A Well-designed Business® | Interior Design | Designers | Business |interior Design Success

Today With Lauren Li: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many designers dream of getting a book deal, but aren’t sure where to start.  My guest today is interior designer and author Lauren Li, sharing her journey from blog posts to book deals. Lauren, the founding director of Melbourne-based interior design studio Sisällä, has recently published two books with Thames & Hudson: "The New French Look" and "Beachside Modern."  Lauren emphasizes the importance of putting your expertise out into the world and reveals how becoming an author can elevate your design business and attract high-quality clients. She shares insights into how consistent content creation can lead to unexpected opportunities and the realities of the book writing and publishing process, along with strategies for developing an authentic writing voice. Of course, we discuss the business side of publishing, too, including contracts and image rights. Whether you're harboring dreams of writing your own design book or simply looking to expand your

Today With Tammy Nagem: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I don’t have to tell you that in our industry, High Point is one of the biggest to-dos. And yet, I know that many of you out there haven’t been yet for a variety of reasons—from hesitancy at making the investment to an uncertainty about what exactly is so appealing about it. Today, I’m joined by Tammy Nagem, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority to discuss what makes High Point unique and special, how the team works to create a special experience for attendees, and how attending can kickstart something of value for your business. LuAnn Nigara and Tammy Nagem's Ah-Ha Moments Watching people's faces just sort of light up as they talk about how they got started and get to tell their story is something special. I think we all sort of feel it, whether there’s a long family history or just an affinity to this industry, and High Point is where it all comes together.” -Tammy “I get that a designer is coming to High Point to shop for furniture

Today With Campbell Minister: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Building a referral-led business isn’t always easy. It takes commitment, dedication, integrity, and accountability. Most of all, it takes the ability to navigate speed bumps and navigate challenges.  My guest today, Campbell Minister, knows what it takes to do all of those things. She has created clear processes, learned how to set up proactive client expectations, and built strong relationships that bring referrals and repeat business her way. Today, she’s sharing her insights on what it takes to create those relationships and bring referrals your way. LuAnn Nigara and Campbell Minister's Ah-Ha Moments “It’s a testament to understanding the core belief that interior design is a personalized, high-level luxury service. You’re not in competition with everyone, and you’re not the right fit for everyone.” -LuAnn “Discipline and dedication are it. Really, at the end of the day, what makes me happy is if my clients are happy, so I am always thinkin

Today With Sarah Daniele and Keith Granet: Hi! Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! In this can't-miss episode, we welcome Sarah Daniele of MyDoma Studio and Keith Granet of Studio Designer to discuss an exciting new partnership between the two design technology companies. Sarah and Keith share valuable insights on building tools that empower designers, the benefits of strategic acquisitions, and the importance of understanding the evolving needs of the interior design industry. This episode is a must-listen for any creative entrepreneur looking to scale their business while staying connected to their community. Don't miss this inside look at a game-changing move in the design space! More About Sarah Daniele and Keith Granet Sarah Daniele: Sarah Daniele is the CEO and co-founder of Mydoma Studio. Mydoma Studio is the premier platform for interior designers; a workflow software to organize design projects from beginning to end and a thriving design community. The first version of Mydoma Studio was built to ful

Today With Erin Coren and Lina Galvao: Today, I am joined by Erin Coren and Lina Galvao, co-owners of the Curated Nest. With Erin as Creative Director and Lina as the Director of Business Development, Curated Nest is a complete partnership. Both ladies bring value to the table, collaborating in what has resulted in a growth of 500k to almost 5 million. Erin and Lina joined forces in 2016 and have continued to grow since then. I’m honored that they said they used this podcast's value and resources as part of their journey. Of course, they, themselves, have contributed much to their business in the form of transferable skills, talent, and professionalism. Listen in to learn their secrets to scaling! LuAnn Nigara, Erin Coren and Lina Galvao's Ah-Ha Moments “A critical part of scaling your business is hiring the right people and placing them in the right seats.” - LuAnn Nigara “It starts in the hiring process because you want to hire people who are proactive, curious, and passionate and who want to play with the

