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

Business of Design® is officially in full money mode with the launch of a 6-week Financial Intensive—and this episode sets the tone. Kimberley Seldon is joined by Cheryl Horne, Director of Operations at Business of Design®, for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to take control of your business finances. This episode is for interior designers who are tired of feeling...

Financial visibility isn’t about being “good with numbers”—it’s about removing mystery so you can lead your business with confidence. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon gets candid about her own money management journey (including the messy parts) and why learning to truly see your numbers is one of the most powerful growth tools available to interior designers. Kimberley is joined by Will Leonard,...

As an interior design professional, you create beauty, function, and transformation for your clients—but are you building the same level of intention into your own business and life? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Carla Titus for a powerful conversation about the connection between self-worth and wealth—and how that relationship quietly shapes pricing, profit, and burnout. Together...

A great website isn’t just about looking good—it’s about working hard for your business. Just like an interior design project, a high-performing website needs a clear strategy, a thoughtful process, and intentional design choices. In this episode, Cheryl Horne is joined by website strategist Elle Kwan to break down what actually makes a website effective for interior designers. Elle shares practic...

Most marketing fails for one simple reason: our brains are wired to ignore anything that feels familiar, predictable, or irrelevant. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with author and entrepreneur advocate Mike Michalowicz to explore why so many interior designers struggle to get traction—and what it actually takes to break through the noise. Mike introduces his antidote to being “highly...

Marketing doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be intentional. In this rapid-fire episode, Kimberley Seldon welcomes back marketing strategist Daniela Furtado to tackle the most common marketing questions interior designers ask at Business of Design®. From referrals and website strategy to pricing visibility and talking about money, Daniela cuts through the noise and delivers clear,...

What are interior designers really wrestling with behind the scenes? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Cheryl Horne, Director of Operations at Business of Design®, to answer the real, unfiltered questions members are asking right now. Because Cheryl speaks with BOD® members daily, she has a front-row seat to the challenges designers face as they grow—how to increase project size witho...

When business slows down, it’s easy to panic—or worse, freeze. In this timely solo episode, Kimberley Seldon, Advocate-in-Chief at Business of Design®, shares five smart, strategic moves interior designers can make when work feels quiet, uncertain, or stalled. Rather than waiting things out or scrambling for quick fixes, Kimberley reframes slow seasons as powerful opportunities to strengthen your...

Do more of what you love and less of what you don’t. It sounds simple—but implementing it inside a growing interior design business is where most designers struggle. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by leadership expert Brad Farris to explore the concepts of flowing and anchoring and why understanding the difference can transform how you lead. Brad explains how designers unintentionally...

Leaving a stable corporate career to start an interior design business takes more than talent—it takes courage, clarity, and a willingness to risk comfort for fulfillment. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Alexis Vitale, who made the bold leap from the corporate craft beer world into running her own interior design studio. Alexis shares what her corporate background gave her—structu...

Some of the most powerful forces holding interior designers back aren’t external—they’re internal. In this solo episode, Kimberley Seldon takes a direct look at the quiet, persistent negative self-talk that undermines confidence, decision-making, and long-term success. These stories often sound reasonable—even protective—but over time they erode momentum and keep designers stuck in familiar patter...

Are small projects worth the time—or are they a distraction from landing bigger, better clients? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by marketing strategist Daniela Furtado to challenge the all-or-nothing thinking that keeps many interior designers financially exposed. Daniela explains how a balanced mix of large, medium, and small projects creates more consistent cash flow, reduces risk w...

Healthy client relationships don’t start with better clients—they start with better thinking. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Janine Aurichio to explore how internal mindset patterns quietly shape external client dynamics, and why lasting change requires more than just better systems. While strong processes absolutely improve communication and outcomes, this conversation goes deep...

Succession planning can feel like a distant concern—but in reality, it’s one of the smartest ways to strengthen your design business right now. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with attorney Wendy Estela to unpack what intellectual property really means for interior designers and why protecting it is essential to long-term value. Wendy explains how thinking about succession early—whethe...

Ever feel like you’re explaining yourself clearly—yet clients still aren’t hearing what you mean? Communication breakdowns are one of the most common (and costly) challenges in an interior design business. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Sierra Collins, long-time BOD™ Partner and DISC expert, to explore how understanding communication styles can completely change the way designers...

If you’ve ever worried that you’re charging too much, you’re in good company—it’s one of the most common fears among interior design professionals. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with interior designer and BOD™ Member, Kristen Apicerno to share a powerful story of transformation that challenges the belief that fair pricing is “double dipping.” Kristen opens up about her early discomfo...

If you want the option to sell your design firm one day—even if that day feels far off—the decisions you make nowmatter. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Brad Farris to break down what actually makes an interior design business valuable, transferable, and attractive to buyers. Brad shares the key factors that influence a successful sale, including why owner dependency is the biggest...

Elle Kwan to explore a low-social marketing strategy that helps interior designers attract the right clients—without being dependent on platforms you don’t control. This conversation focuses on building marketing assets that work quietly and consistently in the background, starting with your website. Elle explains why conversion matters more than posting frequency, how to drive traffic intentional...

Strong businesses are built on strong relationships. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Laurie Laizure to explore how community—when nurtured intentionally—creates opportunity, visibility, and long-term growth for interior designers. The Interior Design Community embodies this idea. Laurie shares her experience supporting the design industry by connecting designers and fostering mean...

Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon explores what happens when an interior designer says yes to a project that stretches their experience—and how that decision can open unexpected doors. Kim Allen shares her story of taking on a large, unfamiliar project and using it as a catalyst for professional growth. You’ll also hear from her PR team, who explain...

What if work-life balance wasn’t a constant struggle—but a well-planned journey you actually enjoy? In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Brenda Brix to reframe success for interior designers as something that’s built intentionally, not chased relentlessly. Using the metaphor of a scenic drive, Brenda explains how systems act as road maps, delegation becomes your pit crew, and slowing dow...

Leadership in a design business isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the conditions where great ideas, trust, and collaboration can thrive. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Shannon Hughes, leadership expert and creator of the Connective Influence Model, to explore how an improv mindset can transform the way interior designers lead their teams. Shannon shares how p...

Tracking overall profitability is a good start—but sophisticated design businesses go deeper. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by LoriAnn Kuntz to explore why tracking profitability by project is one of the most powerful ways interior designers can improve financial health and make smarter decisions. Not all projects generate the same margins, even when revenue looks similar on paper. U...

One of the fastest ways to improve your interior design business is to stop forcing yourself to be good at everything. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon talks with Amanda Giles about a pivotal hiring decision that changed everything: bringing on a Director of Operations after multiple unsuccessful attempts to hire an administrator. Amanda explains why this role—focused on structure, systems, and a...

Interior design is a complex, demanding profession—and if you’ve ever felt behind despite working hard, you’re not imagining it. In this live episode from IDS Toronto, Kimberley Seldon speaks directly to the reality many designers face: exceptional creative training paired with little to no preparation for running a business. Some designers leave school without learning the fundamentals of profita...