Business of Design® Podcast | Grow a Profitable Interior Design Business with Kimberley Seldon

Most interior designers don’t have a branding problem—they have a brand drift problem. As your skills, confidence, and fees evolve, the brand you built early on can quietly fall out of alignment with who you are now. And when that happens, it doesn’t just feel off—it actively repels the clients you want to attract. In this candid conversation, Kimberley Seldon sits down with brand strategist Puja...

Interior designers often find themselves defending beautiful, well-considered ideas to hesitant clients. But what if that hesitation isn’t resistance—it’s biology? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with designer and BOD™ Member, Martha Lowry about neuro-aesthetics and how the brain responds to space long before logic or language catch up. This conversation reframes how designers understand...

Interior design businesses don’t fail for lack of talent—they struggle because the business plan is too vague, too complicated, or never gets implemented. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon shares a simple, actionable framework any interior designer can use to improve profitability, attract more ideal clients, and run a more efficient design firm. Kimberley breaks down the three strategic levers th...

Most interior designers want more profit, more stability, and less financial stress—but the idea of “saving more” often feels overwhelming. In this episode, Danielle Hendon breaks down a simple, sustainable strategy that any design professional can start today: saving just 1% of all revenue and putting it out of sight, where it can quietly grow into a real financial buffer. It may sound small, but...

What would it take for your interior design business to run smoothly—without you being involved in every decision, every email, every crisis? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon shares how she went from burnout and bottlenecks to spending a full month in Barcelona while her business continued to operate beautifully in her absence. This is not a story about working harder. It’s about installing repea...

If your marketing plan for your interior design business feels like “post more” or “try harder,” this episode is the reset you need. Kimberley Seldon and marketing strategist Daniela Furtado break down a practical, high-impact 12-month marketing plan designed specifically for interior designers who want more visibility, more ideal clients, and more consistent inquiries. This roadmap cuts through t...

What if the key to earning more in your interior design business was doing less? In this electric conversation, Kimberley Seldon sits down with entrepreneur and former Google Ads mogul Kasim Aslam, who scaled and sold an eight-figure business by mastering one skill designers desperately need: making himself irrelevant. Kasim explains why most creative professionals trap themselves in jobs instead...

What if the secret to a more profitable interior design business is doing less, not more? In this inspiring episode, Kimberley Seldon reconnects with designer and former BOD™ member Lori Steeves, who made a bold shift: stepping away from high-stress renovation projects and choosing the work she genuinely loves. The result? More creativity. More joy. More profit. Lori shares how she reframed succes...

Great clients don’t want endless options—they want a confident expert who can guide them to the right solution. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with celebrated designer Laura Stein to explore why offering too many choices dilutes your authority, slows down projects, and leaves clients feeling overwhelmed. Laura shares how narrowing your focus, standing firmly behind your design decisio...

In the interior design industry, clarity is power—and a well-built operations manual may be the most valuable asset in your entire business. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by design duo Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser, who share how clearly defining roles, documenting responsibilities, and building strong systems has allowed their firm to function smoothly and creatively. Whether you'...

Professional photography isn’t a luxury for interior designers—it’s a growth strategy. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon and interiors photographer Candice Brooke dive into the transformative power of high-quality imagery and how it impacts everything from client attraction to project visibility to your firm's perceived value. Candice shares expert insights on preparing your space for a shoot, cre...

AI is no longer a futuristic idea—it’s a practical tool reshaping how interior designers work, create, and deliver value. In this forward-thinking episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Nithya Subramaniam, an architect turned product and experience designer, about the real ways AI can transform your design practice today. Rather than replacing designers, AI has the power to enhance creativity, redu...

Originally aired in 2017, this classic conversation with branding expert Bruce Philp remains just as relevant today. In Part 2 of You Are a Brand, Bruce Philp and Kimberley Seldon explore what happens when interior designers stop minimizing their value and fully step into the authority their clients are looking for. As Bruce says, “Taking yourself seriously has power. It says you are playing a lon...

Upselling and cross-selling aren’t pushy sales tactics—they’re powerful tools that allow interior designers to elevate the client experience and grow revenue without adding more hours to their workload. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon breaks down how to confidently recommend premium products, enhancements, and complementary services that genuinely improve project outcomes. You’ll learn how to id...

Originally aired in 2017, this foundational conversation with branding expert Bruce Philp remains essential listening for any interior designer wanting to strengthen their identity, increase client trust, and build a brand that stands out. As Bruce puts it, “People don’t buy our product. They buy the belief that we can create and deliver the product. They buy our brand.” In Part 1, Kimberley Seldo...

In this episode of the Business of Design® Podcast, Kimberley Seldon sits down with interior designer and bestselling author Erin Gates to explore the principles behind Elements of Timeless Style. Erin shares how to create interiors that feel fresh today while aging gracefully—spaces rooted in quality, personal story, and thoughtful design rather than fleeting trends. From navigating the emotional...

Some of the most valuable business lessons come from hard-earned experience—and in this episode, interior designer Diana Wagenbach shares the insights that transformed her business from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Kimberley Seldon sits down with Diana to break down five game-changing takeaways that every designer can apply, no matter where they are in their journey. Diana talks about why waiting for...

Procurement shouldn’t be a financial burden—it should be one of the most profitable parts of your interior design business. In this episode of Business of Design®, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Jennifer VanderMeer, a longtime interior designer who now works on the supplier side with Aquavato, a global leader in luxury plumbing. Jennifer shares the procurement strategies that allow designers to offe...

What happens when interior design meets entrepreneurship, experimentation, and bold creative vision? In this inspiring episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto, the powerhouse duo behind Park & Oak, to explore their ten-year journey from independent designers to leaders of a thriving design, retail, and event brand. Their story is a masterclass in taking risks,...

Outdoor spaces aren’t separate from interior design—they’re a powerful extension of it. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with landscape architect Steve Griggs, who has spent more than 40 years transforming backyards into beautiful, functional sanctuaries. Steve makes a compelling case for why interior designers should integrate landscape design into their scope of work (SOW) and partner wi...

If your creative brain feels like 42 browser tabs open at once—none playing music you actually like—you’re not alone. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation, to unpack why overwhelm is so common among interior designers and creative entrepreneurs—and why most traditional productivity advice simply doesn’t work for creative minds. Skye...

Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic breaking point. Sometimes it shows up quietly—in the middle of a beautiful project, a full calendar, and a business that looks successful from the outside. In this candid solo episode, Kimberley Seldon shares her personal burnout moment and the pivotal shifts that helped her move from hustle to sustainability. Kimberley opens up about the emotional cost...

Sales is one of the most misunderstood—and unnecessarily feared—parts of running an interior design business. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with sales expert Nikki Rausch to dismantle the myth that selling is pushy, awkward, or “icky.” Instead, Nikki reframes sales as what it truly is: service. This conversation is packed with practical strategies that help designers approach sales w...

Every interior designer eventually encounters a difficult client or an uncomfortable conversation—but how you handle those moments can either erode trust or strengthen it. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Dr. Ganz to share a simple, effective technique for diffusing tense situations and regaining control—without confrontation, defensiveness, or emotional fallout. Using a surprisingly...

Profit doesn’t come from working harder—it comes from working smarter. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with interior designer Lindsay Kjellberg for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to build a design business that pays well and feels good to run. Lindsay shares how she went from nonstop hustle and just $30K in profit on $800K in revenue to working 30 hours a...