Today With Sara Kravet: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I'm thrilled to be joined by Sara Kravet, a 5th generation member of the renowned Kravet design family. Sara shares a unique perspective, having started in the Kravet showrooms before going on to work at First Dibs, and now serving as VP of Furniture. We'll hear about the 'mandate' for Kravet family members to work elsewhere before joining the family business, and how Sara's diverse experiences have shaped her approach in her current role. Sarah offers an insider's look at the legacy and evolution of the iconic Kravet brand. This is a can't-miss conversation for any design enthusiast! More About Sara Kravet Sara Kravet is the Vice President of Furniture at Kravet Inc., having joined the family business in 2011. Sara is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied art history. After graduating, she worked for 1stdibs in New York, honing her love for antique furniture. Sara then moved her life to Boston, where she currently lives

Today With Nicole Roe: Today with Nicole Roe, we're discussing her decision to open an in-house receiving warehouse for her design firm, R. Nickson Interiors. Nicole shares her journey from the challenges she faced working with third-party receiving companies to the process of establishing her own warehouse, including vetting the idea, analyzing costs, and finding the perfect space. In this episode, Nicole dives discusses the numerous benefits of having an in-house warehouse, such as increased control over the receiving process, the ability to close more deals, and providing a higher level of service to her clients. Her story is an inspiring example of how thinking outside the box and being willing to innovate can set your design business apart from the competition. LuAnn Nigara and Nicole Roe's Ah-Ha Moments “It's one of those moments where people look at you, and then they look at you again. And they're like, Oh, this is actually an option. And for those that want that full service experience that don't wan

Today With LuAnn Nigara: We made it to the 1000th episode of A Well-Design Business, and can I just say...wow?!! What a road it has been! It really is incredible to have 1000 episodes under my belt. I can't express enough how honored I am to have met and interviewed so many wonderful people in this industry, many of whom have become lifelong friends. I also want to express my immense gratitude to JudeCharles for taking the time for this interview and expertly guiding me in sharing my story. Jude has played such a valuable role in my life, both professionally and personally. Eight years ago, I had an idea of what this podcast could become, and I am so grateful that it has succeeded in that — and so much more. The most unexpected and amazing benefit has been the relationships formed here. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to meet you, my listeners, and also collaborate with the experts and designers. I'm so excited for you to tune in to this special episode. It's the story of my journey every step o

Today With Faith Fix: Today with Faith Fix, we’re discussing the journey of building and growing a successful, sellable interior design firm. As the founder of Freestyle Interiors, Faith shares her 40+ years of experience as an interior designer and business owner, offering valuable insights on growing a design team, developing a strong succession planning strategy, and preparing your business for a seamless transition when the time comes to sell. Learn how Faith navigated the process of selling her business and discover the key factors that contributed to her success. LuAnn Nigara and Faith Fix's Ah-Ha Moments “You are the essence of the point of my podcast—it’s that your talent alone is not going to be the indicator of your ability to grow and have a successful design firm, it's the business back end, that is going to be, you know, the biggest indicator of that and the talent and the other things can layer in.” - LuAnn Nigara “I realized early on that I was growing kind of a larger firm than typical, I wasn

Today With Bryan Short: Today we're diving into the world of product development with Bryan Short of The Sewing Loft of Avon! The Sewing Loft specializes in custom soft furnishings like window treatments, cushions, pillows, and more. As a co-owner, Bryan wears many hats - from project prep to marketing to client experience. Recently, Bryan and his wife Rachel launched SLA Express - a semi-custom drapery line designed exclusively for interior designers. We're excited to have Bryan join us today to talk all about bringing a new product to market while maintaining strong client relationships. Whether you're in the window treatment industry or any other design field, this conversation is full of valuable insights! LuAnn Nigara and Bryan Short's Ah-Ha Moments “The thinking really stems from years of listening to our trade clients” - Bryan Short “The first and most important thing is to figure out who am I selling this to and who is going to care enough about it.” - Bryan Short More About Bryan Short Bryan Short is

