Podcasts about interior designers

Two designers can walk onto the exact same construction project, look at the exact same room, talk to the exact same contractor or trade, and leave noticing completely different things.  So today I want to take you onto a jobsite with me. This is not a checklist or 10 things you should inspect. I want to show you how I actually think when I walk through that door. Because after 32 years, a lot of it is now automatic, and I want to make it less automatic so that you can start doing it on your next site visit.   You'll Learn: What experienced designers look for during each phase of construction Why arriving early and building relationships with trades makes you a better project manager How to spot potential issues and ask questions without putting anyone on the defensive   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/jobsite-tips-for-interior-designers

What happens when you stop winging your interior design business and start putting real processes behind it? In this episode, I'm joined by interior designers Ale Cretul, Andrea Krill, and Jocelyn Polce to talk about how dramatically their businesses have changed over the last few years. From Andrea leaving corporate finance and building a growing design team, to Jocelyn moving from 20+ clients a year toward fewer, larger projects, to Ale realizing she needed to learn the business behind the design, their paths look very different. But the common thread is clear: they started treating their design businesses like businesses. We talk about process, hiring, client boundaries, confidence, community, mindset, bigger projects, difficult clients, and the importance of defining what success actually looks like for you. You'll also hear how the three of them found an unexpected peer support system in one another and why having people around you who understand your goals can completely change the way you navigate business growth. If you're busy doing the work but still feel like you're figuring out your business one project at a time, this conversation is for you.   EPISODE RESOURCES Power of Process is now open for enrollment until October 8th. Learn more here: https://rebeccahay.com/powerofprocess    237: Transforming a side hustle into a full-time interior design business with Andrea Krill 246: How one POP alum moved from side hustle to full time designer & never looked back with Andrea Krill 101: [Bonus] It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to start. The biggest 12 month business transformation with Jocelyn Polce 171: The biggest 2 year business transformation with Jocelyn Polce 131: High Point Market, is it worth it? Part one Roundtable 132: High Point Market, is it worth it? Part Two Roundtable Guest Websites Andrea Krill Interiors Ale Cretul Interiors August Oliver Interiors -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.  

Send us Fan MailEveryone tells you there are a hundred days left in the year. There are eighty eight, and only forty nine of them are working days that can still change anything.That is not a scare tactic. Forty nine is a number you can plan around. A hundred is a number you can hide behind.In this episode Laura walks through the three numbers to pull before you plan another thing, and why the gap between what you have collected and what you thought you had collected is always bigger than expected. Then how to build a forecast honest enough to include the projects that will quietly slip into next year, because every miserable January begins in an October where somebody did not want to look.Then the practical part: the four decisions still inside your control before Christmas, each of which takes about an afternoon. Plus why a December discount does not cost you December, it costs you the following spring, and how to close a revenue gap on speed rather than on price.Your year is not decided in January. It is decided by what you price in October.The real day count, and why the fortnight from 14 December does not belong in itThree numbers to find before you make a single plan, and the strict rule for what counts as pipelineWhy anything not signed today is very unlikely to produce installation revenue this yearThe four decisions that still change 2026, in the order worth doing themHow the proposals you send in October quietly set your rate for next springWhy discounting in the fourth quarter is the most expensive move available to youClosing the gap on speed instead of price, with three specific ways to do itLAST CALL: Enrollment for The Profit Academy for Interior Designers closes September 30 at 11:59 PM EST.If you're ready to understand your numbers, price with confidence, protect your profit, and build a stronger, more sustainable design business, now is the time to join us.Learn more and choose your level at theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com before the doors close.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

We talk about prices, yields, and interest rates constantly. But what someone pays often depends on how a place feels when they walk in. So, what design mistakes are quietly costing investors money?In this episode, Ed and Andrew are joined by interior designer Kelly Gammie. You'll learn:The 3 biggest interior design mistakes … and what each one costs The renovations that add value and the ones that just cost you money How bold and brave should investors be when choosing what to paint the wallsThe numbers matter... but so does the feeling. Get the design right, and it shows up in the price.Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more from Opes Partners:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You became an interior designer because you love design. You know how to create beautiful spaces, solve design problems, make thoughtful selections, and bring a client's vision to life. But once you start your own interior design business, you quickly discover that being a talented designer is only one part of the job.Suddenly, you're also responsible for marketing, sales, client experience, project management, finances, systems, leadership, and all the decisions that come with running a business. It can feel overwhelming because nobody necessarily teaches you how to make that transition from skilled creative to confident business owner.One way I've grown my business over the years is through reading. I've read a lot of business and personal growth books over the last 10 years, and some have completely changed the way I think about my career, my clients, my money, and my business. In this episode, I'm sharing seven books that have helped me answer important questions about building an interior design business that is profitable, sustainable, memorable, and capable of growing beyond me.My recommendation: Start with the book that speaks to the question you're asking in your business right now. Sometimes one idea or one important shift in perspective is enough to make an entire book worthwhile.What You'll Learn in This Episode✔️ Why your interior design business exists✔️ How to make your marketing more client-focused✔️ Ways to create a memorable client experience✔️ How systems can help your business grow✔️ How to develop a healthier money mindsetRead the Blog >>> 7 Must-Read Business Books for Interior DesignersNEXT STEPS:

Send us Fan MailBeing fully booked can look like success from the outside, but a packed calendar does not automatically mean you are running a profitable interior design business. In this episode, Laura explores why so many talented designers find themselves constantly working, managing demanding projects and serving clients, yet still feeling anxious about cash flow and wondering where the money has gone.Laura compares two very different paths. One designer prices by instinct, absorbs scope creep, gives away project management time and waits until the end of the project to determine whether any profit remains. The other uses a reliable pricing method, establishes clear scope boundaries and regularly tracks project hours, expenses and profitability. The difference is not talent or the number of projects booked. It is having the systems and financial clarity to recognize problems early and make informed business decisions.You will learn three practical areas to strengthen in your business: pricing your services properly, controlling scope and reviewing profitability every week. Because being busy is not the goal, and being booked is not enough. The real goal is to build a business that is both booked and profitable, allowing you to serve your clients beautifully without sacrificing your income, energy or peace of mind.LAST CALL: Enrollment for The Profit Academy for Interior Designers closes September 30 at 11:59 PM EST.If you're ready to understand your numbers, price with confidence, protect your profit, and build a stronger, more sustainable design business, now is the time to join us.Learn more and choose your level at theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com before the doors close.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

Sponsors:◦ Visit Buildertrend to schedule a demo◦ Marvin Windows and Doors◦ Sub-Zero Wolf Cove Showroom Phoenix◦ CCS RegistrationConnect with Melissa Baran:◦ https://thehavenlist.com ◦ https://www.instagram.com/thehavenlistConnect with Brad Leavitt:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Houzz | Pinterest | YouTube

Sylvia Sandford joins Jesse to chat about what an interior designer actually does. She'll share what she's working on so we can get a sense of the role of an interior designer. If you've got questions, please don't hesitate to text us on 2101.

