In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca dive deep into the nuts and bolts of creating and managing a materials library for interior designers. They discuss everything from sourcing sample accounts and organizing fabrics, tile, rugs, paint, hardware, lighting, and window coverings, to managing the relentless influx of materials and avoiding storage chaos—all while keeping things inspiring and client-ready. With practical tips on establishing vendor relationships, setting up effective storage systems, ...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Season 5Ep. 148
In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca dive deep into the world of custom and bespoke furnishings and how they can elevate not only your designs but your entire interior design business. They share real-life experiences, lessons learned, and the emotional ups and downs of taking the custom route—from sourcing local artisans to managing the expectations of clients and contractors. They also explore how new AI tools are transforming the way designers visualize and pitch one-of-a-kind pieces. If you're...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 147
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 e...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 5Ep. 146
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,...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 145
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 j...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 144
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 stru...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 143
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 yo...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 142
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...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 141
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,...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 140
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 s...
Feb 16, 2025•57 min•Season 5Ep. 139
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. In this episode, we discuss: What’s out for 2025...
Jan 31, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 138
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 tra...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 137
Shaun and Rebecca dive into a mixed bag of topics this week, sharing personal updates, industry insights, and reflections as they kick off a new year. From refining boundaries to tackling social media fatigue, this candid conversation is full of relatable moments and tips for navigating the ever-evolving design industry. In this episode, we discuss: Kicking off 2025 – Celebrating milestones, setting intentions, and navigating the new year. Refining client boundaries – Learning to say “no” and ho...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 136
Join us as we dive deep with Heather Knight-Wilcock, a Southern California interior designer and owner of Heather KW Styles and Copper Interiors. Heather opens up about her creative journey, balancing a design and staging business, and the importance of adaptability and resilience in the ever-evolving world of interior design. In this episode, we discuss: Heather's unique approach to building her brand in interior design and real estate staging Transitioning to construction-focused projects and ...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 5Ep. 135
As the year comes to a close, Shaun and Rebecca take a reflective journey through their professional wins, challenges, and the lessons they've learned. From defining client relationships to leveraging AI for productivity, this episode offers a candid report card on their goals and the shifts they’ve experienced in 2024. Tune in for insights, strategies, and a little humor to guide you into the new year with clarity and purpose. In this episode, we discuss: Looking back on 2024 goals – Did we cru...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 134
Don’t treat relationships as one-night stands. Build and maintain strong connections with clients and colleagues beyond just the project – it’s key to success. At the same time, set boundaries because giving too much can drain you. Respectful boundaries allow you to nurture relationships without losing yourself in the process. In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca talk with interior designer Nicole White about the importance of building strong relationships and how setting boundaries is key to stay...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 133
Talking about money with clients can be super awkward. But here’s the thing, the real problem might not be the clients, it could be you! In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca discuss their experiences and approaches to navigating these tricky money conversations with clients. They also share their new Interior Design Client Questionnaire tool that makes those money talks a lot less awkward. In this episode, they discuss: How to have less awkward conversations with clients about money and budgets St...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 132
Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Jeanne Chung — an interior designer who used to work in fashion for 20 years before switching to interior design. Jeanne shares her story of how she made this big career change, the challenges she faced, and how she built her business from the ground up. In this episode, they discuss: Jeanne’s background in fashion design and her transition from fashion design to interior design Going back to school for interior design, starting her design business, and opening a ...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 5Ep. 131
Can you send me your template for that project? What do you put in your client contracts? Can you send me the exact document you use for your project management? It’s tempting to ask for the tools, templates, and processes of successful designers, but you know what? There’s more to being successful than copying someone else’s process or templates. In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca discuss the value of developing your own processes and finding your way in the design industry. They remind you tha...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 130
