Holistic Interior Design Podcast

San Diego Design Week was all about inspiration, and to honor the theme, we created a series of episodes last week that covered inspiration and the senses. After interviewing several amazing artists and creators, I wanted to bring everything together and share how these conversations sparked inspiration within me and within our listeners. I also share my sources of inspiration, which are different...

In the final episode of our San Diego Design Week series exploring inspiration and the senses, we explore the sense of touch with Anke of Twelve Senses Retreat in Encinitas. Anke’s design journey began with car design and eventually led to creating this beautiful retreat, which has four rooms inspired by the four elements and the senses. She shares how she thoughtfully designed each room, and expl...

In this special San Diego Design Week episode, I welcome back Amy Truong of Paru Tea to talk about inspiration and smell. Smell is a sense that is often overlooked, but it can be so powerful in the associations and memories it can bring up for us. Amy and I talk about the role scent plays in inspiring her unique tea blends, and she shares with us some behind-the-scenes details about her process fo...

In this special San Diego Design Week episode, Tara Monsod, executive chef of ANIMAE, joins me to continue our exploration of inspiration and the senses with the sense of taste. Tara shares how she leads with taste to design beautiful dishes and describes just how intensive the process can be to bring an idea to the plate. She also walks us through her journey to becoming a chef, describing how he...

Our San Diego Design Week series on inspiration and the senses continues with a deeper dive into sound with musician Kenseth Thibideau. Kenseth shares with us what inspires him to create, how he continues to develop his craft, and why experimenting and taking risks with our creative work is so valuable. We also discuss the impact sound can have on our immediate environment and how it can change or...

We’re celebrating the first day of San Diego Design Week with the second episode of our special series on inspiration and the senses. In this episode, I dive into inspiration and vision with Paul Basile, a designer, developer, fabricator, general contractor, and artist. Paul shares how he began his journey with design, what led him to create Basil Studio, and how his work has evolved over the year...

In honor of San Diego Design Week, this week’s episodes are all centered around the theme of inspiration. We’ll explore inspiration through the five senses, plus the sense of mindfulness. We start in this episode with artist Carly Ealey, who shares how mindfulness leads to inspiration in her work. We talk about her journey as an artist, her creative process, and the stories behind the beautiful mu...

In preparation for San Diego Design Week, I welcome textile and fiber artist Denja Harris to Bewitching the Home to talk about her background, her work, and her inspiration. Denja and her work will be featured during San Diego Design week in a film by Slack Tide Films, which premieres on September 25. We welcome the filmmaker, Alex Palumbo, to tell us about the film, which features San Diego artis...

In our 50th episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Andrew Utt, the Executive Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Diego. We talk about the importance of art within culture, its ability to connect people and communities, and how it can expand perspectives. Andrew also shares more about his journey with art and how he became part of ICA. Hear how the organization has grown and...

In this solo episode, I share how and why I work with Tarot cards in my business. I tend to really get to know my interior design clients, and Tarot is another way I can connect with their energy. It is also another way for us to tap into the energy of the space we’re working on. I even incorporate Reiki when the client is open to it, and I share more about that in this episode. Even if you don’t...

This month I gathered my Bewitching the Home Patreon group for Tarot Tuesday with Rachel White, the creator of Totem Tarot. We talk about the symbolism and ideas behind her unique Tarot deck, as well as her approach to Tarot reading. Rachel also shares a little about the beautiful flower essences she makes for her clients. At the end of our time together, I pull cards from the Totem Tarot for each...

In this episode, I address another common question from new interior designers I work with: Should I start out on my own, as a solopreneur, or should I form a partnership with a fellow designer? I’ve personally done both, so I share some of the honest pros and cons of each. There is no right or wrong way to start, but I hope that my experiences will help you see more clearly which is best for you....