"I ate my TEE score. I had to go to hypnotherapy to remember what it was" - Megan Morton On interior designer Megan Morton's menu: mum's homemade Macca's birthday surprise, Jaipuri pilaf, and poppyseed cake with a glass of Madeira. Sides include: growing up amongst bananas, the magic of the "Greedy Eye", and why she went to schoolies in Paris instead of the Gold Coast (we wish we had that idea!).  For more on Megan, head to her website: meganmorton.com or Insta: instagram.com/megan_mortonSend us Fan MailTo find out more about the project and Savva - head to threefoodmemories.comInsta - @savvasavas @threefoodmemoriesEmail us at threefoodmemories@plated.com.au, we'd love to hear from you!  TFM is produced and edited by Lauren McWhirter with original music by Russell Torrance. 

Discover how Cozy Earth built a $100M bedding empire through organic channels, Oprah's endorsement, and a bootstrapped growth model. For more on Cozy Earth, in show notes, click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Indecision is expensive—and in an interior design business, it can cost you far more than time. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon talks with interior designer Jodi Cook Monts about the power of making decisions quickly and confidently. They explore how hesitation can affect profitability, project timelines, client relationships, and business growth—and why indecision is often a symptom of a deeper lack of trust and confidence. Jodi also shares how she expanded her design business beyond her local market, why existing clients are one of the best sources of new opportunities, and how a collaborative mindset can transform relationships with builders and other project partners. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why indecision is often a trust and confidence problem—and how it can cost your interior design business time and money - How making decisions earlier can protect project timelines, profitability, and client relationships - Why your existing clients may be the best source of second homes, vacation properties, and commercial design projects - How to successfully work on projects outside your local market—and why strong systems become even more important as you expand - Why approaching builders and project partners as collaborators, rather than adversaries, can lead to better projects and stronger relationships

There's a quiet assumption in the interior design industry that if you spend enough time around construction projects, eventually you'll just "figure it out." And honestly? Most designers do. Project by project. Mistake by mistake. Usually while undercharging, overextending themselves, and absorbing responsibilities they never intentionally agreed to manage. In this episode, I want to talk about something I wish every interior designer understood much earlier in their career: Construction management is not simply an extension of design work. It is a completely different body of work entirely.   We're talking about: the difference between consulting and managing why construction responsibilities quietly "creep in" how profitability disappears project by project why hourly billing often hurts designers more than it protects them the importance of a true scope of work and how better process leads to better pricing, confidence, and projects I also share the idea of "pink flags" — the subtle client behaviors that often tell you far more about how a construction project will unfold than obvious red flags ever will. If you've ever found yourself managing far more than you priced for, questioning your fees, or feeling exhausted by construction projects you thought you understood, this episode is for you.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-lose-money-construction-projects 

This is the final episode in our three-part series on working with interior designers, and it covers the part almost nobody talks about: what happens after the project ships. You landed the commission, she loved the piece, everyone's happy — and then six months go by and you haven't heard a word. I get into why that happens (it's usually not personal, she's just busy and juggling a dozen projects) and what to do about it: building a real re-engagement strategy that lives in her inbox instead of your Instagram feed, why install photos are the best marketing lever you're not using yet, and how to stay top of mind without turning into the artist who's always pitching. I also make the case for why I think too many of us are spending four hours a week worrying about reel views instead of one hour sending three emails that would actually move the business forward. If you missed them, go back and listen to part one and part two first. And for the extended version of today's episode — exactly how to ask for photos, usage rights, and what a follow-up cadence should look like — that's up on Paper Trail, my Substack, this week. Doors to The Club close September 24 and won't open again until next year, so if you've been on the fence, this is your sign. learn more here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to be an interior designer? Is it simply choosing beautiful colors, furniture, and finishes? Or is there something much deeper happening when we step into a client's home and ask them to trust our professional judgment?In this episode, I sit down with Tamera Gamble of Arranged Space, an interior designer, educator, mentor, and longtime design professional whose career has taken her from high-end residential design to commercial, municipal, retail, and residential projects. Her story is a wonderful reminder that interior design is both a creative career and a technical, human-centered profession.I especially loved Tamera's commitment to making good interior design accessible to real people, regardless of their budget. Whether you're working on a luxury residential project, helping a client make a few changes with $1,000, creating construction documents in AutoCAD, or simply solving a difficult space-planning problem, the fundamentals still matter. Your job is to make the space work for the person living in it.And sometimes, doing that means telling a client no.Featured GuestTamera Gamble is the founder of Arranged Space, an interior design business focused on creating thoughtful, functional spaces that reflect each client's style and budget. Her career in interior design spans residential, commercial, municipal, retail, and historic preservation projects, including work with prominent firms such as Ralph Lauren, Gruzen Sampton, and Goldenstein Hill and West. Tamera earned her BFA from the New York School of Interior Design and has developed a particular passion for space planning, technical drawing, and using design to make everyday spaces work better for the people who live in them. In addition to practicing interior design, she teaches at the New York School of Interior Design and has spent years mentoring aspiring designers, helping them build their skills, confidence, and portfolios.What You'll Learn in This Episode✳️ Why interior design requires technical expertise✳️ How to confidently stand behind your recommendations✳️ Why continuing education matters throughout your career✳️ How to make good design accessible✳️ Ways to build experience and your design portfolioRead the Blog >>> The Real Work of a Professional Interior DesignerNEXT STEPS:

Send us Fan MailYou had your best month on record in July. Six weeks later you were awake at two in the morning wondering whether payroll would clear, and nothing went wrong in between.That is not a sign you are bad with money. It is a sign you have been reading the wrong number.In this episode Laura explains why profit and cash are two entirely different figures, why the interior design business creates a wider gap between them than almost any other industry, and what to do about it. She walks through the four forces that pull your account balance out of step with your actual profitability, from lead times and mismatched vendor terms to the costs that always arrive after the money does.Then two structural fixes: how to separate the money that was never yours in the first place, and how to take your design fee off the furniture schedule so it arrives when you actually do the work. Plus the one page, ninety day cash calendar that ends the middle of the night arithmetic for good.If you have ever felt rich in July and frightened in August, this one is for you.Why your account balance measures where you are in a cycle, not how your business is doingThe two column exercise that separates profit from cash in about ten minutesThe four things that widen the gap in our industry: lead times, mismatched payment terms, costs that land late, and a design fee that tricklesThe three account structure, and why your operating balance is meant to look smaller than you expectHow to restructure a deposit schedule so you stop financing your clients' furnitureThe ninety day cash calendar, and the single number on it that matters mostFive things to do this week if the month is already tightThe Profit Reset Private Podcast | September 14-18, 2026A free 5-day private podcast limited series designed to help Interior Designers finally look at the business behind the beautiful spaces. Join the Profit Reset: https://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/profitresetBe sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

