Design Boss Dialogue The Interior Design Business Podcast

Lisa-Marie Elkhadraoui
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

This is Design Boss Dialogue, the podcast that brings bold and ambitious women in Interior Design together where they come for real conversations to transform and take their design business to new heights. I am your host and fellow Interior Designer Lisa-Marie Elkhadraoui, here to share my experiences and insights into running an Interior Design business as well as empower you to build the confident, profitable design business you have been dreaming of and truly deserve. Dive into the world of my interior design company and business mentoring business and I support you grow and build a thriving interior design company. 

  1. 6h ago

    Ep 90 Stop Discounting Your Self-Worth, Set Real Boundaries and Price Like a Business Owner

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Design Boss Dialogue podcast, the interior design business podcast for women who are ready to build businesses that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside. Today's conversation comes from a real mentoring conversation I had this week with a wonderfully talented interior designer. A lead asked her a simple question: "How much?" Within two messages she had quoted a price, discounted herself, created an entirely new cheaper service on the spot, and talked herself out of her own value before the client relationship had even begun. And here's the part I really want you to sit with. The client could feel it. They could feel the uncertainty. They could feel the panic. They could feel the desperation. Because whether we realise it or not, clients can sense when we're negotiating against ourselves. In this episode, I want to unpack exactly what happened in that conversation because it highlights three of the biggest mistakes I see interior designers making when it comes to pricing, services and boundaries. We explore why answering pricing questions too early can undermine your authority, how "bitty services" are often a symptom of a lack of clarity in your business model, and why allowing clients to dictate timelines creates stress, overwhelm and scope creep. This is a conversation about building stronger structures, creating clear processes, and positioning yourself as the business owner you truly are. Because confidence doesn't come from pretending to feel confident. Confidence comes from having systems, boundaries and processes that support you. Inside this episode we discuss: • Why pricing is rarely the real problem • What happens when you answer "How much?" too early • The hidden cost of negotiating against yourself • Why creating cheaper services on the spot damages your authority • How to structure eDesign services properly • Setting boundaries around deadlines and client communication • Why clients should never dictate your process • The relationship between pricing, positioning and confidence • Creating a business that feels stable rather than desperate This episode is for the interior designer who knows they're talented but still finds themselves discounting, over-explaining, over-delivering or compromising their value when faced with resistance. You do not need to become harder. You do not need to become colder. You simply need stronger structures. Because when your pricing is clear, your services are well defined and your boundaries are protected, desperation has nowhere left to live. If this conversation resonates with you and you'd like support creating profitable services, stronger pricing structures and boundaries that support your business growth, you can explore Fully Booked & Highly Paid, my complete pricing and service accelerator designed specifically for interior designers. Fully Booked and Highly Paid HERE  Continue the conversation and connect with Lisa-Marie HERE. Feel free to DM or tag Lisa-Marie after listening to the episode. And as always if you have loved this episode we would love for you to leave a review and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in then we have a special gift waiting just for you. See you in the next episode lovely! xx

    26 min

  2. Jun 12

    Ep 89: Scope Creep Is Never the Client's Fault and Why That Changes Everything

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Design Boss Dialogue podcast, the interior design business podcast for women who are ready to build businesses that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside. Today's conversation is one that has caused quite a stir this week. In fact, I think it's fair to say I've touched a nerve. I posted a reel on social media with one very simple statement: Scope creep is never the client's fault. And wow... the response was huge. Some designers thanked me for saying it. Some felt uncomfortable hearing it. Others completely disagreed. But here's the thing. After 16 years in the interior design industry, mentoring over 50 women and supporting hundreds of designers through their businesses, I stand by it. Because when we strip away the emotion, scope creep rarely starts with a difficult client. It starts with unclear communication. It starts with undefined boundaries. It starts with a lack of structure. And if we're willing to look at that honestly, it gives us something incredibly powerful back: control. In today's episode, I'm lifting the lid on one of the biggest profitability leaks I see inside interior design businesses and sharing exactly why scope creep happens, how it quietly destroys profit, and most importantly, how to stop it before it starts. We'll be talking about client communication strategies, boundaries, project frameworks, contracts, client experience, and why your role as a business owner is very different to your role as a designer. Because whilst being talented will win you projects, structure is what protects them. Inside this episode we explore: • Why scope creep happens in almost every design business • The three communication silences that allow scope creep to grow • Why talented designers often experience this problem the most • How boundaries actually improve client experience • The importance of showing clients the roadmap before a project begins • Creating communication structures that build trust • Why clarity creates confidence for both you and your clients • How to position variations and additional work professionally • The framework I use to help designers protect profit and reduce overwhelm The truth is, clients aren't mind readers. They can only follow the framework you've created. And when that framework is missing, they will naturally continue walking until they find the edge. This episode is an invitation to stop seeing boundaries as restrictive and start seeing them as one of the most powerful tools you have as a business owner. Because clarity isn't separate from the client experience. Clarity IS the client experience. If this conversation resonates with you and you're ready to create stronger structures, clearer communication and a more profitable client journey, then I would love to invite you into one of my most popular resources. From Enquiry to Install is my complete client journey framework designed specifically for interior designers which you can purchase HERE  Inside you'll receive the mapped-out client journey I use, 15 templated emails, communication structures, procurement guidance, trade coordination frameworks and the systems designed to help you confidently lead your clients from their first enquiry through to project completion. Continue the conversation and connect with Lisa-Marie HERE. Feel free to DM or tag me after listening to the episode. And as always if you have loved this episode we would love for you to leave a review and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in then we have a special gift waiting just for you. See you in the next episode xx

