Designing Tomorrow

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Alexa Stevenson began her career as a magazine editor in New York City, working for Oprah Magazine, Women's Day, and luxury shelter publications before launching her interior design firm in 2010. Today, she runs her thriving practice while also co-founding Lex & King, a table linens and home accessories business.

In this conversation, Alexa shares how her journalism background shaped her approach to design, the evolution of her business from her dining room table to multiple office spaces, and why she believes in nurturing young designers. She discusses her signature style of combining pattern and texture, her practical approach to client relationships, and why she's passionate about creating intentional spaces that reflect how people actually live. Alexa also opens up about the business challenges she's faced, her thoughts on technology in design, and why she's advocating for the return of separate rooms over open concept living.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key Topics:

• Transitioning from journalism to interior design
• Developing a signature style influenced by family aesthetics
• Growing a design business and team structure
• Building vendor relationships and negotiating better margins
• Client consultation process and understanding how clients live
• Remote design work and technology in design
• The return of separate rooms vs. open concept living
• Managing client expectations and building confidence as a designer
• Mentoring young designers in the industry

Follow Alexa Stevenson
Website: https://alexastevensonid.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alexastevenson

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: http://instagram.com/maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

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Christina and Shawn Taylor founded Dacotah Studio, their Los Angeles-based design-build firm, in 2019 after successful careers in retail creative services and custom furniture manufacturing. Since then, they've been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, The Los Angeles Times and more.

In this episode, Christina and Shawn share their journey from corporate careers to entrepreneurship, how they've built their business with intention rather than scale, and why process has been key to their success. They discuss the benefits of the design-build model, their approach to hiring and team culture, and how they've created systems that allow them to maintain work-life balance while delivering exceptional client experiences.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key Topics:
+ Transitioning  from corporate careers to entrepreneurship
+ Benefits of the design-build model
+ Creating processes that scale
+ Maintaining work-life balance while growing
+ Strategic hiring and team culture
+ Marketing and PR strategies for design firms
+ Client communication and education
+ Managing market conditions

Follow Christina & Shawn Taylor
Website: http://dacotahstudio.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/dacotahstudio

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau Instagram: http://instagram.com/maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

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Jen Davidson is the principal and founder of Interiors by Jen Davidson, bringing her unique perspective from twenty years as a flight attendant to create thoughtfully designed spaces. With no formal training but a natural eye for design, Jen transitioned careers after renovating her own home and now leads a team of four talented women.

This episode explores Jen's journey from overcoming a fear of flying to building a successful design business from scratch. We dive into her approach to client communication, team building, and creating processes that deliver consistent results. From handling imposter syndrome to setting healthy boundaries, Jen shares candid insights about the realities of running a design business while prioritizing family life.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key Topics

• Transitioning careers from flight attendant to interior designer
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt
• Building a design team with complementary skills
• Client communication and setting expectations
• Creating systems and processes as a young firm
• Balancing entrepreneurship with family priorities
• The importance of community and continuous learning
• Marketing strategies and social media presence

Follow Jen Davidson

Website: https://www.interiorsbyjendavidson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interiorsbyjendavidson

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

Send a text

Paul De Andrade is principal and owner of Studio Kestrel, a luxury interior design firm based in New York City and Miami. With an unconventional background including biomedical engineering, journalism, and a Harvard nanotechnology fellowship, Paul brings a uniquely analytical and process-driven approach to interior design.

This episode explores Paul's journey from staging to founding his own firm during the pandemic, and how he's built robust digital systems to support growth. We dive into his methodical approach to team building, client relationships, and content creation. From managing installations in hazmat suits to developing comprehensive training programs, Paul shares candid insights about the realities of scaling a design business.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key Topics

• Building a design firm during the pandemic
• Developing digital workflows and systems
• Creating effective training programs
• Strategic hiring and team structure
• Content creation and PR strategy
• Client communication and pricing models
• Project management tools and efficiency

Follow Paul De Andrade
Website: https://www.studiokestrel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiokestrel

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: @maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

Send a text

Mia Whitaker brings process-driven thinking and sustainability focus to residential interior design. As Communications Director for ASID DC Metro and owner of Whitaker Interiors, she's spent over 300 hours developing systems that allow her business to thrive while maintaining work-life balance.