Where is your interior design business leaking time, profitability, and client trust? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Sheilah MacSporran, CEO of DesignFiles, to uncover four common business leaks that quietly create chaos for interior designers. From starting every project from scratch to juggling disconnected tools, these inefficiencies can cost you hours, reduce profitability, and create unnecessary stress for you and your clients. Drawing on more than a decade of experience observing how interior designers work, Sheilah shares practical ways to plug these leaks through templates, connected systems, automation, and streamlined workflows. Kimberley also shares a hard-earned lesson from her own design career: difficult clients aren't always the problem. Sometimes, it's the chaos created by a business without consistent systems. If you're spending too much time on busywork, managing too many tools, or answering questions your systems should answer, this episode will help you identify what's slowing your interior design business down. In this episode, you'll learn: - The four common business leaks that cost interior designers time, profitability, and client trust - Why starting every project from scratch is a major efficiency and profit killer - How disconnected software and repetitive data entry create unnecessary work - Why templates, systems, and automation create consistency and protect profitability - How better systems create a better client experience—and a more efficient, profitable interior design business

Today's episode is a little different, and honestly, one of my favorites I've done in a while. Instead of teaching a specific construction management strategy, I'm bringing you two honest conversations with designers inside The Designer's Edge. Not polished testimonials. Not highlight reels. Just real conversations about what actually changes when designers start putting better systems, pricing structures, boundaries, and construction management processes into place. You'll hear from Missy Werbrich, whose background in corporate design and outdoor living helped her build incredible transferable skills — but who still found herself dramatically undercharging and looking for a framework that matched the level she was operating at. Find out more about Missy here: Website: https://www.designwithmissy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithmissy/ FB:https://www.facebook.com/DesignWithMissy  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/200803  FB: https://www.facebook.com/Werbrichs  Website: https://www.instagram.com/werbrichs_landscaping/  And you'll hear from Cynthia Lacy, a seasoned designer with decades of experience who realized she had fallen into what she calls "routine without purpose" — and how construction management gave her spark for the business back. Find out more about Cynthia here: Website: https://www.lacyandco.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacyflips/ We talk about: Why so many designers undercharge The difference between scope of work and proposals Trusting your gut on projects Boundaries with contractors and clients Why systems create confidence The reality of managing construction projects And what designers actually need help with behind the scenes If you've ever wondered whether construction management coaching is really worth it, or whether you're "experienced enough already", I think these conversations will answer that better than I ever could myself.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-management-coaching-interior-designers   

Welcome back to part two of my three-part series on working with interior designers. This one picks up after the designer has already said yes, and it's all about what happens next. I start with a story from my time at Fritz Porter, the to-the-trade studio in Charleston, and what it taught me about why the same designers kept coming back again and again: because we were easy to work with. That's the whole episode.  I get into why being easy to work with matters more than almost anything else once you've got your foot in the door, why a simple contract actually builds trust instead of scaring people off, why you should always give yourself and your client more time than you think you need, and how a real invoicing and inventory system makes you look like the professional you already are.  If you haven't heard part one, start there. I cover how to research designers and build the portfolio you'll actually send them.  And if you want the extended version of everything in this episode, subscribe to my Substack. It's free, with bonus content if you want to go deeper.  Next week I'm sharing an interview with an artist, and in two weeks I'll be back with part three, where we talk about what happens after the piece is delivered: follow-up, photography, and turning one sale into the next one. Your homework this week: get your systems in place. A way to track inventory, a real invoice, a commission contract, a policy on deposits. Do it now, even if you're not working with a designer yet, so you're ready the second someone says yes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Construction and remodel projects can feel intimidating, especially when you're a new interior designer approaching your first project.You may be wondering how to work with contractors, who should handle permits and engineering, how to respond when a contractor pushes back on your design, or what happens when something unexpected appears after a wall is opened. These are all real concerns—and they're exactly why understanding construction project management is such an important part of becoming a confident interior designer.In this episode, I'm walking you through how I approach construction and remodel projects, from bringing contractors into the process early to defining responsibilities, managing site visits, documenting decisions, communicating with clients, and building strong relationships with your construction team. My goal is to help you approach construction projects with more confidence instead of fear—and become the project leader your clients need you to be.What You'll Learn in This Episode✔️ Understand your role during construction and remodel projects✔️ Bring contractors into the design process early✔️ Define responsibilities before construction begins✔️ Improve construction communication and document project decisions✔️ Build stronger relationships with your A-list contractorsRead the Blog >>> 5 Practical Tips for Managing Construction and Remodel Projects SmoothlyNEXT STEPS:

Send us Fan MailFrom the outside, a successful design firm looks like beautiful projects, polished photography and a full calendar. But those are the visible results. What you don't see is the structure behind them, and that's what this episode is about. I'm going behind the scenes to share what successful interior designers actually do differently: they take the business seriously, invest in themselves and the company, build real professional relationships, create clear processes, review their numbers every week, keep asking what's working and what's not, build the right team, protect their capacity, and make decisions before they feel completely ready. The thread running through all of it? They've stopped running the firm like the designer they were when they worked for someone else, and started running it like the CEO they are now. Plus, I'll give you a one-hour action step, including a calendar audit that reveals which job you've really been doing all week.The Profit Reset Private Podcast | September 14-18, 2026A free 5-day private podcast limited series designed to help Interior Designers finally look at the business behind the beautiful spaces. Join the Profit Reset: https://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/profitreset In just one focused hour, we'll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You'll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you've been dying to ask—from someone who's actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

