The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer
  • 4.9 (31)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Business of Beautiful Spaces, the podcast where interior design matters! As Interior Designers, we understand the power of creating beautiful and functional spaces that not only look good, but also enhance our daily lives. Join us on this journey as we explore the ins and outs of the interior design industry and dive into the business side of things. From one interior designer to another, we'll share our experiences, insights, and lessons learned as we strive to create spaces that not only make a statement, but also make a difference. So sit back, relax, and let's get started on The Business of Beautiful Spaces. The Business of Beautiful spaces Freebie:  https://the-business-of-beautiful-spaces.ck.page/ Mentorship One on One : https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/mentorship The Profit Academy for Interior Designers Online Course: https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com You can find us at  www.thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com, email us at hello@thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com or any social media platform @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.

  1. 4D AGO

    155 - Let's Talk About Resilience with Andria Cowan Molyneaux from AMC Designs

    Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I sit down with Andria Cowan Molyneaux, founder and principal designer of ACM Designs, for a deeply honest conversation about what it truly takes to build a design business that lasts. Andria is a designer who leads with integrity, intention, and quiet confidence. She’s built a respected, enduring firm grounded in exceptional client service, thoughtful design, and a commitment to lifelong learning. She’s also the current president of the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada, where she continues to champion community and professionalism within our industry. This episode is all about resilience, not the hustle-for-the-sake-of-hustle kind, but the steady, grounded resilience that comes from experience, education, and connection. We talk about Andria’s journey into design, her specialization in aging in place, how she’s navigated decades of market shifts, and why community has played such a pivotal role in her success. And I’ll share this openly, after we stopped recording, Andria and I stayed on the call for another hour, continuing the conversation about our businesses, shared experiences, and personal connection points. That’s the magic of community. That’s where resilience is reinforced. And it’s exactly why this podcast exists. This is an open, thoughtful, and genuinely fun conversation, full of wisdom, perspective, and encouragement for designers at every stage of business. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    57 min

  2. JAN 19

    154 - Let's Talk About How to Protect your Calendar and Time

    Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura dives into the real-world lessons behind building a profitable, sustainable interior design business—without sacrificing creativity or personal boundaries. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, she shares candid insights into what designers often get wrong, what actually moves the needle, and how small mindset and strategy shifts can create major business breakthroughs. Listeners will walk away with practical takeaways around decision-making, client relationships, and running a design firm with confidence and clarity. This episode is a reminder that success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things intentionally, pricing with purpose, and designing a business that supports the life you want. Whether you’re early in your design career or scaling an established studio, this conversation offers encouragement, clarity, and actionable wisdom to help you move forward with confidence. A free way to support our show is by leaving it a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps other designers discover it, too. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    19 min

  3. JAN 12

    153 - Let's Talk about AI and How You Can Integrated it into Your Design Business in 2026

    Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down how interior designers can begin using AI in a practical, ethical and non-intimidating way in 2026. Whether you are AI curious, quietly resistant, or already dabbling, this conversation is designed to help you see AI as a supportive team member rather than a threat to your creativity or value. AI cannot replace your intuition, your eye, or the human connection you build with clients, but it can absolutely remove the repetitive, time consuming work that keeps you out of your creative zone. Laura walks through simple, starter level ways to introduce AI into your business right now – from drafting client emails and summarizing meetings to supporting social media content, refining website copy, organizing project communication and assisting with early concept exploration. From there, she explores more advanced strategies for designers who are ready to integrate AI deeper into their workflow, including AI assisted design development, procurement support, predictive project planning, business intelligence analytics and client style profiling. Finally, she offers a future focused look at where AI is heading in the design industry, and why designers who learn to partner with it will be able to work with more ease, clarity and profitability. In this episode, you will learn: How to think about AI as a tool that supports your business, not a replacement for your talentSimple, beginner friendly ways to use AI for admin, communication, content and client supportHow more advanced AI tools can streamline design development, procurement and project managementWhy AI will increasingly become a core business support system while designers remain at the heart of the creative processA free way to support the show is by leaving a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more designers discover The Business of Beautiful Spaces and step into their role as confident, profitable CEOs. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    23 min

  4. JAN 5

    152 - Let's Talk How to Price your Services Correctly with Raising Costs

    Send us a text Laura breaks down why most designers do not have a pricing problem, they have a scope and structure problem. She walks through practical strategies to increase profitability at your current rates, including tightening and clarifying your scope, reclaiming billable hours you are already working, streamlining your process for efficiency, and shifting from selling hours to selling outcomes and expertise. She also walks you through a powerful breakdown of what your hourly rate actually has to cover and why 200 dollars an hour is not what you think it is once overhead, taxes, and business costs are accounted for. You will leave this episode with a clearer understanding of how to protect your fees, honour your time, and run your design business like a true CEO, without feeling guilty for charging appropriately or afraid of client pushback. In this episode, you will learn: Why “pricing correctly” is not always about raising your ratesHow loose scope and fuzzy boundaries quietly erode your profitSimple ways to clarify what is included, what is not, and when additional fees applyHow to reclaim billable hours you are already working but not charging forProcess shifts that make your existing pricing more profitableHow to position your expertise and the transformation you provide, not just your labourWhat your hourly rate really has to cover and why your take-home is a fraction of that numberThe most common mindset blocks designers face around pricing and how to reframe themA free way to support the show is by leaving a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more designers discover The Business of Beautiful Spaces and step into their role as confident, profitable CEOs. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    26 min

