Meet Anthony Bruno, the creative force & mastermind behind Anthony Bruno Interiors, a New Jersey-based residential interior designer with a flair for drama... literally!

Before transforming homes across the United States, Anthony was once a theatre kid turned director and set designer, weaving incredible stories on stage.

But as the pandemic hit in 2020, the universe handed him a new script: launching his own design business.

In this episode, we dive into Anthony’s journey from curtain calls to client calls, how he embraced the challenge and uncertainty of pivoting industries, and why patience, curiosity, and a student-mindset are essential tools in any designer’s toolkit. Anthony shares his philosophy on pushing past discomfort, building meaningful relationships with trades & clients, and why asking for and going after what you really want is the key to shifting the needle in any interior design business.

Plus, Anthony shares his take on creating viral social media content and how even the most mundane moments of a designer’s day can become online gold.

Anthony’s vibrant energy, resilience, and kindness make him a joy to chat with—and a force to watch in the design world. Get ready for an episode that’s as inspiring as it is entertaining!

ANTHONY BRUNO:

FIND him at anthonybrunointeriors.com⁠

FOLLOW on Instagram ⁠@anthonybrunointeriors⁠

FOLLOW on TikTok @anthonybrunointeriors

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

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MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

I'm not too proud to admit that I didn't actually use a contract in my interior design business for EASILY the first 5 years I was working with clients... what was I thinking!?

But over the years, and after finding valuable mentorship of my own, I realized just how dangerous (and stupid!) not having a contract or Terms of Service was.

In this episode I dive into all things interior design contracts, and review several of the clauses I have in my own design contract & why you should consider adding similar clauses if you haven't already implemented something like them.

DISCLAIMER - I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. I always recommend running anything 'contract' related by your lawyer before having clients sign on the dotted line.

It's NEVER worth the risk to operate without any form of contract, no matter if you're just starting out and haven't worked on large-scale projects yet. One bad legal run-in could derail your entire design career!

DESIGNER RESOURCE: If you don't already have a solid contract or Terms of Service, you can purchase my guide HERE - take from it what you need and amend to suit your interior design business today!

DESIGNLIFEINC.

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JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

We met online! (But it's not exactly what you think).

I just love this incredible soul - today's guest is one of the most genuine and authentic people I've yet to meet in this industry - who rocks at roller derby and manifested her way onto The Marilyn Denis Show twice! We first crossed paths several years ago when I attempted a quasi-rescue from the comments section of an online designer group (more on that in the episode)...

Michelle Binette - self-taught interior designer, avid puzzler, & tenacious implementer of all-things tech & A.I., has continually inspired me with her passion for growth and her endearing transparency around what it's actually like growing an interior design business from the ground up.

We catch up after nearly a year of busy #designlife to candidly chat about a shared disdain for phone calls (while actually answering a live call during our chat lol), the growth & evolution of her business, the very real subject of mental health & working through challenges, experimenting with different pricing methods, & we wrap up Part 1 of our discussion diving deeper into the whole per-square-foot method I've come to use and LOVE!

Grab a coffee and settle in... we cover so much! You're definitely going to want to hear more from Michelle - stay tuned for the rest of Part 2, launching later this year...

Curious about how to get into using a per-square-foot pricing method in your own design business?? I've developed a course that expertly guides & teaches you exactly how I price my own design projects! Find it on my website today!

ABOUT MICHELLE:FIND Michelle online at ⁠⁠michellebinette.comFOLLOW Michelle on Instagram ⁠⁠@michellebinette.design

*Catch our older episode from Michelle's own podcast: Real Talk Design HERE

DESIGNLIFEINC.:FOLLOW on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@designlifeinc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

Raise your hand if you thought you'd be further along in your interior design journey by now when you first started out... (I'll raise my hand with you!)

In this episode I'm sharing the chronological evolution of my own interior design business to help dispel some of the myths social media and hustle-culture has fed us about what the timeline of a "successful" business should look like... spoiler alert: it's bullsh*t.

The one crucial thing I've realized later on in my own career is just how much perspective I was actually missing in those early years - comparing myself to other designer's achievements online wasn't healthy and had zero relevance to my own business journey.

If you're feeling a bit lost or stuck right now... I want you to listen to the personal perspective I'm about to share: you are exactly where you're meant to be in this very moment.

xo

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

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JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mentor mention: Kimberley Seldon - The Business of Design✨

https://businessofdesign.com

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

I LOVE hearing & learning about other entrepreneurial journeys...especially when it's about people I know and enjoy working with myself!

In this episode I sit down with my friend Justin Kandola - supporter of local business initiatives, avid golfer, and the man behind the wheel at DK Modern Furnishings, right here in beautiful Kelowna, Bristish Columbia.

He takes me through the tough decision to leave the family business and start his own, the importance of forging your own path, just what exactly happened to the furnishings industry during the pandemic, and how working with interior designers through DK's own trade program has become a highlight of his business.

If you're an interior designer that offers furnishings & procurement services (or has considered getting into F&P), you don't want to miss this one!

JUSTIN KANDOLA + DK MODERN FURNITURE:

VISIT the store HERE

FOLLOW on Instagram @dk_modernfurniture

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

This episode is a few parts humour, mixed with a few parts reality... and for any real-life clients out there listening, know we LOVE! you, but sometimes you say the wildest things.

I've compiled 12 different statements & questions clients commonly bring up during a project that might make you cringe, and what they actually mean for you as the interior designer.

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

In this short but super impactful episode, I teach you exactly how to counter price objections from potential clients about your design fee... it's not complicated!

Listen to find out exactly how to challenge the narrative the next time a client says they've already talked with another designer who said they can do it for less.

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

What's the saying... "One bad apple can ruin the bunch?" Over the past 21 years working with many questionable interior design clients myself, I've learned to spot a bad apple or two!

In this episode I get right into why you shouldn't work with everyone, how red flag clients can actually hurt your design business, and the 7 red flag archetypes I've come to recognize over the years that make me seriously pause to consider even taking on a project right at the very start of my discovery & on-boarding process...

I share my stories so you can potentially avoid some of the pitfalls I've experienced as a growing designer, and learn what to be mindful of the next time a 'shiny' new & tempting project comes across your desk!

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

In this episode I chat with Tiff Cheng - inspiring, multi-faceted entrepreneur and face of By Tiff C based in Vancouver. We first connected on Instagram (she slid into the DM's!), and both share an absolute love of supporting and nurturing other creatives in business!

We waste no time getting right into the sh*t show of going through an interior design degree (what they did and DIDN'T teach us!), the chaos of jumping into a design career as a new designer, and the freedom that comes with honouring & following your passions and embracing the 'pivot' in your entrepreneurial journey.

ABOUT TIFF:

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.

It is currently the end of September - which means it's CRUNCH time!!

We're right in the middle of the end-of-project-completion-prep-for-photos-&-awards-submissions phase, and I am definitely feeling the burn & pressure this time of year tends to bring... but we're pushing on through and it will all be worth it in the end!

In this episode, I take you through my own process of on-boarding a client, getting through the design phase, moving through the furnishings & procurement phase, all the way down to installs, styling, and what happens the day of our project photo shoots. Everything I do in my own interior design business - in a nutshell - I'm sharing with you!

DESIGNLIFEINC.:

JOIN the private interior designer community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MENTORSHIP - If you're looking for high-level 1:1 mentorship opportunities, expertly designed templates, guides & resources, and courses on how to elevate your business game and create a thriving interior design business, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designlifeinc.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.