You've found the house you love, but have you thought about what it will cost to furnish it? From sofas and beds to drapery and delivery fees, there's a lot more to plan for than most of us realize! In this episode, I'm joined by Ellie Stein of Stein Studio, the talented interior designer who helped bring our lake home to life. We're talking honestly about the cost to furnish a home with quality pieces that will last, where it makes sense to invest, and where you can save without giving up a beautiful, pulled-together look. We're using our lake home as a real-life example, walking through everything from our TWOPAGES drapery and Quince bedding to the art, rugs, and custom touches that made it feel like home. From there, Ellie shares how to layer color and texture for a collected, timeless look.  Whether you're furnishing a new home or simply refreshing a room, I think you'll come away with some very savvy ideas!   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: What it really costs to furnish a home with a designer, plus the delivery, freight, tax, and design fees that are easy to overlook Where Ellie recommends saving, splurging, and finding a middle ground (with real examples from our lake home) Why we love our Rowe sofas and recliners, and which other pieces Ellie believes are worth the investment How we got a custom look for less with TWOPAGES drapery and Quince bedding Ellie's rug-sizing rule and how we mixed different rug sources throughout the house Where to find quality wood furniture for less, including secondhand pieces How to mix artwork, family photos, and mirrors so your home feels cohesive How layers of color, texture, and timeless pieces create a collected look (and the decorating habit that can lead to regret) Simple ways to make your entryway more welcoming   LINKS & RESOURCES Stein Studio — Connect with Ellie Stein Studio on Instagram Shop Our Lake Home Watch Our Full Lake-Home Tour on YouTube Our Lake-Home Drapery TWOPAGES Curtains — Use code SAVVY22 for 22% off! Lake Bedroom Details — Beds, Bedding & More Elizabeth Fields Designs — Custom Designer Pillows Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid Mattress — Medium-Firm - Use code FAMILYSAVVY75 for $75 off! Ruggable — Use code SAVVY15 for 15% off! Oushak & Oak Rugs Porter Rivers Art Debra Hewitt Art Framebridge Gallery Wall Frames Our Lake-Home Entryway — Mirror, Rug & More   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode helped you, I'd love for you to take a moment to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much to me and helps more people find these conversations and resources. Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! Everything We Put in Our Lake House Bedrooms (Affordable Finds + Luxury Touches) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   A Life Update: The Story Behind Our New Lake Home Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

Jennifer Michele Helm built a successful career designing luxury homes and believed she had finally made it. But behind the beautiful interiors and public image, her business and personal life were unraveling.Jennifer had already survived one extraordinary nightmare. At 29, a devastating stroke caused by three holes in her heart took away her ability to speak and write. She fought her way back, recovered her voice, and rebuilt her design career.Years later, financial mismanagement, denial, alcohol, and decisions she now accepts responsibility for led to federal charges. Jennifer pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and received a 51-month federal prison sentence.In this candid conversation, Jennifer recounts the FBI investigation, her unexpected arrest, 13 months in county jail, Con Air, federal prison, and the painful separation from her children. She also explains how treatment, faith, meditation, radical accountability, and teaching yoga and Pilates to other incarcerated women helped her discover a new purpose.Now the founder of ARCI Wellness, Jennifer is rebuilding her life only months after leaving prison. The woman who once designed homes for others is learning how to redesign herself.Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com

Shundra Harris, Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Interior Designers and owner of Shundra Harris Interiors, shares her story about her rise as a design industry leader and how she plans to diversify the space.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Send us Fan MailWhere to find Aimee: Substack on Nomadic Life: NomadicNomMomWhere to find Rebecca: Instagram and her life in Paris: @beseriouslyhappyPodcast for Interior Design-preneurs: Stuff Interior Designers Need to KnowBiz Coaching for Interior Designers: seriouslyhappy.comBook on Interior Design Psychology: Happy Starts at Home

Lighting is one of the most powerful design tools available—yet it's often one of the most overlooked. In this guest-hosted episode, DuVäl Reynolds sits down with architectural lighting designer Sarah Richter to explore how thoughtful lighting transforms the way clients experience their homes. Together, they unpack the difference between decorative and architectural lighting, explain why layered lighting is essential to great design, and discuss how interior designers and lighting designers can collaborate to create more beautiful, functional spaces. If you've ever wondered whether bringing a lighting designer onto your project is worth it, this conversation may change the way you approach every project going forward. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why layered lighting creates homes that are both beautiful and highly functional - The difference between decorative lighting, architectural lighting, and lighting design - Exactly where a lighting designer fits into the BOD™ 15 Step Project Management Strategy—and why involving them early leads to better project outcomes - How interior designers and lighting designers work together to elevate a project - Why lighting should be considered from the earliest stages of the design process - How thoughtful lighting enhances architecture, showcases interiors, and improves everyday living - Practical ways to incorporate lighting expertise into your next residential design project

Most exceptional homes aren't created by one professional working alone. They happen when architects and interior designers collaborate well—and that only works when both people understand their role, communicate clearly, and respect each other's expertise. In this episode, I'm breaking down the real dynamics behind successful designer-architect relationships: how projects get set up, where friction usually starts, how to handle disagreements professionally, and why understanding the difference between "outside in" and "inside out" thinking changes everything. Because this relationship isn't about hierarchy. It's about building better projects together.   You'll Learn: Why the best projects happen when both perspectives are fully respected The biggest mistakes designers make in architect relationships Why role clarity early on prevents friction, fee issues, and project delays   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-architect-collaboration   

This is part one of a three-part series on working with interior designers. If you have been wondering how to get your art in front of designers, where to find them, how to reach out, and what to send, this episode is your starting point. Hayley shares the memory from working with interior designer Courtney Agosti that changed how she thinks about being memorable as a vendor, why a PDF portfolio is non-negotiable, and the outreach approach that actually gets a response.  Subscribe to Paper Trail on Substack for the full written breakdown including the four sources for finding designers, the outreach template, and everything that goes in the PDF. Part two drops next Tuesday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stylist, interior designer, style expert, and author @bethaniejeanofficial shares her unique journey through the beauty and design industries, exploring how personal style, creativity, and individuality shape the way we see ourselves and connect with others. Bethanie dives into the philosophy of self-expression, breaking traditional fashion and hair rules, and finding confidence in your own unique aesthetic. She also shares insights on creativity, client relationships, social media, and the importance of balancing style with real life.  This Week's Topics  • Bethanie Jean's Journey from Hairstylist to Interior Designer, Style Expert, and Author  • The Philosophy of Personal Style as a Form of Self-Expression  • Breaking Traditional Fashion and Hair Rules  • Building Confidence Through Individual Style Choices • The Importance of Creativity and Individuality in Hair Artistry • Collaborating With Clients to Create a Style That Feels Authentic to Them  • The Impact of Social Media on Beauty Standards and Personal Style • Balancing Aesthetics, Comfort, and Lifestyle  • Building Strong Client Relationships Through Trust and Communication • Embracing Your Uniqueness in the Beauty and Fashion Industries  Video versions of our episodes are on our YouTube channel for you to watch! Subscribe to our channel The Hair Game on YouTube and check out 'The Hair Game Podcast' playlist. Our podcast thrives on the opinions of you, the listener... if you have a moment (and you are an Apple user), please leave us a rating & review on the Apple podcasts app or iTunes! Here's what you do: Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' Click on the empty purple stars (5 is the best)! Click on 'Write a Review' and let us know what you love most! Each rating & review helps us reach more and more of your fellow hair loves, and our goal is to help as many hairdressers as we can find success. Thanks in advance! FOLLOW US @thehairgamepodcast @salonrepublic @loveerictaylor FOLLOW BETHANIE  @bethaniejeanofficial

