, and so much grace. Let's dive in.