Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast

This week, Shaun and Rebecca are joined by Natalie Papier of Home Ec Op to talk all things color, creativity, and carving your own design path. Natalie shares how her background in fine art has shaped her interiors, how she grew her business organically through Instagram, and the whirlwind of launching multiple product lines, filming a design TV show, and publishing her first book. She opens up about the real-life chaos behind the scenes and the power of staying true to your aesthetic.

In this episode they discuss:

• Natalie's journey from fine artist to interior designer
• Filming Artfully Designed and navigating behind-the-scenes challenges
• How her book Start with the Art came to life and what she learned
• Collaborating with brands like Mitzi and Mitchell Black on product lines
• Balancing client work with content creation and licensing deals
• The importance of boundaries and fit in client relationships
• How she handles unsolicited opinions and the downsides of virality
• Why midlife is actually the best time for creative evolution

In this episode they discuss:

• Rasheeda’s transition from corporate marketing to full-time interior design
• Building a business while juggling a 9-to-5 job and family responsibilities
• Collaborating with her husband to create a design-construction duo
• The significance of community and mentorship in her career growth
• Revising her pricing structure to enhance profitability and cash flow
• Leveraging local television as an effective marketing tool
• Balancing flat-fee and hourly billing to meet creative and business needs
• Preparing for her most significant TV project to date and expanding Gray Space's recognition

Mentioned:

• Home Ec Op Website
• Home Ec Op Instagram
• Natalie’s Wallpaper Collection with Mitchell Black
• Artfully Designed on Discovery +
• Home Ec Collection with Mitzi Lighting
• Natalie’s Book: Start with the 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

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Shaun and Rebecca open up about their personal mental health journeys and how those experiences impact their lives as interior designers and creative entrepreneurs. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, they shed light on how common mental health struggles are within the design industry, and how important it is to build a life and business that supports your mind and body.

Together, they share their own stories of burnout, depression, therapy, and medication, while encouraging fellow designers to normalize conversations around emotional well-being. This isn't about quick fixes—it's about real talk, compassion, and taking steps (big or small) toward mental resilience in a creative industry that often demands so much.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why it's important to name and acknowledge your emotional state without shame
• The emotional crash that can follow the adrenaline of busy periods and client work
• Tips for recognizing and responding to situational versus long-term depression
• The benefits of therapy, medication, and consistent mental health check-ins
• How somatic stretching and body awareness can support emotional release
• Drawing boundaries with email, social media, and business energy drains
• The struggle of detaching your identity from your business and client feedback
• Finding healing and connection through your design community and close friends

Mentioned:

• BetterHelp
• TalkSpace
• Psychology Today

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 sit down with interior designer and TV personality Rasheeda Gray of Gray Space Interiors. Rasheeda shares how she transitioned from a 15-year corporate marketing career into a thriving design business — and how she made her purpose and passion align. They also dive into how she’s leveraged local television and mentorships to grow her brand, and what it’s really like running a business with your partner.

From juggling 20 projects while holding down a full-time job to building a renovation-focused business with her husband, Rasheeda gets real about the hustle behind the glam. She also shares her evolving pricing strategies, her love for marketing, and what it takes to step into the spotlight on national TV.

In this episode they discuss:

• Rasheeda’s shift from corporate marketing to full-time design
• How she built her business while working a 9-to-5 and raising a family
• Partnering with her husband to create a design-construction power duo
• The importance of community and mentorship in building her career
• Reworking her pricing structure to protect profits and boost cash flow
• Using local television as a powerful marketing tool
• Balancing flat-fee and hourly billing to serve both creativity and business needs
• Preparing for her biggest TV project yet — and aiming to make Gray Space a household name

Mentioned:

• Gray Space Interiors: https://grayspaceinteriors.com/
• Rasheeda Gray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayspaceinteriors/
• Rasheeda Gray on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grayspaceinteriordesign/
• Kelly Collier-Clark: https://www.instagram.com/kellycollierclark/
• House of Clark Interiors: https://www.instagram.com/houseofclarkinteriors/
• Cheryl Luckett: https://www.instagram.com/dwellbycheryl/?hl=en

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 are back with another Mixed Baggie episode filled with updates, rants, and juicy industry talk! Rebecca shares a major manifestation win — landing a restaurant design opportunity just weeks after putting it out into the universe. They dig into writing proposals and pricing for commercial work, hitting critical mass in your business, and dealing with clients who have unrealistic expectations. Plus, they get real about how wild remodeling costs have gotten, and the emotional struggle with paying more for everything, even as consumers.

