Miriam Silver Verga of Mimi & Hill traces her firm’s evolution from kitchen-table designers to a 20-person luxury design-build studio. She reveals how addressing industry pain points fueled growth, emphasizing client education, storytelling in design, and systems-driven project management. Miriam discusses the challenges of construction budgeting, the value of her partnership with Hillary, and her vision for building a legacy—whether through employee transition or family succession.

Key Takeaways

Humble Beginnings: Grew from kitchen-table startup to full-service design-build firm over 15 years.

Client-Centric Approach: Prioritizes education on budgets, allowances, and design-value pricing.

Storytelling as Strategy: Crafts spaces that reflect clients’ narratives.

Partnership Power: Collaboration with Hillary drives both success and fulfillment.

Legacy Building: Plans for business continuity through team or family stewardship.

Chapters

00:00 From Kitchen Table to Design-Build Firm

06:10 Scaling a Luxury Business Model

11:56 Educating Clients on Realistic Budgets

18:05 Vision for Long-Term Legacy

24:01 Narrative-Driven Design Philosophy

29:53 Navigating Industry Challenges

The Designers and Builders Podcast shares stories from industry leaders transforming the world of design and construction — covering behind-the-scenes insights, real-world strategies, and the trends shaping the future of the industry.

Empowering design/build professionals to grow and scale — buildergrowth.io shares the tools, strategies, and insights you need to take your business to the next level.

Connect with us at: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designersandbuilders/

Join our newsletter: https://designersandbuilders.co/

Carlissa Montoya shares her transition from retail to becoming a leading closet design professional on this episode. She highlights the critical role of client relationships, how closet design has evolved from luxury to necessity, and the realities of entrepreneurship. Carlissa discusses her signature approach that blends retail merchandising with organizational expertise, the strategic value of networking, and the growing demand for premium storage solutions. She also reflects on how personal values and life experiences shape her business vision in the storage design industry.

Key Takeaways

• Successfully pivoted to closet design after retail store closure
• Built a client-centric business focused on customized solutions
• Developed a unique retail-merchandising approach to the organization
• Prioritizes meaningful industry connections over quantity
• Recognizes strong market growth as storage becomes essential

Chapters

00:00 Carlissa's Career Transformation

02:48 Client Relationship Philosophy

05:57 The Audit-to-Design Process

09:02 Industry Evolution Insights

11:51 Entrepreneurial Challenges & Rewards

14:57 Strategic Networking Approach

17:52 Market Expansion Trends

21:11 Balancing Business & Life

23:51 Future of Storage Design

27:03 Personal & Professional Growth

29:49 Industry Economic Outlook

The Designers and Builders Podcast shares stories from industry leaders transforming the world of design and construction — covering behind-the-scenes insights, real-world strategies, and the trends shaping the future of the industry.

Empowering design/build professionals to grow and scale — buildergrowth.io shares the tools, strategies, and insights you need to take your business to the next level.

Connect with us at: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designersandbuilders/

Join our newsletter: https://designersandbuilders.co/

Connect with Carlissa at:

https://www.instagram.com/cm.closetdesign/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlissamontoya

Download this episode guide: 

https://designersandbuilders.co/episode1

n this introductory episode of the Designers and Builders podcast, host Steve Larosiliere shares his journey from hosting the Woodpreneur Podcast to launching a new platform focused on conversations in design and construction. He introduces co-host Alyssa Olson, outlining the podcast’s vision to connect architects, designers, and builders while fostering a community focused on sustainable and equitable design practices. The show will explore industry insights, business growth strategies, and technology trends, with weekly episodes released on Wednesdays alongside a YouTube channel and newsletter.

Key Takeaways:

• Steve Larosiliere transitions from Woodpreneur Podcast to Designers and Builders for deeper industry conversations.
• The podcast connects architects, designers, and builders to advance sustainable and equitable design.
• Co-host Alyssa Olson brings expertise in business and creative practices.
• Weekly episodes will cover trends, technology, and community-building for professionals.
• Multimedia expansion includes YouTube and a newsletter for audience engagement.