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The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers | Interior Design Business Pocast
The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers | Interior Design Business Pocast
Interior designer Laura Thornton hosts this podcast dedicated to the business side of interior design. She explores how designers can create beautiful and functional spaces while also building a profitable practice. Episodes share personal experiences, insights, and lessons learned from the industry, covering topics like using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to simplify business operations. It aims to help fellow designers turn their passion into a sustainable business.
Episodes
REPLAY - 192. Let's Talk About How To Set your Interior Design Hourly Rate
Send us Fan MailThis is a popular repeat episode on how to calculate your hourly fee for profitability. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately. Get both guides (and more designer
REPLAY - Let's Talk About Presenting your Interior Design Quotes To Clients
Send us Fan MailOldie but a goodie! Year after year, this is one of our top episodes. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately. Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: h
190. Let's Talk About your Last 50 Working Days of 2026
Send us Fan MailEveryone tells you there are a hundred days left in the year. There are eighty eight, and only forty nine of them are working days that can still change anything.That is not a scare tactic. Forty nine is a number you can plan around. A hundred is a number you can hide behind.In this episode Laura walks through the three numbers to pull before you plan another thing, and why the gap
189. Let's Talk About Being Booked But Broke
Send us Fan MailBeing fully booked can look like success from the outside, but a packed calendar does not automatically mean you are running a profitable interior design business. In this episode, Laura explores why so many talented designers find themselves constantly working, managing demanding projects and serving clients, yet still feeling anxious about cash flow and wondering where the money
188. Let’s Talk About Profitable on Paper, Broke in the Bank
Send us Fan MailYou had your best month on record in July. Six weeks later you were awake at two in the morning wondering whether payroll would clear, and nothing went wrong in between.That is not a sign you are bad with money. It is a sign you have been reading the wrong number.In this episode Laura explains why profit and cash are two entirely different figures, why the interior design business
187. Let's Talk About What Successful Designers do Differently behind the Scenes
Send us Fan MailFrom the outside, a successful design firm looks like beautiful projects, polished photography and a full calendar. But those are the visible results. What you don't see is the structure behind them, and that's what this episode is about. I'm going behind the scenes to share what successful interior designers actually do differently: they take the business seriously,
186. Let's Talk About Mistakes that Cost me the Most Money in my Design Business
Send us Fan MailThe mistakes that cost me the most money in my business were never the loud ones. Not the sofa that wouldn't fit through the door or the wrong paint colour on the wall. The expensive mistakes were the quiet ones, sitting in the business month after month, draining money and energy while I was too busy to notice. In this episode I'm sharing the five that cost me the most:
185. Let's Talk About Why Revenue is NOT the Number That Matters Most
Send us Fan MailRevenue Is Not the Number That Matters Most in Your Business"I built a six-figure business." "We had a half-million-dollar year." Revenue milestones sound exciting, but here's the truth: you would never judge a room by its square footage alone, and you shouldn't judge a business by its revenue. It tells you the size, and nothing about whether it works.
184. Let's Talk About Why Most Designers Never Hit 7 Figures
Send us Fan MailMost talented interior designers never reach seven figures in annual revenue, and it has nothing to do with creativity or hard work. In most cases, they're already working too hard. The real issue is that the business was never structured to grow to that level.But before chasing the milestone, there's a more important question: is seven figures even your goal? In this epi
183. Let’s Talk About What to Say When a Client Says Your too Expensive
Send us Fan Mail"You're too expensive." Almost every interior designer has heard it, and even when you know your pricing is fair, those three words can send you straight into explaining, defending, and discounting.In this episode, Laura walks you through exactly what to do when a potential client pushes back on your fees. You'll learn why "too expensive" does not auto
182. Let’s Talk About proposal to procurement, where AI saves you time
Send us Fan MailHow much of your week is spent designing, and how much is spent writing emails, preparing proposals, chasing vendors, and updating spreadsheets?In this episode, Laura shares 10 practical ways interior designers can use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to take repetitive, administrative work off their plate, from the first client inquiry all the way through procurement. This is not