Today With Hema Persad: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Hema Persad of Sagrada Studio. After only two years, Hema has quite the accolades under her belt. She has print placements in Architectural Digest, Rue Magazine, and House Beautiful. Hema was also included in AD's New American Voices list in July 2023. If you have ever shied away from spending a percentage of your revenue on marketing or PR, this will be a valuable episode for you. Hema and I discuss switching careers, if and how to hire a PR person, and how much you should spend on marketing, to name a few. LuAnn Nigara and Hema Persad's Ah-Ha Moments “It took me 15 years from my previous careers to learn the skills to grow a design business. So if I had graduated from design school at 25, I would not have had that experience. I would not have learned about entrepreneurship and marketing. It would have taken me 15 years anyway to learn it all,” - Hema Persad “I had no confidence as an interior designer. It took my PR perso

Today With Katie Decker-Erickson: Today, on A Well-Designed Business, I have the amazing Katie Decker-Erickson. Her company, Color Works, has helped interior designers build the businesses they desire. Her knowledge has led her to coach others, all while balancing her personal life. With her, today We are exploring the importance of finding your 'happy spot' in business. More About Katie Decker-Erickson Katie began her career in commercial color consulting as a part-time passion project in 2007. Today, her company, Color Works has grown into a multi-million dollar commercial design company, currently operating in over 20 states nationwide, with a fully remote team of more than a dozen individuals. Katie is known for her business acumen (having grown 1500% in a single year), passion for teaching others (with 18 years teaching graduate and undergraduate courses) and this is what led her to coach other interior designers who want to scale their business to their lifestyle. She is also a mom and devoted to her tw

Today With Jenny Yi: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I talk a lot on the show about goals, drive, motivation, and having a willingness to just go out and make things happen. But what about when that doesn’t feel possible? What about when your life is in a crisis, or you’re struggling with your mental health, or it feels like work just to get out of bed, let alone tackle the long list of things to do that entrepreneurship requires? That is a different beast altogether—and it’s a beast that my guest today, Jenny Yi, understands all too well. Jenny’s story is a powerful one—one that I think we all need to hear, but one that is especially important for any of you out there who are struggling, whether life has just kicked you down or you’re coping with something heavy. LuAnn Nigara and Jenny Yi's Ah-Ha Moments “You were telling me all the things you do in the Jenny Yi empire. But then you got quiet and you said, ‘but It's important to me to give the path of ownership and entrepreneurship to somebody else

Today With John Dupra: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s Sponsored Show, I am so happy to welcome back John Dupra of Revel Woods.  John also gives great tips on how he has had strategic partnerships in his business from the beginning, which he will even say is why he is still here today. He shares how to leverage those relationships in your business and the tactical strategies to make the most of them and show up as an excellent strategic partner. There is definitely a “right” way to develop and maintain these relationships, and if you are wondering how, John’s brain is the one you will want to pick on this topic. LuAnn Nigara and John Dupra's Ah-Ha Moments: “Part of what I've been able to do and what many successful people do is increase your luck surface area. You're not going to be able to brute force your way into everything all the time. Sometimes, you will randomly be at an event, a party, or a LuAnn Live, and meet somebody who will change your life and career forever,” - John Dupra “When

Today With Libby Langdon: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many designers are interested in licensing…but how do you set yourself up for deals? Where do you find an agent? And how do you create something companies will be interested in? My guest today, Libby Langdon, has carved out success for herself in licensing, making it not just a one-off collection but an ongoing, viable revenue stream. Today, she’s here to share her tips for how designers can set themselves up for licensing partnerships. LuAnn Nigara and Libby Langdon's Ah-Ha Moments “You have to have a promotional platform of some sort. It’s paramount. There’s absolutely no reason for a manufacturer to partner with a designer unless the designer has a voice, has an audience, knows their lane, and is ready to get out and promote it. They need to know that you can bring them a new audience.” -Libby “You have to have self-awareness and bring new unique ideas to the table. But it also has to be designed at a price point that fits the company you’re wo