  5. 12/22/2025

    150 - Let's Talk About my Favourite Books and Podcasts for 2025

    Send us a text In this fun, high value CEO-style episode, Laura shares her favourite business books, podcasts and AI tools that are shaping her strategy and success in 2025.  Why business books matter for designers How the right books can reshape the way you think, market, lead and sellHow to turn book insights into systems you use dailyHow AI can help implement the concepts instantlyBook #1: Building a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald Miller Why StoryBrand is the clearest messaging framework for 2025The shift from talking about yourself to spotlighting your client as the heroHow to rewrite your homepage, services page, bio and scripts with StoryBrandHow pairing StoryBrand with AI becomes a messaging powerhouseBook #2: The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes The power of focus and consistent actionWhy the Dream 100 strategy works for designersUpdated insights from Amanda HolmesHow AI can rewrite scripts, create outreach plans and build sales systemsBook #3: Scorecard Marketing How to use quizzes to attract qualified leadsWhy scorecards reveal buying intent and segment your audienceHow AI can write your quiz, interpret results and automate follow-upLaura’s 2026 Reading List They Ask, You Answer by Marcus SheridanGood Strategy Bad Strategy by Richard RumeltThe Sales Playbook by Jack DalyThe 48 Laws of Power by Robert GreeneLaura’s Top Podcasts for 2025 The StoryBrand PodcastThe Game with Alex HormoziDiary of a CEO with Steven BartlettAspire with Emma Grede Plus bonus entrepreneurial listens for extra motivation.True Crime Corner Because designers are allowed a little guilty pleasure too. Laura shares her current binge-worthy listens. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    21 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    149- Let's Talk About our Year in Review

    Send us a text Laura walks you through a guided audit of your year: your numbers, your systems, your clients, your values, and your big-picture goals for 2026 and beyond. If you have been feeling the impact of tariffs, market shifts, rising costs, or overwhelm, this episode will help you turn reflection into strategy. Your books and your numbers Revenue: What came in, from which services, and which projects were truly profitableExpenses: Where your money actually went and where the bleeds are hidingHow to renegotiate recurring costs and keep more of what you earnAI in your workflow Where AI can streamline your admin, content, and communicationHow to use AI as a support tool (not a replacement for your design brain)Ideas for integrating AI in 2025 to reclaim time and energyTariffs, volatility and margins How this year’s tariff rollercoaster impacted pricing, vendors, and timelinesWhat to build into your proposals and contracts going forwardWhy smart designers now plan for uncertainty instead of around itYour favourite themes from the podcast this year Pricing, profitability, client experience, boundaries, leadership, and marketingA reflection on which episodes moved you to action and why that mattersGoals vs. actions The honest question: did your actions match your goals this yearBehaviour and boundaries that may not align with what you say you wantWhat needs to change in 2026 for you to achieve different resultsMission, values, ideal client, and BHAGs Updating your mission so it reflects who you are nowEnsuring your core values are lived, not just writtenReassessing your ideal client as your pricing, brand, and standards evolveRevisiting your 3 year, 5 year, and 10 year BHAGsBe sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    25 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    148. Let's Talk Designing for Energy & Well-Being: Holistic Interiors with Gala Magrina

    Send us a text Gala Magrina — holistic interior designer; host of Going Beyond Spaces with Gala; creator of the Beyond Spaces methodology and a six-week online course for designers. Gala traces her path from visual merchandising at Diesel to a holistic design practice rooted in meditation, modern feng shui, WELL, and Vastu. We unpack yin vs. yang rooms, the five elements in everyday selections, why science is finally catching up to ancient building wisdom, and how wellness real estate and client expectations have reshaped our work since 2020. Gala also shares a transparent, less-is-more billing philosophy that prioritizes healthy materials, reuse, and right-sizing over endless purchasing. Connect with Gala: Instagram: @GalaMagrinaDesign Podcast: Going Beyond Spaces with Gala Course: Holistic Interior Design for Designers (launches each September; join her list via website) Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    31 min

  8. 12/01/2025

    147. Let's Talk Shoot with Strategy - Turning Project Photos into Pipeline

    Send us a text This week on The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Charleston-based photographer Candice Brook, whose work behind the lens has helped countless designers turn their finished projects into powerful marketing assets. Candice shares what really goes into a strategic photoshoot — one that not only captures the beauty of a space but also builds visibility, fuels your PR efforts, and drives business growth long after install day. Together, Laura and Candice dive into what makes a photo truly impactful, how to collaborate with your photographer for the best results, and why waiting for “perfect” might actually be holding you back. From magazine features to Instagram reels and everything in between, this conversation is all about making your images work harder for you. If you’ve ever wrapped a project and wondered how to get more out of your photos, you’ll love this one. It’s practical, inspiring, and full of insights to help you elevate your brand through the power of great photography. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    34 min
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About

Welcome to The Business of Beautiful Spaces, the podcast where interior design matters! As Interior Designers, we understand the power of creating beautiful and functional spaces that not only look good, but also enhance our daily lives. Join us on this journey as we explore the ins and outs of the interior design industry and dive into the business side of things. From one interior designer to another, we'll share our experiences, insights, and lessons learned as we strive to create spaces that not only make a statement, but also make a difference. So sit back, relax, and let's get started on The Business of Beautiful Spaces. The Business of Beautiful spaces Freebie:  https://the-business-of-beautiful-spaces.ck.page/ Mentorship One on One : https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/mentorship The Profit Academy for Interior Designers Online Course: https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com You can find us at  www.thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com, email us at hello@thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com or any social media platform @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.

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