181. Let's Talk About How Much You Are Paying Yourself.
Send us Fan MailHow much are you actually paying yourself? Not what your business generated last quarter. Not what you transferred after one good project. What are you consistently paying yourself, every two weeks or every month?If you're waiting to see what's left over, this episode is for you. Laura breaks down why your compensation has to be a planned, budgeted line item in your busin
180. Let's Talk About The Importance of Business Coaching
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton explores the value of business coaching and the two paths entrepreneurs can take: figuring everything out alone through years of trial and error, or learning from someone who can help them move forward with greater clarity and confidence. She explains why the skills and people that helped you reach your first $100,
179: Let’s Talk About Why Your Feed Is Beautiful But You’re Getting No Inquiries
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura dives into a challenge many interior designers face: having a beautiful Instagram feed that attracts likes and compliments, but not actual inquiries. She explains why a stunning portfolio alone is not enough to convert followers into clients, and how designers can shift their content from simply showing pretty rooms to comm
178 - Let's talk about Natural Stone in Your Designs
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura welcomes Massimo Ferrera, Account Manager and Stone Master at Cava Surfaces, to demystify the process of incorporating natural stone into interior design projects. With over 27 years of experience in marble sourcing, stone selection, and fabrication, Massimo shares practical guidance for designers who want to feel more conf
177. Let's Talk About Getting Out of Your Own Way through Delegation + Strong Process
Send us Fan MailToday on The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m sitting down with Kate Dickson, Principal Designer and Creative Director of The Dickson Design Group, an award-winning studio known for creating warm, elegant homes that are as functional as they are beautiful.Kate and her team specialize in renovating older homes, and if you’ve ever wondered how to take a space that needs a lot of lov
176. Let's Talk About Pipeline Detox: Stop Saying Yes to Almost Ideal Leads
Send us Fan Mailn this episode, Laura walks you through a “pipeline detox” to help you stop saying yes to almost ideal leads that quietly drain your calendar, energy, and profit. If you feel busy but not truly productive, this is your reset. You’ll learn how to sort every inquiry into three simple categories, Green, Yellow, or Red, so you can quickly spot which leads are aligned, which ones could
175. Let's Talk About Why a Lead Tracker Is a Non-Negotiable Tool in Your Interior Design Business
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Laura breaks down why a lead tracker is a non-negotiable tool for interior designers who want more consistent revenue and a calmer, more predictable pipeline. A lead tracker gives you visibility and control, so you stop relying on your inbox, DMs, and memory to manage inquiries. It also gives you grace, because when you can see the full timeline of a lead, you stop
174. Let's Talk Q&A Roundup for Interior Designers
Send us Fan MailToday’s episode is a Q&A grab bag, packed with the best questions that have come in so far this year. These are the real issues designers are navigating right now, and while some of the questions are too specific to stretch into a full deep dive episode on their own, together they create a powerful, practical conversation.This is the episode to listen to if you want clear direc
173. Let's Talk About AI for Designers: The 5 Tasks You Should Automate This Quarter (and 3 You Shouldn’t)
Send us Fan MailIf AI feels like one more thing on your already full plate, this episode makes it simple and practical. You’ll learn how to use AI like a smart assistant to save time, protect profit, and create more consistent client communication, without sacrificing your design standards or your brand.What you’ll learnHow to use AI to streamline the repetitive parts of your business while keepin
172 - Let's Talk About the Lifetime Value of a Client (LVT)
Send us Fan MailThe Profit Academy for Interior Designers Doors are Now Open, sign up here:https://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton breaks down one of the most powerful numbers in your interior design business: Client Lifetime Value (LTV). Instead of judging a client by a single project, LTV helps you understand what a
171. Let's table About Pricing With a Method: How to Stop Undercharging Without Pulling Numbers Out of Thin Air
Send us Fan MailIf pricing feels like a stressful guess, this episode will help you price with a clear method so you stop undercharging and start feeling confident in your numbers.In this episode, you will learnWhy designers undercharge even when they are talented and bookedWhat it means to price the process, not the tasksHow to set a Minimum Viable Fee so you stop saying yes to unprofitable workH
170. Let’s Talk About being booked and broke: The Designers Two Futures
Send us Fan MailBooked and Broke: Two Futures of a DesignerIf your calendar is full but your profit feels shaky, this episode is for you. We are talking about the two paths most designers end up on: Future A booked and broke, or Future B calm and profitable. The difference is not talent. It is systems.In this episode, you will learnWhy being busy is not proof your business is healthyThe three prof
169. Let's Talk About Stop Giving Away Design: 12 Things You’re Doing for Free That You Should Charge For
Send us Fan MailIf you have ever looked up at the end of a project and wondered, “Where did my time go?”, this episode is for you. Laura breaks down 12 common profit leaks that quietly drain revenue in interior design businesses, often disguised as “good service” or “just being helpful.” From extra meetings and endless revisions to showroom visits, rush timelines, and unpaid install days, Laura sh
