Here With Laura

Laura Williams
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business

Here With Laura is a podcast by Laura Williams, founder of Living Oak Interior Design. Each week, she sits down with inspiring creatives, business owners, and dreamers to have honest conversations about building a life with intention. From slow mornings to the chaos of growing a business or raising a family, this is a space for all the messy, magical moments in between.

  1. Sep 1

    How An Organized Home Changes Your Life | Christina & Rebecka of Graceful Spaces on Luxury Organizing

    What if getting organized was not about the bins or the baskets, but about finally being able to breathe in your own home? Laura sits down with Christina Lee and Rebecka Jodeit, co-founders of Graceful Spaces, one of Austin's most sought after luxury home organization firms, to talk about what it really means to create a home that works for your family, your season of life, and your goals. From meeting at a birthday party when their youngest kids were toddlers to building a team of over a dozen organizers and landing their first international project, Christina and Rebecka share how they turned a passion for intentional living into a thriving business. They open up about working together as best friends, setting firm boundaries around work hours, and why the best organized homes are never one size fits all. They also share the moment a client called to say she had cancelled her vacation because she just wanted to stay home. Topics Discussed - How their daughters' friendship led to the founding of Graceful Spaces - What luxury home organization actually means and why it goes far beyond bins and baskets - Their signature services from legacy builds to ongoing concierge refresh visits - Why they work with clients two years before a new build even breaks ground - Setting boundaries as business partners and best friends. No work before 7am, after 7pm, or on weekends - How organized homes create calmer mornings, better weekends, and more present families - Teaching kids to let go, take ownership, and feel needed at home - Growing from Austin to Charleston, Los Angeles, the Cayman Islands, and beyond- How their opposite strengths make them the perfect team Resources and Links Learn More About Graceful Spaces : https://graceful-spaces.com/ Follow Graceful Spaces on Instagram: ⁠@gracefulspacesorganizing Shop Living Oak:⁠ https://livingoakhome.com⁠ Learn More About Laura and Living Oak Interior Design: ⁠https://www.livingoak.com/about⁠

  2. Aug 12

    Building an 8-Figure Construction Company | Sean Skellinger of Skelly Build

    What does it take to scale a construction company from a one woman operation to an 8-figure business with 32 staff members, an in-house cabinetry shop, and 77 jobs closed in a single year? Sean Skellinger, CEO of Skelly Build, sits down with Laura to share how he joined his wife Diana's boutique renovation company and how they transform it into one of Austin's most respected residential construction firms.Sean shares the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that turned Skelly Build into a fixed-price construction company known for transparency, trust, and an exceptionally high level of client service. From hiring his first project manager to launching a separate small projects division, acquiring an in-house cabinetry company, and now integrating AI into the business, Sean offers a candid and practical look at what it really takes to grow a construction company the right way.He also opens up about the philosophy behind fixed-price building, why Skelly Build charges a preconstruction fee, and why their best clients are almost always people who chose the cheapest option the first time around.Topics Discussed- How Skelly Build grew from a small renovation company to an 8-figure construction firm- The fixed-price building model and why transparency wins in residential construction- Charging a preconstruction fee and why it leads to a 90% close rate- The "ask who not how" philosophy that changed how Sean approaches growth- Launching Skelly Renovations as a separate small projects division- Acquiring an in-house custom cabinetry shop and the value it adds for clients- Training project managers, delegating with trust, and protecting macro decisions- How Skelly Build is integrating AI tools across the business- Why paying subcontractors weekly builds loyalty and raises the standard of work- Working on Austin's 15-story Milago tower on Rainey StreetResources and LinksSkelly Build: https://skellybuild.com/Follow Skelly Build on Instagram: ‪@SkellyBuildShop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Laura and Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  3. Jul 29

    Austin Luxury Real Estate Agent Erin Scialabba of Erin Sells ATX on Selling Beautiful Homes & Building a Business