These are clips highlighting some of the topics discussed in the full episode! Check it out if you want a bite-sized version of the full episode.   Stylist, interior designer, style expert, and author @bethaniejeanofficial shares her unique journey through the beauty and design industries, exploring how personal style, creativity, and individuality shape the way we see ourselves and connect with others. Bethanie dives into the philosophy of self-expression, breaking traditional fashion and hair rules, and finding confidence in your own unique aesthetic. She also shares insights on creativity, client relationships, social media, and the importance of balancing style with real life.  This Week's Topics  • Bethanie Jean's Journey from Hairstylist to Interior Designer, Style Expert, and Author  • The Philosophy of Personal Style as a Form of Self-Expression  • Breaking Traditional Fashion and Hair Rules  • Building Confidence Through Individual Style Choices • The Importance of Creativity and Individuality in Hair Artistry • Collaborating With Clients to Create a Style That Feels Authentic to Them  • The Impact of Social Media on Beauty Standards and Personal Style • Balancing Aesthetics, Comfort, and Lifestyle  • Building Strong Client Relationships Through Trust and Communication • Embracing Your Uniqueness in the Beauty and Fashion Industries  Video versions of our episodes are on our YouTube channel for you to watch! Subscribe to our channel The Hair Game on YouTube and check out 'The Hair Game Podcast' playlist. Our podcast thrives on the opinions of you, the listener... if you have a moment (and you are an Apple user), please leave us a rating & review on the Apple podcasts app or iTunes! Here's what you do: Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' Click on the empty purple stars (5 is the best)! Click on 'Write a Review' and let us know what you love most! Each rating & review helps us reach more and more of your fellow hair loves, and our goal is to help as many hairdressers as we can find success. Thanks in advance! FOLLOW US @thehairgamepodcast @salonrepublic @loveerictaylor FOLLOW BETHANIE  @bethaniejeanofficial

Send us Fan MailThe mistakes that cost me the most money in my business were never the loud ones. Not the sofa that wouldn't fit through the door or the wrong paint colour on the wall. The expensive mistakes were the quiet ones, sitting in the business month after month, draining money and energy while I was too busy to notice. In this episode I'm sharing the five that cost me the most: scaling without a clear plan, ignoring recurring monthly expenses, hiring the wrong person or the wrong role, underpricing and never reviewing project profitability, and waiting far too long to build processes and ask for help. My hope is that you'll spot these patterns earlier than I did and skip a few years of learning them the hardest possible way.If any of these felt uncomfortably familiar, this is exactly the work we do inside The Profit Academy for Interior Designers, a six-week course opening this September. Join the waitlist on our website to be first through the doors. And if the show has helped you build a better business, a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts is a completely free way to support it and helps other designers find us.Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately. Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resourcesBe sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

What Dolly Parton Taught Me About Business and LifeWhen Dolly Parton died, I found myself thinking about just how much she had shaped the way I see business, success, reinvention, kindness, and life.In this episode, I share the lessons I learned from watching Dolly dream bigger, stand out without apologizing, reinvent herself without losing who she was, and stay kind while still being a serious businesswoman.I also talk about where this podcast is going next. We will still talk about pricing, clients, systems, marketing, money, boundaries, and building a successful business. But I also want to go deeper into what that success is supposed to make possible in your life.In this episode:Dreaming bigger and taking calculated risksWhy being different can be a business advantageKindness, clarity, and stronger boundariesReinventing yourself without losing yourselfRethinking money, productivity, and successCreating personal fulfillment goals alongside business goalsThe idea behind my “Dolly Do” listBuilding a business that gives something back to your lifeResources mentioned:Dolly Parton's “Better Get to Living”McClain's “Dolly Do” Instagram postPattaya animal rescue organizationLinks not provided in the transcript.Text Me a Message!FREE VIDEO TRAINING DIRECT FROM JOHN:Design feels natural.The business side doesn't.Join this free 39-minute training for interior designers and learn the 3 secrets to building a profitable, stress-free design business without burnout or chaos.

And it's not just good taste!   Gigi's J'adore - A monthly note of pieces & places to inspire you and your home. Join the exclusive list.   Atelier sessions, join the waitlist to be the first to know.    Explore G.A. Atelier and all offers here.   Join me inside the G.A. Atelier Substack here.   The Atelier Design hour - uncover your home's possibilities - book your session here   Connect on Instagram

Send us Fan MailWhere to find Aimee: Substack on Nomadic Life: NomadicNomMomWhere to find Rebecca: Instagram and her life in Paris: @beseriouslyhappyPodcast for Interior Design-preneurs: Stuff Interior Designers Need to KnowBiz Coaching for Interior Designers: seriouslyhappy.comBook on Interior Design Psychology: Happy Starts at Home

If you're an interior designer or decorator coordinating painters, electricians, cabinetmakers or other trades, do you know what you're actually taking responsibility for legally — and are you charging properly for it?After getting updated legal advice from Australian legal counsel Sprintlaw, I'm sharing five legal must-haves for coordinating trades, including how my own NSW business can stay closely involved in trade coordination even when the client contracts with and pays those trades directly.We'll cover the real work involved in managing painters, electricians and cabinetmakers, why handing trade management back to the client can create chaos, and why client-direct trade payments do not mean your coordination should be free.Plus, I explain how I structure my implementation fee and why every designer should get their own legal advice on how to coordinate — and be compensated for coordinating — trades where they operate.Free Solo Designer Profit Guide: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguideWondering if you're charging enough?Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's.Download your free copy:turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you're feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don't have to figure it out on your own.I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you're at, what's getting in the way, and whether I can help.Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