168. Let's Talk About The Mantras That Make Money
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we’re breaking down the business sayings I live by, and why they work. From “speed to the lead” (because fast response wins the job) to “nobody knows you exist” (because hope is not a marketing plan), I share the real-world strategies and psychology that turn inquiries into booked consults, marketing into momentum, and effort into revenue. We’ll also talk about “re
167. Let’s talk about how to set your hourly rate as an interior designer ( replay)
Send us Fan MailSetting your hourly rate as an interior designer can feel confusing, emotional, and honestly a little awkward. In this episode, Laura breaks it down in plain English and shows you how to set an hourly rate that actually supports your business, not just your calendar.You’ll learn why copying what “other designers charge” is a fast track to burnout, what your rate truly needs to cove
166- Let's Talk About Cyber Security in your Small Business
Send us Fan MailMost interior designers and small business owners believe cybersecurity is something they will deal with later or that their business is simply too small to be of interest to hackers.That assumption is no longer true.In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jason deCourcy, founder of Xoomler, to uncover the real reason small businesses, solo entrepr
165 - Let's Talk About Evolving Without Losing Your Identity: Brand Longevity with Jamie Young
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jamie Young of Jamie Young Co. for a conversation about longevity in business, what it really takes to build a brand that evolves through changing trends, shifting markets, and new seasons of growth while still staying grounded in timeless style and strong values.Jamie shares how she’s protected the core iden
164 - Let's Talk About Q1 Business Review for Interior Designers
Send us Fan MailIf Q1 felt busy but the profit did not match the effort, this episode is your CEO reset.In today’s episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton walks you through a simple, repeatable Q1 business review designed specifically for interior designers who want more profitability, better systems, and a lot less chaos.You will learn exactly what to review, what the numbers
163- Let's Talk About from Chaos to Clients: Building sales systems that close business
Send us Fan MailLaura Thornton sits down with Darilyn Coles, CEO of Selocity, for a practical conversation on how interior designers can adopt AI in a way that actually strengthens their business. Darilyn explains why technology only works when the underlying process is clear first, and she shares how designers can use AI to streamline operations, improve speed-to-lead, and support stronger lead q
162 - Let's Talk About Investing In Yourself & Your Business
Send us Fan MailIf you’re running an interior design studio, you’re not “just” the creative you’re also the CEO, the project manager, the salesperson, and the money manager. In this episode, Laura Thornton breaks down why investing in yourself and your business isn’t a luxury… it’s a strategy.You’ll learn how to spot the hidden costs of trying to do it all alone (like undercharging, scope creep, d
161. Let's Talk About Being Busy Is Not the Goal: The Creative to CEO Shift for Interior Designers
Send us Fan MailIf you are booked, busy, and still wondering where the money went, this episode is your roadmap. Laura Thornton breaks down the mid shift every designer must make: moving from creative operator to CEO leader. You’ll learn how to stop guessing, build a profit-first business model, understand the numbers that drive real sustainability, and create capacity without burnout. This is not
160 - Let's Talk About The Power of Saying "No" To Clients While Maintaining Your Values & Sanity
Send us Fan MailFrom scope creep and unrealistic timelines to unlimited revisions and 24/7 availability, this conversation is all about how setting boundaries isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being clear, confident, and professional so your business can truly thrive.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why saying “no” is a leadership skill, not a weaknessThe most common moments designers need to
159 - Let's Talk About Scaling your Interior Design Business with Donna Hoffman
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with the brilliant Donna Hoffman, multi-award-winning luxury designer, business strategist, and founder of Impeccably Designed Homes, to talk about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) topics in the design industry: how to scale your business sustainably and profitably.Donna shares the story of how
158- Let's Talk: Fireside Chat with the SheEO's in My Life (Part 2)
Send us Fan MailPart 2 of this conversation goes deeper into the internal side of long-term entrepreneurship. Less about tactics, more about judgment, intuition, systems, relationships, and the realities that only show up after decades in business.The group explores how decision-making evolves with experience, when to trust your gut versus your data, and why profitability, not optics, is what actu
157 - Let's Talk: Fireside Chat with the SheEOs in My Life (Part 1)
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with three long-time colleagues and friends from very different industries to talk candidly about what entrepreneurship actually looks like over decades, not highlight reels.Together, they unpack the misconceptions people have about their businesses, the pivotal career moments that changed their trajectories, and
156- Let's Talk About Client Relationship 101
