Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast

Rebecca and Shaun are back with a classic HYDC catch-up episode—covering everything from creative ruts and tile inspiration to mattress upgrades and the strange ways we all unwind after long design days. If you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling design materials, obsessing over the perfect bed, or wondering why your brain suddenly works differently after 40… this one’s for you.

The hosts dive into tile sourcing adventures, experimenting with creative practices outside of work, and the surprising ways designers recharge. From Japanese-inspired tile showrooms to the economics of custom beds and the eternal quest for better sleep, this episode wanders delightfully through the real-life thoughts and distractions of running a design business while staying creatively inspired.

In this episode they discuss:

• Shaun’s hunt for Japanese-inspired tile and the unique glazes, textures, and shapes showing up in specialty tile lines
• How experimenting with low-pressure creative practices (like sketching or figure drawing) can help reignite inspiration
• The challenges of specifying custom furniture and understanding manufacturer pricing structures
• Why designers should deeply learn the product lines they specify to avoid costly mistakes
• The surprising role beds, sleep setups, and nighttime routines play in maintaining creative energy
• How trends like tobacco browns and layered neutrals are showing up in current design palettes
• The hosts’ evolving perspectives on aging, creativity, and the shifting priorities that come with experience
• Shaun’s mission to finally get new headshots that better reflect his brand and personality

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

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca are joined by returning favorites Heather of Heather KW Styles and Lauren of Studio Laloc for an unfiltered designer roundtable. What starts as a chat about Danish hardware and custom furniture quickly spirals into tariffs, turning down nightmare projects, presentation strategies, ideal clients, and—yes—an unforgettable handyman story.

From navigating red flags on discovery calls to debating whether we’d decorate a Miami Vice mansion for the right price, this episode is equal parts business strategy and design therapy. If you’ve ever questioned a client fit, struggled with pricing under tariffs, or wondered how other designers hold their boundaries, this one’s for you.

In this episode they discuss:

1. Why presenting one strong design concept can lead to fewer revisions and stronger client trust
2. How tariffs are impacting pricing, sourcing, and designer-client conversations in real time
3. When it’s smart (and necessary) to turn down a high-paying project
4. The red flags that show up during discovery calls—and how to handle them professionally
5. Why ideal clients often have collections, strong opinions, and shared values
6. Flat fee vs. hourly structures and how that affects presentation strategy
7. The power of designer friendships and creative accountability groups
8. A truly unhinged handyman story that proves vetting referrals matters

Mentioned:

1. Studio Laloc (https://www.studiolaloc.com/)
2. Heather KW Styles (https://www.heatherkwstyles.com/)

Our links:

1. Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
2. Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
3. Rebecca’s Instagram
4. Shaun’s Instagram
5. For more information - Check out the website
6. Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
7. Design Resources - Check out our shop

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun cover everything from skunk-induced wake-up calls to the realities of private equity in the design industry—before diving deep into the creative growing pains that come with leveling up your interiors. If you’ve ever felt burnt out on tile, uninspired by beige beds, or frustrated that nothing “off the rack” feels special enough, this one’s for you.

The big takeaway? Not every piece in a room can be the Beyoncé—but you do need at least one showstopper. Rebecca shares her current tile spiral, Shaun vents about the sea of neutral beds, and together they unpack why customization (even in small ways) is often the difference between basic and brilliant.

In this episode they discuss:

1. The recent acquisition of The Expert by Havenly—and what it signals about private equity’s growing influence in the interior design world
2. Feeling creatively boxed in by your own standards (aka: when you’ve trained clients to expect “cool tile” every time)
3. The struggle to source interesting, textured, and affordable tile that doesn’t feel overdone or Instagram-familiar
4. Why most beds on the market feel painfully beige—and how to push upholstery vendors toward better, more customized solutions
5. Smart ways to customize without going fully bespoke (split finishes, special applications, COM, trim details, and reupholstering standard pieces)
6. The value of handling complex details—like hardware specifications and mixed finishes—to prove your worth as a designer
7. Rebecca’s evolving brand pillars: cool, collected, layered, lived-in, and delightfully different—and how they function as a creative filter
8. The core philosophy: not every piece can be the Beyoncé, but every piece deserves intention—and at least one moment in the room must steal the show

Mentioned:

1. The Expert – https://www.theexpert.com
2. Havenly – https://havenly.com
3. Norwalk Furniture – https://www.norwalkfurniture.com
4. Fireclay Tile – https://www.fireclaytile.com
5. Zia Tile – https://www.ziatile.com
6. Dovetail – https://www.dovetailfurniture.com
7. Philip Jeffries – https://www.phillipjeffries.com

Our links:

1. Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
2. Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
3. Rebecca’s Instagram
4. Shaun’s Instagram
5. For more information - Check out the website
6. Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
7. Design Resources - Check out our shop

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun welcome back their friend Claire Jones, founder of Etch & Ivy Design in Sacramento. From quarter-life crisis to full-time interior designer, Claire shares how community, boundaries, and a recent business retreat reshaped the way she approaches her design firm.