What does it take to become a Property Brother, philanthropist, entrepreneur, author and TV host, and can you guess which stories are true? In this gameshow podcast for kids, Mindy Thomas sits down with TV host Jonathan Scott to share surprising facts and sneaky fibs about his life! This interactive interview podcast for kids invites listeners to play along, think critically, and discover what it really means to be a Property Brother!In this two truths and a lie podcast all about Jonathan Scott of the Property Brothers, families will hear unbelievable stories about growing up with his twin brother, Drew, designing houses, building homes, and more! But not everything you hear is true… Can you figure out which facts are real?This episode blends gameplay with real conversation as Mindy and her guest share stories that are surprising, funny, and sometimes totally unbelievable. From childhood obsessions and stories with his brother, to the road not taken, listeners will explore how Jonathan Scott WOWs!Along the way, kids and grownups will get to combine curiosity and play, discover the joy of human connection, and see how curiosity can lead to some of the coolest jobs! Designed for families to listen together, this episode encourages communication, imagination, and connection in a screen-free way.Whether your Wowzer is curious about construction and interior design, or loves solving a good mystery, this episode helps kids build confidence, ask better questions, and connect with the people around them. It's all about learning through play, conversation, and curiosity.✨ Don't miss the chance to laugh together even more:Grownups can visit tinkercast.com/join-twaaw to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world!This episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow!: People Who Wow Edition introduces kids and families to Jonathan Scott of the Property Brothers through gameplay, storytelling, and curiosity-driven conversation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever finished a construction project feeling exhausted, overextended, and quietly underpaid, I want you to hear me when I say this: the problem is probably not your efficiency. It's your pricing. In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the biggest mistakes I see interior designers make over and over again — folding construction management into their design fee instead of treating it like the completely separate professional service it actually is. We're talking about what construction management truly includes: site visits, contractor coordination, change orders, real-time problem solving, client communication, project documentation, and the constant availability these projects require from you. Because when you actually sit down and calculate the hours honestly, the undercharging becomes impossible to ignore. I'm also walking you through where this conversation should begin — and spoiler alert, it's not the proposal. It starts on your website, continues through your discovery call, and gets reinforced all the way through your scope of work before you ever present a fee. If construction projects constantly leave you feeling like the math isn't mathing, this episode will help you understand why and how to fix it. You'll learn: Why construction management should always be priced separately from design What designers consistently forget to account for in their fees How to introduce construction management pricing before the proposal stage Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-management-fee-interior-design   

Send Katie a Text Message!! Some of the most important decisions you'll ever make in your business won't feel urgent.There won't be a client demanding an answer or a deadline forcing your hand. Instead, they'll be the quiet leadership decisions that determine how resilient, profitable, and sustainable your business becomes over time.In this episode, I share six strategic decisions every interior designer should make before they're absolutely necessary. We discuss reducing client concentration, protecting intellectual property, documenting institutional knowledge, strengthening your portfolio strategy, planning for continuity, and building a business that creates more choices for your future.In This Episode Why mature businesses protect optionality  How to reduce hidden risk inside your firm  The dangers of client concentration  Why organization isn't the same as strategy  Protecting your intellectual property  Building a portfolio that supports your future  Creating continuity plans before you need them  The difference between building a business and building yourself a job The strongest businesses aren't simply successful today. They're intentionally designed to remain strong tomorrow.Connect with KatieLinkedInBusiness Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firmWebsite

Send us Fan MailWhere to find Aimee: Instagram: @vibrancenutritionNutrition Coaching: vibrancenutrition.comPodcast on Nutrition: Blasphemous NutritionSubstack on Nomadic Life: NomadicNomMomWhere to find Rebecca: Instagram and her life in Paris: @beseriouslyhappyPodcast for Interior Design-preneurs: Stuff Interior Designers Need to KnowBiz Coaching for Interior Designers: seriouslyhappy.comBook on Interior Design Psychology: Happy Starts at Home

This is a replay, and it is one of my favorites.A while back I was in Italy for Marmomac, the natural stone show in Verona, sponsored by the Italian Trade Agency. I added almost two weeks onto the trip and traveled alone through Verona, Bologna, Florence, the hillsides of Tuscany, Milan, and Lake Como.I did not bring my computer.One night in Florence, walking home from dinner past the Duomo, I heard a woman singing in the middle of the street. I stopped, I listened, and then I pulled out my iPhone and started recording this episode. No notes. No agenda. No plan. Just me telling you what was happening as it happened.I finished it days later in Milan.If your projects are starting to look like everybody else's projects, this one is for you.Why designers lose their creativityCreativity is not a talent problem. It is a fuel problem. Most of us run the business until the creative tank is empty, then wonder why the work feels flat. I talk about what it felt like to be at a crossroads with my business, my life, and my design aesthetic all at the same time.Social media is a sea of samenessSomeone posts a reel that performs. Everybody copies the reel. Someone builds a room that is easy to design and gets attention. Everybody builds the room. I explain why I took social media off my phone for this trip, and why it is the last place to look when you need to find your own point of view.Stop copying someone else's signature lookThere is nothing wrong with having a signature look. There is a lot wrong with wearing someone else's. When you copy another designer's signature, you devalue your own creativity, your own business, and your own intellectual property.What Michelangelo's unfinished figures taught me about feeling stuckI paid for a tour guide just to skip the line and see David. Ten minutes in, she said let's go. I told her to go on without me and stayed another twenty minutes. In that entryway there are half-carved figures still trying to pull themselves out of the marble, sitting there unfinished for five hundred years. That is most of us.Then the question that reframed the whole trip: did Michelangelo carve David based on what everybody else was doing?What is your David?The one thing you do that no one else in your market does. If you cannot name a clear, inspiring distinction between you and every other designer out there, stop what you are doing and figure that out first. Write it down. Then show the world.What is your Italy?You do not need a plane ticket. You do need time alone. Not with your kids, not with your husband or wife, not with your clients, not with your trades. Alone. A day at a coffee shop, one night in a hotel two hours from your house, a sketchbook and no phone. That is the magic time.The expectations you never told anyone aboutI walked into that trip carrying expectations that other people did not know I had set for them. Letting those go changed my travel days, and then it changed my client meetings, my calls, and my job sites.A thought is just a thought. The trouble starts when you turn it into a feeling.When a contractor told me I was charging too muchEarly in my career a general contractor told me I was charging way more than any other design firm in the area. It rattled me enough that I went back and looked at the data. I was not wrong. If someone cannot value what you bring to a project, that is information about the fit, not about your pricing.Nobody pulls a designer off a rack. Deliverables, skill, and talent come first. Price comes second.Choosing peace in the middle of a chaotic projectFurniture arrives late. Trades do not show. A big city is loud on a Saturday morning. You still get to decide whether you are the calm one. That is not a personality trait, it is leadership, and your client is watching for it.What Italy changed about my own workGreenery spilling off third-story balconies. Vintage plates on a table that looks like it belongs in a garden. Natural materials and a softer, more relaxed hand. I am not giving up my metallics, but I came home wanting to bring more feeling into the work.Because a beautiful room without connection is not a win for anybody.The one thing I want you to take with youIf you are 10 or 15 years into this business, go back to the beginning and ask yourself why you got into it. It was the creative part. If that is missing right now, that is fixable.Your business is built on your specific, very unique artistic genius and your intellectual property. Never turn that into a commodity.Mentioned in this episode: Marmomac (Verona), the Italian Trade Agency, Michelangelo's David and the Prisoners at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Milan's vertical garden architecture.Want the longer version of this conversation? It is the whole reason I wrote The Designer Within. Order a signed copy: https://johnmcclaindesign.com/designerwithinText Me a Message!FREE VIDEO TRAINING DIRECT FROM JOHN:Design feels natural.The business side doesn't.Join this free 39-minute training for interior designers and learn the 3 secrets to building a profitable, stress-free design business without burnout or chaos.