Send us Fan MailClient Relationships 101: How to Set Boundaries, Stay in Control & Create Happy ClientsStrong client relationships don’t come from being overly flexible or available 24/7. They come from clear leadership, well-defined processes, and confident boundaries.In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down exactly how interior designers can stay in control of t
155 - Let's Talk About Resilience with Andria Cowan Molyneaux from AMC Designs
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I sit down with Andria Cowan Molyneaux, founder and principal designer of ACM Designs, for a deeply honest conversation about what it truly takes to build a design business that lasts.Andria is a designer who leads with integrity, intention, and quiet confidence. She’s built a respected, enduring firm grounded in exceptional clie
154 - Let's Talk About How to Protect your Calendar and Time
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura dives into the real-world lessons behind building a profitable, sustainable interior design business—without sacrificing creativity or personal boundaries. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, she shares candid insights into what designers often get wrong, what actually moves the needle, and how small mindset and st
153 - Let's Talk about AI and How You Can Integrated it into Your Design Business in 2026
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down how interior designers can begin using AI in a practical, ethical and non-intimidating way in 2026. Whether you are AI curious, quietly resistant, or already dabbling, this conversation is designed to help you see AI as a supportive team member rather than a threat to your creativity or value. AI cannot replace
152 - Let's Talk How to Price your Services Correctly with Raising Costs
Send us Fan MailLaura breaks down why most designers do not have a pricing problem, they have a scope and structure problem. She walks through practical strategies to increase profitability at your current rates, including tightening and clarifying your scope, reclaiming billable hours you are already working, streamlining your process for efficiency, and shifting from selling hours to selling out
150 - Let's Talk About my Favourite Books and Podcasts for 2025
Send us Fan MailIn this fun, high value CEO-style episode, Laura shares her favourite business books, podcasts and AI tools that are shaping her strategy and success in 2025. Why business books matter for designersHow the right books can reshape the way you think, market, lead and sellHow to turn book insights into systems you use dailyHow AI can help implement the concepts instantlyBook #1: Build
149- Let's Talk About our Year in Review
Send us Fan MailLaura walks you through a guided audit of your year: your numbers, your systems, your clients, your values, and your big-picture goals for 2026 and beyond. If you have been feeling the impact of tariffs, market shifts, rising costs, or overwhelm, this episode will help you turn reflection into strategy.Your books and your numbersRevenue: What came in, from which services, and which
148. Let's Talk Designing for Energy & Well-Being: Holistic Interiors with Gala Magrina
Send us Fan MailGala Magrina — holistic interior designer; host of Going Beyond Spaces with Gala; creator of the Beyond Spaces methodology and a six-week online course for designers.Gala traces her path from visual merchandising at Diesel to a holistic design practice rooted in meditation, modern feng shui, WELL, and Vastu. We unpack yin vs. yang rooms, the five elements in everyday selections, wh
147. Let's Talk Shoot with Strategy - Turning Project Photos into Pipeline
Send us Fan MailThis week on The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Charleston-based photographer Candice Brook, whose work behind the lens has helped countless designers turn their finished projects into powerful marketing assets.Candice shares what really goes into a strategic photoshoot — one that not only captures the beauty of a space but also builds visibility, fuels your PR
146. Let's Talk Big Leaps, Big Nerves- Investing in your Business with Casey FitzGerald
Send us Fan MailEvery designer knows that uneasy, nauseous feeling that shows up right before a big leap—the one that makes you question your sanity and your business plan. In this episode, Laura sits down with designer Casey FitzGerald to talk about what it really feels like to invest in growth when it’s uncomfortable… and why that “sick feeling” might actually be your best sign of progress.Laura
145- Let's Talk about Getting the word out! - How to develop a network that loves to refer you
Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever wondered how to keep your project pipeline full without constantly posting on social media or dropping thousands on ads, this episode is for you.I’m joined by the powerhouse behind Designer Oasis—Kate Bendewald. Kate is a former commercial designer who left the corporate grind to build a design business on her own terms. Within her first year, she scaled to six figur
144 - Let's Talk About How Interior Designers Can Use AI to Grow Smarter, Not Harder with Matt Kantor
Send us Fan MailAI isn’t just for big tech companies, it’s quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools for creative businesses, including interior design firms. But with all the hype, it can be hard to know what’s real, what’s useful, and how to actually apply AI in your day-to-day practice.In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by AI innovator and strategist Matt Kant
143- Let's Talk About How To Use Your Photography in More Ways in Your Design Business
Send us Fan MailLet’s talk about photography—not just taking it, but actually using it to move the needle in your design business.In today’s episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by Lauren Anderson, founder of Sen Creative and a pro at helping interior designers turn beautiful images into strategic business tools. Lauren’s here to show us how to go beyond the portfolio—how to use
