Plot Twist Design Business Podcast

Kelly Collier-Clark is Founder & Principal of Plot Twist Design Firm in Blue Bell, PA. Kelly is also Owner of Plot Decor Boutique (online), a listing agent/Realtor®️ for going on 15 years, and an emerging Real Estate Investor. She is a wife and the mother of one college grad, Khristian; who officially stepped into the role of Lead Design Assistant this year. Kelly leads a small team out of the Blue Bell PA headquarters and has transformed residential and small commercial spaces throughout Philadelphia & surrounding counties, NJ, DE, and virtually as far as VA, NY, and TX. She has also shared home projects via her blog/ social platforms to inspire and be of influence for home furnishing brands. Kelly’s vast business acumen acquired & experiences through her corporate career built over the last 20 plus years has equipped her to run a well strategized, professional firm. Plot Twist Design was officially established at the top of 2019, while Kelly earned an interior design certification at Temple University in PA simultaneously. To date, Kelly has earned the privilege and honor in being named a Design Ambassador for What’s Now What’s Next by the New York Design Center for a second year in 2022. She was also a Style Spotter (design influencer) for Highpoint Market (HPMKT) 2022. HPMKT is the largest furniture market in the industry wide. Kelly has been featured in major design publications such as AD Pro, Apartment Therapy, Business of Home, Designers Today and others. Projects have been shared on the social platforms of furniture retailers like CB2, Z Gallerie, Raymour & Flannigan, Alora Lighting, Sherwin Williams and more from early on in her journey. In this episode Kelly is reflecting on the why behind the podcast, sharing about her rebranding currently in progress, importance in relationship building, personal thoughts about the Meridian Experience Conference (aka ME Conference), and exciting news shared here first. Is this a ME Season for Kelly? Unapologetically yes. Tune in to hear how she defines her ME Season and more.

O. Stephanie Beverly is Owner, Principal Interior Designer, and Artist at Twelve15 Design Studio based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Stephanie earned Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Wright State University, and my Master of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), ranked #1 for their Interior Design program. Stephanie began pursuing interior design alongside my “9 to 5” and in 2015, she launched Twelve15 Design Studio. In this episode Stephanie is sharing her design journey, her pivot from juggling a career and business to becoming a full time entrepreneur, how she balances being a newlywed interior, and more. design, she is also an artist. Stephanie creates a variety of mixed-media art pieces, and with every full-service interior design project she creates a custom, one-of-a-kind art piece for her clients. Stephanie’s proudest roles are as a servant to her Creator, a lovely wife to her husband, LeStavion (who happens to be a brilliant Architect), and a thriving plant mama. Fun Fact: The initial “O” is for Stephanie’s given name, Ofunneka (oh-foo-neck-uh). Fun fact- Stephanie is actually her middle name and the name she goes by most. Is it a ME Season for Stephanie? “Absolutely yes”!Tune in to hear why it’s her season and all the wisdom imparted in our conversation.

Marissa is the Principal Designer and owner of Glasshouse Interior Design Firm and Home Store based in the Windy City — Chicago, IL. With a background in art and fashion, Marissa specializes in innovative, luxury commercial and residential environments. Marissa is sharing her journey, the interesting story that fueled her start of her business, her new home store that started as an online & pop up shop, lessons learned with hiring and scaling her firm, and much more. Marissa uses interior decorating as an outlet. She poured herself into the world of interior design after her father passed and began styling rooms for close friends and family in 2016. With an abundant amount of passion and hard work, Marissa created Glasshouse Interior Design Firm and left her role as a visual manager for a major department store to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. She's now an inspiration to thousands of dedicated followers on Instagram who look to her for both design ideas and encouragement. This ME Season for Glass House Interior is beyond exciting. Tune in to hear all the details and branding gems Marissa dropped in our conversation.

Priscilla Baez is Owner and Principal Designer of MPB Design Co. located in Charlotte, NC.

Priscilla began her journey in the design industry in search of a sense of self and a creative outlet to offset corporate burnout, welcoming and balancing motherhood and the usual ups and downs of life. What started as planning and designing a first birthday party for her son in 2015, quickly grew to events and styling homes for friends and family. It became evident that design was more than a hobby and outlet. The passion she found and the pure joy it brought her, and others, felt purpose-filled and Priscilla founded MPB Design Co an event and interior design firm in 2017 and has designed over 30 events and homes since. In this episode Priscilla is sharing about her current “ME season” in transitioning into running her firm full time. She’s giving insight and inspiration to newer designers as we looked back into the earlier days, as well as how she navigates transparency with her son in the process of her daily routine changes, and more. While it is not uncommon to see a business that offers event and interior design under the same firm, MPB Design Co is unique in that it celebrates the intersection of moment and space where design comes to life. Priscilla envisions MPB Design Co to be the design partner that brings the joy and honors a family's legacy through celebrating their most memorable moments and curating their most special spaces as they grow and evolve. Tune in for a packed, fun conversation!

Vannie Paradis is head of design at her firm, Vannie Paradis in Boston, MA.

Inspired by the art of hospitality and the diverse cultures she has experienced throughout her global travels, Vannie creates meaningful spaces that evoke your senses and elevate your home. Known for designing relaxed and refined interiors that becomes a respite from the busyness of the world, Vannie illuminates her client's homes and vacation properties with tailor made solutions and multi-sensory interior design. Vannie typically designs throughout Boston, Rhode Island and the greater New England area but with travel as her love language, she is willing to go the distance. Originally from Haiti, Vannie has traveled the world immersing herself in the natural beauty and cultures of nearly 35 countries. In this episode Vannie is sharing about her experiences, the time had at the Meridian Experience Conference, how she tackled her first trip to Highpoint Market, gems about being efficient, and much more!

