In this episode, I sit down with Tara Debozorghi and Laure Bebbington, the dynamic duo behind Residence Studio. Despite being "chalk and cheese", they've built a thriving design business by leveraging their complementary strengths. From their partnership origin story to their approach to team building and client management, Tara and Laure share candid insights about what it takes to run a successful design studio in today's market.

Hope you enjoy the episode

Beth xx

Episode Highlights:

• How they met at their previous design firm and decided to partner despite not knowing each other well
• Their approach to dividing responsibilities based on their different strengths
• Why they chose to hire design support before administrative help
• Their philosophy on setting clear boundaries with clients
• How they manage projects across their team while maintaining quality
• Their excitement about current design trends moving away from minimalism
• The reality that design work is only about 20% of running a successful studio

Key Takeaways:

• Successful partnerships don't require similar personalities—complementary strengths often work better
• Know what your role in the business will be before making hiring decisions
• Set clear boundaries with clients from the beginning
• Be transparent about trade pricing and markup
• Focus on what you truly love and do well rather than trying to follow trends
• Understand that running a design business is about much more than just designing

Practical Insights:

• How to structure a design partnership that plays to each person's strengths
• When and who to hire as you grow your design business
• Setting and communicating clear boundaries with clients
• Managing client expectations around timeline and process
• Building a business that reflects your authentic design voice

Perfect For:

• Interior designers considering a business partnership
• Solo designers looking to grow their team
• Design professionals wanting to set better boundaries
• Anyone interested in the business side of running a design studio
• Designers struggling to find their authentic style

Quote from Episode:

"We are not running charities. We're not doing this as a hobby. We are here to run profitable businesses." - Tara Debozorghi on the importance of valuing your design expertise.

Connect with our guests:

Tara Debozorghi and - Residence Studio @residencestudio

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