I welcome Jamie King, a member of my mentorship group, the Design Coven, to Bewitching the Home this week. In her short time in the membership, Jamie has already taken big steps toward building her experience as an interior designer. She shares her story starting in real estate and how it brought her to where she is now. With the help and support of the Design Coven, Jaime is bringing her talents...

This week, I’m speaking with Larry Neugarten of BDG Design Group in San Diego. BDG is one of my favorite tile showrooms and one I’ve developed a strong relationship with over the years. They consistently have new items in their showroom and are always innovating, offering custom work for those who want a very specific look or feel. Larry talks about how they are able to offer this level of customi...

In this episode, artist Fay Ray and I have a beautiful and honest conversation about the art world, what it means to be both an artist and a parent, and how designers can better understand and incorporate art into spaces. Fay Ray also reminds us of the challenges of building a life as an artist, and she shares how she has remained devoted to her work over the years.  There’s so much here to t...

In this Design Refresh episode, I help Jessica explore options for her family’s living room.  Jessica wants to maximize the size of the space and make it cozy, but she also wants to be careful to avoid clutter or messiness. I answer her questions about what she could switch out or move to make the room more functional, and I offer some tips on what could be added to the space to make it a pla...

This week I welcome Tammy Fodrey of Malas in Bloom to talk about the significance of malas and how she began working with these sacred tools. Tammy creates these beautiful pieces herself with high quality, high vibration crystals and also hosts workshops to teach others how to make them. She walks us through the history of malas, how we can work with them in our own daily spiritual practices, and...

Wondering what we talk about in the Design Coven? In this episode, I give you a sneak peek into one of our events, an interior design panel we gathered for in July. I had three experienced designers on the panel (including two previous podcast guests): Dee Morrison, Rachel Moriarty, and Suzanne Broyles. They each shared their wisdom around finding clients, building connections, gaining experience,...

In this episode, my friend Miki Iwasaki joins me to talk about the career and business he’s built as an artist, architect, and designer. Miki has carved his own path over the years that allows him to explore the different mediums he’s interested in, and as a result, he enjoys taking on a wide variety of fun and interesting projects. For interior designers who are multi-passionate or who don’t want...

In this solo episode, I share how to create your first interior design service. A lot of new designers ask me what services they should offer, and when you’re just starting out, there are so many possibilities that it can feel overwhelming. That’s why I recommend starting with one: a virtual design consultation. I walk you through what a virtual consultation can look like and how you can get it se...

In this Design Refresh session, I help Cece explore options for her two beautiful outdoor spaces. She has two decks located off of the main bedroom, and she’d like to use one space for yoga, and one more as an outdoor sanctuary, creating a spa-like feeling. She feels like the spaces have been afterthoughts, so I help her see other possibilities for the design of both patios that will make them mor...

In this episode, I interview Fun Earth Co Co-Founder Jaimie Lee Bess about her entrepreneurial journey, and how her focus shifted when she began to see things from a holistic perspective. She shares how she came into sound meditation and began working with mushrooms, which she found worked together well in rituals and healing sessions. Jaimie also tells us about the beautiful rituals she has in he...

Linda Pastor Hodnett, the owner of Stitch Studio and Le Domicile Design, joins me on this episode to talk about her experience in the design industry and how she came to work with soft goods. Stitch Studio (formerly Janie’s Draperies) is a resource I’ve been using since my early days in the industry, and in our conversation, we cover why it is so important to have someone like Linda who will be ho...

In this solo episode, I break down one of my most frequently asked questions: Do I need a design degree to become an interior designer? This question doesn’t have a simple yes or no answer that applies to everyone, so I share my path to becoming an interior designer as well as alternative paths. If you’re thinking about becoming an interior designer, this episode will help you determine the direct...

I’m excited to welcome Chantelle Andercastle of Clear Quartz Creative to this episode of Bewitching the Home. I worked with Chantelle on the branding for my mentorship membership program, the Design Coven, and I know so many other Coven members and business owners can benefit from her guidance. We talk about how she came into the work she’s doing now, her current services and offerings, and the di...