Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast

Hot Young Designers Club
  • 4.8 (127)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

They're not that hot, or that young - but hosts Rebecca Plumb (Studio Plumb) and Shaun Crha (Wrensted Interiors) spill the tea every week on how a new generation of interior designers run their business. Join a community exploring the emotional, practical, and humorous side of the interior design business.

  1. 3d ago

    196: Guardian of the Design: Julia Miller - Yond Interiors

    What does it look like to build an interior design business where creativity—not just revenue—is the driving force? Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Julia Miller, founder and creative director of Yond Interiors, to talk about protecting the creative vision of a project from the first client inquiry all the way through installation, styling, and photography. Julia shares how Yond has built a process that allows the team to execute large-scale interior design projects across the country while delivering a high-touch client experience. They get into choosing aligned clients, setting expectations with contractors, preserving design intent, taking on private and NDA projects, and why Julia would rather turn down a lucrative project than sacrifice creative freedom. Plus, Julia explains how she has shaped her role as creative director, why she took styling back in-house, and how The Studio Table is helping other interior designers learn the systems behind Yond’s work. In this episode they discuss: How Julia built Yond Interiors around creativity, strong processes, and doing their best work on every projectWhy Julia sees Yond as the “guardian of the design” and how the team protects design intent through construction and installationCreating a high-touch luxury interior design experience by solving problems behind the scenes instead of handing them back to the clientHow Yond evaluates potential clients, projects, contractors, timelines, and creative opportunities before saying yesThe complicated business and marketing decisions behind NDA projects, private clients, and projects that can’t be photographed or publishedWhy creative freedom is a bigger motivator for Julia than money—and why not every well-paying project is the right projectHow Julia defines her role as creative director, collaborates with her design team, and stays involved without needing to control every decisionWhy Julia brought interior styling in-house and how styling and photography have become an essential part of Yond’s creative process and brand Mentioned: Yond Interiors - https://www.yondinteriors.com/The Studio Table - https://www.thestudiotable.co/Brunel - https://shopbrunel.com/Yond Cottage - https://www.yondinteriors.com/projects/yondcottageBrunel Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shopbrunel/ Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  2. Sep 25

    195: Watch Us Turn a Spreadsheet Into an Interactive Website

    What if your interior design project tracker could tell you when you actually have capacity for your next client—and forecast the revenue coming with it? This week, Shaun and Rebecca are talking about owning your accomplishments, getting more intentional about the projects you want to attract, and using technology to make running an interior design business a whole lot easier. Then Shaun shares an interactive project management and capacity dashboard he built with ChatGPT, starting with the idea of a simple spreadsheet and turning it into a custom tool for tracking project phases, scheduling, payments, cash flow, and future studio capacity. They walk through what it can already do, what they’d add next, and why tools like this could completely change how interior designers plan proposals, manage their pipeline, and make business decisions. In this episode they discuss: Why interior designers need to stop downplaying their accomplishments when talking about their businessesHow confidently explaining the type of design work you want can help attract better-fit interior design clientsReframing lead qualification around the projects your studio actually has capacity for instead of simply telling prospects they don’t meet your minimumsCreating a referral network of other interior designers for leads that aren’t the right fit for your firmWhy understanding your project pipeline and studio capacity makes it easier to know when you can take on new interior design projectsHow Shaun used ChatGPT to turn a basic spreadsheet concept into an interactive project management and capacity dashboardTracking project phases, payment milestones, design fees, procurement revenue, project coordination, installation fees, and cash flow projections in one placeHow AI-powered tools could help interior designers build custom business systems without knowing how to code Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  3. Sep 18

    194: Are we managing the construction or the design intent?

    Shaun and Rebecca are getting real about the messy overlap between interior design, construction project management, and everything clients assume is included in “project management.” After catching up on home renovations, home office frustrations, and the never-ending search for furniture that actually functions, they dig into how Rebecca is refining her discovery calls to better qualify potential interior design clients and uncover what they really want from their homes. Then, they tackle a bigger question for interior designers working on construction projects: Are we actually managing the construction, or are we managing the design intent? They talk through contractor responsibilities, client expectations, liability, job site walkthroughs, and why designers need much clearer language around what project management does—and does not—include. They also explore whether construction milestone meetings could become a defined, systematized, and profitable part of an interior designer’s scope of work. In this episode they discuss: Why today’s home office furniture still isn’t meeting the way people actually work from homeHow thoughtful discovery call questions can uncover a client’s priorities, design style, budget expectations, and readiness to hire an interior designerWhy asking potential clients what they want their new home to give them can reveal the real problem they’re trying to solveThe difference between construction project management and managing the designer’s design intentWhy interior designers need to clearly define what “project management” means in their proposals and contractsHow contractor communication, scheduling, and client expectations can create gaps that designers often end up fillingWhy defining milestone walkthroughs for framing, plumbing, electrical, tile, and other construction phases could protect the design and clarify the designer’s roleHow systematizing and pricing construction site visits could turn an often-unpaid responsibility into a more intentional revenue stream Mentioned: EP160: Renée Biery, “The Only Girl on the Job Site” EP90: A Conversation with Rachel Moriarty Sponsors: Hot Young Designers Club is brought to you by Programa. Learn more at programahq.link/hydc Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop Sponsors: Hot Young Designers Club is brought to you by Programa. Learn more at programahq.link/hydc.

