Do you feel nervous, unsure, or even a little awkward before meeting your first design client? You're not alone!

Many new interior designers feel pressure to prove themselves; they fear they won’t be taken seriously or worry about saying the wrong thing. Some try to be extra helpful—giving away too many ideas or avoiding money talk—just to impress the client.

While these feelings are completely normal, especially for beginners, new designers can present themselves as confident, trusted guides and position themselves as experts, even if they are just starting out.

In this episode, I share how to shift your mindset from trying to impress your client to confidently leading the consultation. I provide practical strategies for setting the right tone from the beginning, including guiding clients through the consultation, asking powerful questions, and demonstrating your value without giving away free work. I also walk you through creating structure, building trust, and positioning yourself as the solution to your client's design challenges.

Ready to level up your client consultation skills and stop feeling like an amateur? Tune in and learn how to turn that first meeting into your moment of authority. Then, share this episode with a fellow designer and tag me with your favorite takeaway!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Discover how to take control of the meeting and show up as the expert your client needs

📌 Avoid common mistakes new designers make during consultations

📌 Get a simple, step-by-step flow to guide your meetings, build trust, and turn consultations into actual paid projects

Check out the show notes >>> Show Up as the Expert During Client Consultation

Related Episodes:

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:39 Mindset Shift #1: Don’t Work for Free (The Importance of Paid Consultations)

04:48 Mindset Shift #2: Take the Lead With Confidence

06:55 Consultation Process: Confidence Through Clarity & Consistency

08:00 Confidence Through Asking Strong Questions

08:33 Confidence Through Setting Expectations Around Budget and Process

10: 03 Common Pitfalls to Avoid During Consultations

13:12 Language Framing: How To Sound Like the Expert

15:26 Recap + Mindset Check

Do you feel stuck in your current job, wondering if it is too late to follow your dream of becoming an interior designer?

In this episode, you will hear how Steve Saide made a bold career switch after 30 years as a lawyer and found his passion in hospitality design. Now leading the design team at Furnished Quarters, Steve shares how he designs beautiful, livable spaces for corporate travelers who stay for weeks—or even years—at a time.

Steve's story proves it is never too late to start fresh, and that design does not have to follow a traditional path. So, if you are unsure about how to make the leap or where your design career could lead, this episode gives you real answers and encouragement.

💡 If Steve can do it, so can you! Tune in now to learn how to start your path into interior design—no matter your background.

✨ Want help starting your design career? Check out My Design Mentor!

Featured Guest:

Steve Saide is the Executive Vice President of Interior Design at Furnished Quarters, a company that provides stylish, fully furnished apartments for corporate travelers. After a 30-year career as a lawyer, Steve made a bold career shift into interior design. His eye for creativity and passion for functional, home-like spaces now help shape the unique design style of the company’s long-term stay residences.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Be inspired on how to pivot into interior design even after a long career in another field

📌 Get insights on where real design inspiration comes from (hint: not always magazines!)

📌 Discover what makes hospitality design different from regular home design

Check out the show notes >>> How a Lawyer Became a Designer and Found His Dream Career

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction & Redefining Hospitality Design

03:13 Steve Said's Career Transition from Law to Interior Design

09:00 About Furnished Quarters

10:30 Approach to Design for Corporate Apartments

12:10 Quantity and Design Execution

14:30 Design Limitations & Smart Solutions

17:30 Keeping Up with Trends

18:30 Impact of COVID and Economic Uncertainty

24:55 Creative Inspiration Sources

27:25 Advice for Aspiring Hospitality Designers

Imagine starting your mornings without stress—just coffee, a quick workout, maybe a quiet moment with your kids—before diving into focused work hours you set. Your calendar feels manageable because you’ve planned ahead: 🗓️ client meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays 🎨 creative work (like mood boards or sourcing) on Wednesdays ✍️ admin or content creation from home on Mondays 🚙 Fridays off or just light work so you can hit a yoga class, run errands, or unwind.

You love what you do.

You’ve got time for family.

And you still get to pour into your creative passion.

Feels pretty amazing, right?

Well, it’s possible. You can create a career that supports the life you actually want, not the one the industry tells you to chase.

In this episode, I’ll show you how to build a business that aligns with your values, goals, and lifestyle.

🎧 If you’re ready to ditch the hustle and define success on your own terms, hit play now. Let’s start designing a life you love.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Learn how to design your design career or business like a project, with purpose and clarity

📌 Identify your non-negotiables so you can set a schedule that works for you

📌 Break free from hustle culture and redefine success on your own terms

Check out the show notes >>> Mindset Shift Series: Design a Career That Supports Your Life

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

01:52 Default vs. Designed Career Paths

02:30 Intentionality in Career Planning (Plan with the End in Mind)

05:07 Rebecca’s Personal Work Schedule

07:45 Ideal Week and Lifestyle Alignment

09:30 Reverse Engineering Your Business Model

11:04 Common Mindset Blocks

12:26 Action Steps To Design a Career with Purpose

Have you ever wasted hours searching for the right help for your interior design business, only to feel frustrated and stuck? What if there was an easier way to find the right people who truly understand interior design?

