A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today With LuAnn Nigara: As an interior designer, at some point, someone—whether it’s a potential client, a trade partner, or even a stranger at a party—is going to question the value of what you do. They’ll say, “With the internet and so many resources, why does anyone need a designer?” And when that moment comes, are you ready to answer with confidence? In this Power Talk Friday episode, I break...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Your business is more than just a source of income—it’s your story, your impact, your legacy. In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, I’m helping you design a business that leaves a lasting impression. Together, we’ll explore: What legacy truly means and why it matters. How to align your mission, core values, and daily actions with your long-term vision. The building...

Today With Ashley La Fond: Are you delivering beautiful spaces that truly work for your clients’ lifestyles? In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, I’m joined by Ashley La Fond, founder of Of Space & Mind, to explore how professional organizers can revolutionize your design process. We dive into the ways Ashley collaborates with designers—like helping clear spaces before a project begins, en...

Today With Naïka André: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I'm talking about show houses with designer Naika Andre, who just completed her first one at the Kingston Design Show House. For years at WindowWorks, I've seen what makes show houses succeed or struggle, and that's why I love Naika's transparency about the entire process. She shares everything—from the real costs and timeline challenges t...

Today With Hannah Bowyer: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! In this episode, I’m excited to dive into the world of virtual assistance and automation in interior design with the amazing Hannah Bowyer. We’re exploring how these powerful tools can help designers maximize their efficiency and elevate their client experience. I’ll share insights on leveraging a CRM to streamline your workflow an...

Today With Jessamy Tsoris: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today I'm thrilled to share my heartfelt conversation with Jessamy Tsoris, an inspiring interior designer who transformed her career after facing unexpected challenges in the graphic design world. Jessamy opens up about her journey from sitting at a desk for hours to discovering her true passion in interior design. We delve into t...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! This week, my wonderful friend, productivity coach, and the host of the Small Business Straight Talk podcast, Amber De La Garza, will kick things off with a heartfelt introduction. In this episode, I will guide you through one of our most popular discussions from 2022: focusing on goal setting and the importance of starting the new...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Today on A Well-Designed Business, we’re tackling a scenario every designer knows all too well: when a client’s expectations go completely off the rails. What do you do when the budget doesn’t match the vision, the scope keeps growing, and they want you to manage tasks that were never part of the plan? Whether you’re trying to salvage the project or you know it’s time to w...

Today With Amy Posner: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Are you the expert in your business? The one driving conversations? Solving problems? Showing your clients how valuable you are, setting expectations, and running the ship? Or are you an order-taker, following along, being passive, and serving as a yes-man for your clients? Today, I’m joined by Amy Posner, business coach with years of exp...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: As we wrap up 2024, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the lessons, challenges, and wins from this past year—and looking ahead to 2025. In this episode, I share the stories and milestones that shaped my year, the powerful insights I’ve gained from incredible people, and a challenge for you as you step into the new year. Whether you’re celebrating a big win, planning your ne...

Today With Melanie Lybrand: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! In today’s on-air coaching session, I’m helping my guest, Melanie Lybrand, conquer an ongoing fear of raising her rates–one that’s so strong it keeps creeping back even after she’s committed to changing it. Today, we’re working through the stories she’s been telling herself and making a tangible action plan to get her over the hump t...

Today With NeKeia McSwain: In today’s episode of A Well Designed Business, I sit down with the inspiring NeKeia McSwain, a trailblazer in the interior design industry. NeKeia shares her journey of embracing authenticity and the importance of showing up as your true self in both personal and professional settings. We dive deep into her experiences, discussing the challenges and triumphs she’s faced...

Today With Jennifer Tokatyan: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I speak with Jennifer Tokatyan, leadership consultant and partner with Eileen B Hahn. With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer shares her proven 7-step framework for building strong company culture that drives team performance and business growth. Don't miss information about her upcoming LuAnn University course, "Build an Exceptio...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Have you ever faced a business opportunity that made you stop in your tracks? It’s equal parts exciting and terrifying, isn’t it? On this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes look at how I navigated one of those moments. With insights from trusted advisors like Kate O’Hara, I learned valuable lessons that can help YOU handle those b...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Recently, I listened to Steve Jobs’ biography, and it sparked some big ideas. Steve was more than a tech innovator—he was a master of customer experience, a ruthless prioritizer, and a perfectionist when it came to excellence. In this episode, I’ll reflect on his genius and how we can apply it to our interior design firms. From bran...

Today With Kristin Bartone: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What would happen to your business today if something happened with you or a family member that uprooted everything in your life? Would you be able to continue your work. The truth is that even a well-designed business can struggle in life circumstances. My guest today, Kristin Bartone, knows all about that. She’s here to share a sto...

Today With Kate O’Hara: In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, we sit down with Kate O’Hara, CEO of O’Hara Interiors, to discuss effective end-of-year business strategies for designers. As the holiday season approaches and client activity slows, Kate shares actionable tips on optimizing workflow, reconnecting with past clients, creating engaging holiday content, and thoughtful gifting strate...

Today With Megan Atkinson: Today with Megan Rose Atkinson of MEGANROSE Interiors, we're discussing one of the most critical aspects of running a successful design business — vendor relationships. Megan shares her journey from wearing a tool belt with leather pants to building a thriving design firm with locations in Michigan and Arizona. With a "cheetah mindset" and philosophy of "whatever you are...

Today With Eileen Hahn: Today on Power Talk Friday, I am joined by my cousin and hiring expert Eileen Hahn, who brings her 30 years of expertise in helping businesses find and retain exceptional talent. After seeing countless design firms struggle with hiring (and making some expensive mistakes myself), I knew we needed Eileen's proven 5-step formula for making outstanding hires. Whether you're bu...

Today With Melanie Zaelich: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many new designers try out consult-based design only to find themselves struggling with scope creep and feeling undervalued.  But my guest today, Melanie Zaelich, runs a thriving consult-only business. She’s a former full-service designer who deliberately chose to transition to this model—and she did so with intention, systems, and p...

Today With LuAnn Nigara: In this week’s episode of A Well-Designed Business, I’m sharing the no-fluff, practical strategies you need to set 2025 up for success. From defining what success truly means for you, to aligning your goals with your current season of life, to building the systems that keep you moving forward—this episode is your blueprint. Whether you’re scaling back or ready to seize new...

Today With Kelley Gable: Today, with Kelley Gable of Gable Interior Designers, we dive deep into the world of niche marketing and luxury coastal design. Kelley shares her journey of redefining coastal aesthetics, moving beyond cliché beach motifs to create sophisticated, contemporary interiors. We explore her unique business model of serving clients with homes in both urban areas and coastal Delaw...

Today With Karen Post: Today with Karen Post, we dive deep into her journey of transforming Home Frosting from a staging company into a thriving interior design firm. Karen shares her experience of making a major business pivot while managing complex personal and financial challenges, including significant business loans and partnerships. As a former member of my Chairman of the Board program, Kar...

Today With Lindsay Hunter: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. If you’ve been listening to the show for any amount of time, you’ve heard me tell you to niche at least a dozen times. So…if you haven’t niched…what’s holding you back? My guest today, Lindsay Hunter, probably had all of those same fears. But she also had a passion—and she turned that passion into a profitable, thriving niche as the e...

Today With Donna Hoffman: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Many designers struggle with harnessing their sensitivity in business, often seeing it as a weakness rather than a strength. My guest today is interior designer and business coach Donna Hoffman, sharing her journey from launching a luxury design firm during the 2008 recession to building a 7-figure, award-winning business. Donna, the f...