The trio dives deep into mastermind dynamics, defining your ideal client (hint: it’s not based on Diet Coke preferences), setting minimums, managing anxiety in your workflow, and the power of surrounding yourself with designers who challenge and inspire you. It’s honest, hilarious, and full of real talk about leveling up without losing yourself.

In this episode they discuss:

1. How one brave lunch invitation led to a thriving design community and the creation of Happy Hour Design Collective
2. The evolution of Etch & Ivy Design and what it looks like to grow a business around your life (not the other way around)
3. Why defining your ideal client is about boundaries, not beverages
4. Setting design fee and purchasing minimums—and actually sticking to them
5. Time blocking, capacity limits, and how anxiety shows up differently for every designer
6. The value of retreats, masterminds, and getting outside your bubble to avoid stagnation
7. Why you don’t have to do business like everyone else (goodbye, unnecessary automations)
8. A spicy Facebook rant about $100K kitchens—and why some thoughts belong in your diary

Mentioned:

1. Happy Hour Design Collective - Instagram
2. Etch & Ivy Design - Instagram
3. Anything But Vanilla Podcast - Instagram

Our links:

1. Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
2. Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
3. Rebecca’s Instagram
4. Shaun’s Instagram
5. For more information - Check out the website
6. Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
7. Design Resources - Check out our shop

In this kickoff episode for 2026, Shaun and Rebecca get real about what’s holding them back in their design businesses—and what they’re doing about it. From car accidents to calendar overhauls, they unpack how they’re using systems and mindset shifts to create smoother, more profitable operations. This solo episode is filled with behind-the-scenes insights into the messy middle of implementing new processes and prepping for growth.

After a transformative retreat with business coach Renee Bush and other design peers, they share what they’re focusing on to get out of their own way this year. It’s part therapy, part strategy session, and fully relatable for anyone building a creative business while juggling life’s curveballs.

In this episode they discuss:

1. Rebecca’s recent car accident and the unexpected upside of letting go of an old vehicle
2. Why Rebecca is ditching instant discovery call booking for a more thoughtful intake process
3. How Shaun is proactively blocking time off and reorganizing his weekly calendar
4. The emotional load of proposals and how better forecasting is changing everything
5. Building systems to hire help and delegate without micromanaging
6. Setting and communicating clear project minimums without sounding like a jerk
7. Vetting clients with automation tools like Dubsado
8. Making space for life and business to coexist with better boundaries and clarity

Mentioned:

1. Tandem | Business coaching with Renee Bush
2. Basecamp
3. Dubsado
4. Studio Designer
5. Asana
6. Design Biz Retreat

Our links:

1. Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
2. Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
3. Rebecca’s Instagram
4. Shaun’s Instagram
5. For more information - Check out the website
6. Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
7. Design Resources - Check out our shop

Shaun and Rebecca are back to wrap up 2025 with their annual year-in-review tradition—and it turns out, it wasn’t all bad! In this episode, they share a candid look at the highs, lows, and the messy middle of running their interior design businesses this year. From surviving slowdowns and personal challenges to celebrating wins like tightened brand messaging and more aligned client projects, they prove that progress isn’t always loud, flashy, or Instagram-worthy.

They revisit the goals they set at the beginning of the year (in Episode 138) and dig into what worked, what didn’t, and why sometimes just holding steady is a success worth celebrating. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or new to the business, this episode offers inspiration and validation that your growth is happening—even if it’s slower than you expected.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why looking back—even when you don’t feel like it—is essential to growth
• How Shaun’s business remained resilient during a personally challenging year
• Rebecca’s experience finally finding the right bookkeeper and getting her finances dialed
• Their evolving relationships with designer on-call services and how to better qualify leads
• Why having fresh portfolio photography changed Rebecca’s marketing game
• How Shaun refined his brand voice and simplified his services for more aligned clients
• The value of investing in professional development through retreats and workshops
• The systems and automations they put in place to support bigger goals in 2026

Mentioned:

• Episode 138: What's out for 2025 - 6 goals for our businesses

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 guest Renée Biery of deVignier Design and host of the podcast Only Girl on the Jobsite. With a career spanning over 30 years, Renée has worked on complex construction‑heavy design projects (in New York, then now from Delaware) and now teaches interior designers how to confidently navigate construction, scope, budgets, and roles on site. She and the hosts dive into how designers can claim their role on job sites, manage relationships with contractors, and build business models that protect their value and their peace of mind.

In this conversation they discuss:

• What it’s like being “the only girl on the job site” and how gender dynamics still shape design + construction relationships.
• How Renée built her career—from design school at New York School of Interior Design to AD 100 firms, then launching her own firm—and how that experience informs her teaching today.
• Why integrating large‑scale construction projects (not just decorating) gives designers business resilience, and how she targets ~70 % construction/30 % decorating in her annual mix.
• Entry‑points for designers who want to add more construction management to their services (but feel intimidated)—Renée shares practical advice on framing your first job, setting expectations, and charging appropriately.
• How designers can take control of the budget on construction projects—especially by scrutinizing “allowances”, managing procurement, and protecting the furniture/decor budget.
• The “pretty proposal” trap: Why verbose, beautifully‑designed decks might cost you jobs (and profits), and how clarity and scope define professionalism.
• How to manage scope creep, addenda, and contract clarity—so you don’t end up working for free or losing value because someone assumed something was included.
• How to position your business model for sustainability—flat fees versus hourly, discovering what parts of your business you enjoy (and which parts you don’t), and building systems so you don’t carry all the friction yourself.