142. Let's Talk About Big Impact, Small Budgets, Marketing Tools to Build Authority.
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Christine and I dig into how you can build authority and visibility in your business—even if your marketing budget is limited. She shares practical frameworks, mindset shifts, and tactical tools to help you get seen, heard, and trusted in your field.Key topics include:Christine’s journey: from broadcast journalist to Expert Authority CoachThe power of authentic vis
141 - Let's Talk about SEO with Julia Bocchese
Send us Fan MailIf you’re tired of chasing clients on social media and want your dream clients to come to you, this episode is going to shift the way you think about marketing.I’m joined by Julia Bocchese, an SEO and Pinterest strategist who works with creative entrepreneurs to get their businesses found through powerful organic search tools. Julia breaks down what SEO really is (spoiler: it’s not
140 - Let's Talk About Planning to Age in Place
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Marcy Sagel, founder and principal of MSA Interiors. Since launching her firm in 2004, Marcy has led her team with a strong belief in collaboration—partnering with developers, architects, and builders to create spaces that are both beautiful and deeply functional. With a portfolio that spans multifamily housing to healthcare en
139 - Let's Talk About, Stop Undervaluing Our Industry: Building Wealth and Changing the Standards of Interior Design
Send us Fan MailToo often, interior designers fall into the trap of undervaluing themselves and, by extension, our entire industry. In today’s episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m opening up about why it’s time to change that narrative—because we aren’t just creating beautiful spaces, we’re building businesses that deserve respect, profitability, and longevity.I’ll share a personal sto
138. Let's Talk about Business Mentorship and Business Coaching
Send us Fan MailEntrepreneurship in interior design is exciting but let’s be real, it can also feel overwhelming and lonely. The truth is, you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. In this episode, Laura Thornton shares why mentorship and community are essential for building a thriving design business and how they can help you skip years of trial and error.Laura dives into:✨ The real perks
137. Let's Talk About Building Wealth in Your Business with The Profit Academy for Interior Designers
Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever second guessed your pricing, shaved hours off an invoice, or wondered how other designers confidently charge what they’re worth, you’re not alone.In this special episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m pulling back the curtain on Profit Academy for Interior Designers, my 6-week online course designed to help you master the financial side of your design busin
136 - Let's Talk About the Challenges of Running an Interior Design Business, From Start-Up to Profitability with Suzanne Robson
Send us Fan MailFrom Start-Up to Profitability with Suzanne RobsonIn this replay episode, Laura sits down with interior designer Suzanne Robson, one of the very first students of The Profit Academy for Interior Designers. Together, they dive into the real challenges of launching and running an interior design business—from navigating pricing to setting boundaries with clients—and how Susan was abl
135- Let's Talk about the Importance of Contracts in your Interior Design Business with Lawyer Erica Canas
Send us Fan MailToday, we’re talking about one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of running a design business: contracts. I’m thrilled to have Erica Canas, Esq., a Florida licensed attorney and interior design enthusiast, join us for this important conversation.Erica is the founder of ID Law Shop, where she creates “best-practices” legal templates specifically for interior designe
134- Part 4: Let's Talk Profit Strategies, Follow the Profits, Not all Projects are Sexy
Send us Fan MailWelcome to the grand finale of our four-part Profitable Design Series with Laura Thornton!In this essential episode, Laura helps you shift from just designing beautiful spaces to designing a truly profitable business. Learn why reviewing your numbers regularly is more important than any brand board—and how to spot what’s really working for your bottom line, even if it’s not the “se
