The Chaise Lounge Podcast

Amy Kartheiser

Mary Pat Wallace

Mary Jo Fasan

As we push through COVID, one word echoes in many businesses: pivot. Today on The Chaise Lounge, Nick May is joined by three guests: Amy Kartheiser (Amy Kartheiser Design), Mary Pat Wallace (Chicago Luxury Beds) and Mary Jo Fasan (Jo Chicago Communications). 

With COVID lockdowns and protests in Chicago, these ladies have all found ways to adapt to the changing times through digital services, deliveries and using social media content to help market their businesses.

Learn more about our guests at the links below:

Amy Kartheiser (Amy Kartheiser Design) @amykartheiserdesign

Mary Pat Wallace (Chicago Luxury Beds) @chicagoluxurybeds

Mary Jo Fasan (Jo Chicago Communications) @jochicagocomms

To thread from what you just said about pivoting, one of the best lines I’ve heard through this pandemic is that deprivation leads to innovation.

Mary Pat

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Many times, success has a rough beginning. Our next guest started her business the week of 9/11. Joining Nick May today on The Chaise Lounge is Donna Mondi of Donna Mondi Interior Design. Nineteen years after that tragic event, Donna has turned her startup into a successful firm specializing in luxury.

Formally educated in interior design, Donna discusses learning the business of interior design through an interest in business books. She has grown her business with hard work and expediting services to a business management company. She no longer has to spend as much time in her business and is working on her exit plan. Talk about success!

Learn more about Donna at her website, https://www.donnamondi.com/ and on Instagram @donnamondiinteriordesign!

I think both my husband and I are starting to look at our exit path. I’m a bit younger than him which I probably remind him of enough. And we’re kind of looking at what is that going to look like.

Donna Mondi

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I think both my husband and I are starting to look at our exit path. I’m a bit younger than him which I probably remind him of enough. And we’re kind of looking at what is that going to look like.

Donna Mondi

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Luxury: a state of great comfort and extravagant living. For those who live lives of luxury, there is luxury interior design. Joining Nick May on The Chaise Lounge today, Gavin Brodin of Brodin Design Build knows that all too well.

With no formal education in interiors, Gavin found himself thrust into the world of design after moving to Los Angeles (he’d previously fallen in love with L.A.’s winter weather on a Christmas trip). As often happens, he met a guy. Guy worked special events, like the Oscars and Emmys. The rest is history.

Gavin designs luxury residential and commercial spaces, the interior of a Gulfstream G650 private jet being one of them. Celebrities and the social elite have come from all around just for his unique eye and attention to detail.

Learn more about Gavin and Brodin Design Build on his website www.brodindesignbuild.com and on Instagram @brodindesignbuild.

We’ve been fortunate I’ve been doing a couple aviation projects, Gulfstream G650 which have definitely been the most exciting projects that we’ve ever done.

Gavin Brodin

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We’ve been fortunate I’ve been doing a couple aviation projects, Gulfstream G650 which have definitely been the most exciting projects that we’ve ever done.

Gavin Brodin

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Seeing a celebrity in public would render most people starstruck. Our next guest is immune as she worked in entertainment before her transition into interior design. Sara Barney (Bandd Design) joins Nick May today on The Chaise Lounge.

After years in the entertainment industry, Sara went back to school for interior design. She found a way to blend her creative and entrepreneurial spirit and started Bandd Design. Originally intended as a hobby that paid, she couldn’t keep up with her leads and needed to quit her job. What a successful side gig!

Learn more about Sara and Bandd Design at her website, www.bandddesign.com! Also check her out on Instagram @jointhebandd.

I say the number one thing I look for when I’m hiring is the culture fit. This is the first place I’ve ever worked where there has been no drama and there are no major issues that come up within the team. We are all very respectful of one another, really like one another as people.

Sara Barney

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I say the number one thing I look for when I’m hiring is the culture fit. This is the first place I’ve ever worked where there has been no drama and there are no major issues that come up within the team. We are all very respectful of one another, really like one another as people.

Sara Barney

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Today on The Chaise Lounge, we bring you something completely different - clips from some of Nick May's and our team's favorite episodes and clips! We even dusted off our very first intro sequence for this Throwback Thursday (Friday). Gotta say, it's really nice to go back and remember great guests, good times, and big laughs. Plus we finally learn how to pronounce Nick May.

There are timestamps to identify each guest and links to their respective episodes and Instagram pages below. 

Barrie Livingstone - Episode 1 (3:40 - 7:28) @barrielivingstonedesigner

Kia Weatherspoon - Episode 13 (7:28 - 13:18) @kianweatherspoon

Garrison Hullinger - Episode 24 (13:20 - 15:39) @ghidinc

Franco Crea - Episode 254 (15:44 - 19:15) @franco_crea

Bobby Berk - Episode 74 (19:19 - 20:21) @bobby

Ghislaine Viñas - Episode 37 (20:25 - 22:36) @ghislaine_vinas

Sarah Wilson - Episode 134 (22:40 - 24:29) @chansaeraedesigns

Sally Williams - S23 E1 (24:33 - 27:54) @colorfulconceptsinteriordesign

Dan Rak - Episode 191 (27:58 - 32:14) @danrakdesign

Kim Scodro - Episode 21 (32:18 - 37:05) @kimscodrointeriors

Well welcome and thanks for joining me today on the lounge. I'm Nick May your host, and today we're going to be talking about growing your interior design business.