Send us Fan MailWhere to find Aimee: Instagram: @vibrancenutritionNutrition Coaching: vibrancenutrition.comPodcast on Nutrition: Blasphemous NutritionSubstack on Nomadic Life: NomadicNomMomWhere to find Rebecca: Instagram and her life in Paris: @beseriouslyhappyPodcast for Interior Design-preneurs: Stuff Interior Designers Need to KnowBiz Coaching for Interior Designers: seriouslyhappy.comBook on Interior Design Psychology: Happy Starts at Home

In this fan-favorite episode of Design Business Freedom, we're diving into time mastery and a better workflow for interior designers who want to reclaim control of their schedules. You'll learn how to eliminate time-wasting habits, create productive workweeks, and recover hours that can be reinvested in your business, your creativity, and your life. Being busy does not automatically make an interior design business productive or profitable. This episode introduces a practical time-blocking method built around tracking your time, categorizing your responsibilities, assigning themes to your days, protecting uninterrupted creative work, and establishing communication boundaries with clients, contractors, vendors, and team members. In This Episode You Will Learn: Identify time-shrinking beliefs that keep you feeling overwhelmed, rushed, and behind. Track your time in 15-minute increments to uncover revenue rabbit holes and costly distractions. Categorize your weekly responsibilities into personal care, business building, creative delivery, and administrative work. Build a time-blocked weekly workflow that helps Design Business Freedom listeners protect billable and creative hours. Establish communication boundaries that allow interior designers to serve clients well without being constantly available. While one word can truly grow your profits, mastering more will lead to a full business and personal transformation. Get them all in my book "The Language of Success: 35 Words to Boost Your Worth and Wealth". You'll be pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of these word swaps and the increased confidence you'll feel in business and life.  Timestamps: (00:03) Welcome to this Design Business Freedom fan favorite (01:27) Identify limiting beliefs and take control of time (04:01) Replace time-shrinking thoughts with empowering new beliefs (08:50) Manage your behaviors instead of trying to manage time (09:30) Track every activity in fifteen-minute increments for one week (11:08) Create a complete master list of weekly business tasks (12:02) Organize responsibilities into four essential time-blocking categories (17:07) Assign specific themes and priorities to each workday (19:59) Protect uninterrupted creative time from constant team interruptions (21:49) Set clear communication boundaries with clients and contractors (26:36) Build a color-coded weekly plan using Google Calendar (27:53) Find underbilling leaks that reduce interior design profitability (31:57) Create project deadlines and work backward from completion (35:38) Schedule vacations and quarterly CEO planning time annually (39:51) Reorganize your schedule and build a four-day workweek Key Takeaways: Busy work creates burnout, while productive work drives profitability, satisfaction, and sustainable growth. Time tracking reveals the distractions, interruptions, and administrative tasks that quietly consume your workweek. Interior designers need uninterrupted creative blocks to produce stronger work and increase billable capacity. A profitable interior design business requires clear boundaries, planned deadlines, and a calendar designed around your priorities. About Melissa Galt: Melissa Galt is an award-winning business coach, marketing consultant, speaker, and interior designer with more than 30 years of experience helping interior designers build profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses. Through Design Business Freedom, Melissa shares proven Interior Design Business strategies, Interior Design Marketing insights, leadership training, pricing expertise, and growth systems designed to help designers attract better clients, increase profitability, and create lasting success. Connect with Melissa Instagram Facebook Linkedin Website  

Susan Gee is the owner of Susan Gee Interiors in Oswego, Oregon.  Susan has a degree in textiles from the University of Oregon and has been making beautiful window treatments since 1996.  A few breaks in her home-based business to take care of some family needs has not stopped her from keeping her connections and relationships in the Interior Design Industry.    Susan loves a challenge and her tagline is, "Helping you Love where you Live!"   Links and Resources; The Curtain & Soft Furnishings Resource Library ASID Northwest Society of Interior Designers   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Episode 100 is here, and I am recording it on my iPhone from a makeshift desk in Bangkok, where I am living and running my whole business for the next four months. Three years ago I turned on a microphone with no plan and no idea if I would make it to episode 10. This one is not a highlight reel. It is 10 things that 100 episodes have taught me, and more than anything, it is a thank you.In this episode:It did not start as a podcast Episode one was never meant to air. Why you do not have to have it all figured out to begin, and how to start messy.Slower served everyone better Why I moved from weekly to two episodes a month, and how the pace that gets recommended to you is not always the right one.Value your time, not just your work The year of no, why boundaries protect your time, and why I choose the word value over worth.I learned to love the quiet How solitude went from something I avoided to the thing I would protect first.Shut up and listen What 100 guest conversations taught me about listening, choosing whose advice to take home, and why not all advice is good advice.Build it so it runs without you The Bangkok lesson. A business that cannot run without you is not freedom, it is a job you cannot quit. Build your systems now.AI is the taskmaster, I am still the brain How I actually use AI in my business, where I leaned in too hard early on, and why nothing hits the public eye without me.I am not here to yap Why the loudest voice in the room is not always the one worth your time.Free does not mean it costs nothing A personal ask about feedback, and why we should tell the baker the bread was good.You don't have to do any of this The one I most want you to hear. Take what serves you and leave the rest.If these 100 episodes have given you anything, here is the birthday gift that helps most: leave a review and set the podcast to download automatically. That is how a show like this gets found, and how the next 100 reach more designers.Come see what I have been building at mcclainmethod.com, where all the new products in the shop are laid out so it is easy to find exactly what you need.Follow along on Instagram @themcclainmethod.Text Me a Message!FREE VIDEO TRAINING DIRECT FROM JOHN:Design feels natural.The business side doesn't.Join this free 39-minute training for interior designers and learn the 3 secrets to building a profitable, stress-free design business without burnout or chaos.

