The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers | Interior Design Business Pocast

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer
  • 4.9 (35)
  • 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.  AI Made Simple for Interior Design: The 2-Part Smart Business Toolkit, ChatGPT Edition https://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/ai-made-simple-for-interior-designers-2-part-chat-gpt-smart-toolkit AI Made Simple for Interior Design: The 2-Part Smart Business Toolkit, Claude Editionhttps://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/ai-made-simple-for-claude-the-2-part-smart-business-toolkit 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. 3d ago

    185. Let's Talk About Why Revenue is NOT the Number That Matters Most

    Send us Fan Mail Revenue Is Not the Number That Matters Most in Your Business "I built a six-figure business." "We had a half-million-dollar year." Revenue milestones sound exciting, but here's the truth: you would never judge a room by its square footage alone, and you shouldn't judge a business by its revenue. It tells you the size, and nothing about whether it works. In this episode, Laura walks through one running example, a design firm generating $500,000 in revenue and keeping just $30,000 in profit, and shares the eight financial numbers that actually tell you whether your business is profitable, stable, and capable of supporting your future. This matters enormously in interior design, where huge amounts of money move through the business that never belonged to the business. If you've ever felt behind after hearing another designer's revenue number, this episode will change how you measure success, in her business and your own. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm. This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there. Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. 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

  2. Aug 17

    184. Let's Talk About Why Most Designers Never Hit 7 Figures

    Send us Fan Mail Most talented interior designers never reach seven figures in annual revenue, and it has nothing to do with creativity or hard work. In most cases, they're already working too hard. The real issue is that the business was never structured to grow to that level. But before chasing the milestone, there's a more important question: is seven figures even your goal? In this episode, Laura starts with an honest look at what a million-dollar design firm really requires, including the surprising statistics on how rare it actually is, and why a deliberately smaller, design-phase-only firm with no procurement can be a fantastic business built on purpose. Then, for those who do want the milestone, she walks through the eight limitations that keep talented designers from reaching it. Whether your goal is seven figures or a lean, profitable firm that funds a beautiful life, this episode will help you set the right target and see exactly what's standing between you and it. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm. This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there. Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. 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

  3. Aug 10

    183. Let’s Talk About What to Say When a Client Says Your too Expensive

    Send us Fan Mail "You're too expensive." Almost every interior designer has heard it, and even when you know your pricing is fair, those three words can send you straight into explaining, defending, and discounting. In this episode, Laura walks you through exactly what to do when a potential client pushes back on your fees. You'll learn why "too expensive" does not automatically mean your price is wrong, how to uncover what the client actually means, and how to respond with confidence while protecting the profitability of your business. She also shares the discount maths most designers have never run, and it will change how you think about "just taking ten percent off" forever. The goal is not to win every project. It's to communicate your value clearly, adjust the scope instead of your worth, and recognize when a client simply isn't the right fit. What You'll Learn in This Episode The first move when you hear "you're too expensive": pause, and ask one question before you respondWhy an expectation issue and a budget issue are two different conversations, and how to tell which one you're havingThe fee-versus-furnishings confusion: why clients often call the whole project investment "your price"How to reconnect your fee to your value with language that is specific, not defensiveWhy you adjust the scope, never the value, when the budget genuinely can't support the projectThe real cost of a discount: how ten percent off your fee can cut your profit in halfHow to gracefully decline when the client is not the right fit, and the difference between a client seeking clarity and one negotiating your professional worthWhy your own discomfort with a number is not proof the price is wrong, and how to stop negotiating against yourselfStep-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources 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

  4. Aug 3

    182. Let’s Talk About proposal to procurement, where AI saves you time

    Send us Fan Mail How much of your week is spent designing, and how much is spent writing emails, preparing proposals, chasing vendors, and updating spreadsheets? In this episode, Laura shares 10 practical ways interior designers can use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to take repetitive, administrative work off their plate, from the first client inquiry all the way through procurement. This is not about replacing your creativity, your judgment, or your client relationships. It's about getting past the blank page, organizing information faster, and buying back time for the work that truly requires you. Whether you've been experimenting with AI for months or haven't typed a single prompt, this episode gives you a clear, low-risk place to start. What You'll Learn in This Episode The ground rule for using AI in your design business: AI helps you reach your decisions faster, it never makes them for you10 practical uses for AI, including turning inquiry notes into a client brief, drafting consultation follow-ups and proposals, spotting scope gaps before they cost you, meeting summaries, checklists, product and quote comparisons, procurement reviews, vendor and client updates, and building your SOPsA bonus for your drive time: how voice mode turns hours in the car into working time for business planning and brain dumpsWhy these 10 are just the tip of the iceberg, and how your comfort and trust grow with every small winA simple five-part prompting framework, with a word-for-word example you can adapt todayHow to protect your clients and your business: privacy settings, what not to upload, and where human verification is non-negotiableWhy you are not falling behind, and the one low-risk task to hand to AI this weekStep-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm. This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there. Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. 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