  4. Sep 11

    193: Hot dogs, handbags, and high-end design - Lessons in Luxury

    What can Costco hot dogs and Hermès handbags teach interior designers about running a high-end design business? Quite a lot, apparently. Rebecca and Shaun dig into the wildly different business models behind Costco and Hermès and uncover surprising lessons about luxury, value, trust, vendor relationships, pricing, craftsmanship, and creating a brand clients believe in. They also catch up on some big personal and business changes, including Shaun’s decision to leave his studio and reduce overhead, Rebecca’s adventures in home renovation and color drenching, and the importance of making strategic business decisions with trusted advisors. From cost-plus pricing and designer discounts to vintage sourcing and what actually defines a luxury client, this episode explores how interior designers can create more profitable businesses while delivering an experience that feels truly high-end. In this episode they discuss: Why Shaun decided to give up his office space, reduce overhead, and make aggressive financial moves for the next chapter of his interior design businessHow working with a CPA and financial advisor can help designers make smarter decisions about expenses, profitability, retirement, and long-term business goalsRebecca’s spontaneous color-drenched hallway and the design concept of “compression and release” inspired by Frank Lloyd WrightWhat the Acquired podcast’s deep dive into Costco reveals about limited product selection, strong supplier relationships, customer trust, and delivering exceptional valueHow designers can build deeper vendor relationships and use purchasing power to create better pricing without making a luxury design service feel “cheap”Whether a cost-plus pricing model can work for high-end interior design, especially when sourcing custom furniture, vintage pieces, and products from preferred vendorsWhat Hermès teaches us about craftsmanship, consistency, exclusivity, brand identity, and creating luxury products that clients desire beyond pure functionalityThe difference between offering a luxury design service and working with a truly luxury client who values trust, access, one-of-a-kind pieces, expertise, and the finished result over price shopping Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  5. Sep 4

    192: What story is your client is telling? Building hospitality into your business with Rick Campos

    What stories are your clients telling about working with you? Shaun and Rebecca welcome back Rick Campos, founder of Design Biz Survival Guide and a certified Unreasonable Hospitality coach, to explore how interior designers can create a client experience that goes far beyond great service. Drawing from Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality, Rick explains why making clients feel seen, heard, and understood can become one of the strongest differentiators for an interior design business. They talk about identifying client-facing touchpoints, creating meaningful moments without relying on expensive gifts, and tailoring hospitality to what each individual client actually values. Rick also shares how designers can bring hospitality into difficult moments, from delivering bad news to handling installation problems, why picking up the phone still matters, and how thoughtful client experiences can generate repeat business, referrals, and the kind of word-of-mouth marketing money can’t buy. In this episode they discuss: The difference between client service and true hospitality—and why hospitality is about how you make people feelHow to identify client-facing touchpoints and turn ordinary parts of your interior design process into memorable experiencesWhy generic gifts and branded swag often fall flat compared to thoughtful gestures based on what you’ve actually learned about your clientHow listening, observing, and understanding what an individual client values can help you personalize their interior design experienceWhy human connection and emotional intelligence are increasingly important differentiators for interior designers in an AI-driven worldHow to use hospitality when something goes wrong, including why Rick believes in telling the truth, telling it fast, and personally delivering bad newsHow respecting a client’s time, communication style, family schedule, and desired level of involvement can be a form of luxury hospitalityWhy creating stories clients want to retell can lead to stronger referrals, repeat clients, and long-term growth for your interior design business Mentioned: Design Biz Survival Guide - https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara - https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/ Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  6. Aug 28

    191: How Creating Connection with Clients Creates Better Work with Whitney Romanoff, Meet West Studio

