If you’ve ever thought about attending High Point Market but felt overwhelmed by the planning, logistics, and sheer scale of the event, this episode is for you! Shaun and Rebecca break down everything you need to know before making the trip—what to expect, how to prepare, and how to make the most of your time. Whether you’re going for the first time or looking to refine your market strategy, they’ve got tips to help you navigate like a pro.

From booking accommodations early to finding the best showrooms and events, this guide will help you maximize your experience at the biggest trade show for designers.

• Why designers should go to High Point Market – The value of attending and how it can help you grow your business.
• The best time to plan your trip – How early you should book flights, hotels, and register for market.
• Navigating the massive layout – Understanding transportation options, shuttle routes, and how to group showrooms.
• Maximizing showroom visits – How to efficiently take notes, snap photos, and collect vendor information.
• The importance of networking – Making connections with other designers, attending panels, and learning from the best in the industry.
• Packing smart for market – What to wear, what to bring, and how to stay comfortable during long days.

Want exclusive behind-the-scenes content, monthly live calls, and 20% off our shop? Join us on Patreon: Patreon.com/hydc and be part of our designer community!

• High Point Market: Registration
• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Stay connected: Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Shaun and Rebecca are kicking off 2025 by setting new goals for their businesses and getting clear on what’s out this year. From refining client processes to rethinking professional development, they’re sharing six major focus areas that will help shape a more intentional and productive year.

Tune in for a candid discussion on what’s working, what’s getting cut, and how they’re evolving their businesses to better align with their long-term vision.

• What’s out for 2025 – Letting go of unnecessary services, distractions, and outdated processes.
• Refining client onboarding – Automating workflows and creating seamless client experiences.
• Defining business goals – How Shaun and Rebecca are balancing growth without overloading their businesses.
• Streamlining bookkeeping and financial tracking – The power of visibility into revenue and profitability.
• Focusing on high-impact marketing – Using brand voice, case studies, and strategic website updates to attract dream clients.
• Investing in professional development – How conferences, networking, and masterminds are fueling business growth in 2025.

Want exclusive behind-the-scenes content, monthly live calls, and 20% off our shop? Join us on Patreon: Patreon.com/hydc and be part of our designer community!

• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Stay connected: Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Meredith Huck, founder and principal designer of House of Huck, joins Shaun and Rebecca to share her journey from corporate sales to running her boutique interior design firm in coastal Connecticut. Meredith discusses her time-saving processes, the value of clear boundaries, and the creative inspiration behind her rapid success.

Discover how her corporate background helped her build efficient systems and how she uses innovative tools like QR codes to streamline communication with vendors and trades.

• Meredith's transition from corporate sales to design – How her background shaped her business practices.
• Efficient processes and tools – Why QR codes and meticulous documentation make her projects run smoothly.
• Balancing motherhood and business – Tips on time-blocking and setting boundaries for a thriving design firm.
• Building strong vendor relationships – How trades are an extension of her brand and why professionalism matters.
• Lessons in client relationships – How Meredith ensures her clients are a perfect fit for her style and processes.

• Follow Meredith Huck:
• Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• Visit House of Huck: Website
• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Shaun and Rebecca dive into a mixed bag of topics this week, sharing personal updates, industry insights, and reflections as they kick off a new year. From refining boundaries to tackling social media fatigue, this candid conversation is full of relatable moments and tips for navigating the ever-evolving design industry.

• Kicking off 2025 – Celebrating milestones, setting intentions, and navigating the new year.
• Refining client boundaries – Learning to say “no” and how it opens doors to better opportunities.
• Evolving marketing strategies – The ups and downs of social media and exploring alternative ways to market your design business.
• Staying connected – How to balance professional networking with personal rest.
• Insights from the industry – Reflections on events, trends, and the changing role of designers.

• Join us on Patreon: Patreon.com/hydc
• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Stay connected: Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Join us as we dive deep with Heather Knight-Wilcock, a Southern California interior designer and owner of Heather KW Styles and Copper Interiors. Heather opens up about her creative journey, balancing a design and staging business, and the importance of adaptability and resilience in the ever-evolving world of interior design.

• Heather's unique approach to building her brand in interior design and real estate staging
• Transitioning to construction-focused projects and the challenges of balancing multiple businesses
• The art of staging and styling — How Heather and her partner create personalized, emotionally compelling spaces that help properties sell
• Creative storytelling through design — Building fictional “lifestyle stories” to stage each space for target buyers
• Managing client relationships and setting boundaries in a high-touch service industry
• Heather's approach to client onboarding with detailed surveys and in-depth consultations that streamline project alignment

• Check out Heather KW Styles Instagram and Website for a look at her recent projects and services.
• Explore Copper Interiors’ real estate staging portfolio here.

• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Stay connected: Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

As the year comes to a close, Shaun and Rebecca take a reflective journey through their professional wins, challenges, and the lessons they've learned. From defining client relationships to leveraging AI for productivity, this episode offers a candid report card on their goals and the shifts they’ve experienced in 2024.

Tune in for insights, strategies, and a little humor to guide you into the new year with clarity and purpose.

• Looking back on 2024 goals – Did we crush them or get crushed?
• Top highlights from past episodes – Revisiting conversations on AI, boundary-setting, and emotional growth in design.
• Leveraging AI tools – How AI transformed our workflows and client experiences this year.
• Refining client relationships – Why saying “no” can lead to bigger “yeses.”
• Breaking free of outdated norms – The evolving role of self-promotion and authenticity on social media.
• Managing professional and personal balance – Small changes that create lasting impact.