    What does it take to build a thriving luxury real estate business in Austin from scratch, with no connections, no clients, and no playbook? For Erin Scialabba, it started with a catering shift at the South Congress Hotel and a gut feeling she was meant to do something more creative with her life. Laura sits down with Austin luxury realtor Erin Scialabba to talk about her journey from finance and data analytics in New York City to becoming one of Austin's most trusted real estate agents. Erin shares how her authentic home tour videos helped her break into the Austin luxury real estate market, why radical transparency has cost her listings and saved her clients hundreds of thousands of dollars, and what buying a home in Austin really looks like right now. She also gets honest about building a small business without a roadmap, hiring her first team, and why protecting creative downtime is not a luxury but a business strategy. Topics Discussed Leaving a New York finance career to start over in Austin with no connectionsHow a catering job at the South Congress Hotel opened the door to luxury real estateBuilding an audience through authentic Austin home tour videosWhy she turns down listings rather than oversell a propertyHow she saved a client half a million dollars through radical transparencyWhat buyers and sellers need to know about the Austin housing market right nowHiring an operations manager and learning to delegate for the first timeWhy stand-up comedy and a pandemic walk on the greenbelt changed everythingBuilding systems, setting boundaries, and scaling a real estate business without burning out Resources and LinksLearn More About Erin : https://www.erinsellsatx.com/Follow Erin on Instagram:  @ErinSellsATXShop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Laura and Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  4. Jul 15

    15 Years of Bold, Fearless Design | Kim Lewis on Building an Iconic Interior Design Career

    What happens when a furniture marketing exec gets hired for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and spends the next eight years designing over 120 homes from the ground up? For Kim Lewis, it launched her extraordinary career in interior design. Laura sits down with Kim Lewis, founder of Kim Lewis Designs, to trace her journey from Four Hands marketing to lead designer on one of television's most beloved home renovation shows, to building a thriving seven team design firm in Austin. Kim opens up about losing her mother at 10, the divorce that brought her back to Texas, and how meeting her husband Joey, who first DM'd her looking for bar stools, helped her finally finish the memoir she's been writing for years. She shares what it really means to build a business that feels like family, how she parents with intention and presence, and why the years your kids actually need you are a shorter season than you think. Topics Discussed How a chance meeting at High Point led to nearly eight years on Extreme Makeover: Home EditionDesigning Jewel's home as her very first private clientBuilding Kim Lewis Designs into a seven-team firm with 20 active projects at a timeLosing her mother at 10 and how grief shaped her independence and empathyParenting with intention and the questions she asks her kids instead of "how was your day?"Writing a memoir about death, divorce, and forgiveness and why she's finally ready to finish itFinding a partner who complements and encourages your walk Resources and Links Kim Lewis Design: https://www.kimlewisdesigns.com/ Follow Kim on Instagram: ‪@kimlewisdesign Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Laura and Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  5. Jul 1

    Jane Ko of A Taste of Koko | Building Austin's Most Trusted Lifestyle Brand & Howdy Homes

    Laura sits down with Jane Ko, the powerhouse creator behind A Taste of Koko and the force driving Howdy Homes, Austin's newest collection of design forward residences. From building one of Austin's most beloved lifestyle platforms to stepping into interior design and real estate development, Jane shares the decade plus journey of consistency, reinvention, and trusting her instincts.She opens up about the pivot from corporate life to full time content creation, the evolution of social media from curated photos to raw authenticity, and what it really looks like to run a business while navigating new motherhood. Jane and Laura also dig into the vision behind Howdy Homes, the power of knowing when to take a leap, and why being a woman in business is actually an extraordinary advantage.Topics Discussed- How Jane built A Taste of Koko over 15 years, from a college blog to more than 200,000 follower Austin institution- The moment she was forced to choose between her blog and her 9-to-5, and why she chose herself- How Covid reshaped content creation and what creators had to unlearn about perfection- Launching Sunday House in Fredericksburg and how it sparked the idea for Howdy Homes- The origin story of Howdy Homes and what makes their South Austin properties different- Navigating postpartum, brand deadlines, and no paid maternity leave as a self employed creator- Her approach to short sprints in business, motherhood, and everything in between- Day to day rituals that keep her grounded, from nighttime baths to morning date teaResources and LinksA Taste of Koko: https://www.atasteofkoko.com/Follow Jane Ko on Instagram:  @ATasteOfKoko  Howdy Homes: https://www.howdyhomes.co/Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Laura and Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  6. 12/15/2025