Mentioned:

• deVignier Design
• The Designers Edge
• Only Girl on the Jobsite Podcast

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 explore how interior designers can borrow luxury‑hospitality practices (think boutique hotels, high‑end resorts) and apply them to their own design businesses. They dig into the idea that service isn’t just about furniture or finishes–it’s about how you make your clients feel, and how you structure your process, your purchasing, your hiring, and your client‑experience to reflect that elevated standard. Along the way they share candid business talk about shifting models, hiring help, market tiers, and positioning.

In this conversation they discuss:

• The recent Facebook designer‑group debate about trade discounts vs deep pricing and what that means for profitability.
• How going up‑market and leveraging stocking dealer accounts can open room for margin (and why that old‑school model still has relevance).
• The concept of hospitality—drawn from the book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara—and how it applies to interior‑design business beyond restaurants. (Unreasonable Hospitality)
• Practical low‑starts for elevating client experience (handwritten notes, snack trays at presentations, anticipating needs) and the hard part: sustaining it over a full project.
• Shaun’s and Rebecca’s personal experiences: one signing a new project at a ‘lowest point,’ website copy finally working for leads, and the bravery of hiring operations/ procurement help.
• The shift from being “just a furniture order‑taker” to being a concierge, experience architect, and partner—and how that reframes your value proposition.
• The emotional and operational reality of hiring: knowing when you’re doing too much, needing to delegate, whether you’re ready to manage people (or handlers), and the fear of burning out or falling behind.
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Mentioned:

• Design Biz Survival Guide Retreat
• House of Savoy Instagram post example
• Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara

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

In this episode of the Hot Young Designers Club, Rebecca and Shaun welcome interior‑photographer turned editor and marketing strategist Jessica Burke to unpack when and why designers should not photograph—or publish—every single project. Jessica shares her transition from the wedding industry into shooting editorial interiors, how to evaluate when a project is worth photography, how to structure the relationship between designer and photographer (especially contracts/licensing), and how to strategically use imagery to attract your ideal clients and press.

In this friendly, candid conversation you’ll hear stories of photo‑shoot challenges, licensing headaches, and practical business strategies that interior designers can apply right now.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Jessica moved from wedding photography into interior design marketing and then interior‑shoot work — and the lessons she brought with her.
• Why shooting every project is not only expensive but may hurt your brand if the work doesn’t align with your vision.
• How to decide which spaces to shoot (and publish) and which to leave out or hold for later.
• Why building a trusted long‑term photographer‑designer relationship matters (and how it benefits both sides).
• Key contract and licensing issues designers should ask photographers before a shoot — e.g., copyright, vendor use, third‑party licensing.
• Growing a photography business and the parallel to growing a design firm: scaling, handing off work, outsourcing editing/licensing.
• How social media, PR, and vendor/product‑licensing have changed the interior‑photography landscape—what designers should watch out for.
• Jessica’s favorite (and least‑favorite) rooms to shoot, how to manage shoot stress and logistics, and her advice on working with a stylist and assistants.

Mentioned:

• Jessica Burke’s website: https://www.jessicaburke.com/
• Jessica’s Instagram: @jessicaburke
• The Haven List feature on Jessica Burke Photography: Haven

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

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun dive into everything designers need to know about attending Las Vegas Market — from travel logistics to strategy, networking, sourcing and setting up your post‑market follow‑up. Whether you're a veteran or preparing for your first market, they share hands‑on tips on planning, navigating the show, maximizing your time, and turning the experience into content and business wins.

In the discussion they cover how to approach the show grounds, how to be intentional rather than overwhelmed, how to balance work + enjoyment on the trip, and how to make sure your investment (time, money, travel) pays off once you’re back at your studio.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Rebecca and Shaun view Las Vegas Market as a “work trip that doesn’t feel messy” — accessible, fun, efficient.
• Pre‑registration, badge scanning, hotel & shuttle logistics so you’re not wasting time checking in.
• Apparel, shoes, bags, and what to bring (or leave behind) so you’re functional while sourcing.
• Planning your showroom visits: when to make appointments (and when not to), how to use the show app and preview guide.
• How to use the show as both business sourcing and content creation (photos, videos, trend‑spotting).
• Tips for managing time, energy, and collaboration if you bring a team or assistant.
• Post‑market hustle: organizing your photos/videos, documenting expenses, leveraging new vendor contacts, and keeping the momentum alive.
• Networking and social aspects: dinner reservations, meeting designer friends, and making the most of the “fun” side of market.
• Trend‑watching tactics: walking the floors with a mindset, capturing patterns, using the market as a source of inspiration for both client work and social content.

Mentioned:

• Las Vegas Market official site

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