Shaun and Rebecca are getting real about the messy overlap between interior design, construction project management, and everything clients assume is included in “project management.” After catching up on home renovations, home office frustrations, and the never-ending search for furniture that actually functions, they dig into how Rebecca is refining her discovery calls to better qualify potential interior design clients and uncover what they really want from their homes.

Then, they tackle a bigger question for interior designers working on construction projects: Are we actually managing the construction, or are we managing the design intent? They talk through contractor responsibilities, client expectations, liability, job site walkthroughs, and why designers need much clearer language around what project management does—and does not—include. They also explore whether construction milestone meetings could become a defined, systematized, and profitable part of an interior designer’s scope of work.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why today’s home office furniture still isn’t meeting the way people actually work from home
• How thoughtful discovery call questions can uncover a client’s priorities, design style, budget expectations, and readiness to hire an interior designer
• Why asking potential clients what they want their new home to give them can reveal the real problem they’re trying to solve
• The difference between construction project management and managing the designer’s design intent
• Why interior designers need to clearly define what “project management” means in their proposals and contracts
• How contractor communication, scheduling, and client expectations can create gaps that designers often end up filling
• Why defining milestone walkthroughs for framing, plumbing, electrical, tile, and other construction phases could protect the design and clarify the designer’s role
• How systematizing and pricing construction site visits could turn an often-unpaid responsibility into a more intentional revenue stream

Mentioned:

• EP160: Renée Biery, “The Only Girl on the Job Site”
• EP90: A Conversation with Rachel Moriarty

Sponsors:

• Hot Young Designers Club is brought to you by Programa. Learn more at programahq.link/hydc

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

Sponsors:

Hot Young Designers Club is brought to you by Programa. Learn more at programahq.link/hydc.

What can Costco hot dogs and Hermès handbags teach interior designers about running a high-end design business? Quite a lot, apparently. Rebecca and Shaun dig into the wildly different business models behind Costco and Hermès and uncover surprising lessons about luxury, value, trust, vendor relationships, pricing, craftsmanship, and creating a brand clients believe in.

They also catch up on some big personal and business changes, including Shaun’s decision to leave his studio and reduce overhead, Rebecca’s adventures in home renovation and color drenching, and the importance of making strategic business decisions with trusted advisors. From cost-plus pricing and designer discounts to vintage sourcing and what actually defines a luxury client, this episode explores how interior designers can create more profitable businesses while delivering an experience that feels truly high-end.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why Shaun decided to give up his office space, reduce overhead, and make aggressive financial moves for the next chapter of his interior design business
• How working with a CPA and financial advisor can help designers make smarter decisions about expenses, profitability, retirement, and long-term business goals
• Rebecca’s spontaneous color-drenched hallway and the design concept of “compression and release” inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright
• What the Acquired podcast’s deep dive into Costco reveals about limited product selection, strong supplier relationships, customer trust, and delivering exceptional value
• How designers can build deeper vendor relationships and use purchasing power to create better pricing without making a luxury design service feel “cheap”
• Whether a cost-plus pricing model can work for high-end interior design, especially when sourcing custom furniture, vintage pieces, and products from preferred vendors
• What Hermès teaches us about craftsmanship, consistency, exclusivity, brand identity, and creating luxury products that clients desire beyond pure functionality
• The difference between offering a luxury design service and working with a truly luxury client who values trust, access, one-of-a-kind pieces, expertise, and the finished result over price shopping

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

What stories are your clients telling about working with you? Shaun and Rebecca welcome back Rick Campos, founder of Design Biz Survival Guide and a certified Unreasonable Hospitality coach, to explore how interior designers can create a client experience that goes far beyond great service. Drawing from Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality, Rick explains why making clients feel seen, heard, and understood can become one of the strongest differentiators for an interior design business.

