Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

Are you an interior designer who is struggling to keep track of your finances? Many interior designers find bookkeeping to be a daunting task. It can be time-consuming, challenging, and even stressful. If you're one of those designers, you're not alone. That's why I invited LoriAnn to discuss the importance of hiring a bookkeeper for your interior design business. As a virtual bookkeep...

Are you struggling to drive traffic to your interior design website? Are you looking for ways to improve your business's online presence? If so, why not consider Pinterest as a powerful search engine and marketing tool for your business? In this episode, I explore the world of Pinterest with Pinterest marketing expert, Vanessa Cooper. She shares her expertise in leveraging Pinterest SEO and in...

Have you ever dreamt of a career in design or architecture but been told not to pursue it? Well, you are in for a treat! Join me today as I sit down with my special guest Robert Ansell, CEO of TNI Design. Robert takes us through his incredible path from being told not to pursue architecture to creating restaurant design and concept development to starting an agency & expanding his services to...

Do you want a polished and professional interior design portfolio but don’t know where to start? A portfolio is critical to your interior design career since it showcases your skills and experience. A well-crafted portfolio can help you land your dream job or project, but creating one can be daunting. In this episode, I share tips and tricks that will help you create a portfolio that impresses pot...

Every interior designer, whatever stage it may be, faces several problems and challenges - from promoting oneself to selling ideas to finding the right clients and managing their budgets & expectations, and so much more. No doubt, interior design is challenging! Whether you are just starting your career in interior design and lack confidence or are faced with a roadblock as an established desi...

Are you curious about what production design is? Are you wondering if an interior designer can be a production designer? Well, in this episode, I interview James Bartol, a New York City-based production designer working primarily in the film and television industry. He shares his journey of becoming a production designer and how his craft crossover with the principles of interior design. He also t...

Did you know it doesn't take much to live an eco-friendly lifestyle? It all starts with consumer awareness. And who better to educate consumers than interior designers? After working for years in various design firms and realizing how much waste the interior design industry generates, Leah Connolly, my special guest in this episode, started her own firm advocating for sustainable interior desi...

Do you need help communicating with your interior design clients? Do you want to interact with your potential clients more effectively and close a project? I got you! In today's episode, I discuss the different personality types and their impact on effective communication. Knowing your clients' different personality types will help you better understand how they communicate. Plus, you can...

Do you get excited about something that gets you out of bed in the morning? That’s the case for my guest this week, Alexis Peters, who had an exciting journey from acting and production design to interior and virtual interior design. What made her get into interior design? That voice in her head has been bugging her since she was a child. After years of putting it under the rug, she finally decide...

Are you wondering whether you should charge for your initial design consultation or not? Are you tired of giving away your time and knowledge for free during consultations? In this week’s episode, I have the solution to help you monetize your consultations and showcase your professionalism. How? With paid consultation fees! I discuss how to charge for consultations so you can demonstrate your expe...

Interested in interior design but wondering what else you can do? Guess what? There is so much more to interior design! A world of exciting opportunities awaits you. This week's guest, Ericka Saurit, is a former interior designer turned brand marketer. We are fortunate to have her share her motivational story with us. Remember Bethany from Episode 18 ? It was an inspiring move to get into coac...

Do you need help keeping your interior design clients satisfied? I'm here to help you! Today, I'm sharing my 7-step process to help you navigate your client's pain points and ensure they feel informed and invested. This proactive approach ensures a successful outcome every time! You see, when it comes to design, managing expectations is crucial. And one of the best ways to do this is b...

Are you an overwhelmed and struggling interior designer? You’re not alone. If you find yourself stuck and feeling like you’re a failure, this episode is for you as Kimberley Seldon shares how she overcame hurdles as a budding interior designer and managed to balance her work and life. How did she do it? Through her friend’s recommendation, she sought help and found a powerful solution that changed...

What does it take to be the CEO of your own interior design business? In this episode, I explore what the CEO mindset entails, why it matters, and how it can drive your interior design business to new heights. I also share what it is like to be one – and it’s way more than doing design work and establishing processes, procedures, and structure. There are other traits a business owner must possess...

Have you ever wondered how some hospitality designers make it big in the industry? In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of hospitality design and explore how new interior designers can get started in this field. Our guest expert, Jessica Marshall, shares her unique journey to becoming a successful hospitality designer. Jessica gives her perspective on interior design and discusses the...

"Oh, how long have you been doing this? It seems like you just graduated high school or something", is a common remark   I used to get from people when I first started as an interior designer and in the early years of my design company. It is not that you can't be a great designer right out of the gate. However, this remark could affect what you feel and believe about yourself. &quot...

What does it take to start a business? Don’t worry! We’ll spill the beans. Because this week, you’ll learn from Andrea Liebross - a coach, speaker, podcast host, and soon-to-be published author, who built not just one, not two, but three – yes – three businesses, all while raising two kids. It’s an impressive feat because all three of her businesses are thriving. Want to know how she successfully...

Have you ever felt hesitant to ask for help? You’re not alone; I used to hesitate to ask for help too. But I realized that there is power in asking for help. Imagine how wonderful it would be to no longer worry about having all the answers or wondering if asking for advice will be viewed negatively. You can eliminate these doubts and worries with the help of a coach, who can give you tailored advi...

Can't decide between a four-year and a two-year interior design degree? It is important to remember that both degree programs have advantages and disadvantages, so consider your personal goals and circumstances before choosing between them. And who better to discuss this than Jill Hornbeck? Her advice will help you decide based on your unique needs and aspirations. Explore your options with Ji...

Do you want to learn about the technical side of design and make an interior design space plan for your client's project? Everyone can enjoy an interior designer's expertise in organizing and utilizing home space. But, if you're unfamiliar with Interior Design Space Planning, you may feel daunted by the task! It is important to assess space and apply design principles that reflect your client's st...

On the surface, the world of aircraft & aviation seems light years away from the creativity and aesthetics of interior design, but today's guest, who dared to explore beyond the surface and pursued a long-hidden passion found a connection. It was that connection that made her thrive in her second career as an Interior Designer. Join me in this week’s episode as Yvonne Harty, a NorCal Award-win...

Is picking an interior design niche challenging for you? Don’t worry; I find it challenging, too. Why? Because there are a lot of options to choose from and a lot of factors to consider. Like this one: Do you have to be passionate about it? Because if you don't have the passion for it, why bother going into it, right? Why spend time, energy, and effort on something that does not satisfy you? To so...

What makes a great interior designer? Is it solely based on creativity? Or skills? In part two of my conversation with Lindsay Kjellberg of LHK Interiors, she shares two essential skills a successful interior designer must have and her own experiences, including her mistakes and what she learned from them. Whether you have kids or not, having these skills will help you set your interior design car...

Are you interested in interior design but don't have the time to attend school full-time? You don't have to worry - there are several masterclasses and courses you can take to jumpstart your interior design career! Best of all, these classes do not require you to be on campus. Learning from home will make this exciting journey more convenient for you. We are also celebrating this week. Why...

Are you an interior designer juggling your career or business and family life? It's no secret that being a parent and having a career or owning a business can be overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be this way! In today's episode, Lindsay, my special guest, wants to show you how having both is possible with the right strategies in place. She will help you navigate work-life balance with practical...