In this episode they discuss:

• Rebecca’s restaurant project manifestation story and how it happened almost too fast
• How Rebecca structured her first commercial project proposal and what she learned
• Hitting critical mass in business and the terrifying feeling of leveling up
• Why discovery calls can be painful when clients have unrealistic budgets and timelines
• Remodeling costs in 2025 and why even ChatGPT’s numbers might be too low
• The hard truth that not every designer can—or should—work with 1% clients
• Why it's important to pay for upgrades, even monthly app fees, to scale your business
• More Facebook group drama and the politics of online designer communities

Mentioned:

• Harvest App (https://www.getharvest.com/)
• Acuity Scheduling (https://acuityscheduling.com/)
• Noir Furniture (https://www.noirfurniturela.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

In this powerful and soul-nourishing episode, Rebecca and Shaun welcome special guest Coach Jackie (aka Jacquelyn Vasquez), a money mindset coach who’s all about helping entrepreneurs shift their inner narratives to transform their outer realities. With her background in NLP, EFT, and hypnosis, Coach Jackie offers actionable insights and energetic real-talk to help creatives, especially interior designers, break through blocks around self-worth, fear, and money.

If money mindset has ever held you back in your design business, this episode will inspire you to reframe your thoughts, trust your journey, and dream bigger. Jackie shares her own personal stories of manifestation and energetic alignment while guiding listeners to step into their most confident, wealthy, and authentic selves.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why money mindset blocks are rooted in fear and self-worth
• How to shift out of scarcity and embody your next-level self
• The link between procrastination and self-doubt in your business
• Creating your “alter ego” to help show up with confidence
• Reprogramming beliefs through affirmations and visualization
• How to let go of control and trust the journey (especially with money!)
• Letting go of outdated narratives around wealth and success
• Why manifestation works best when you detach from the "how"
• 
  

Mentioned:

• The Pursuit To Happy Website
• The Pursuit To Happy on Instagram
• The Pursuit To Happy on TikTok
• The Pursuit To Happy on YouTube
• Clear Your Money Blocks Course

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 bring back their fan-favorite "Just Stop" series, diving into the latest industry grievances and personal pet peeves. From unexpected social media drama to frustrating client revisions, they share unfiltered takes on what needs to stop in the design world. If you’ve ever dealt with a client revising a project into oblivion or questioned the logic behind tiny shower windows, this episode is for you!

• A surprising Facebook group mystery—who blocked Rebecca and why?
• The exhausting cycle of clients who over-revise and degrade their own designs
• Why some designers take on too many projects for the money and end up drowning in work
• The battle of parenting culture and why we need to stop making everything "kid-proof"
• How restaurant design is failing—why spending money on bad design is just as costly as good design
• The case against tiny shower windows—why are they still a thing?
• Learning to say no to projects that don’t excite you and staying true to the work you love

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.

In this episode, we're sitting down with Caroline Turner of Caroline Turner Interiors and Confessions of an Interior Designer to talk about running a design business, building a waitlist, handling referrals (or not), and using social media for client growth. Caroline shares her unfiltered thoughts on why she’s not a fan of referrals, how she sets project minimums, and the major shifts she’s made in her business to improve workflow. Plus, we get into her viral TikToks, the future of AI in design, and her juicy behind-the-scenes confessions from working in the industry. If you’ve ever had to tell a contractor to “suck your dick” (or wanted to), this episode is for you!

• How Caroline built her business and team structure
• The benefits of creating a waitlist for projects
• Why she doesn’t love getting referrals—and how they can cause problems
• Setting minimum project investment amounts and how that changed her business
• Learning to fire clients (and how some refused to be fired!)
• The role TikTok has played in her business growth
• The impact of AI on the design industry and why designers need to be cautious
• Her experience taking over a project after another designer was let go
• The challenges of working with contractors and standing firm on budget conversations
• How she launched Confessions of an Interior Designer and what it’s really like running a podcast

Caroline Turner Interiors

https://carolineturner.co/

Follow Caroline Turner Interiors on Instagram and TikTok

https://www.instagram.com/carolineturnerinteriors/?hl=en

Confessions of an Interior Designer Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions-of-an-interior-designer/id1777908471

Rebecca's Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/studioplumb/?hl=en

Shaun's Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/wrenstedinteriors/?hl=en

Join Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/hydc

Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-young-designers-club-interior-design-business-podcast/id1505427626

Shop HYDC

https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/

Visit Our Website

https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/

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.