This episode explores Mia's journey from traditional design education to business ownership, her approach to sustainable design practices, and insights on employee development and systems creation. We dive deep into how she's built comprehensive processes using tools like Asana and Materio to support her firm's growth while preparing for maternity leave.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Creating sustainable design practices in residential interiors
• Building and documenting scalable business systems
• Employee development and fostering team happiness
• Process documentation and effective delegation
• Work-life balance as a design business owner
• Asana template development and project management
• Client communication and expectation setting
• Team structure and management while on leave

Follow Mia Whitaker
Website: https://whitakerinteriors.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitakerinteriors/

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: @maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

Send a text

Hema Persad is principal designer and founder of Sagrada Studios, a bi-coastal design firm known for its systematic approach to growth and operations. Named one of Architectural Digest's New American Voices in 2023, she brings strategic thinking from her previous careers as an attorney and celebrity stylist to create efficient, scalable design processes.

This episode covers Hema's journey to interior design, her approach to scaling operations across multiple locations, and insights on PR strategy and business development. We explore how she's built robust systems using tools like Materio to support her firm's expansion while maintaining high-touch client service.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Building scalable design operations
• Strategic PR and brand development
• Team structure and management
• Client communication strategies
• Technology integration for growth

Follow Hema Persad
Website: https://sagradastudio.com/
Instagram: @hemaapersad & @sagradastudio

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: @maryb_chau
Website: http://materio.co

Send a text

Nile Johnson is principal at Nile Johnson Interior Design and co-host of To-The-Trade podcast. His work has been featured in HGTV, Architectural Digest, and Business of Home. With degrees in interior design and interior architecture and experience teaching at multiple design institutions, he brings a unique perspective on process, education, and technology to the design industry.

This episode covers Nile's path from visual merchandising to interior design, his approach to teaching and mentorship, and insights on building a successful design firm. We explore how he's developed robust processes using technology while maintaining a commitment to education and sharing knowledge within the design community.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Developing effective design processes
• Teaching and mentorship in design
• Technology integration and adoption
• Client relationships and communication
• Building community in design

Follow Nile Johnson
Website: https://nilejohnson.com/
Instagram: @nilejohnson
Listen to To The Trade podcast

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: @maryb_chau
Website: http://www.materio.co 

Send a text

Anthony Carrino is a builder, designer, contractor and owner's rep with over 25 years of experience in historic renovation and adaptive reuse. From early boutique development projects to hosting multiple HGTV series to creating his own educational content through The Build TV, he brings a uniquely transparent and technology-forward approach to high-end residential and commercial projects.

This episode covers Anthony's journey from web design in college to property development, all the way to his systematic approach to design-build, and practical insights on project management and client relationships. We explore how he leverages tools like Matterport, Chief Architect, and Materio to streamline operations while maintaining a focus on education and transparency in the design-build process.

This episode is brought to you by Materio – the first true end-to-end operating system for interior designers who are ready to scale. Materio turns complex design projects into organized, repeatable systems. Stop spending your nights updating spreadsheets and searching through endless email threads. With Materio's visual workspace, everything from floor plans to mood boards, to selections (and approvals!) lives in one place, keeping your team and clients perfectly aligned. Ready to scale your design business with complete confidence and control? Visit materio.co to see how you can get your nights and weekends back.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Technology integration in design-build workflows
• Project management and owner's rep perspective
• Client communication and education
• Historic renovation approaches
• Creating educational content for the industry

Follow Anthony Carrino
Website: https://anthonycarrino.com
Instagram: @carrinoanthony
The Build TV: https://thebuild.tv
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarrinoAnthony

Designing Tomorrow with Mary Beth Chau explores conversations with visionary interior designers about building thriving businesses and shaping the future of design. New episodes every Thursday.

Follow Mary Beth Chau
Instagram: @maryb_chau
Website: http://www.materio.co 

Send a text

Welcome to Designing Tomorrow. I'm your host Mary Beth, and in my day-to-day life, I am the CEO and co-founder of Materio. One of the best parts of my job is that I get to talk to interior designers all day long.

I am so excited to bring you season one of Designing Tomorrow, where I will dive deep with some of the most innovative interior designers. We're going to get into their challenges, pivots, and breakthrough moments. From Los Angeles to New York, these designers have built thriving firms in their unique ways.

In this season, you'll be part of an honest conversation about what it really takes to scale a design business, from building strong client relationships to creating systems that work. So whether you're already running a firm or dreaming of starting one, these are the real stories and lessons that you won't hear anywhere else. I am really glad you're here. So please subscribe to join me on this journey, and let's design together tomorrow.