In this episode, I chat with Ronniesha Rivera, an interior designer and founder of Vetted By Design—a free centralized platform for interior designers to connect with highly vetted professionals without stress.

Ronniesha shares her painful story of hiring the wrong bookkeeper early in her business, which cost her thousands of dollars. From that mistake came a brilliant idea: a one-stop, trusted place where interior designers can find reliable pros who understand the industry, like 3D renderers, bookkeepers, lawyers, virtual design assistants, social media managers, and more.

If you are starting your design business or growing your team, this episode will give you a smart solution to save time, avoid costly mistakes, and build a team you can trust.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how Vetted by Design can help you grow your business with less stress and more support.

Featured Guest:

⁠Ronniesha Rivera⁠ is the founder and CEO of ⁠Vetted By Design⁠ (VBD). He passion for VBD stems from her challenges as an interior designer. After years in the industry, she grew frustrated with endlessly searching through Facebook groups and Google just to find the right professionals to hire. She knew there had to be a better way—a centralized platform where designers could easily connect with vetted businesses that cater to our industry. And that’s exactly why Vetted By Design was created.

Ronniesha believes ⁠Vetted By Design⁠ can help any designer at any stage of their business.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Learn how to avoid costly hiring mistakes and build a reliable team

📌 Discover a free tool to find highly vetted professionals across various specialties faster, easier, and stress-free

📌 Grow and scale your interior design business more effectively

Check out the show notes >>> How to Build Your Dream Design Team Without the Headache

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction and Overview of Vetted by Design (VBD)

02:15 Ronniesha’s Journey into Interior Design

04:23 Hiring Mistakes and Painful Lessons

06:42 The Birth, Concept, and Mission of Vetted by Design

11:05 Categories and Coverage

12:41 The Vetting Process

16:20 How Designers Use the Platform and Pro Qualifications

22:13 Future Plans and Expansion

Is the interior design industry evolving too quickly, and are you prepared for it?

Or maybe you are questioning whether pursuing a career as an interior designer is still a wise decision in today's landscape.

In this episode, I take you through how the interior design industry has changed over the past 15 to 20 years, and what that means for you today.

From pandemic ups and downs, to social media trends, to working with AI, you'll learn how the industry has grown and where it’s going next.

If you’re wondering what skills and services clients need now, this episode gives you clear answers. I share what services clients are looking for, which skills matter most, and how you can stand out. The career is always changing, but that means more opportunities if you're ready to adapt.

Tune in now to stay confident and creative in a changing world.

👉 Need help launching your interior design business step-by-step? Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp —doors are still open!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

🎨 Find out which tools, tech, and mindset shifts are helping designers succeed today, even without a degree or traditional experience

💡 Get insights into growing trends like e-design, content creation, niche services, and how you can use them to stand out and reach more clients

🏷️ Review your existing business model and pricing structures to determine the best approach for your interior design practice

Check out the show notes >>> The State of Interior Design in 2025

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

01:37 Pandemic’s Impact on the Industry

03:37 Rise of Work-From-Home and Home Office Design

03:58 Sustainable Design Trends

04:59 Social Media’s Influence

06:15 Tariffs & Economic Uncertainty

07:42 Career Trends in Interior Design

10:19 Virtual & E-Design Opportunities

10:50 Rise of Design Content Creation

12:21 Niche Specializations and Digital Tools

14:07 Job Opportunities in 2025

14:37 Education and Licensing Trends

15:41 Impact of AI and Business Model Shifts

17:20 The Future of Interior Design

"You have to work hard for money" or "Money doesn't grow on trees" are just a few of the money beliefs that many of us grew up with. These childhood beliefs may be quietly hindering your design business.

In this episode, I chat with expert CFO and money mindset coach Audrey Faust who explains how your early experiences with money shape your current success, often without you even realizing it.

As a creative professional, you’re trained in design, not finance. But to grow a profitable business, you need both. Audrey shares how to shift your thinking and set up smart financial systems that support your success. She explains how your subconscious mind—where 95% of your thoughts live—might be running the business, and how to retrain it to support growth, confidence, and profit.

If you're ready to stop undercharging, feel more confident with your money, and start building a design business that thrives, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and grab Audrey’s free Profit Accelerator Workbook to take the first step toward mastering your money and your mindset!

And if you need a step-by-step guidance to feel empowered in your business finances, check out Profitable Business Academy and use code DESIGN35 for 35% off.

Featured Guest:

⁠Audrey Faust⁠ is an expert CFO and money mindset authority who helps entrepreneurs create the financial strategies they need to scale their businesses for increased profit and growth.

