LuAnn Nigara

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

In today's world being a talented interior designer isn't enough to ensure that you have a profitable and successful business. Design school curricula doesn't always equip you with the business skills to have your interior design business be everything you imagined it would be! A Well-Designed Business® is here to fill in the gaps and give you real live business skills from some of the top interior designers. Your host, LuAnn Nigara shares her 40 years of success in the interior design industry, and she finds the most successful guests to share their interior design business best practices. Th...

Author

LuAnn Nigara

Category

Business

Podcast website

luannnigara.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

34: Mary Fisher - Author, Artist, Advocate, Social Entrepreneur 01.06.2016

    On today’s show, we have Mary Fisher who is a passionate designer of many trades. She is a textile designer, the author of 6 books, a jewelry designer, artist and photographer! Mary had some terrible news in 1992 that she had been diagnosed with HIV. Since then her passion to help others has skyrocketed. Her collection “100 Good Deeds” is a perfect of example that she does just that: Helps oth...

33: Arlene Angard - Mix 1 Part Passion + 1 Part Strategy = Success! 30.05.2016

Arlene Angard is a New York City Interior Designer. She manages a full service interior architecture and design firm that specializes in luxury residential and new age commercial. She has been an Art Curator and table top connoisseur most of her life. She has curated global art exhibits, participated in art culture panels and collected fine art from around the world. She recently launched a colorf...

32: Robin Baron - The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development 25.05.2016

Robin Baron, interior designer and lifestyle expert creates homes that are uniquely fabulous , yet captures  her clients’ individual personalities . She brings a striking sense of style to everything she does.   Her motto “Confidence begins at home” helps her guide her style and design in creating a sense of  happiness, fulfillment,  and peace in her clients. She prides herself on her ability to c...

31: Steven Cooper - The Value of a Trusted Vendor 23.05.2016

Steven Cooper is the CEO of Cooper Pacific Kitchens, the experts in the field of kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, interior design, engineering, and installation.  Through innovation and premium design, Steven’s team always aims to bring each client’s  unique vision  and sense of expression to life. They provide homeowners with functional kitchen spaces that are stunning expressions of their ind...

30: Kimberly Serafim - Advice to New Grads in Their 1st Job 18.05.2016

Graduation is coming up! So I thought we would do a week of podcasts giving advice and tips to the new graduates coming into the design business. One of my employees: Kim is our special guest today. She has been out of school for 9 years now and has been working at “Window Works” for 8 years. She is going to share some of her personal experiences from school to job. Kim shares with us: Dealing wit...

29: Shannon Leddy Returns for Graduation Week- Best Tips for Landing Your 1st Job 16.05.2016

This is Shannon Leddy’s second time on the show! We are so happy to have her back! She is going to share some tips on how students can be more effective before and after graduation. Shannon shares with us: Keep up with your portfolios- think about how you need to set it up Have some flare with your outfit going to an interview Research the firm you are going for an interview for Go on as many inte...

28: Andrew Suvalsky - What Are You Waiting For? 11.05.2016

Andrew Suvalsky has been in the interior design business for 11 and a half years! He worked for icon designer Benjamin Noriega Ortiz for a time and then established his own business: Andrew Suvalsky Designs. Andrew has a very interesting story about how he got started in his business and some great tips for running your own business that he learned along the way. Andrew shares with us: 10-year bus...

27: Marlaina Teich- Balancing the Line Between Interior Designer and Therapist 09.05.2016

Marlaina Teich has been in business for ten plus years with her business Marlaina Teich Designs. She did not start out in interior design. She started out in fashion and then had a family and while she was home taking care of family she decided to go back to school for interior design. It turns out going to school and starting her own business in interior design was a great choice. Marlaina has so...

26: Kae Whitaker- Branding Your Business- Finally I Understand It! 04.05.2016

Kae Whitaker and her husband/business partner have a unique business called Kae Whitaker Solutions. Kae is a personal branding and business development coach who specializes in creative business. She will teach you specific strategies to build your business to success. Remember “just because you are a master at design does not mean you are a master at business.” Kae shares with us: What about bran...

25: Peter Fasano - An Exceptional Artist, A Humble Man 02.05.2016

On the show today, we have Peter Fasano who sells hand-silk screen, hand painted fabrics and wall coverings. Peter’s story is special because he discovered his business by accident. He had gotten out of the Army and started painting, and that’s where he discovered the potential for a successful business. Peter has done just that: made a super successful and environmentally friendly business, I mig...

24: Krista Coupar- Not Your Average Business Consultant 27.04.2016

I am so excited about our guest today on the show. Krista Coupar has a unique business that includes business coaching, PR, marketing, staffing, design support and management. Wow! She can work virtually or in person. If you can FedEx, you can work. You have got to listen to this episode! It will blow your mind! Krista shares with us: Showcasing designers work online Started business coaching in 2...

23: Rio Hamilton - Media Expert and Author of the Wildly Popular Industry Blog, Mon Oncle 25.04.2016

Rio Hamilton is a marketing and business development strategist who is based in Manhattan for interior design industry. He has had the privilege to work at NIEDERMAIER and be an apprentice to Judy Niedermaier as director of sales and marketing. He also has a wonderful blog. If you have not read it, you should! Rio shares with us:  Designed his own furniture Niedermaier was family owned until doors...