• EP118: Do Designers Have Rights?
• EP119: A Conversation with Ashley Ausland, How her personal hardship lead to growth
• EP125: Crystal Bright, How she streamlines virtual projects with Design Live
• EP128: Just Stop VII: The Squeakquel, Vendors, Renders & Offenders
• Rebecca's Instagram: Studio Plumb
• Shaun's Instagram: Wrensted Interiors
• Stay connected: Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Explore more: Hot Young Designers Club Website
• Shop our design resources: Hot Young Designers Club Shop

Support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your design besties. For exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Don’t treat relationships as one-night stands. Build and maintain strong connections with clients and colleagues beyond just the project – it’s key to success. At the same time, set boundaries because giving too much can drain you. Respectful boundaries allow you to nurture relationships without losing yourself in the process. 

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca talk with interior designer Nicole White about the importance of building strong relationships and how setting boundaries is key to staying balanced and successful.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Nicole’s journey from being a journalist to becoming an interior designer
• The challenges Nicole faced in her career as a self-taught designer without a formal design education
• Elitism and lack of support in the design industry when Nicole started
• Evolution of the design industry and the shift in cultural attitudes toward helping and supporting each other
• Nicole’s approach to mentoring and supporting younger designers
• The importance of building strong, long-lasting relationships in the industry
• Being approachable and offering guidance while maintaining boundaries
• The importance of self-care and separating personal and business life
• Pros and cons of social media for designers
• Nicole’s strategy for managing social media presence and the importance of authenticity and not feeling pressured to conform to trends
• Nicole’s collaboration with Leftbank

Mentioned:

Check out Nicole’s portfolio: https://nwdinteriors.com/

Follow Nicole White Designs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolewhitedesignsinteriors/

Nicole draws inspiration from Mick De Giulio’s kitchen: https://www.instagram.com/degiuliodesign/

Nicole’s collection with Leftbank Art: https://leftbankart.com/ARTIST-Nicole%20White

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Talking about money with clients can be super awkward. But here’s the thing, the real problem might not be the clients, it could be you! In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca discuss their experiences and approaches to navigating these tricky money conversations with clients. They also share their new Interior Design Client Questionnaire tool that makes those money talks a lot less awkward. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• How to have less awkward conversations with clients about money and budgets
• Starting budget conversations early to avoid surprises later
• Clients often have outdated information about costs, based on what their family members paid in the past
• Examples of clients being disappointed when the actual project costs are much higher than they expected
• Interior design client questionnaire with over 100 questions to guide client discussions
• Strategies to screen out clients with unrealistic budgets early on
• Tips for staying calm when clients react to unexpected prices and how to educate them on costs

Mentioned:

See what’s new on our Blog: https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/blog/

Submit one of your projects to be featured on our Blog: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/65eb93c448cd67003a74507a

Have you checked out our new Interior Design Client Questionnaire: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/interior-design-client-questionnaire

Furnishing Budget Calculator: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/furnishing-budget-calculator

Client Purchasing Guide: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/client-purchasing-guide

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Jeanne Chung — an interior designer who used to work in fashion for 20 years before switching to interior design. Jeanne shares her story of how she made this big career change, the challenges she faced, and how she built her business from the ground up.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Jeanne’s background in fashion design and her transition from fashion design to interior design
• Going back to school for interior design, starting her design business, and opening a design showroom with her husband
• Using blogging and attending industry events to get recognition and credibility in the interior design industry
• The impact and value of attending industry events like the High Point Market in growing her business
• The benefits and challenges of working with her husband in the business
• Using technology and AI tools (like Fireflies.ai) to improve efficiency in her work
• The importance of customization and original design in her projects
• Tips for designers on balancing creative and administrative tasks

Mentioned:

Follow Jeanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozystylishchic/?hl=en0

Cozy Stylish Chic on Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/cozystylishchic/ 

Cozy Stylish Chic on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cozystylishchic/ 

Check out Jeanne’s work on her website: https://www.cozystylishchic.com/

Jeanne is hosting the Insiders Tour at Fall High Point Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/InsidersTour

JK Chung Interiors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkchunginteriors/

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Can you send me your template for that project? What do you put in your client contracts? Can you send me the exact document you use for your project management? It’s tempting to ask for the tools, templates, and processes of successful designers, but you know what? There’s more to being successful than copying someone else’s process or templates.

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca discuss the value of developing your own processes and finding your way in the design industry. They remind you that it’s not about copying someone else’s way of doing things—it’s about developing a process that works best for YOU.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The awkwardness of people asking for resources and the importance of setting boundaries
• The challenges of sharing design processes and the importance of not copying others’ work
• The vulnerability of sharing work with other designers
• Learning from resources like podcasts and building your knowledge
• The importance of avoiding comparing yourself to other designers and focusing on developing your unique process
• How the unique personality of each designer shapes their business
• The value of building a community of designers and developing genuine relationships instead of just asking for templates or tools
• Adapting and improving your process through self-awareness and continuous experimentation

Mentioned:

Have you checked out what’s new on the HYDC blog? https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/blog/

My Chief Architect Upgrade Journey: https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/my-chief-architect-upgrade-journey/

What disclosures do you put on an interior design drawings? https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/what-disclosures-do-you-put-on-an-interior-design-drawing/

Have your project featured on the HYDC blog: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/65eb93c448cd67003a74507a

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop