Turnkey Design Talk

Adam Scougall
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly Series

Hosted by interior designer Adam Scougall, Turnkey Design Talk is a podcast for solo interior designers and decorators who want to run calmer, more controlled businesses — and finish projects properly.   The show focuses on what actually makes the difference in a design career: how projects are led, how boundaries are set, how decisions are made, and how work is brought to a confident, photo-worthy close.   This isn’t about trends or overnight success. It’s about taking responsibility for the outcome — from the first client yes through to the final reveal.   If you care about delivering beautifully finished homes, creating genuine wow moments for your clients, and building a business that works on your terms, you’re in the right place. https://www.instagram.com/adamscougall               |   |   

  1. Episode 1

    Markup vs Trade Pricing: How Should Interior Designers Price Products?

    Turnkey Design Talk is back for Season 6! After a short break, I’m kicking off the new season with one of the pricing questions I hear constantly from solo interior designers and decorators: how much should you mark up the products you specify—and should you be passing your trade discount on to your clients? Some designers pass on their entire trade discount. Others retain the retail margin. Others use a standard markup. So which approach is right? In this episode, I break down the difference between trade pricing and markup, why there is no magic percentage every designer should be charging, and why your own profitability should ultimately determine your pricing strategy. I’ll also introduce you to Stressed Sally and Calm Claire—two equally talented fictional designers with very different approaches to pricing. Sally changes her markup whenever an expensive item makes her nervous, while Claire establishes a pricing philosophy, applies it consistently and reviews it against the actual profitability of her projects. We cover: Trade pricing vs markup and how they differWhy copying another designer’s markup percentage can be a mistakeThe danger of changing your markup based on the price of individual productsWhy consistency can make quoting simpler and increase your confidenceHow your overall project profit margin should inform your pricing decisionsMy own approach to markup and why I currently use a consistent 30% markup on trade pricingThe goal isn’t to find the “perfect” markup percentage. It’s to create a pricing structure that covers your costs, supports your service and helps you build a profitable, sustainable design business. Download the free Solo Designer Profit Guide: https://www.turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Welcome back to Season 6 of Turnkey Design Talk. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  2. Episode 2

    Beyond Instagram: Finding Better Design Clients

    Instagram can be a useful part of your marketing, but it shouldn’t be the only place you’re looking for your next interior design client. In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m looking at how solo interior designers and decorators can think more broadly about finding clients — particularly when posting consistently on social media isn’t translating into actual enquiries. I share some of my own experiences of where design work has come from over the years, why getting in front of the right people matters more than simply being visible to more people, and how you can start creating opportunities for potential clients to discover what you do. If you’re spending hours creating content and wondering where the actual clients are, this episode is for you. Because ultimately, we’re not trying to become content creators. We’re trying to build successful design businesses. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  3. Episode 3

    From Imposter Syndrome to More Clients — with Christine Corcoran

    In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m joined by high-ticket sales strategist and business mindset master coach Christine Corcoran, bestselling author of Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Your Superpower and founder of the Unstoppable Women event. Christine has coached interior designers and other creative business owners through the mindset, visibility and sales challenges that can quietly keep talented people playing small. And in this conversation, we get right into them. We talk about why imposter syndrome can still show up 10 or 15 years into your career, why being good at something can actually make you undervalue it, and why comparing your pricing to the designer down the road tells you very little about what your business needs to charge. Christine also challenges the idea that referrals alone are enough to build a reliable design business. We explore visibility as a business strategy — from social media and speaking to camera to partnerships, events, cold outreach and deliberately putting yourself where potential clients are already making decisions. We also get into the uncomfortable stuff around money and selling: discounting your fees, giving away consultations, overdelivering to prove your worth, avoiding conversations about money, emailing a proposal and then hoping the client says yes, and taking on the wrong client simply because you’re worried there won’t be another one. And Christine leaves us with practical actions you can start this week: prioritise your own marketing before disappearing into client work, build a bank of evidence of the results you’ve already created, and develop a lead-generation system that doesn’t leave your income entirely in the hands of referrals. We finish by talking about Unstoppable Women, Christine’s Gold Coast event, and why she wants Australian women in business to get better at celebrating their achievements, networking, collaborating and asking, “How can I help you?” rather than allowing tall-poppy syndrome to keep everyone playing small. In this episode: Why imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear when you become experiencedSeparating your self-worth from the value of your design serviceWhy “What is everyone else charging?” can be the wrong questionBecoming comfortable talking about moneyWhy discounting can undermine your own valueVisibility beyond simply posting on InstagramCreating opportunities instead of waiting for referralsGetting past the fear of outreachThree practical actions to build confidence, visibility and leadsThe story and thinking behind Unstoppable WomenIf you’re a talented designer or decorator who knows you need to become more visible, more confident and more proactive about creating opportunities, this conversation is for you. http://christinecorcoran.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/christinecorcoran_coach/ https://www.facebook.com/ChristineCorcoranCoach https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-corcoran-1860187a/ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-next-level-life-with-christine-corcoran/id1276992872 book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Turn-Impostor-Syndrome-Into-Superpower/dp/1763812308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1T8Q6DJRQALG0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SqS_co7k1-ADp9g10GIxFOxxGrPcPOlygxMEur7mpXRrilU-bKaBZdWwGSnNz4JCF9BKViPuKd2iP2aMB8hYfPqW_nJ3SG99vgYueNEUz1I.6DAcjMB9Vo5Z6f61vFMroB5-7V3KdGPpQYnoqR8SFJ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=christine+corcoran&qid=1764290762&sprefix=christine+cor%2Caps%2C624&sr=8-1 Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

    From Imposter Syndrome to More Clients — with Christine Corcoran

  4. Episode 4

    The Legal Side of Coordinating Trades: 5 Must-Haves for Interior Designers

    If you’re an interior designer or decorator coordinating painters, electricians, cabinetmakers or other trades, do you know what you’re actually taking responsibility for legally — and are you charging properly for it? After getting updated legal advice from Australian legal counsel Sprintlaw, I’m sharing five legal must-haves for coordinating trades, including how my own NSW business can stay closely involved in trade coordination even when the client contracts with and pays those trades directly. We’ll cover the real work involved in managing painters, electricians and cabinetmakers, why handing trade management back to the client can create chaos, and why client-direct trade payments do not mean your coordination should be free. Plus, I explain how I structure my implementation fee and why every designer should get their own legal advice on how to coordinate — and be compensated for coordinating — trades where they operate. Free Solo Designer Profit Guide: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  5. Episode 5

    What Is Turnkey Interior Design — And Why Should You Offer It?

    What does it actually mean to offer a turnkey interior design service — and what separates it from simply designing a room and ordering the furniture? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, Adam breaks down the difference between “help me do it” and “do it for me” clients, and why a genuine turnkey service is about taking responsibility for getting the approved design all the way across the finish line. From professional receiving and storage to a clearly defined programme, coordinated installation, styling, photography and that all-important home reveal, you'll discover how a properly run turnkey process can create a better experience for your client — and a stronger, more profitable service for your business. Adam also introduces his FINISH Framework, the backbone of his Turnkey Design Success System, and explains how it takes a project from that first client conversation through to the finished reveal. And stay to the end, where Adam shares three questions that will quickly reveal whether you're ready to confidently lead a truly turnkey project. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  6. Episode 6

    The Discovery Call: 5 Things You MUST Know Before Booking the Consultation

    Your discovery call should do a lot more than establish whether you and a potential client “click.” By the end of that call, you should know whether there’s actually a viable project worth pursuing. Are they a DIY client who really wants your advice so they can manage the project themselves — or are they a potential full-service client who wants someone to take control? What’s the real scope? What are they prepared to invest? And does that investment realistically cover both the project and your professional fees? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m sharing five things you need to nail on your discovery call before booking that paid consultation. We’ll look at how to spot a client who has already started running the project themselves, how to uncover what they really want from you, how to have the investment conversation without turning the call into a quotation — and how to work out whether the numbers actually stack up. Because the discovery call isn’t the time to start designing, give away your best ideas or automatically assume every enquiry is a full-service opportunity. Use your discovery call to discover. Get this right, and you’ll walk into your next consultation already knowing who you’re dealing with, what they want, what they’re prepared to invest — and whether the scope, service and numbers actually match Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  7. Episode 7

    Are You Offering Too Many Design Services?

    When your services menu starts looking like a ten-page Italian restaurant menu, you might have a problem. Design consultations, Design SOS, e-design, room refreshes, furniture packages, finishes packages, colour consultations… offering more can feel like you’re giving potential clients plenty of choice. But too many options can actually make it harder for clients to understand what you do, who you help and which service they should choose. In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I break down how to simplify your service menu without limiting your business. We’ll look at the difference between offering a paid consultation, a focused advice service, e-design and full-service design, where the boundaries can become blurred, and why adding ordering and procurement to smaller services can accidentally pull you into project management without being properly compensated. The goal isn’t to offer something for everyone. It’s to create a small, clear menu of profitable services that makes it easier for the right client to say yes. If your website currently feels more like an Italian menu than a clear path to working with you, this episode is for you. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  8. Episode 8

    From Undercharging to Full-Service: How Mary Holmes Changed Her Design Business

    What happens when you realise you're doing all the work — but your pricing isn't actually allowing you to make money? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I'm joined by Melbourne interior designer Mary Holmes of Proud Mary Stylist for a very open conversation about how her business has evolved over the past year. Mary joined the beta round of my Turnkey Design Success System in 2025 at a point when she wanted to attract better projects, simplify her services and rethink the way she was charging for full-service work. We talk about what changed — including Mary's move from trying to squeeze design, ordering, logistics and installation into one fixed fee to separating her design and implementation fees. We also get into Mary's recently completed Elsternwick turnkey project, where her client went overseas and returned to a completely finished apartment. But this conversation isn't only about delivering projects. Mary has become incredibly proactive about generating her own leads through Instagram, her website, SEO and paid advertising — and recently generated seven discovery calls across two weeks. We talk about what she's doing differently, why she believes designers need to show their personalities online, what years of consistency on Instagram have taught her, and why she's more interested in speaking to potential clients than collecting likes from other designers. Plus, Mary shares why she no longer tries to do everything herself and how outsourcing parts of the business is helping her grow while remaining a solo designer. If you're a solo interior designer who's undercharging, juggling too many services or wondering how to create a more consistent pipeline of potential clients, there's plenty to take away from Mary's experience. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  9. Episode 9

    Question: Would You Hire You?

    Something happened to me recently that made me stop and think about what it actually feels like to be on the other side of our businesses. In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between intention and experience — and how something as simple as poor communication can make a client feel forgotten, even when you’re working incredibly hard behind the scenes. I share a real experience that triggered the conversation, a designer-client relationship that suddenly blew up, and the simple Friday rule I use in my own design projects to keep clients informed and reassured. Because great service isn’t about being available 24/7 or having no boundaries. It’s about being intentional, communicating clearly and respecting people’s time. So forget the beautiful Instagram feed for a minute and ask yourself one slightly uncomfortable question: Would you hire you? Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

  10. Episode 10

    Getting Clear on the Designer You Want to Be | with Susie Ferreira

    What kind of interior designer do you actually want to be? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m joined by Susie Ferreira, Principal Interior Designer at Casa Flair Interiors, for a conversation about getting clearer on what you want to be known for, how you want to work, and how you want your business to evolve. Susie has developed a particular focus on low-tox and wellness interiors, creating homes that consider not only how a space looks, but how the materials, finishes, furnishings, lighting and other choices within it can contribute to a healthier home. We talk about how Susie’s business has evolved as she’s become more specific about the designer she wants to be. We also unpack a recent furniture project that got her thinking differently about client experience and project delivery — and why sometimes the lessons we understand in theory only really click once we experience them for ourselves. We finish by talking about visibility, getting yourself in front of the right audience, and Susie taking her expertise to the stage at the Sydney Home Show. Find Susie Susie Ferreira Casa Flair Interiors Website: casaflair.com.au Instagram: @casaflairinteriors See Susie at the Sydney Home Show Susie will be presenting “A Wellness Approach to Interior Design” on the Home Inspo Stage. Saturday 10 October 2026 1:30pm International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) Sydney Home Show: 9–11 October 2026 Open 10am–6pm daily In her presentation, Susie will explore how everyday interior design choices can affect the health of our homes and how we can create healthier spaces without compromising on style. For Sydney Home Show information, tickets and the full speaker timetable, visit homeshows.com.au/sydney/ Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

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Hosted by interior designer Adam Scougall, Turnkey Design Talk is a podcast for solo interior designers and decorators who want to run calmer, more controlled businesses — and finish projects properly.   The show focuses on what actually makes the difference in a design career: how projects are led, how boundaries are set, how decisions are made, and how work is brought to a confident, photo-worthy close.   This isn’t about trends or overnight success. It’s about taking responsibility for the outcome — from the first client yes through to the final reveal.   If you care about delivering beautifully finished homes, creating genuine wow moments for your clients, and building a business that works on your terms, you’re in the right place. https://www.instagram.com/adamscougall               |   |   

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Scougall
  • Episodes
    59
  • Seasons
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Turnkey Design Talk
  • Show Website
    Turnkey Design Talk

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