Through her unique blend of financial expertise and mindset coaching, Audrey empowers her clients to master their financial data with clarity and confidence. Her signature approach goes beyond numbers, instilling a strategic money mindset that fuels growth, boosts profitability and enables entrepreneurs to make empowered, forward, focused decisions.

Audrey's best selling book, ⁠She Grows Rich⁠, further explores these transformative principles, offering women actionable steps to become financial powerhouses.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌Learn how to overcome limiting money beliefs and start believing in your value as a designer

📌Get simple, clear steps to separate business and personal finances and avoid common financial mistakes designers make

📌Stop stressing over money (aka pricing) and start making empowered, confident decisions

Check out the show notes >>> How to Rewire Your Money Beliefs to Increase Profits in Your Design Business

Links Mentioned:

💡 Need guidance in your business finances? Check out Profitable Business Academy and use code DESIGN35 for 35% off💡 12 Secrets from an Expert CFO: Free Profit Accelerator Workbook

💡 She Grows Rich for personal financial inspiration and business insights

NEXT STEPS:

🎯Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer

Grab your freebies:

🔖Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction: Money Mindset and the Creative Professional

03:05 Audrey’s Background and Path to Coaching

04:51 The Role of Money Mindset in Sustainable Growth

08:20 How to Reprogram Limiting Beliefs

10:07 First Financial Steps for New Designers

12:39 Sweat Equity and the Timeline to Profitability

15:11 Pricing Strategies and Profitability

18:01 Overcoming Money Blocks When Pricing Projects

21:08 Handling Project Issues and Reserves

22:21 Final Takeaways for Financial Success

Are you stuck thinking "What if I mess up?" or "What if I don't sound like I know what I'm talking about?" when calling yourself an interior designer?

You're not alone.

Many talented people with a natural eye for design stay stuck because they're waiting for someone to give them permission to start their careers. But here's the truth: you don't need anyone's permission except your own.

In this episode, I talk about why you don’t need permission from anyone to become an interior designer—you already have what it takes. I share stories from my journey and common fears many new designers have, like not knowing enough or worrying they’ll make mistakes.

You will learn how to move forward despite your fears, and understand why your “why” is most important. I also provide three simple steps to start your interior design career immediately!

Creativity is personal, and being an interior designer means being brave enough to try. Whether you want to change your niche, charge for your work, or say yes to something new, this episode gives you the permission to begin.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect skills. Your design career starts the moment you decide to believe in yourself. Listen now and give yourself permission to become the interior designer you've always wanted to be – because I am officially giving you that permission right here, right now.

If you need help getting your business off the ground and running, join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp. Classes start in July.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:👉 Overcome your fear-based thoughts and start believing in your own design abilities

👉Get official permission to start your interior design career today, with or without a degree or a perfect plan

👉Learn the 3 simple steps you can take this week to launch your design business

Check out the show notes >>> Stop Waiting for Permission and Start Your Interior Design Career Now

NEXT STEPS:🎨 Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:07 Personal Reflection on Waiting for Permission

03:12 Common Mindset Blocks

03:58 Core Principle: Expertise Comes From Starting

04:39 Signs You're Ready to Start

06:24 Affirmations and Mindset Shifts

09:40 Direct Permission Statement

10:00 Practical Steps to Get Started

11:49 Overcoming the Starting Hurdle

Are you drowning in design project chaos, juggling emails, texts, and scattered communication that's driving you crazy? You're not alone! Today's guest has been there too.

I interview Erinn V, a luxury interior designer and the founder of StyleRow, a powerful platform made to help designers like you stay organized, save time, and run your business better.

Erinn shares how she grew from decorating her apartment to designing homes for celebrities and creating a tool that solves the very problems she faced in her own business.

StyleRow solves the biggest headaches designers face: scattered communication, complicated client presentations, and time-consuming administrative tasks. The software allows designers to centralize project communication, create easy-to-navigate client dashboards, and save up to two-thirds of their back-office time - all while providing a seamless experience for clients.

If you're ready to get more done without the stress, tune in now and learn how StyleRow can help you work smarter, not harder.

Featured Guest:

⁠Erinn Valencich⁠ is an entrepreneur who began her career at a young age. She graduated from high school early, choosing to forgo college to enter the workforce immediately. At 24, she founded her design firm, ⁠Erinn V Design Group (EVDG)⁠. She later established a furniture brand, Erinn V, and most recently became a software visionary by creating ⁠StyleRow⁠, a platform designed to help designers communicate, present, and design, as well as discover the best offerings in the luxury design world.

EVDG has designed projects worldwide, alongside a wide array of home and lifestyle products including door & cabinet hardware, Hollywood Hills by ERINN V. for Baldwin Hardware, furniture with Universal Furniture and Ambella Home, rugs with Creative Touch and Mehraban, lighting with Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting and window coverings with Hartmann & Forbes, alongside more collaborations to come.