    23 min

  3. Jun 5

    Ep 88: The 9 Lessons Every Profitable Interior Design Business Needs

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the podcast, my gorgeous souls. Today's conversation is one I think every interior designer needs to hear because there is a particular type of stuck that I see all the time in our industry. And it isn't a talent problem. The designers I speak to are incredibly talented. Their portfolios are beautiful. Their client work is exceptional. Yet quietly behind the scenes, the months feel inconsistent. One month is busy. The next feels silent. Enquiries come in but don't convert. Pricing feels like a guess every time a proposal goes out. And underneath it all sits this exhausting question: "Why does this still feel so hard when I'm so good at what I do?" If that feels familiar, then this episode is absolutely for you. As we move towards the halfway point of the year, I want to invite you into a different conversation. One that isn't about working harder, posting more content, or trying to squeeze more hours into your week. Instead, I want to help you look at the lessons you need underneath your business. Because after coaching more than 50 interior designers, one thing has become incredibly clear. The market is not the problem. There are enough clients. There are enough projects. There are enough opportunities. What is often missing is the business structure underneath that allows you to consistently attract, convert, deliver and profit from those opportunities. In today's episode, I am walking you through the nine lessons that sit underneath every successful interior design business. We dive into: • Pricing and building a structure that allows you to charge confidently • Creating an enquiry process that converts consistently • Positioning yourself so clients understand your value • Communicating your transformation rather than just your deliverables • Building a client journey that naturally creates referrals • Strengthening your confidence through structure and clarity • Becoming more visible in a way that feels consistent and aligned • Understanding financial forecasting and why it changes everything • Creating a sales process that feels supportive rather than pushy Because talent may get you into this industry. But structure is what keeps you in it profitably. Throughout the episode, I also share why these lessons are not nine separate things to fix. They're one interconnected system. When one area improves, it strengthens the others. And when one area is weak, you'll often feel the impact across your entire business. This episode is designed to help you identify the one lesson that needs your attention most right now, so you can create meaningful momentum over the next 90 days and carry that growth into the final quarter of the year and beyond. If you know you're capable of more but your business isn't yet reflecting your talent, this conversation will help you understand exactly where to focus next. I would love to know what lands most for you after listening. Join Lisa-Marie and the women in the Design Boss Diary family, follow on Instagram HERE and find more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and Beyond.  Other episodes are on our YouTube channel HERE Ready to be supported inside your business and move forward with clarity, structure, and confidence? If you’re at a point where you know things need to shift and you’re ready for guidance that actually holds you through that process there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to group spaces designed to build momentum and accountability, each experience is created to support you at different stages of your journey. To explore what support would look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 has a limited amount of spaces already.  And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in, then we have a special gift waiting just for you.  See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design business strategist and soulful leadership business mentor x

    25 min

  4. May 29

    Ep 87 Creative Women Need Different Structures: Building a Business That Supports Your Nervous System

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the podcast, my gorgeous souls. Today’s conversation is a really important one because we are talking about something I see so many creative women quietly struggling with behind the scenes, nervous system overload, overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, and trying to run a business inside structures that were never built for creative minds. Because the truth is, I don’t believe most interior designers are struggling with capability. I believe they are struggling with capacity, structure, and trying to force themselves into routines, schedules, and expectations that simply do not support the way their brain naturally works best. In this episode, I share my own experiences of working late nights, running on adrenaline, pushing myself right up against deadlines, and operating in survival mode during the earlier years of my business. I talk honestly about the shifts I had to make to build a business that actually supported me creatively, emotionally, and energetically, rather than constantly draining me. We dive into understanding energetic capacity versus time capacity, identifying your peak performance levels, time blocking, building white space into your diary, and separating “on the business” work from “in the business” work. This conversation is about giving yourself permission to stop building your business around burnout and start building it around sustainability. Because your creativity deserves structures that support it, not systems that punish it. Join Lisa-Marie and the women inside the Design Boss Diary world, follow on Instagram HERE and discover more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and beyond. Other episodes are available on our YouTube channel HERE. Ready to build a business that actually supports your creativity, capacity, and wellbeing? If you know you’re wildly talented but craving more structure, clarity, boundaries, forecasting, systems, and support inside your business, there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to supportive group programmes designed to help women build sustainable and profitable interior design businesses, every space has been created to support you differently depending on where you currently are in your journey. To explore what support could look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 currently has a limited amount of spaces remaining. And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would absolutely love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials tagging @Design_Boss_Diary, then we have a special gift waiting just for you. See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design Business Strategist and Soulful Leadership Mentor x

    27 min

  5. May 15

    Ep 86 The Hidden Gaps That Quietly Stop Interior Designers From Becoming Profitable

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the podcast, my gorgeous souls. Today’s conversation is a really important one because we are diving into the foundations that make up a profitable, sustainable, and well-structured interior design business. After 16 years in the industry, I have seen businesses built in so many different ways, some supportive and scalable, and others completely built on the fly, with no real systems, structure, or financial roadmap behind them. And the truth is, talent alone is not enough to build a profitable business. You can be an incredible designer, but if your pricing structures, procurement fees, trade coordination, management fees, forecasting, and financial systems are not properly set up, you will constantly feel like you are chasing your business rather than leading it. This episode is really about bringing awareness to the hidden gaps that quietly stop interior designers from becoming profitable and sustainable long term. We’re talking about creating a well-oiled machine behind the scenes, understanding your numbers, building a financial roadmap, and learning how to confidently position and sell your services with clarity and conviction. Because when you truly understand your business, your pricing, your profit margins, and your client journey, everything changes. This is your invitation to stop bobbling along and start building intentionally. Join Lisa-marie and the women in the Design Boss Diary family, follow on Instagram HERE and find more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and Beyond.  Other episodes are on our YouTube channel HERE Ready to be supported inside your business and move forward with clarity, structure, and confidence? If you’re at a point where you know things need to shift and you’re ready for guidance that actually holds you through that process there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to group spaces designed to build momentum and accountability, each experience is created to support you at different stages of your journey. To explore what support would look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 has a limited amount of spaces already.  And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in, then we have a special gift waiting just for you.  See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design business strategist and soulful leadership business mentor x

    23 min

  6. May 8

    Ep 85 Creative Brains Need Different Business Structures: How to Stop Running Your Business in Survival Mode

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the podcast, my gorgeous souls. Today’s episode is a really important conversation for creative women in business, especially those of you who are wildly talented at what you do, but behind the scenes feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, emotionally drained, and like you’re constantly trying to catch up. Because I truly don’t believe the issue for most creatives is capability. I believe the issue is structure. So many interior designers and creative business owners are trying to operate inside systems, schedules, and expectations that simply do not support the way their brain works best. And eventually, that leads to nervous system overload, burnout, and running a business fuelled by adrenaline rather than sustainability. In this episode, I’m sharing my own experiences, the habits I had to unlearn, the structures I had to rebuild, and the practical toolkits that helped me create a business that supports my creativity rather than punishes it. We’re talking about creative capacity, peak performance, time blocking, nervous system support, CEO days, white space, and how to stop building your business around survival mode. This is your permission slip to build your business differently. To work smarter, softer, and more intentionally. And to create a business that feels good on the inside as well as the outside. Join Lisa-Marie and the women in the Design Boss Diary family, follow on Instagram HERE and find more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and Beyond.  Other episodes are on our YouTube channel HERE Ready to be supported inside your business and move forward with clarity, structure, and confidence? If you’re at a point where you know things need to shift and you’re ready for guidance that actually holds you through that process there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to group spaces designed to build momentum and accountability, each experience is created to support you at different stages of your journey. To explore what support would look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 has a limited amount of spaces already.  And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in, then we have a special gift waiting just for you.  See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design business strategist and soulful leadership business mentor x

    24 min

  7. May 1

    EP 84 Navigating Business Lessons Together with Lisa-Marie and Steff

    Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we are having a very real conversation about business, the kind that doesn’t often get spoken about. Because the truth is, building a business isn’t linear. It isn’t neat, predictable, or always moving forward in the way you expect, and if you’ve ever found yourself questioning your progress or wondering if you’re behind, this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air. I’m joined by Steff Bolton, my business bestie and together we’re talking about the importance of community, support, and having the right people around you as you grow. Whether that’s a mentor, a coach, or simply a business bestie who just gets it. We also share an analogy that I think will really land with you, building your business like a wardrobe, because success isn’t built from one piece. It’s layered, intentional, and created over time.This is a warm, honest, and grounding conversation about resilience, connection, and why you are not meant to do this alone. If you want to connect with Steff or myself: Find Steff on Instagram with her coaching and mentoring business HERE  Join Lisa-Marie and the women in the Design Boss Diary family, follow on Instagram HEREand find more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and beyond.  Other episodes are on our YouTube channel HERE Ready to be supported inside your business and move forward with clarity, structure, and confidence? If you’re at a point where you know things need to shift and you’re ready for guidance that actually holds you through that process there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to group spaces designed to build momentum and accountability, each experience is created to support you at different stages of your journey. To explore what support would look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 has a limited amount of spaces already.  And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in, then we have a special gift waiting just for you.  See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design business strategist and soulful leadership business mentor x

    36 min

  8. Apr 24

    Ep 83 The Power of Scent: Nervous System Support for Women in Business with Olya Ilicheva

    Send us Fan Mail In this calming and insightful episode, Lisa-Marie Elkhadraoui is joined by Olya to explore the powerful connection between scent, the nervous system, and how we show up in our businesses as women. Together, they unpack how essential oils are not simply about fragrance, but about bio communication with the body. Olya shares how scent can bypass the brain’s control centre in just 22 seconds, directly influencing the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotion, stress, and memory. This conversation moves beyond surface-level wellness and into practical, grounded ways that female entrepreneurs and interior designers can use scent to regulate their nervous system, improve focus, and support creativity. Olya also introduces the concept of personalised oil protocols, using tools such as ZYTO scans to identify deeper stressors and tailor support in a more intentional way. They also explore how scent can be integrated into business environments, from daily routines to client experiences and retreats, creating spaces that feel both supportive and energetically aligned. This episode is a gentle reminder that how you feel within your business matters just as much as what you do, and that small, intentional practices can have a powerful impact on your energy, clarity, and performance. Please Note: Only CPTG doTERRA oils labelled “I – Internal” or “Oil Supplement” are suitable for internal use. Internal use should be guided by your wellness advocate or a qualified aromatherapist and is recommended only for adults and children aged 12 and above.   If you want to connect with Olya and dive into her world then: Find her on Instagram HERE  Book a free wellness discovery chat HERE  Join Lisa-marie and the women in the Design Boss Diary family, follow on Instagram HERE and find more about how you can work with Lisa in 2026 and Beyond.  Other episodes are on our YouTube channel HERE Ready to be supported inside your business and move forward with clarity, structure, and confidence? If you’re at a point where you know things need to shift and you’re ready for guidance that actually holds you through that process there are several ways we can work together. From high-proximity 1:1 mentorship to group spaces designed to build momentum and accountability, each experience is created to support you at different stages of your journey. To explore what support would look like for you, reach out directly at designbossdiary@gmail.com and start the conversation. 2026 has a limited amount of spaces already.  And as always, if you have loved this episode, we would love for you to leave a review, and if you screenshot this podcast and share it on your socials, tagging @Design_Boss_Diary in, then we have a special gift waiting just for you.  See you in the next episode, from your Interior Design business strategist and soulful leadership business mentor x

    33 min
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About

This is Design Boss Dialogue, the podcast that brings bold and ambitious women in Interior Design together where they come for real conversations to transform and take their design business to new heights. I am your host and fellow Interior Designer Lisa-Marie Elkhadraoui, here to share my experiences and insights into running an Interior Design business as well as empower you to build the confident, profitable design business you have been dreaming of and truly deserve. Dive into the world of my interior design company and business mentoring business and I support you grow and build a thriving interior design company. 

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