They talk about identifying client-facing touchpoints, creating meaningful moments without relying on expensive gifts, and tailoring hospitality to what each individual client actually values. Rick also shares how designers can bring hospitality into difficult moments, from delivering bad news to handling installation problems, why picking up the phone still matters, and how thoughtful client experiences can generate repeat business, referrals, and the kind of word-of-mouth marketing money can’t buy.

In this episode they discuss:

• The difference between client service and true hospitality—and why hospitality is about how you make people feel
• How to identify client-facing touchpoints and turn ordinary parts of your interior design process into memorable experiences
• Why generic gifts and branded swag often fall flat compared to thoughtful gestures based on what you’ve actually learned about your client
• How listening, observing, and understanding what an individual client values can help you personalize their interior design experience
• Why human connection and emotional intelligence are increasingly important differentiators for interior designers in an AI-driven world
• How to use hospitality when something goes wrong, including why Rick believes in telling the truth, telling it fast, and personally delivering bad news
• How respecting a client’s time, communication style, family schedule, and desired level of involvement can be a form of luxury hospitality
• Why creating stories clients want to retell can lead to stronger referrals, repeat clients, and long-term growth for your interior design business

Mentioned:

• Design Biz Survival Guide - https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/
• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara - https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/

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

What happens when you build an interior design business around creativity, connection, and trusting your instincts? Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Whitney Romanoff, founder and principal designer of Meet West Studio in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to talk about her unconventional path from international relations and management consulting to running a growing interior design firm.

Whitney shares how her corporate background shaped her approach to client communication, team leadership, and difficult conversations about money, as well as why creating a genuine connection with clients leads to stronger creative work. They also get into building a design team that gives you more freedom, creating a recognizable interior design brand, finding inspiration through music and travel, making the leap into boutique hospitality design, and learning when outsourcing is smarter than doing everything yourself.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Whitney left a career in management consulting and took a chance on herself to launch Meet West Studio without a traditional interior design degree
• Building a six-person interior design team and transitioning longtime designers into leadership roles so Whitney can spend more time on creative direction
• Why a distinctive brand, strong point of view, and unexpected references can help an interior design firm attract more aligned clients
• How music, travel, storytelling, and mood boards influence Whitney’s creative process and the cinematic spaces Meet West Studio creates
• Why trust, shared values, and a genuine connection with interior design clients can make both the design process and the finished work better
• Giving yourself permission to see beauty and interior design as a meaningful service that can improve the way clients experience their everyday lives
• What Whitney learned taking on an 88-room boutique hotel, including commercial sourcing, value engineering, and outsourcing large-scale procurement
• Why investing in the right team members and an interior-design-specific financial expert can give firm owners more freedom, confidence, and capacity to pursue bigger opportunities

Mentioned:

• Meet West Studio
• Meet West Studio Instagram
• McGhee Financials
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

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

What if the reason you can’t focus, make decisions, or tap into your creativity isn’t a lack of discipline—but a lack of capacity? Shaun and Rebecca sit down with executive advisor, business coach, keynote speaker, and author Angie Wisdom to talk about protecting the finite mental and emotional resources we rely on to run our businesses and our lives.

Angie breaks down why interior designers are especially vulnerable to capacity overload, how constant decisions and “search friction” drain our brains, and why pushing through burnout usually makes things worse. They also explore nervous system regulation, morning routines, habit building, self-trust, people pleasing, navigating genuinely hard seasons of life, and learning to modify your expectations instead of abandoning what matters to you. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to discipline your way into doing more, this conversation offers a completely different framework for creating sustainable success.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why your brain has a finite amount of daily capacity and how to think of it like the battery on your phone
• The mental, emotional, physical, and nervous system “leaks” that can drain your capacity before the workday is even over
• Angie’s CAP framework—Catch, Ask, Prompt—for recognizing when you’re overloaded and choosing what you need next
• Why interior designers can’t simply hustle or push through creative burnout when there’s no capacity left to access
• How discipline uses valuable mental capacity and why turning behaviors into habits and identity makes them easier to sustain
• How morning routines, proactive decision-making, and reducing “search friction” can protect your energy for the work that matters
• Creating realistic modifications during hard seasons of life instead of waiting to “survive” them before prioritizing yourself
• How self-trust, values, and intentional capacity management can make you a stronger business owner, creative, leader, and service provider

