Victoria Sass joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who is hoping to land her young firm’s first magazine feature. She has a project she’s excited to share with the world—but finding press placement has been a challenge. The Minneapolis-based designer jumps in with advice on different approaches to working with a public relations agency, how digital placement can actually yield longer-term results for your business and why local press contains a wealth of value that’s often overlooked.

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Victoria Sass
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Zoe Feldman got some surprising advice just as she was starting to feel settled in her business: While she thought she couldn’t afford to hire more employees, she was told that if she wanted to keep delivering a high level of service, she couldn’t afford not to. On this episode of the podcast, she shares why she’s introduced a scaled-down option to her design offerings for clients who just want good advice, the many ways she has built philanthropy into the fabric of her firm, and why she insists that clients don’t really want full transparency.

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Zoe Feldman
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Kevin Isbell joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who reached out with the story of an order gone awry, and is now looking for advice on what it takes to make things right for clients while also holding vendors accountable. The Los Angeles–based designer jumps in with advice on vetting vendors, navigating expensive mistakes, and ensuring that the client’s experience comes first—no matter the cost.

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Kevin Isbell
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Alvin Wayne spent years juggling a double career in luxury retail and interior design. But when the pandemic happened, he was hit with a realization: it was finally time to wholeheartedly pursue his passion for interiors. Now, he’s committed to crafting a firm that serves him best—between his penchant for shopping retail, his streamlined client vetting process and his growing social media presence, he’s using his exacting attitude to bring his business to new heights.

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Alvin Wayne
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Erin Gates joins the show to answer a question from a designer trying to establish boundaries with clients who requested revisions too late in the design process. Gates offers advice on the importance of documenting client communication to keep all parties accountable, the value of setting expectations early and how charging hourly can protect a firm in cases of revision.

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Erin Gates
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

Richard Anuszkiewicz has been a rising star in the kitchen and bath industry since his design school days. He spent the better part of his career working within other design businesses—now, he’s starting a new era at the helm of his own. In this episode, he shares how he is developing professional extracurriculars outside of design, why he wants to be a chameleon for each client’s style, and why he evaluates his career goals every six months. 

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Richard Anuszkiewicz
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Universal and Joon Loloi. 

Ashley Hughes joins the show to answer a question from a designer who is looking to reach the next level of clientele. Hughes, whose firm is based in Dallas, offers advice on the importance of auditing your existing clientele, how to create a rendering that reflects the client you want to attract, and finding the vendors that align with your ideal demographic.

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Ashley Hughes
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

Lilse McKenna honed her craft under some of New York’s top design talents before striking out on her own. She learned from the best when it comes to systems and processes, but as the leader of her own firm, she’s also left room for her own creativity to run wild. On this episode, she shares how she honed her firm’s aesthetic and what it takes to find clients who are looking for her creative voice.

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Lilse McKenna
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Universal and Joon Loloi. 

Designers Heather Fujikawa, Jean Stoffer and Grace Start joined host Kaitlin Petersen for a live episode of the show—recorded at the Four Hands showroom in Austin—to hear anonymous designer questions on topics like post-pandemic recruiting tactics, discussing price changes with clients in the era of tariffs, and expanding a firm’s client base to include out-of-state projects. The trio jumped in with advice on modeling your ideal work culture for new team members, staying level-headed in money conversations, and prioritizing communication and organization when working with out-of-state clients.

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House Sprucing
Jean Stoffer Design
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

Ariel Okin’s early look at the industry inspired her to structure her business with a clear separation of the creative and operations teams. She also built a media empire, complete with a digital platform, a podcast and in-person events for design enthusiasts. On this episode, she shares how she stays open to new ideas, what it means to be a leader, a new experiment with delegating, and how writing her first book shaped her outlook about the firm’s next decade.

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Ariel Okin
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Renewal by Andersen and Dallas Market Center.