133. Part 3: Let's Talk Profit Strategies, Efficiency Gains, They Belong to You.
Send us Fan MailWelcome to Part Three of our special four-part series on building a profitable interior design business with Laura Thornton!In this episode, Laura brings together everything you’ve learned so far—understanding your numbers, tracking your time, and getting lean on spending—and reveals how to turn efficiency into profit that’s yours to keep. If you’ve invested in your systems, proces
132 - Let's Talk Money Matters with a Financial Therapist
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton sits down with financial therapist Aseel El-Baba to dive deep into the hidden challenges creatives and designers face around money, self-worth, and pricing. Aseel shares her inspiring personal journey from growing up in Lebanon and immigrating to Canada, to becoming a Bay Street financial advisor, and ultimately sh
131. Part 2: Let's Talk About Profit Strategies, Time is Money, Literally
Send us Fan MailWelcome back to The Business of Beautiful Spaces! This is Part 2 of our special four-part series on building a profitable interior design business with Laura Thornton.In this episode, Laura shares why tracking your time is one of the smartest—yet most underused—profit strategies for designers. From eye-opening stories about flat fees gone sideways to actionable tips on building bet
130. Part 1: Let's Talk About Profit Strategies- Know Your Numbers, The Foundation of Profitability
Send us Fan MailIn the first episode of our special four-part series, Laura Thornton—founder of Thornton Design and The Profit Academy for Interior Designers—shares the essential financial foundations every designer needs to run a truly profitable business. Drawing from her own journey and real-world client stories, Laura breaks down the difference between revenue, profit, fixed and variable costs
Ep.129 - Let's Talk About Understanding Your Profit Margins in Construction
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by Gabriela Eisenhart of Silo Studios to discuss how interior designers can confidently add construction management to their offerings—and boost profitability in the process. Gabriela shares how designers can start integrating construction-related services, improve communication with contractors and clients, and take m
Ep. 128- Let's Talk About Setting Clear Boundaries with your Design Business with Caron Woolsey
Send us Fan MailSome are fortunate enough to discover their passion when they are young — Caron Woolsey is one of them. A native Texan, growing up Caron spent the summers visiting her grandparents in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is where her love of interior design, historic homes, and her appreciation for Creole and French Colonial architecture was born. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Texa
Ep 127- Let's Talk About Small Things, Big Profits: How Accessories Can Transform Your Spaces and Your Bottom Line
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton reveals why accessories are the secret weapon for both designers and clients—and how they can turn “nice” rooms into wow-worthy homes and boost your profit margins. Learn how to educate clients who think they only need the basics, why accessories matter for every project (and photo shoot!), and the business strateg
Ep 126 - When Clients Ghost You: Five Smart Ways to Re-Engage and Get Answers
Send us Fan MailAre your leads or clients suddenly silent? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton shares practical strategies for what to do when you’ve been “ghosted” by a client or prospect. From using systems and trackers to sending the perfect “magic email,” Laura explains how to stay proactive, get clarity, and keep your design business moving fo
REPLAY- Let's Talk About Under Charging Syndrome
Send us Fan MailToday we are diving deep into a topic that is close to my heart and wallet—pricing your services for profitability. With over 20 years in the interior design industry, I've seen it all, and I'm here to share the golden nuggets of wisdom to help you further your business.Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and th
Ep.124 - Let's Talk about Best practices for onboarding and setting expectations with Jamie Van Cuyk
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by hiring strategist Jamie Van Cuyk, founder of Growing Your Team. Jamie shares her expertise on how interior designers can confidently hire their first (or next) team member, avoid costly mistakes, and build a supportive, productive team that fuels business growth. From crafting the right job posting to onboarding eff
EP. 123- Let's Talk About What You're Forgetting in Your Design Quotes
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, we’re uncovering the often-overlooked details that can make or break your bottom line as an interior designer. From light bulb installation to crown moldings, cleaning services to designer switches — these seemingly “small” extras can add up to significant lost revenue if you’re not pricing them properly.Laura walks you through a
Ep. 122 - Let's Talk about Growing Good Design with Nicole Fisher
