Home Podcasts 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

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers | Interior Design Business Pocast

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer 184 Episodes Aug 17, 2026

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

184. Let's Talk About Why Most Designers Never Hit 7 Figures
184. Let's Talk About Why Most Designers Never Hit 7 Figures Aug 17, 2026 2018 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
183. Let’s Talk About What to Say When a Client Says Your too Expensive Aug 10, 2026 1499 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
182. Let’s Talk About proposal to procurement, where AI saves you time Aug 3, 2026 2014 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.
181. Let's Talk About How Much You Are Paying Yourself. Jul 27, 2026 1341 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
180. Let's Talk About The Importance of Business Coaching Jul 20, 2026 1685 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
179: Let’s Talk About Why Your Feed Is Beautiful But You’re Getting No Inquiries Jul 13, 2026 1070 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
178 - Let's talk about Natural Stone in Your Designs Jul 6, 2026 2757 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
177. Let's Talk About Getting Out of Your Own Way through Delegation + Strong Process Jun 29, 2026 3174 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
176. Let's Talk About Pipeline Detox: Stop Saying Yes to Almost Ideal Leads Jun 22, 2026 1381 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
175. Let's Talk About Why a Lead Tracker Is a Non-Negotiable Tool in Your Interior Design Business Jun 15, 2026 1241 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
174. Let's Talk Q&A Roundup for Interior Designers Jun 8, 2026 2285 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)
173. Let's Talk About AI for Designers: The 5 Tasks You Should Automate This Quarter (and 3 You Shouldn’t) Jun 1, 2026 1699 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

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