Turnkey Design Talk

What kind of interior designer do you actually want to be? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m joined by Susie Ferreira, Principal Interior Designer at Casa Flair Interiors , for a conversation about getting clearer on what you want to be known for, how you want to work, and how you want your business to evolve. Susie has developed a particular focus on low-tox and wellness interiors, crea...

Something happened to me recently that made me stop and think about what it actually feels like to be on the other side of our businesses. In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between intention and experience — and how something as simple as poor communication can make a client feel forgotten, even when you’re working incredibly hard behind the scenes. I share a real experience that t...

What happens when you realise you're doing all the work — but your pricing isn't actually allowing you to make money? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I'm joined by Melbourne interior designer Mary Holmes of Proud Mary Stylist for a very open conversation about how her business has evolved over the past year. Mary joined the beta round of my Turnkey Design Success System in...

When your services menu starts looking like a ten-page Italian restaurant menu, you might have a problem. Design consultations, Design SOS, e-design, room refreshes, furniture packages, finishes packages, colour consultations… offering more can feel like you’re giving potential clients plenty of choice. But too many options can actually make it harder for clients to understand what you do, who you...

Your discovery call should do a lot more than establish whether you and a potential client “click.” By the end of that call, you should know whether there’s actually a viable project worth pursuing. Are they a DIY client who really wants your advice so they can manage the project themselves — or are they a potential full-service client who wants someone to take control? What’s the real scope? What...

What does it actually mean to offer a turnkey interior design service — and what separates it from simply designing a room and ordering the furniture? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, Adam breaks down the difference between “help me do it” and “do it for me” clients, and why a genuine turnkey service is about taking responsibility for getting the approved design all the way across the finis...

If you’re an interior designer or decorator coordinating painters, electricians, cabinetmakers or other trades, do you know what you’re actually taking responsibility for legally — and are you charging properly for it? After getting updated legal advice from Australian legal counsel Sprintlaw, I’m sharing five legal must-haves for coordinating trades , including how my own NSW business can stay cl...

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m joined by high-ticket sales strategist and business mindset master coach Christine Corcoran , bestselling author of Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Your Superpower and founder of the Unstoppable Women event. Christine has coached interior designers and other creative business owners through the mindset, visibility and sales challenges that can quietly keep...

Instagram can be a useful part of your marketing, but it shouldn’t be the only place you’re looking for your next interior design client. In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m looking at how solo interior designers and decorators can think more broadly about finding clients — particularly when posting consistently on social media isn’t translating into actual enquiries. I share some of my o...

Turnkey Design Talk is back for Season 6! After a short break, I’m kicking off the new season with one of the pricing questions I hear constantly from solo interior designers and decorators: how much should you mark up the products you specify—and should you be passing your trade discount on to your clients? Some designers pass on their entire trade discount. Others retain the retail margin. Other...

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...