It's easy to mistake people-pleasing for good project management. But avoiding difficult conversations doesn't reduce project stress—it creates it. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Utah designer Ali Henrie to discuss what it really takes to lead successful projects. From managing client expectations to navigating contractor relationships, Ali shares why clear communication, documented processes, and strong boundaries are essential for keeping projects on track. If your projects have started to feel more complicated, exhausting, or unpredictable, this conversation will help you understand why—and what to do about it. What you'll learn in this episode: - Why builders and trades respect clarity more than people-pleasing - How strong communication and documentation prevent project chaos - The difference between being flexible and abandoning your process - Why establishing roles, responsibilities, and expectations early matters - How to handle budget conversations with greater confidence and authority - Why leadership—not perfection—is the key to successful project outcomes

What if the key to making more money in your interior design business isn't taking on more projects—but taking on fewer? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with longtime Business of Design® member Ellen Walker, who recently achieved a milestone many designers dream of: $1 million in revenue and $200,000 in net profit from just three projects. After years of working hard with little financial reward, Ellen transformed her business by embracing project management, capturing every available revenue stream, and following proven systems. Today, she manages entire projects from concept to completion, works closely with trusted trades, and enjoys greater profitability, control, and satisfaction than ever before. If you've ever felt trapped by the belief that earning more requires working harder, Ellen's story will show you another way. What you'll learn in this episode: - Why taking on fewer projects can lead to greater profitability - How project management creates both control and additional revenue - The three revenue streams every interior designer should capture - Why clients often prefer having one person manage the entire project - How strong contractor relationships support long-term business growth - The value of accountability, forecasting, and sharing financial results honestly - Why it's never too late to transform your business and increase profitability - How following proven systems creates confidence, consistency, and wealth

Everyone talks about the contractor relationship. Nobody talks about the people underneath — the tile setter, the painter, the faux finisher, the trim carpenter doing the work with their hands every single day. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what's been happening on a current project to show you exactly what trade relationships make possible — and what they cost you when you don't have them. I'll walk you through how these relationships start, how you nurture them between projects, and how you maintain them so that when the scope triples and the timeline is tight, your people show up anyway. Because the team that stretches for you doesn't do it because you hired them once. They do it because you've shown up for them, consistently, over time.   You'll learn: Why trade relationships save projects that processes alone never could How to vet, start, and maintain relationships with new subcontractors What it actually looks like when those relationships show up for you mid-project   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designer-trade-relationships/   

Two hundred episodes. Hundreds of conversations. Countless listeners around the world. I'm so grateful you've been part of this journey, and it felt fitting to celebrate this milestone by revisiting some of the episodes that have stayed with me -- and apparently with many of you! -- as well.So over the next few weeks, I'll be revisiting some of the conversations that have resonated most deeply with listeners over the years. Some surprised me. Some changed the way I think. And this one? We're still talking about it years later.Today I'm bringing back an interview with business coach Christine Miller, where we explore the often misunderstood idea of the Law of Attraction - not as magical thinking, but as the intersection of mindset, intentionality, and consistent action.Whether you're a wholehearted believer, a curious skeptic, or somewhere in between, I think you'll find yourself challenged by this conversation in all the best ways. Not to mention it's just plain fun.

In this fan-favorite episode of Design Business Freedom, I'm talking directly to interior designers who are ready to stop hiding inside their business and start being seen, found, and hired by ideal clients. You'll learn how perfectionism, weak marketing, accidental referrals, and unclear positioning can quietly keep your interior design business from growing with better clients, bigger projects, and more profit. So many talented designers are waiting for the perfect logo, the perfect process, the perfect social media plan, or the perfect confidence before they show up. This episode teaches you how to come out from behind the curtain, use relationship-driven marketing, own your unique design expertise, and create visibility that attracts affluent interior design clients. In This Episode You Will Learn: How to recognize the hidden ways perfectionism is stalling your interior design business growth Why logos, business cards, and mission statements are not what get interior designers hired How to stop relying on accidental word-of-mouth and build predictable marketing engines Why Design Business Freedom listeners need to become visible, memorable, and magnetic to ideal clients How to use relationships, collaboration, and specialization to attract better-fit interior design projects Ready to Stop Hiding? You don't get to make magic from behind the curtain. Come out, shine the spotlight on others until you're ready to step into your own, and let yourself be seen, found, and hired. When you're ready to land ideal clients and grow profit with a proven path, grab my new book, Proximity to Profits: 50+ Strategic Locations to Meet (and Capture) Affluent Clients Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome to this Design Business Freedom fan favorite (01:27) The many ways designers hide inside business (02:51) How perfectionism sabotages creative business success (04:27) What you actually need to be in business (05:44) Why clients care more about results than mission (07:58) How processes become a hiding place for designers (10:23) Why designers are not truly competing with each other (11:02) How personal connection helps ideal clients hire you (12:36) Why word-of-mouth marketing can keep you stuck (14:10) How inconsistent social media weakens visibility (16:22) Why relationships deliver revenue for creative entrepreneurs (18:37) How to network by shining the spotlight on others (20:11) Why getting out of the house grows business (23:26) How specialization helps designers earn more with ease (28:17) Why done beats perfection every time Key Takeaways: Perfectionism keeps interior designers invisible when visibility is what creates profit. Your ideal clients hire you for connection, resonance, expertise, and trust—not your logo. Interior design business growth requires consistent marketing, stronger relationships, and selective client attraction. When you stop hiding and specialize in your genius, your business becomes easier to grow and more profitable. About Melissa Galt: Melissa Galt is an award-winning business coach, marketing consultant, speaker, and interior designer with more than 30 years of experience helping interior designers build profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses. Through Design Business Freedom, Melissa shares proven Interior Design Business strategies, Interior Design Marketing insights, leadership training, pricing expertise, and growth systems designed to help designers attract better clients, increase profitability, and create lasting success. Connect with Melissa: Instagram Facebook Linkedin Website  

Want to take on larger, more profitable renovation projects with confidence? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Jen Dean about one of the most valuable relationships an interior designer can build: the relationship with a trusted builder. While many designers feel intimidated by construction projects, Jen explains why learning to collaborate effectively with builders can lead to smoother projects, stronger client experiences, and greater profitability. For interior designers looking to expand their expertise, improve project execution, and confidently navigate construction environments, this episode offers practical strategies for building successful partnerships with contractors and trades. In this episode, we learn: - Why some builders hesitate to work with interior designers—and how to earn their trust - How learning to "speak builder" improves communication and collaboration on site - Why every project benefits from a builder kickoff meeting at the outset - What builders need most from designers: clear drawings, documentation, and timely decisions - How strong drawing packages reduce confusion, delays, and costly mistakes - Why asking for feedback strengthens long-term builder relationships - How to navigate preferred trades and vendor relationships professionally - Why documenting questions, decisions, and contractor notes protects the project and everyone involved Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent? Join us at Business of Design®. https://businessofdesign.com