  5. Jul 27

    181. Let's Talk About How Much You Are Paying Yourself.

    Send us Fan Mail How much are you actually paying yourself? Not what your business generated last quarter. Not what you transferred after one good project. What are you consistently paying yourself, every two weeks or every month? If you're waiting to see what's left over, this episode is for you. Laura breaks down why your compensation has to be a planned, budgeted line item in your business, not an afterthought. Because hope is not a compensation strategy, and you deserve a business that pays you reliably for the talent, leadership, and energy you pour into it. In This Episode Why the owner is so often the last person to get paid, and why that can't be the long-term planThe problem with "I pay myself when there's enough money" and what it costs you personallyHow to choose your ideal salary based on your real life, not thin airWhy your salary becomes your North Star, and how to work backward from it to revenue, margins, and project mixThe trap of top-line sales in interior design: why a big bank balance after a client invoice doesn't mean you can pay your mortgageOwner compensation vs. profit, and why they are not the same thingBuilding your pay into the annual budget first, then layering in everything elsePlanning for consistency in an industry with lumpy revenueWhat to do if your business can't afford your ideal salary yet (hint: that gap is the most useful information you've gathered all year)Why growing revenue without growing your pay isn't growth, it's a bigger job with the same paychequeHow paying yourself properly changes the way you price, choose projects, and lead Your Homework This Week Choose your ideal annual compensation and divide it into a monthly or bi-weekly amount.Compare it with what you're actually paying yourself right now. What's the gap?Check whether your annual business plan includes your compensation as a real expense. If it doesn't, add it.Work backward: what revenue, gross profit, and mix of projects does the business need to produce to support it?You don't need to solve everything in one afternoon. But you do need to stop avoiding the number. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources 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

  6. Jul 20

    180. Let's Talk About The Importance of Business Coaching

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton explores the value of business coaching and the two paths entrepreneurs can take: figuring everything out alone through years of trial and error, or learning from someone who can help them move forward with greater clarity and confidence. She explains why the skills and people that helped you reach your first $100,000 in sales may not be the same ones you need at $250,000, $500,000, or one million dollars and beyond. As your business grows, your leadership, systems, financial knowledge, team, and decision-making must grow with it. Laura also shares how her perspective on the cost of coaching has changed. She once worried about the investment, but now believes the greater risk is not investing in her own growth and business. Coaching can help shorten the learning curve, reveal blind spots, strengthen decision-making, and create a more direct path toward a profitable and sustainable company. You do not have to build your business the hardest possible way, and you do not have to do it alone. A free way to support the show is by leaving a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts so more interior designers can discover it. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm. This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there. Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. 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

  7. Jul 13

    179: Let’s Talk About Why Your Feed Is Beautiful But You’re Getting No Inquiries

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura dives into a challenge many interior designers face: having a beautiful Instagram feed that attracts likes and compliments, but not actual inquiries. She explains why a stunning portfolio alone is not enough to convert followers into clients, and how designers can shift their content from simply showing pretty rooms to communicating value, expertise, process, and trust. Laura shares practical ways designers can make their marketing more strategic, including how to tell the story behind a project, educate potential clients, clarify services, and invite people to take the next step. This episode is a reminder that your audience may already love your work, but they also need to understand why they should hire you. If your content is getting attention but not bringing in leads, this conversation will help you turn admiration into action. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources 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

  8. Jul 6

    178 - Let's talk about Natural Stone in Your Designs

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura welcomes Massimo Ferrera, Account Manager and Stone Master at Cava Surfaces, to demystify the process of incorporating natural stone into interior design projects. With over 27 years of experience in marble sourcing, stone selection, and fabrication, Massimo shares practical guidance for designers who want to feel more confident specifying stone, working with fabricators, and guiding clients through the selection process. Together, Laura and Massimo explore where designers should begin when using natural stone, the most common misconceptions about fabrication, key questions to ask before choosing a slab, and how to avoid costly mistakes before install. They also discuss creative ways to use stone beyond countertops, including fireplaces, showers, floors, backsplashes, furniture pieces, and statement walls. This conversation will help designers feel more prepared, informed, and inspired to bring the beauty, character, and timelessness of natural stone into their projects. 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. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately.  Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resources In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm. This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there. Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. 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

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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.  AI Made Simple for Interior Design: The 2-Part Smart Business Toolkit, ChatGPT Edition https://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/ai-made-simple-for-interior-designers-2-part-chat-gpt-smart-toolkit AI Made Simple for Interior Design: The 2-Part Smart Business Toolkit, Claude Editionhttps://www.theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/ai-made-simple-for-claude-the-2-part-smart-business-toolkit 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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