Mentioned:

• Angie Wisdom - https://angiewisdom.com/
• Angie Wisdom on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/angiewisdom_/
• The Non-Negotiable You: Mindset Mastery for Daily Success - https://angiewisdom.com/product/the-non-negotiable-you-mindset-mastery-for-daily-success/

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

Summer is summering, and Shaun and Rebecca are feeling every bit of the chaos. They catch up on Rebecca’s daughter starting middle school, the impending disruption of a home flooring project, sensory overload, and what it looks like to raise kids who can advocate for themselves instead of having every problem solved for them. They also share an exciting update on the upcoming Hot Young Designers Club Mexico City trip, designed to give interior designers a chance to connect, explore, and actually let someone else handle the planning for once.

Then it’s time to bring back a Hot Young Designers Club classic: Just Stop. Shaun, Rebecca, and the Hotties weigh in on the interior design trends and industry habits they’re ready to see less of—from an endless supply of tiny cordless lamps and default Shaker cabinets to questionable 3D-rendering marketing, publicly dragging your competitors, and asking other interior designers to hand over their expertise for free.

In this episode they discuss:

• Navigating life, work, parenting, and a home renovation when everything seems to be happening at the same time
• Helping kids build independence, organization, self-advocacy, and habits that actually work for their brains
• The upcoming Hot Young Designers Club Mexico City trip and creating an intimate, low-stress travel experience for interior designers
• Why the design industry might officially have enough tiny rechargeable cordless lamps
• Whether 3D renderings belong on an interior designer’s website or Instagram—and how to use them effectively as marketing content
• Why designers can communicate their value without publicly tearing down competitors or other creatives
• The case against defaulting to Shaker cabinets and how designers can help clients make more adventurous cabinetry choices
• Why asking another interior designer to “pick their brain” should come with an offer to pay for their expertise and time

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

How well is your interior design inquiry form actually qualifying potential clients? In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca explore how budget dropdowns, minimum project investments, investment guides, and consultations can shape the quality of your leads. They discuss the tension between filtering out unqualified inquiries and educating promising clients who have the money to invest but do not yet understand what furnishing and renovation projects cost.

They also unpack a viral designer post announcing a public “breakup” with furniture vendor Four Hands. The conversation expands into vendor relationships, furniture damage claims, buying power, client-facing marketing, rage bait, and whether interior designers should use their business accounts to educate other designers. Plus, they share a tariff-refund surprise, debate realistic measurement tolerances, and offer a quick update from Las Vegas Market.

In this episode they discuss:

• How budget ranges on an interior design inquiry form can attract, qualify, or accidentally discourage potential clients
• Why some high-value clients need pricing education before they are ready to commit to a six-figure design investment
• Using consultations, investment guides, and automated responses to create different paths for different types of leads
• When a high closing rate may signal that it is time to raise your design fees, expand your team, or increase your project minimums
• Why designers should regularly audit their inquiry process, website links, lead data, and client experience
• The risks of publicly criticizing a furniture vendor on a client-facing interior design account
• How designer education and coaching content can confuse potential clients when it is mixed into a residential design firm’s marketing
• Vendor buying power, damaged furniture, tariff refunds, realistic site-measurement tolerances, and the changing Las Vegas Market experience

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

What do reality television production and running an interior design firm have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Patrick Maziarski, founder and principal designer of Beau Geste Interior Design, to trace his creative journey from growing up in Canada and working in reality TV to studying design in Los Angeles and building his own interior design business.