    Dr. Jessica Tranchina: Wellness That Works

    Laura sits down with Dr. Jessica Tranchina, DPT, Co-Founder of Generator Athlete Lab and Founder of Experts in Wellness. From growing up as a first-generation American to becoming one of Austin’s most trusted integrative wellness experts, Dr. Jess shares her journey of science-meets-intuition, entrepreneurship, healing, motherhood, and the power of listening to your body. She shares the path that led her to physical therapy, how she built Generator Athlete Lab which was ahead of its time, and why helping people reconnect to their bodies has become her life’s work. Dr. Jess and Laura dive into everything from cold plunges and lymphatic health to the role of home environment, energy exchange, and daily rituals that regulate the mind and body. With humor, honesty, and deep experience, Dr. Jess shares what it really takes to build a purposeful, aligned life. Topics Discussed - Growing up between cultures and discovering her calling at age 12 - Training as a PT across every specialty to become a more complete practitioner - Why she created Generator Athlete Lab and what makes it unique - Cold plunges, vibration therapy, lymphatics, and why these modalities work - Building a grounded life and business while raising three children - Energy exchange, boundary setting, and rituals that support wellbeing - Launching Experts in Wellness and stepping into her intuitive gifts Resources and Links Generator Athlete Lab: @generatorathletelab https://www.generatorathletelab.com/ Experts in Wellness: @expertsinwellness Dr. Jess: @dr_jesst Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  7. 12/04/2025

    Miranda Cullen: Inside Stories Leads to Profitability and Scalability

    Laura sits down with Miranda Cullen, Founder and CEO of Inside Stories and the visionary behind the Inside Stories Franchise. From taking a high school interior design class that changed her life to building a thriving multi division design firm in Denver, Miranda shares how her creative curiosity, resilience, and love for mentoring others shaped her thirty year career. She dives into the launch of micro interior design, why quick hit projects can be more impactful than full scale remodels, and how she is turning a missed business opportunity into a national franchise model built to support designers who want to grow with confidence. Miranda also reflects on motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the moment she realized she was ready for her next chapter. Topics Discussed - How a single high school class launched Miranda into a thirty year career in interior design - The evolution of Inside Stories and celebrating its ten year anniversary - What micro interior design is and why small projects often make the biggest impact - How the micro and residential divisions keep the business both profitable and steady - The inspiration behind franchising Inside Stories and building a toolkit for designers who are not ready to leap out on their own - Structuring a team for growth, hiring intentionally, and creating a company designers want to work for - Goal planning, expansion, and why Austin is a key market for the next franchise launch - The shift from designer to entrepreneur and finding purpose in the second half of life Resources and Links Inside Stories: https://www.insidestories.com Follow Miranda on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirandascullen Inside Stories Design: https://www.instagram.com/insidestories_design Stories Franchise: https://www.instagram.com/insidestoriesfranchise Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

  8. 12/02/2025

    Karen Zabarsky Blashek: Building A Community of Creatives within Austin Home

    Laura sits down with Karen Zabarsky Blashek, Editor in Chief of Austin Home and founder of Ground Up. From her beginnings in New York architecture studios to shaping major real estate developments and leading Austin Home which is Austin’s preeminent design publication, Karen shares her multidisciplinary journey and the creative thread that connects it all. She shares the power of building community, navigating big life transitions, embracing motherhood, and raising the standard for design storytelling in Austin. Karen also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Austin Home Awards and what readers can expect from the years ahead as the city continues to evolve. Topics Discussed - How Karen’s background in architecture, art history, and creative direction prepared her for her role at Austin Home - Building Ground Up and learning the power of community-driven storytelling - The path to Editor in Chief of Austin Home and redefining what local design media can be - How slow journalism, deeper reporting, and community engagement are shaping the magazine’s future - Karen’s mindset shift stepping into motherhood, balancing two roles, and redefining what modern motherhood looks like - Her approach to connection, authenticity, and building real community rather than traditional networking - What is ahead for Austin Home, including the 2026 editorial calendar and expanded city-focused coverage Resources and Links Austin Home Magazine: austinhomemag.com Follow Karen on Instagram: http://instagram.com/kzblashek Ground Up: https://www.groundupideas.com/about Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Here With Laura is a podcast by Laura Williams, founder of Living Oak Interior Design. Each week, she sits down with inspiring creatives, business owners, and dreamers to have honest conversations about building a life with intention. From slow mornings to the chaos of growing a business or raising a family, this is a space for all the messy, magical moments in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Williams
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Laura Williams
  • Show Website
    Here With Laura

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