Her work has been featured in Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and House Beautiful, among other publications.

Erinn has four horses and resides with her husband in the Santa Rosa valley.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

💡 Learn how to reduce administrative stress and create a more profitable workflow

🎨 Discover a tool to save time and stay organized while managing multiple design projects

🔖 Get real advice from an industry leader to grow both creatively and professionally in the design field

Check out the show notes >>> The Tool That Helps Interior Designers Stay On Track and Save Time

Links Mentioned:

• StyleRow, a project management tool for interior designers

NEXT STEPS:

• Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer

Connect With Me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @rwarddesign
• Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:37 Erinn V's Background and Early Career

06:44 Getting Her First Clients

07:44 Transitioning to Luxury Design

11:33 Developing a Furniture Brand

15:55 The Birth of StyleRow

21:05 Features and Benefits of StyleRow

29:36 Erinn's DIY Courses

30:57 Advice for Aspiring Designers

Interior designers often get confused about whether to hire an employee or an independent contractor because the decision involves several complex factors—legal, financial, and practical—that aren't always clear at first glance.

In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of both options, including cost, commitment, legal rules, and how much control you have. I also share my real-life experience of hiring interns and contractors to full-time employees, and explain why shifting your mindset from fear to strategy is key to sustainable growth.

I also talk about setting up your business as an S-Corp, protecting your work with contracts, and why thinking like a CEO is key to building a business that lasts.

Tune in now and start building a business that supports your growth.

And if you need help getting your business off the ground and running, join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp. Classes start in July.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Get a clear comparison of hiring options to make the right decision for your interior design business
• Learn how setting up your business structure (like switching to an S-Corp) can make hiring easier and more legit
• Set up your design business for long-term success and potential future succession planning

NEXT STEPS:

• Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer

Connect With Me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @rwarddesign
• Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction: Why Hiring Help Becomes Necessary

(02:48) Fears and Misconceptions About Hiring Employees

(04:16) Low-Risk/Low-Reward of Contractors vs. High-Risk/High-Reward of Employees

(04:54) Rebecca's Journey into Hiring

(08:23) Benefits of Becoming an S-Corp

(13:15) Advantages of Hiring Employees Over an Independent Contractor

(16:47) Legal Considerations (Especially in California)

(18:58) Mindset Shift and Strategic Hiring

(20:37) Practical Tips for Hiring and Managing Employees

(22:10) Final Thoughts

Interior designers have the ability to shape experiences through their work. Whether it's helping a family feel more connected at home, creating a more uplifting environment in a senior living space, or reducing stress in a healthcare setting, their contributions go beyond merely making spaces look beautiful. They play a vital role in improving people's lives.

In this inspiring episode, I chat with Blima Ehrentreu, founder and CEO of The Designers Group, who shares how interior design becomes meaningful when driven by purpose. From calming urgent care centers to uplifting senior living communities, Blima shows how thoughtful design can help people feel safe, supported, and inspired.

You’ll discover how designing with empathy and intention can transform everyday spaces into places of healing, comfort, and connection. Blima also shares how she grew her firm across North America, the lessons she’s learned from real-life mistakes like how to handle mistakes and lead a team, and how she now mentors others to do purposeful work through her TDG Insider program.

If you want your work to feel more fulfilling and make a real impact, this episode is for you. Tune in now and discover how to bring purpose into your projects and create spaces that change lives.

Featured Guest:

⁠Blima Ehrentreu⁠, founder and CEO of ⁠The Designers Group⁠, is a creative visionary and industry trailblazer. Committed to empowering women and driving philanthropy, Blima's impact goes beyond traditional design boundaries. Her passion and leadership showcase the transformative power of purpose-driven design in creating a better world.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn how to design with purpose and impact
• Get real-world business and leadership insights
• Discover mentorship and giving-back opportunities

Check out the show notes >>> The Power of Purpose-Driven Design in Changing Lives and Spaces

Links Mentioned:

• Apply for the TDG Insider program to shadow the team in the New York office
• TDG Furniture Exchange if you have furniture to donate; giving furniture new life rather than disposal

NEXT STEPS:

• Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

• Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @rwarddesign
• Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(02:00) Blima's Early Interest in Interior Design

(03:11) Education and Foundational Experience

(04:41) The Importance of Design Implementation

(06:04) Influence of Cross-Industry Design Experience

(08:44) The Growth of The Designers Group

(09:48) Mentorship and Scaling the Business

(12:14) Overcoming Challenges and Learning from Mistakes

(16:11) Dream Projects and Purpose-Driven Design

(19:20) Advice to Aspiring Interior Designers

(20:54) How to Join the TDG Insider Mentorship Program

(21:59) Charitable Initiatives of The Designers Group