Business of Design® Podcast | Grow a Profitable Interior Design Business with Kimberley Seldon

24 questions for 2024. This is Part 4 of 4—focused on staff.

In this episode, Cheryl Horne sits down with Kimberley Seldon to tackle the realities of hiring, managing, and retaining a team in your interior design business. From delegation challenges to choosing between employees and contractors, this candid conversation offers practical insights for building a strong, supportive team.

If you’ve struggled to find the right people—or to let go of control—this episode will help you rethink your approach to leadership.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why retaining great staff can be challenging—and how to improve it

- The real reasons hiring feels difficult for many business owners

- What makes delegation hard—and how to get better at it

- The biggest benefits of delegating effectively

- The pros and cons of hiring employees vs. contractors

- How to build a team that supports your growth

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

24 questions for 2024. This is Part 3 of 4—focused on business.

In this episode, Cheryl Horne sits down with Kimberley Seldon to answer key questions about running a successful interior design business. From contracts and systems to profitability and financial clarity, this conversation highlights the decisions and habits that separate thriving firms from struggling ones.

If you’re looking to strengthen your business foundation and stop leaving money on the table, this episode will give you practical direction.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- The most important clause to include in your interior design contract

- The first system every designer should implement for better results

- The most common ways designers lose money—and how to fix it

- A recent “aha” moment that changed how Kimberley approaches business

- The key financial metric every designer needs to understand

- Why business training is essential for long-term success

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

24 questions for 2024. This is Part 2 of 4—focused on projects.

In this episode, Cheryl Horne sits down with Kimberley Seldon to answer key questions about managing interior design projects more effectively. From implementing new systems to avoiding common mistakes, this conversation offers practical insight into what actually works behind the scenes of successful projects.

If you want smoother projects, better client experiences, and stronger results, this episode will help you refine your approach.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Kimberley’s favorite part of the design project process

- The newest system she’s implemented—and why it matters

- A system she tried (and wouldn’t recommend)

- The most underrated step in the BOD15™ process

- The most common questions designers ask about BOD15

- What happens when you fully commit to using systems

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

24 questions for 2024. This is Part 1 of 4—focused on clients.

In this episode, Cheryl Horne sits down with Kimberley Seldon to answer key questions about managing client relationships in an interior design business. From setting expectations early to navigating difficult conversations, this episode offers practical strategies to help you lead with confidence and avoid common pitfalls.

If you’ve ever struggled with client communication or keeping projects on track, this episode will give you clear, actionable guidance.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Kimberley’s go-to language for working effectively with clients

- How to set clear expectations at the start of a project

- The hardest conversations designers need to have—and how to handle them

- Valuable lessons learned directly from clients

- The most critical step to maintain communication and manage expectations

- Unexpected red flags that can appear mid-project—and how to respond

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

Recorded live at the Interior Design Show (IDS) Toronto 2024, this episode features Kimberley Seldon, Business of Design® Advocate-in-Chief, speaking to a sold-out audience on what it truly means to be the expert in your interior design business.

Because expertise isn’t just about skill—it’s about confidence, leadership, and knowing your value.

When you step fully into your role as the expert, you can charge appropriately, lead clients with authority, and build a consistently profitable business.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why confidence is the foundation of a successful design business

- How to step into your role as the expert with clients

- Why valuing your expertise leads to better pricing and profit

- How expert positioning improves client trust and project outcomes

- Why leadership—not experience alone—defines true expertise

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

Struggling to delegate in your interior design business?

You’re not alone—and the problem might not be your team. It might be how you’re assigning the work.

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Casey Gromer to explore why so many designers struggle with delegation—and how shifting from task-based thinking to outcome-based leadership can transform your team.

If you want a more efficient, accountable, and self-managed team, this episode will show you where to start.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why delegating tasks instead of outcomes leads to frustration

- How accountability improves team performance and results

- What defines a high-performing, self-managed team

- How to identify repeatable tasks and delegate them effectively

- Why a “GSD staycation” can help you reset and move your business forward

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

What do clients really want when working with an interior designer?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Robin McLendon—not a designer, but a client with firsthand experience. She shares what works, what doesn’t, and why having a clear process is essential for a successful project.

This conversation highlights how strong systems, clear communication, and firm boundaries create better outcomes—for both designers and clients.

If you’ve ever struggled with client expectations or felt micromanaged, this episode will help you take back control.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why designers should lead clients—not ask them what they want

- How to clearly communicate expectations and responsibilities

- Why setting boundaries improves the client relationship

- How to prevent clients from micromanaging your work

- Why following through on your word builds trust and credibility

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

This episode originally aired as EP 314 on March 7, 2023.

Running an organized interior design business isn’t about becoming less creative—it’s about building the systems, habits, and structure that support your creativity and your success.

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Helen Austen, a BOD™ BOSS designer, to talk about what it really takes to run an organized business. From breaking old habits to documenting repeatable systems, Helen shares practical insights for designers who want less chaos and more control.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by disorganization or unsure where to start, this episode will help you move forward one step at a time.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why creative professionals often struggle with organization

- How to implement systems one step at a time

- Why every part of your business needs a clear, documented process

- How to fully commit to a system and assess whether it works

- Why broad and simple systems are often the most effective

- Why overwhelm is normal when systems are missing—and how to fix it

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

This episode originally aired as EP 306 on January 10, 2023.

Building a mature, profitable interior design business doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of leadership, clear systems, and strong decision-making.

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon shares real-world insights and lessons learned on the journey from early-stage business to a more established, successful firm. From setting expectations to leading clients, this conversation highlights what it really takes to grow.

If you’ve been in business for years but aren’t seeing the progress you expected, this episode will challenge how you think about growth.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- Why clients follow the rules you set—and how to set better ones

- Why experience alone doesn’t guarantee success or progress

- When and why saying no early protects your projects

- How letting clients take the lead can undermine results

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com

Every mistake in your business is pointing to something deeper: an operational gap.

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Hilaire Martin to explore how interior designers can identify breakdowns in their workflow—and more importantly, fix them with clear systems and structure.

Because running a successful design business isn’t about reacting to problems. It’s about building processes that prevent them.

If your projects feel chaotic or inconsistent, this episode will help you create a more streamlined, profitable operation.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

- How to identify operational gaps in your interior design business

- Why letting go of outdated habits is essential for growth

- How to map out client-facing systems and procedures

- Why focusing on one improvement at a time leads to lasting change

- How small wins build momentum toward bigger results

- Why changing how you work is the key to long-term success

Ready to build an interior design business that supports your talent?

Join us at Business of Design®.

https://businessofdesign.com