Bryan and Mike Yates discovered that at the height of their firm’s success, their team’s morale was at its lowest. In this episode, they explain how that realization prompted an internal overhaul, setting in motion a structure that amplifies each employee’s strengths. Elsewhere, they share the low-overhead approach that got their business off the ground, the business consultant that inspired them to transform their firm’s structure, and how they’ve strategically created curriculums that outline pathways to growth for the members of their team.

This episode is sponsored by Joon Loloi.

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Yates Desygn 
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

DuVäl Reynolds, the founder of East Coast interior design firm DuVäl Design, joins the show to answer a question from a designer whose steady stream of clients has slowed down dramatically in recent months. Reynolds offers advice on how to spot early indicators for a slowdown in new business, adjusting your messaging to attract ideal clients, and the value of diversifying your firm’s offerings during slow months.

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DuVäl Reynolds
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands. 

Evan Millard’s strategic approach to showhouses catapulted his firm to early success. In the years since, he’s flourished as a solo designer, pursuing new business opportunities and entering what he calls the “adult stage” of his firm’s aesthetic evolution. In this episode, he also shares how being a solo designer offers him room to grow in new directions and the value in being transparent with clients about his firm’s finances.

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Evan Millard
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

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.