Interior Design Business

What do you do when a client loves every option… but still won’t make a decision? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m breaking down how to manage clients who struggle with decision-making and why unresolved decisions can completely derail a design project. When clients delay decisions, it creates confusion, slows contractors down, impacts timelines, increases your unpaid h...

Wondering where your next client is coming from? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down what to do when your pipeline is empty, and how to get clients coming in consistently. Every designer experiences cycles in their business. There are times when you’re fully booked, and times when things feel quiet. But instead of panicking, this is your opportunity to reset, refo...

Why do so many designers struggle to get paid what they’re truly worth? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I dive into the real reason behind undercharging, overworking, and feeling stuck financially, and it’s not your pricing strategy. It’s your mindset. Before any system or structure can work, you have to address the beliefs you hold about money. Your “money story” shapes e...

What does it actually take to go from a struggling design business to a thriving, seven-figure company? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I share a real success story of one of our designer students who transformed her business from $250,000 to over $1.25 million in revenue. This isn’t about luck, talent, or magic, it’s about learning, implementing, and consistently taking a...

Why are boundaries so hard to set, and even harder to keep? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest challenges designers face: creating and holding boundaries in their business without feeling guilty, uncomfortable, or afraid of losing the client. If you’ve ever said yes when you wanted to say no, answered texts late at night, worked weekends you di...

Why is asking for your full design fee so hard, even when you know you’re worth it? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest challenges designers face: confidently asking for the money they deserve. You can have the systems, the process, and the perfect project… but when it comes time to say the number out loud, everything can fall apart. Fear, doubt...

What does it actually look like to lead a design project, without losing control, your confidence, or your sanity? In Part 2 of this leadership series, Terri Taylor and coach Valerie Priester dive deeper into what it truly means to step into leadership as an interior designer. This episode goes beyond mindset and into practical application—how you lead clients, manage projects, communicate your vi...

What does it really take to step into leadership as an interior designer? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, Terri Taylor is joined by Coach Valerie Priester to break down the foundational traits of strong leadership, and why they are essential for growing a successful design business. Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about mindset, confidence, and vision. From developing...

Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing five powerful tips to help you take control of your time, increase productivity, and finally create a schedule that supports both your business and your life. If you’ve been telling yourself “I just need more time,” this episode will shift your perspective. Time isn...

Presenting your design to a client is one of the most important moments in your interior design process. It’s where your vision becomes real, and where your client decides whether they’re excited to move forward. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I walk through the biggest mistakes designers make during design presentations and the powerful strategies that transform a presen...

Are you busy… but not profitable? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m addressing one of the biggest frustrations I hear from designers: “I’m slammed with work, but it’s not the work I want.” If your calendar is full of small jobs, your evenings are booked, and you still don’t feel financially stable, this episode is your wake-up call. I’m breaking down exactly why little “...

Struggling to say no, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m back with IDBA Coach Marsha Sewdass for Part 2 of our conversation on healthy boundaries. This time, we’re digging into one of the hardest boundary skills of all: learning to say no, clearly, confidently, and without apology. From Saturday appointments to scope creep, contractor pushba...

Feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and on-call 24/7? You might not have a workload problem, you have a boundaries problem. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA Coach Marsha Sewdass for a heart-to-heart conversation on what healthy boundaries really look like in your design business. We’re talking about business hours, burnout, overgiving, and the pressure to be...

Think you’re protected because you meant to get the proposal signed? Think again. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m continuing the conversation on financial risk, and sharing a real story from my own design studio that proves exactly why systems and boundaries must be followed every single time. From unfunded proposals to “just helping the client out,” you’ll hear how ev...

Still taking 50% deposits on product orders? That’s a financial risk you can’t afford.  In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing a real story of how one designer nearly lost her business because of outdated payment practices, and how to fix it with one simple boundary. You’ll learn why half-down payments no longer protect you, what your letter of agreement should say, a...

If you’re constantly doing “just one more thing” for free, it’s not about client service, it’s a boundary issue. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m breaking down how scope creep sneaks into your projects and steals your time, profits, and peace of mind. From color consults and last-minute requests to Wayfair screenshots and patio meetings, we’re calling it what it is: unp...

If you're discounting product to get the job, it's not a pricing problem, it’s a boundaries problem. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I'm diving into the real reasons designers give away profits, time, and authority, and how to reclaim all three. Whether it’s sharing trade discounts, undercharging on product, or trying to “be nice,” I’ll show you why those st...

If you’re not getting paid what you’re worth, the real issue might not be pricing—it’s boundaries. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m diving into why boundaries are the key to profitability, clarity, and peace of mind. From undercharging and scope creep to verbal orders and unpaid extras, I’m sharing the real-world ways designers lose money and respect, and how to stop th...

Starting a design business isn’t just about being talented, it’s about building a real business foundation that can support you long-term. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing what it really takes to start a design business—step-by-step—like a giant checklist. Most designers start by helping friends and family, but eventually you have to learn how to shift from “fre...

You’re not a charity. You’re not your client’s financial rescue plan. And you’re definitely not in business to burn out. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m diving into Part 4 of my Financially Sustainable Design Business series—and this one is all about the energetic side of money. Because here’s the truth: the mindset and beliefs you hold about money can block profitabil...

You’re not a furniture store. You’re not a contractor’s free assistant. And you’re definitely not a charity. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m diving into Part 3 of our financially sustainable design business series. This time, we're getting crystal clear about what you really sell, your design time. Discover the one metric that will transform your business, why cha...

You’ve priced your design work. You’ve marked up your product. So why does it still feel like you’re working for free? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m diving into Part 2 of our financially sustainable design business series, focusing on boundaries. From endless client emails to last-minute add-ons and ghosting clients who suddenly reappear, this episode will show you e...

A beautiful portfolio doesn’t guarantee a profitable business. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m kicking off a multi-part series on building a financially sustainable design business. Today’s focus? Understanding how to separate your design services from product sales, and why clinging to retail vendors and discount pricing is keeping you stuck. If you want to create a b...

What causes design jobs to fall apart? Spoiler alert: it’s rarely the client’s fault. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m walking you through the real reasons design jobs go sideways, and how to prevent them before they start. From clients ghosting your final presentation to never-ending projects with zero profit, I’ll show you how to build structure, communicate expectati...

Hiring the right team member can transform your business, but hiring the wrong one? It can drain your time, money, and sanity. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing real stories from my own hiring journey, the flops, the fixes, and the eye-opening lessons that helped me build a team that actually supports me. From cheap hires to knee-jerk decisions, interns to untrai...