Vannie’s ME Season: Indulging in industry networking, having a well defined process, and seeing her experiences and expertise yield amazing success demonstrate itself with repeat clients and overall growth.

Albie Buabeng of Albie Knows has over a decade of retail visual merchandising and freelance marketing, sprinkled with a lifetime of experiences. Using her background of space design and storytelling, she took her real life lessons and launched an online interior design service. Albie’s love of design has evolved into a destination for inspiration centered around her blog, video, and social media content. In summer 2019, she released her first published book, Curate The Home You’re In: Effortlessly Create Your Everyday Dreamscape. The self-published title has served to encourage homeowners and renters alike to fall in love with their spaces again. After nearly three years of leveraging the power of online interior design, she have shifted my passion for designpreneurship in the digital space by founding her podcast, currently titled The T.E.A. With Albie. An all around idea-machine, her desire to contribute to the design community has also manifested in adapting the #sharethemicnow Instagram initiative for the home industry. It brought together more than 100 members of the design community for candid and sustainable discussions about diversity and inclusion in the industry. Most recently, Albie created The Meridian Experience Conference (aka ME Conference) and facilitated the inaugural event in June 2022. Part one of our conversation all about Albie personally; the woman, wife, mother, friend, and more. In this part two of our conversation Albie and I are deep diving into the conference, her experience as the creator and mine as an attendee. To learn more about the conference click the link: https://meweekend.com/ .

Albie Buabeng of Albie Knows has over a decade of retail visual merchandising and freelance marketing, sprinkled with a lifetime of experiences. Using her background of space design and storytelling, she took her real life lessons and launched an online interior design service. Albie’s love of design has evolved into a destination for inspiration centered around her blog, video, and social media content. In summer 2019, she released her first published book, Curate The Home You’re In: Effortlessly Create Your Everyday Dreamscape. The self-published title has served to encourage homeowners and renters alike to fall in love with their spaces again. After nearly three years of leveraging the power of online interior design, she have shifted my passion for designpreneurship in the digital space by founding her podcast, currently titled The T.E.A. With Albie. An all around idea-machine, her desire to contribute to the design community has also manifested in adapting the #sharethemicnow Instagram initiative for the home industry. It brought together more than 100 members of the design community for candid and sustainable discussions about diversity and inclusion in the industry. Most recently, Albie created The Meridian Experience Conference (aka ME Conference) and facilitated the inaugural event in June 2022. Part two of our conversation later in this series Albie deep dives into the conference. However, this episode is part one and all about Albie personally; the woman, wife, mother, friend, and more. To learn more about the conference click the link: https://meweekend.com/ . Designers and Creators, join the wait list for 2023 while it’s still open!

Dara Segbefia is the Founder & Principal Designer of the Zen Experience Interior Design. Dara is sharing her journey on how she started humbly as a Handy cleaning lady mopping kitchen floors to designing full kitchen renovations. Dara took her career to the next level while she was pregnant with her first child Zeniyah (a.k.a Zen). She used this time during the start of the pandemic to focus on finding her “zen” in her design work.

Dara offers residential and commercial services, and she’s now the mother of two daughters. She uses her platform to share her design projects, as well as self care through interiors, family life, and fashion. Dara prides herself in her daughters being her biggest motivation. Tune in to hear how she balances her roles as wife and mom while running her design firm, her take aways from the Meridian Experience Conference, and a big announcement shared here first!

Dara’s ME SEASON 2022: Dara’s ME Season has been about embracing her ability to manage entrepreneurship, along with keeping her family life at the center and showing up authentically. She proved all of this to herself while attending the Meridian Experience Conference and utilizing her support system to do so. “It’s all gas, no breaks right now”.

Niki McNeill Brown is Founder & Principal Interior Designer of McNeill Brown Interior Design. Niki is sharing her journey in how she found her love for interior design after some soul searching as a pre-med student.

Now having a BS degree in Psychology, as well as Interior Design Niki has been immersed in interior design for over a decade. She spent the first five years of her design career in Atlanta, GA. There she started as an intern for a residential design firm and moved into working as a production assistant for HGTV. There she learned how to produce interior design content for TV. In 2011, she put her knowledge to the test as a featured designer on HGTV’s “Design Wars,” then, in 2013, she joined the design team for the Emmy award-winning show, “Elbow Room.” She now runs her firm in Raleigh, NC and enjoys spending quality time with her husband and daughter.

Niki’s ME Season: For Niki, ME season is about putting her self first more by adding herself back to the priority list and giving herself grace. The first step to this in 2022 was taking time out to attend the Meridian Experience Conference!

Amber Guyton is Owner of Blessed Little Bungalow (BLB), an interior design firm in Atlanta, GA. Amber started blogging and sharing her own home six years ago and has since become a well known nationally recognized brand. She’s a passionate champion for personal finance. She believes that interior design should not be a luxury reserved for the privileged few and is committed to democratizing the industry one home at a time. Amber has served dozens of clients across the country designing colorful, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing residential and commercial projects. In 2021, she left her fintech marketing career in San Francisco, California to pursue this dream and take BLB full-time.

Amber’s ME SEASON 2022

This year Amber attended the Meridian Experience Conference, High Point Market for the first time, and she decided to invest in a business coaching program. All of these commitments and more are defining, pivotal moments as shared with us by Amber.