Today With Laura Koshel: Today’s Power Talk Friday is another episode of our Live, On-Air Strategy Sessions! I am welcoming Laura Koshel, the owner and principal designer at LK Design, an interior design firm based in Durham, NC. Laura wants to know what she should know about scaling her business and her team. Learn how having wonderful employees is a great beginning but having clarity is among you is the key. Listen in to see what I mean. LuAnn Nigara and Laura Koshel's Ah-Ha Moments: “If you plan on having a team of five to eight employees, you need to clarify your standards in an SOP, so every step is clear and accessible,” - LuAnn Nigara “When you have a documented process that explains to your employees how you do things, along with weekly check -ins, things rarely wiggy,” - LuAnn Nigara More About Laura Koshel Laura Koshel is the owner and the principal designer at LK Design, an interior design firm based in Durham, NC. Laura was born in Lithuania and grew up in St Petersburg, Russia. When Laura moved t

Today With Chloe Bullock: Today with Chloe Bullock, we explore the world of sustainable and conscious interior design. As an award-winning, B Corp Certified, BIID Registered Interior Designer based in Brighton, UK, Chloe shares her journey from being my first ever coaching client to becoming a pioneer in vegan and sustainable design. In this episode, Chloe reflects on finding her authentic voice and niche in sustainable design, and we discuss her new book, "Sustainable Interior Design." Chloe's passion for educating clients and fellow designers about the power of making conscious choices shines through as she shares insights on embracing the circular economy, supporting local craftsmanship, and aligning personal values with design practice. She emphasizes the ripple effect that even small sustainable choices can have on the industry as a whole. LuAnn Nigara and Chloe Bullock's Ah-Ha Moments “Don't be afraid to claim your niche. You're so much louder in a small space — when it's the space that means something

Today With Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino: Today, on A Well-Designed Business, our Power Talk Friday is sponsored by 4DBiz. We had Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz on the podcast last year to talk about the virtual assistant team division of their business, that supports your interior design business in marketing, admin, and design.  After the impressive outpour from designers, they are back to talk about the services they offer as the executive team to solidify your foundation. Pick It Apart [1:43] Evelyn and Shayna explain what the executive division of their team entails. [10:42] Shayna shares an example of when a consumer could get, what she calls, crooked.  [14:43] Evelyn provides comfort and facts for those nervous about “automation.”  [30:29] The benefits of having a team, rather than a “you” and the lesson Shayna learned. [34:12] Always thinking about your competition. [36:45] How 4DBiz’s executive team helps you build your own team. LuAnn Nigara, Evelyn Roberts and Shayna Pellino's Ah-Ha

Today With Brett and Giselle Sugerman: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Brett Sugerman and Giselle Loor Sugerman, founders of B+G Design, Inc., an award-winning Miami-based interior design firm. They are here to spill the tea on their journey to success, as well as, how you can present your authentic brand to attract the right clients. LuAnn Nigara and Brett and Giselle Sugerman's Ah-Ha Moments “When we decided to open up our company, we did it for the love and the passion of our craft. We really wanted to do projects that we were excited about and that reflected our personal taste,” - Giselle Loor Sugerman More About Brett and Giselle Sugerman B+G Design, Inc. is an award-winning Miami-based interior design firm founded by Brett Sugerman and Giselle Loor Sugerman. The highly sought-after luxury design firm is recognized for their innovative bespoke interiors that exude their signature aesthetic combining functional minimalism with a warm contemporary appeal. From their home base in Miami to

Today With Cassandra Thurston: It’s another On-Air Strategy Session! Today I’m sitting down with Cassandra Thurston, a talented interior designer from Long Beach Island, NJ (my happy place). But here’s the thing…Cass Thurston Interiors is still a side hustle. Cass is ready for this business to be more, so she came to me for some help filling her pipeline. Listen to find out what she needs to do to navigate this transition and make her dreams a reality. More About Cassandra Thurston I'm Cassandra, an experienced creator of beautiful and functional home interiors that embody the coastal lifestyle. With a focus on my beloved Long Beach Island, New Jersey, I specialize in designing homes that exude a perfect blend of relaxed elegance, modern comfort, and seaside charm. My approach to coastal design is rooted in the principles of light, openness, and the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living. By carefully curating natural materials, a soothing color palette, and thoughtfully selected furnishings, I aim