22: Fred Berns - How to Create a Killer Bio 20.04.2016

Fred Berns is a Denver based coach for interior designers. He teaches interior designers how to be successful at copywriting and Bios. His motto is “Your most important sale is a personal sale.” You wouldn’t believe how many ways you can use your bio. Fred has some very in depth information and tips on how to beef up that bio, so that it really sells you. Fred shares with us:  Best way to promote...

21: Stacy Garcia- A Thoughtful Conversation with a Design Visionary 18.04.2016

Our guest today is our first guest who specializes in hospitality! Stacy Garcia has three different businesses in three different markets! Talk about talent! Stacy has a degree from Syracuse University in Surface Pattern Design. She started her first business in 1999 called Lebatex Inc. and she named it after her great grandmother. So sweet! Stacy is going to share some great advice on the differe...

20: Arianne Bellizaire - Could Your Hobby or Hidden Talent Be Your Marketing Platform? 13.04.2016

Today on the show we are going to talk to Arianne Bellizaire! Arianne is not only a successful business owner of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors, she is a blogger, public speaker and an author of a Kindle Amazon top seller! She has been featured in several magazines. What really makes Arianne’s website so special are her videos. The story behind her passion for using videos in her work is very touchi...

19: Susan Jamieson – Bring Your Retail Product to Market 11.04.2016

Welcome back! Today we are going to be talking to a fabulous designer who is always up for a new adventure: Susan Jamieson. Susan has been an interior designer for 25 years and has been featured in several magazines and tv shows. Her newest projects include her own paint line called Bridget Beari paints that has about 200 different colors and custom wallpaper designs. Stay tuned to hear her tips a...

18: Vanessa DeLeon - Triple D: Drive- Dedication- Discipline 06.04.2016

Today on the show we have a brilliant and when I say brilliant I really mean it, brilliant business woman: Vanessa DeLeon. Vanessa has starred on several television shows on some big television networks such as NBC, Bravo, HGTV and DIY Network. She has also been in several magazines such as TIME, Cosmopolitan etc. and on top of that she is a spokesperson! Wow! Talk about impressive resume! Please...

17: Elizabeth Lamont- Running a Successful Retail Store 04.04.2016

Elizabeth Lamont is a self-made entrepreneur, interior designer and the owner of her store “Room at the Beach”, which has been named a top store in LA Magazine to name a few of her accomplishments. She has been in business since 1990! Elizabeth shares with us her tips and advice on how to be successful and stay successful. You don’t want to miss out on this episode! Elizabeth shares with us: Her t...

16: Charles Pavarini – Behind the Scenes of The Architectural Digest Design Show 2016 30.03.2016

Charles founded Pavarini Design nearly 30 years ago and it is a full-scale New York based Interior Design Firm that specializes in Architectural Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design and Lighting Design.   Charles has sat on the Designer’s Lighting Forum of New York, board of directors for twenty-eight years. And his talent has earned 21 awards for excellence in design over his career. The list...

15: Nancy Ganzekaufer- Niche is Rich 28.03.2016

Today on the show we have Nancy Ganzekaufer! Nancy is an art and accessories consultant. She is the founder and owner of her business Expressive Living. Before her business she worked in banking all the way to vice president! After this she was a stay at home mom and then became a personal trainer. While trying to figure out what to do next she got a phone call from her mother one day that would c...

14 Malene Barnett Success Secret - Build Relationships 23.03.2016

Rock star designer Malene Barnett created and built her business specializing in handcrafting custom carpets and dabbling in wall design and tile design. She has a background in surface design from F.I.T (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York. Malene has some great advice to share with us! Show Notes: Inspiration from experiences behind her work How to get from point A to point B starting o...

13: Jeffrey Brooks - 30+ Successful Years in Interior Design 21.03.2016

Jeff Brooks has been a designer in business for 30 years! When he was starting out in the design world he did a lot of kitchen design until he decided to open his own design firm in 1986. He does a lot of residential work and has been interested in earth work and environmental design. Jeff has some fantastic advice for designers starting out or even designers who have been doing their thing for an...

12: How to Get Your Interior Design Projects Published with Ren Miller 16.03.2016

  Today my guest is Ren Miller: editor in chief of Design New Jersey! Ren has a background in design and editorial management. He worked with newspapers and then worked with a jewelry magazine. On 9/11 he caught a bus to get to his home in New Jersey and made the observation that the other people were just trying to get home because home is safe. That was his aha moment when he realized he wanted...

11: Robin LaMonte: Re-Launching Your Interior Design Firm in a New Market 14.03.2016

Robin LaMonte is an amazing interior designer who is based in Atlanta. She spent 13 years in New Jersey building her name and then she and her husband made the decision to move to Atlanta. Robin has started her empire from scratch…again. Today’s show is all about re-establishing yourself and your business after a move to a new city or state. But truthfully the strategies we discuss apply if you ar...

10: Denise McGaha - Deadline Driven Design 09.03.2016

Denise and her team deliver diverse and fashionable designs for those who live on the fast track. Her company specializes in turnkey, concierge-level services---in as little as 90 days! They execute high-end interior design projects with their organization and signature deadline-driven design solutions. Denise honed her business practices, sophisticated methodology, and solid business acumen while...

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