Turnkey Design Talk

For years, I [kind of] kept a secret. While building my interior design business, publishing projects and creating beautiful homes for clients, I never actually quit my day job. In this honest episode, I share why keeping another source of income became one of the smartest business decisions I ever made — and why so many designers may be quietly doing exactly the same thing. We'll talk about:...

fter speaking with more than 50 interior designers and decorators across Australia, the United States, Canada and the UK, I expected to hear the usual challenges. "I need more clients." "I need more marketing." "I need to charge more." While those issues certainly came up, what emerged was far more interesting. In this episode, I share five revelations that appeared a...

One of the most overlooked areas of pricing for interior designers and decorators is project coordination. I'm not talking about construction project management. I'm talking about the coordination of the people, products and services required to bring a design to life. That might include furniture, artwork, rugs and window treatments, but it could also include custom joinery, painting, w...

How do you know if your hourly rate is actually working? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, Adam Scougall explores a simple but often overlooked way to determine whether your current design fees are delivering the profit your business needs. Rather than copying what other designers charge, Adam shares why your last completed project may hold the answer. If you've ever wondered how much t...

Interior design renderings are everywhere. From SketchUp models and photorealistic visuals to AI-generated concepts, many designers feel pressure to create increasingly polished presentations for their clients. But are renderings always helping? In this episode, Adam shares a different perspective on the role of renderings in the design process and explains why he has gradually moved away from mak...

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the biggest business mistakes I made as an interior designer… working on part of a project for free. At the time, it felt generous. Helpful. Loyal. But looking back? It completely changed the professional dynamic between myself and the client. In this honest conversation, I unpack the hidden psychological cost of removing proper fees from your projects — and why...

In this episode, Adam shares a real behind-the-scenes story about working with one of the most technically talented painters he’s ever hired — and why he ultimately decided he would never work with him again. This honest conversation explores the reality of handling difficult tradespeople inside residential design projects, especially when running higher-touch turnkey installations where communica...

In this episode, Adam unpacks why repeat clients should not automatically expect “old pricing” — and why loyal clients are often the exact people most willing to invest in your current level of service. Drawing on a real long-term client relationship spanning 15 years, Adam shares powerful insights into trust, premium service, turnkey design, implementation, pricing evolution, and the emotional va...

What does it really look like to build a career as a solo interior designer? Because it’s probably not what you expected. In this episode, I’m breaking down six realities that don’t get talked about enough—especially if you’re building your business on your own. This isn’t about discouraging you.  It’s about helping you understand what you’re actually stepping into… so you can build something that...

Episode Overview What do you do when the projects slow down—and the income feels uncertain? In this episode, I’m breaking down five practical, real-world ways interior designers are making money right now in 2026. These aren’t fluffy ideas or “just post more on Instagram” suggestions—these are structured income streams you can actually implement in your business. From high-value consultations like...

I spend a fair bit of time speaking with interior designers and decorators — not just for content, but to really understand what’s happening in the industry right now. And here’s the truth… not much has changed since 2024. In this 2026 update on design fees, I’m breaking down what designers are actually charging across different experience levels — from those just starting out to more established...

Interior design looks like a dream career from the outside — beautiful spaces, creative freedom, and meaningful work with clients. And it absolutely can be. But there’s a side of this industry that doesn’t get talked about enough…  the reality of actually running a design business. In this episode, I wanted to have a more honest, grounded conversation about what it really takes to build a successf...

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m sharing the three essentials that have made the biggest difference in my interior design business — not overnight, but over years of learning, refining, and sometimes getting it wrong. Like many of you, I didn’t start out with a clear roadmap. I came into this industry later, while working a corporate job, figuring things out step by step — through conv...

Interior design is a popular second career. Many people enter the industry in their 40s or 50s after working in other professions, often drawn to the creative side of design. But running a design business is very different from studying interior design or completing a course. In this episode, Adam shares a grounded perspective for anyone in the early stages of building a design business as a secon...

For years, I believed something many designers are told early in their careers: that the ultimate goal is to quit your job, go “all in,” and make interior design your full-time profession. So at one point, I did exactly that. In this episode, I’m sharing a very honest reflection on what happened when I followed that advice — and why the way I run my design life today looks very different from what...

In 2015, I was invited into a home because something didn’t feel right. The renovation had already been completed. The kitchen was brand new. Modern. Crisp. Completely aligned with what the industry was promoting at the time. But the homeowners couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. They weren’t asking for a kitchen review.  They were asking why their home no longer felt cohesive. In t...

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I unpack what I call “The IKEA Problem” in interior design — the dangerous gap between delivering a concept and delivering a completed space. Many designers operate in a design-only or hybrid service model. The concept is created. The drawings are issued. Selections are specified. And then the client manages the build, procurement, and installation. On pape...

Episode Overview – Turnkey Design Talk In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I speak directly to interior designers and decorators who are already in the game — busy running projects, managing clients, and delivering on deadlines — but quietly wondering why the numbers still don’t add up. This isn’t about getting started from scratch, motivation, or mindset. It’s about structure . After 16 year...

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I speak directly to interior designers and decorators who are already in the game — already working, already busy — but quietly wondering why the numbers still don’t stack up. This isn’t about getting started from scratch, and it’s not about motivation or mindset. It’s about structure . After 16 years in the industry and dozens of conversations with designe...

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I address one of the most common doubts I hear from interior designers and decorators — the belief that not having a design degree is the reason confidence feels shaky or clients question your expertise. After speaking with dozens of designers who were already working in the industry, a clear pattern emerged. The issue wasn’t lack of talent or experience —...

Welcome to Turnkey Design Talk . In this episode, Adam explains why the podcast has evolved — and why this season is focused on designers and decorators who are already working but feel stuck with unfinished projects, unclear boundaries, and underwhelming outcomes. After 50+ research calls with designers, one issue kept coming up: projects weren’t finishing, photography wasn’t happening, and clien...

From First Yes to Final Reveal Hosted by interior designer Adam Scougall, Turnkey Design Talk is a podcast for solo interior designers and decorators who want to run calmer, more controlled businesses — and finish projects properly.  The show focuses on what actually makes the difference in a design career: how projects are led, how boundaries are set, how decisions are made, and how work is broug...

Have you wondered how you can work successfully with your trades? Not so much just ‘on the job’ but so they keep you top of mind for client referrals rather than you continually bringing work to them ? I want a share an experience from this week that I’d like you to consider keeping top of mind. Lets discuss!  Hey guys its Adam Scougall of the So You Want To Be An Interior Designer podcast, and we...

Have you wondered how you can create a higher reach than juts plugging away with mood boards and stories on Instagram? Today I want to talk about how you can spread the good word about what you do on other peoples podcasts. Let’s discuss.  Hey guys its Adam Scougall of the So You Want To Be An Interior Designer podcast, and welcome to Season 3 and EPISODE 26.   I help mature aged solopreneur Inter...

Hindsight is a powerful concept. If you look up the definition online, it says that it’s ‘the ability to understand and realise something about an event after it has happened, although you did not understand or realize it at the time’ Well today I want tom share 3 things I would do differently if I could turn back the clock in my design biz. Lets have a chat about it. Hey guys its Adam Scougall of...