Grow small and incrementally. It’s not a race. It’s a marathon! Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Rona Graf, the founder of Grace Blu Interior Design. Rona shares her journey from being a teacher to starting her own design firm and discusses the importance of slow and steady growth in building a sustainable business. She explains why businesses should focus on sustainable, incremental growth instead of rapid expansion and how rushing into growth can lead to challenges. In this episode, they discus...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 129
Shaun and Rebecca are back with another installment of the perennial favorite, the Just Stop series, where they call out things in the design world that seriously need to stop. They discussed Just Stops from the coaching industry (coaches who brag about their income without proving their value) to the frustrations with generic and ineffective outreach emails from vendors, the use of AI-generated renders without disclosing their authenticity, and much more! In this episode, they discuss: Shaun an...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 128
Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Stephanie Nelson and Jessica Nelson from Etch Design Group, a full-service design studio. Stephanie and Jessica share their journey from colleagues to co-founders and how their unique skills and deep trust have allowed them to build a successful business. They also talk about harnessing the power of AI to streamline their design process and push the boundaries of their creativity. In this episode, they discuss: How Stephanie & Jessica met and started Etch Desi...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 127
What are your project management strategies? How do you set expectations with clients and manage your deadlines? Shaun and Rebecca discuss their project management strategies and methods for setting expectations with clients and managing deadlines in the world of interior design. They also dive deep into the challenges of managing project timelines, client expectations, predicting and planning capacity to avoid overbooking, and much more. In this episode, they discuss: How Shaun and Rebecca hand...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 126
Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Crystal Bright, a virtual interior designer. Crystal shares how she grew her business in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal has completed over 400 projects in the past five years and helps other designers transition to virtual work. Crystal explains how she uses AI and tools like 2020 Design Live to streamline her virtual design process and provide high-quality services to clients. In this episode, they discuss: Crystal’s story of starting a ...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 125
You know what they say – Niche Is Riche. Finding a niche for your interior design business can make you rich and successful. But how do you get there, hotties? Shaun and Rebecca discuss the importance of finding and defining your niche in your business. They also share different approaches to finding and defining your niche, from being true to your personal style and skills to identifying unmet demands in the market. They also explore how to define and market their niches through refined languag...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 124
Today's guest, Jennifer Ramsey, has not only mastered the art of creating stunning personalized spaces but also seamlessly incorporated furniture sales in her design process – a feat that has increased her furniture sales to a new height. In this episode, Jennifer talks about her strategic approach to design and furniture sales that has transformed the way her clients experience the design journey. In this episode, they discuss: Jennifer's journey from working for a luxury designer to starting h...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 123
Shaun and Rebecca are back with another Ask Us Anything. They answer your questions about marketing, photography, vendors, building and organizing a sample library, managing projects, using tools to help keep your work organized, growing your business, and much more! In this episode, they discuss: Shaun and Rebecca’s plans for the upcoming High Point Market The best marketing strategies for interior designers starting out — social media, SEO, networking, consistency, etc How did Shaun and Rebecc...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 5Ep. 122
Why do interior designers need SEO? Why is SEO the key to keeping your interior design business ranking on Google? SEO expert Evan Larkin explains why SEO is so important for your business’s online presence and gives a live SEO audit of Shaun’s website. Listen in to Evan’s observations on Shaun’s website, Wrensted Interiors , and learn what to fix on your own website. In this episode, they discuss: SEO audit of Shaun’s website: https://wrenstedinteriors.com/ Best platforms for website creation f...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 121
The design industry can be exciting to explore, but it's not always easy to break into. If you're looking to shift careers and work in interior design, Shaun and Rebecca have some valuable advice for you. They talk about the skills from your previous job that will add value to your design career, the challenges career-shifters face when switching into the design industry, and share tips that will help you break into the new field. In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun discuss: The challenges of swi...
May 24, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 120
Today’s guest, Ashley Ausland, shares her journey of growing her design business over the last few years while dealing with personal hardships—divorce, cancer, and becoming a single mother of four kids. She discusses the lessons she learned about business management, client relationships, and creating homes with soul and timeless appeal. In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun speak with Ashley Ausland to discuss: Ashley’s journey of starting her business from her garage with no employees to now havi...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 119