Nick May, iMay Media & The Chaise Lounge

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

There are lots of ways our guests have entered interior design - some have stumbled into the industry, some have gone through an educational program. Karen Post of Home Frosting joins Nick May today on The Chaise Lounge. 

She got her start in the sale of a high rise unit, when her realtor advised her to stage her home. Karen started her business and wanted to learn all about interior design, so she attended seminars where she found Nick. Her and Nick have one important thing in common: they know the value of marketing. HGTV even found her website and she has been on four of their shows. Now that’s strong branding!

Learn more about Karen Post and Home Frosting at HomeFrosting.com and follow @homefrostingfl on Instagram.

Sometimes it’s better if you don't know all the stuff because then you don't have any limits. As long as you do your homework and you take care of your customer and you have fun, anyone can do anything.

Karen Post

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Although many people have had a relatively positive experience through covid, our next guest was hit with a little more reality. A good friend of Nick May’s, Garrison Hullinger of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design joins him on The Chaise Lounge. 

Garrison gets real with Nick about his struggles with his business as soon as covid hit the U.S. He has struggled to keep his business above water having to lay off key employees and dealing with decreased revenue. One of his out-of-state projects even suffered an outbreak of covid among the workers. Let's show support for Garrison!

A host on our very own Coast to Coast Design podcast, Garrison and his co-host, Lisa Davenport, talk about the many ways to run an interior design business.

Learn more about what Garrison is up to on his website Garrison Hullinger Interior Design and follow him on Instagram @ghidinc. Also, check out his podcast Coast to Coast Design.

The really sad part is going back into normalcy and seeing empty storefronts that we’re going to see. That’s going to be really tough on all of us. But I think it is going to drive us back into our homes. And I think that we are going to feel comfortable entertaining small groups again.

Garrison Hullinger

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Our next guest is a fellow Denverite who splits her time between Maine and Colorado focusing on residential and hospitality design. Ramey Caulkins of Griffin Design Source joins Nick May today on The Chaise Lounge. 

Having a network of people to help a business grow in two different states is an invaluable asset. You never know who you might meet or where you might go. With limited entertainment opportunities these days, people are wanting to remodel their homes to host more get-togethers. Ramey can even help you get good reviews from your own guests!

Learn more about Ramey Caulkins at Griffin Design Source. Please be sure to follow her on Instagram @gdsinteriors and like her page on Facebook @griffindesignsource.

I knew I could sell ice to eskimos so I figured I could definitely have a career in sales.

Ramey Caulkins

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

Enjoying his vacation in Wisconsin this week, Nick May could social distance with our next guests a few hours’ drive away. Nick is accompanied today by two great friends Christine Phillips (Viola! PR and Design) and Sarah Willit (Patina Vie) on The Chaise Lounge. 

Originally a panel between three (otherwise) intelligent and successful people turned into good friends just catching up. They discuss the trend of people moving from larger cities to smaller towns, the outlook for markets and trade shows, some of the projects they have been working on - and much more!

Learn more about what our guests are doing by following them on Instagram! @ChristineViolaPR and @PatinaVie. To watch future Live Chats, find us on Facebook @TheChaiseLounge.

We’ve been onliners for about six years so we’re seasoned pros, but our online has doubled. We’re hustling, man. We are packing and shipping, curbsides. It’s been good.

Sarah Willit

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

For many designers, including this week's guests, having graduated from interior design school is not on the resume. Join Nick May in welcoming Heather and Matt French (French & French Interiors) to The Chaise Lounge. Heather and Matt remodeled a home before they sold it and moved to Santa Fe. It was through that experience that Heather knew design is what she’s supposed to be doing. Combining history, culture and purpose in residential and commercial spaces, the Frenches focus on designing for the experience. Their very first residential client even encouraged them to move into the commercial world and gave them a project at a hotel. Knowledge with mileage goes a long way!Learn more about Heather and Matt French at FrenchandFrenchInteriors.com. Be sure to check them out on Instagram @FrenchandFrenchInteriors.

We’re getting a lot of new calls from people spending a lot of time at home and probably wouldn’t consider an interior designer until they started to stare at their home office for days on end.

Matt French

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Chaise Lounge Updates

A new season of Coast to Coast Design is live, with Garrison Hullinger and returning co-host Lisa Davenport! That’s right, it’s their second season together and they’ve got plenty to say. Give it a listen to learn about just how many ways there are to run a design business, and keeping up with the changing landscape.

Our Events Page

Resources

See what our sponsors can do for you.

Upcoming Markets

High Point Market | October 13-21

More About Our Sponsors

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app! We'd love it if you post a review, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. Also, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With that said, keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!