Patrick shares how production taught him to manage budgets, schedules, crews, and countless moving parts—skills that now help him lead complex residential design projects. They also discuss finding your voice online, building a portfolio that attracts aligned clients, conducting meaningful client programming, navigating business pivots, and Patrick’s plans for a Beau Geste rebrand, a community-facing studio, and his newest entrepreneurial idea: Trapper Coffee.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Patrick’s Canadian upbringing, creative family, and early interest in filmmaking shaped his path to interior design
• The transferable project management, budgeting, scheduling, and relationship-building skills he gained while working in reality television
• Moving to Los Angeles, attending UCLA Extension, finding mentors, and learning the real-world side of the interior design industry
• The career experiences that gave Patrick the confidence to launch Beau Geste Interior Design
• Recommitting to Beau Geste after a design-build partnership changed direction and refining the firm’s identity
• Why showing your personality online can attract the right interior design clients while repelling the wrong ones
• Patrick’s deeply personal approach to client programming and incorporating family history, culture, lifestyle, and meaningful details into a home
• Upcoming project photography, the Beau Geste rebrand, plans for a street-level studio, and the launch of Trapper Coffee in Los Angeles

Mentioned:

• Beau Geste Interior Design website - https://www.beaugeste.design/
• Beau Geste Interior Design Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/beaugeste.design/
• Patrick Maziarski’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patrickm.design/

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

Interior designer Linette Dai joins Shaun and Rebecca to share how she built Linette Dai Design by following opportunities, embracing discomfort, and working backward from the kind of business and life she wanted to create. Linette reflects on her unconventional path into interior design, from operating a boba shop and teaching English in Taiwan to helping renovate investment properties and eventually studying interior architecture at UCLA Extension.

The conversation explores what it takes to move into the luxury design market, invest in professional photography and public relations, build a collaborative team, and become more visible even when self-promotion feels uncomfortable. Linette also shares how ADHD, curiosity, meticulousness, and a willingness to ask questions have become creative superpowers that help her develop thoughtful, highly customized interiors.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Linette transitioned through several careers before discovering interior design
• Building an interior design business organically through referrals, freelancing, and hands-on experience
• Why business partnerships require clearly defined roles, expectations, and complementary skill sets
• Working backward from long-term goals to identify the uncomfortable steps required to achieve them
• Why affordable luxury can be difficult to sustain and how Linette shifted toward luxury interior design
• Investing time in networking, industry events, professional photography, PR, and relationship building
• Turning ADHD traits, curiosity, overthinking, and meticulous attention to detail into design superpowers
• Hiring freelance and hourly support, delegating tasks, and building a lean interior design team

Mentioned:

• Linette Dai Design
• Linette Dai Design on Instagram

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

Rebecca and Shaun catch up on the invisible work behind creative businesses and everyday life—from recovering after an intense project push to building routines that support mental health without falling into hustle culture. They explore the difference between discipline and consistency, the value of rest, emotional check-ins, and why sustainable habits often work better when they are quiet rather than performative.

The conversation moves into the realities of managing interior design construction projects, communicating renovation timelines, selecting durable terrazzo materials, and deciding what historic details can realistically be preserved. They also dream up a better inspiration platform for interior designers before spiraling into Pinterest, artificial intelligence, virtual influencers, and AI-generated music—and ultimately deciding it may be a wrap on society.

In this episode they discuss:

• Recovering from burnout, “bonking,” and the guilt that can come with taking time to rest
• Why consistency may be a healthier and more sustainable goal than discipline
• Creating flexible morning routines that support creativity, movement, and mental health
• Using emotional check-ins to communicate more clearly with clients and contractors
• Managing client expectations during demolition, flooring installation, and disruptive home renovations
• Choosing resin terrazzo and other durable interior design materials without sacrificing visual interest
• Preserving vintage homes and architectural details while recognizing when something can no longer be saved
• Imagining a curated inspiration platform for interior designers—and questioning the future of Pinterest, AI influencers, and AI-generated music

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