    What happens when you build an interior design business around creativity, connection, and trusting your instincts? Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Whitney Romanoff, founder and principal designer of Meet West Studio in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to talk about her unconventional path from international relations and management consulting to running a growing interior design firm. Whitney shares how her corporate background shaped her approach to client communication, team leadership, and difficult conversations about money, as well as why creating a genuine connection with clients leads to stronger creative work. They also get into building a design team that gives you more freedom, creating a recognizable interior design brand, finding inspiration through music and travel, making the leap into boutique hospitality design, and learning when outsourcing is smarter than doing everything yourself. In this episode they discuss: How Whitney left a career in management consulting and took a chance on herself to launch Meet West Studio without a traditional interior design degreeBuilding a six-person interior design team and transitioning longtime designers into leadership roles so Whitney can spend more time on creative directionWhy a distinctive brand, strong point of view, and unexpected references can help an interior design firm attract more aligned clientsHow music, travel, storytelling, and mood boards influence Whitney’s creative process and the cinematic spaces Meet West Studio createsWhy trust, shared values, and a genuine connection with interior design clients can make both the design process and the finished work betterGiving yourself permission to see beauty and interior design as a meaningful service that can improve the way clients experience their everyday livesWhat Whitney learned taking on an 88-room boutique hotel, including commercial sourcing, value engineering, and outsourcing large-scale procurementWhy investing in the right team members and an interior-design-specific financial expert can give firm owners more freedom, confidence, and capacity to pursue bigger opportunities Mentioned: Meet West StudioMeet West Studio InstagramMcGhee FinancialsCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  7. Aug 21

    190: You can't use what you don't have - building capacity for greatness with Angie Wisdom

    What if the reason you can’t focus, make decisions, or tap into your creativity isn’t a lack of discipline—but a lack of capacity? Shaun and Rebecca sit down with executive advisor, business coach, keynote speaker, and author Angie Wisdom to talk about protecting the finite mental and emotional resources we rely on to run our businesses and our lives. Angie breaks down why interior designers are especially vulnerable to capacity overload, how constant decisions and “search friction” drain our brains, and why pushing through burnout usually makes things worse. They also explore nervous system regulation, morning routines, habit building, self-trust, people pleasing, navigating genuinely hard seasons of life, and learning to modify your expectations instead of abandoning what matters to you. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to discipline your way into doing more, this conversation offers a completely different framework for creating sustainable success. In this episode they discuss: Why your brain has a finite amount of daily capacity and how to think of it like the battery on your phoneThe mental, emotional, physical, and nervous system “leaks” that can drain your capacity before the workday is even overAngie’s CAP framework—Catch, Ask, Prompt—for recognizing when you’re overloaded and choosing what you need nextWhy interior designers can’t simply hustle or push through creative burnout when there’s no capacity left to accessHow discipline uses valuable mental capacity and why turning behaviors into habits and identity makes them easier to sustainHow morning routines, proactive decision-making, and reducing “search friction” can protect your energy for the work that mattersCreating realistic modifications during hard seasons of life instead of waiting to “survive” them before prioritizing yourselfHow self-trust, values, and intentional capacity management can make you a stronger business owner, creative, leader, and service provider Mentioned: Angie Wisdom - https://angiewisdom.com/Angie Wisdom on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/angiewisdom_/The Non-Negotiable You: Mindset Mastery for Daily Success - https://angiewisdom.com/product/the-non-negotiable-you-mindset-mastery-for-daily-success/ Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

  8. Aug 14

    189: Just Stop: Summer Edition

    Summer is summering, and Shaun and Rebecca are feeling every bit of the chaos. They catch up on Rebecca’s daughter starting middle school, the impending disruption of a home flooring project, sensory overload, and what it looks like to raise kids who can advocate for themselves instead of having every problem solved for them. They also share an exciting update on the upcoming Hot Young Designers Club Mexico City trip, designed to give interior designers a chance to connect, explore, and actually let someone else handle the planning for once. Then it’s time to bring back a Hot Young Designers Club classic: Just Stop. Shaun, Rebecca, and the Hotties weigh in on the interior design trends and industry habits they’re ready to see less of—from an endless supply of tiny cordless lamps and default Shaker cabinets to questionable 3D-rendering marketing, publicly dragging your competitors, and asking other interior designers to hand over their expertise for free. In this episode they discuss: Navigating life, work, parenting, and a home renovation when everything seems to be happening at the same timeHelping kids build independence, organization, self-advocacy, and habits that actually work for their brainsThe upcoming Hot Young Designers Club Mexico City trip and creating an intimate, low-stress travel experience for interior designersWhy the design industry might officially have enough tiny rechargeable cordless lampsWhether 3D renderings belong on an interior designer’s website or Instagram—and how to use them effectively as marketing contentWhy designers can communicate their value without publicly tearing down competitors or other creativesThe case against defaulting to Shaker cabinets and how designers can help clients make more adventurous cabinetry choicesWhy asking another interior designer to “pick their brain” should come with an offer to pay for their expertise and time Our links: Subscribe and leave a review - Apple PodcastsLike, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club InstagramRebecca’s InstagramShaun’s InstagramFor more information - Check out the websiteBecome a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on PatreonDesign Resources - Check out our shop

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4.8
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127 Ratings

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They're not that hot, or that young - but hosts Rebecca Plumb (Studio Plumb) and Shaun Crha (Wrensted Interiors) spill the tea every week on how a new generation of interior designers run their business. Join a community exploring the emotional, practical, and humorous side of the interior design business.

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