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by Nicole Fisher, principal of BNR Interiors, a New York-based luxury residential design firm known for its layered, editorial approach to interiors. Nicole shares her fascinating journey from working on fashion editorials and styling with Lady Gaga’s team to curating timeless, soulful interiors filled with vintage tre
REPLAY - LET'S TALK ABOUT ELEVATING YOUR CLIENT PRESENTATION PACKAGE
Send us Fan MailREPLAY:Starting off a presentation on the right foot is key.An interior design presentation package should be a visually engaging and comprehensive set of documents and visual aids that communicate the designer's ideas and concepts clearly and effectively to clients.By incorporating a range of visual and interactive elements into their presentation package, interior designers
121 - Let's Talk About The Interior Design Community with Laurie Laizure
Send us Fan Mailn this inspiring episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura chats with Laurie Laizure, founder of the Interior Design Community and host of the To-The-Trade Podcast. Laurie is a connector, a cheerleader for designers everywhere, and a true thought leader in the interior design industry. With over 94,000 members worldwide, IDC has become a trusted space for designers to shar
120 - Let's Talk about Mindset Matters with Andrea Liebross
Send us Fan MailThis episode couldn’t be more timely. As many of us are navigating a major shift in our businesses—grappling with pricing pressures, uncertain clients, and the ever-growing noise around tariff talks—it can be hard to stay positive, charge what we’re truly worth, and hold firm on the value we bring. That’s why I’m so excited to welcome today’s guest, Andrea Liebross.Andrea is a busi
118 - Let's Talk About Booked on Autopilot: Elle Kwan’s Email Strategy for Interior Designers
Send us Fan MailElle is an avid reader, ocean lover and Brit-girl born to travel. She's also obsessed with helping interior designers stand out and get paid. Elle spent 10 years writing for luxury magazines, and today she blends rich storytelling and editorial design into results-driven websites for interior designers. She lives in Hong Kong and has two kids and a very naughty chihuahua. Foll
119 -Let’s Talk About Working Smarter: Using VAs to Reclaim Your Time
Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that so many interior designers and decorators wrestle with—how to get help without the pressure of hiring full-time staff. I’m joined by the incredible Ronniesha Rivera, founder of Vetted by Design, who specializes in helping creatives streamline their businesses with the support of skilled virtual assistants.We’ll explore how VAs can
117 - Let's Talk! You're Not Alone. Real Talk on the State of the Design Industry with Carly Nemtean
Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt and unfiltered episode, Laura sits down with Carly Nemtean — Principal Designer of Carriage Lane Design Build and Co-Founder of The Collective Workspace — for a real conversation about what many designers are feeling behind the scenes. From navigating the post-COVID slowdown to dealing with tariff challenges and shifting client expectations, Carly and Laura talk c
115 - Let's Talk About Streamlining Success: Designers and Vendors Working Together with Idilia Lucente from Decor Rest Furniture
Send us Fan MailWelcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving into the powerful partnership between interior designers and trusted vendors—and how that collaboration can elevate not just your design vision, but your bottom line. Joining us is Idilia Lucente, Sales Manager at Decor-Rest, a family-run Canadian furniture company known for their commitment to quality, customization, and the kind of c
116 -Let’s Talk About Delegating for Growth: When and How to Hire Help in Your Design Business
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I sit down with Ronniesha Armstead, founder and CEO of Vetted By Design, to tackle one of the most common questions in the design industry: How do you know when it’s time to hire help? If you’re feeling overwhelmed with admin work, spending more time managing orders than designing, or simply questioning if you need support—this e
114- Let's Talk About Setting Key Boundaries every Entrepreneur Should Set to Stay Aligned with their Vision
Send us Fan MailAs the visionary founder of Brenda Brix Consulting and AMR Design, Brenda leads an exceptional team, collaborating with ideal clients to transform her long-standing dreams into reality. Despite facing health challenges and experiencing burnout early on, Brenda's transformative journey led her to create a streamlined and repeatable business structure that allows her the time a
112 -Let's Talk About Elevating Beyond the Holidays: How to Use Gifting to Enhance Your Client Experience
Send us Fan MailI’m excited to introduce you to Porsche Williams, the founder of The Prototype, a concierge service that helps interior designers streamline their businesses and elevate their client experience. Porsche specializes in providing unique, done-for-you gifting solutions that seamlessly integrate into a designer’s process—going beyond the expected holiday season to create meaningful tou
