Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Design Mentor and Coach
  • 5.0 (33)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A show for the curious creatives who want to learn what it takes to become an interior designer. Welcome to the Design Curious podcast! Each week, you'll learn practical skills every designer needs to develop regardless of whether you want to work for yourself or someone else. You'll learn secrets from professional interior designers to help you avoid costly mistakes & regrets. You'll be encouraged & empowered to overcome your fears of change, failure & money. With my 20 yrs of experience, I'll help you on the RIGHT WAY to get started. Discover if interior design is the career for you!

  1. 187 | The Real Reasons Interior Designers Struggle to Find Clients (And What Works)

    1D AGO

    187 | The Real Reasons Interior Designers Struggle to Find Clients (And What Works)

    If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I just need more experience… more projects… a better portfolio…”, I want you to pause right there. Because the truth is, most interior designers don’t struggle with client acquisition because they lack talent. They struggle because they lack structure, clarity, and confidence in how they present their value. I’ve seen incredibly talented designers sit on the sidelines, waiting for clients to come. At the same time, I’ve watched designers with less experience stay fully booked. That gap? It’s not about design ability. It’s about mindset, communication, and how you position yourself in the industry. In this episode, I’m walking you through the real reasons interior designers struggle to get clients—and more importantly, what to do instead. Because once you understand how to shift your thinking, refine your messaging, and step into your role as an expert, everything changes. Your confidence increases, your pricing aligns, and your ideal clients start to see your true value. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔️ Why talent alone doesn’t attract design clients ✔️ How imposter syndrome impacts pricing and confidence ✔️ What clients actually value beyond beautiful spaces ✔️ How to communicate design value effectively ✔️ Why mindset shifts improve client perception Read the Blog >>> 7 Reasons Interior Designers Struggle to Get Clients (And What to Do Instead) NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction: Talent vs. Perceived Value 4:00 Imposter Syndrome & Low Self-Worth 5:37 Selling Beauty vs Real Transformation 7:24 Weak Messaging & Portfolio-Only Websites 8:35 Underestimating the “Science” Behind Design 11:19 HGTV Effect on Client Expectations 16:30 Repositioning Yourself as an Expert

    20 min
  2. 186 | Struggling With Paint Colors? Understanding Undertones With Maria Killam

    APR 13

    186 | Struggling With Paint Colors? Understanding Undertones With Maria Killam

    Have you ever stood in front of dozens of paint swatches wondering why two “neutral” colors look completely different on the wall? Understanding undertones is one of the most challenging aspects of interior design—even for experienced designers. Many homes today are filled with gray furniture, gray walls, and gray finishes, yet they still feel flat, cold, or unfinished. The missing piece? A deeper understanding of color theory, undertones, and how to layer color intentionally. In this episode, I sit down with internationally recognized color expert Maria Killam to talk about how interior designers and homeowners can finally make sense of undertones and neutral colors. Maria has spent decades helping people avoid costly renovation mistakes by learning how color actually works in real homes—not just in theory. Her system for understanding undertones helps designers create timeless spaces filled with personality, warmth, and cohesion. If you’re an interior designer who struggles with choosing the right neutral paint colors, selecting finishes that flow from room to room, or bringing life back into a gray room, this conversation will help you see color in a completely new way. Featured Guest Maria Killam is an internationally recognized color expert, design educator, and author known for her groundbreaking system for understanding undertones. Through her blog Color Me Happy, her True Colour Expert Training program, and her design consultations, Maria has taught thousands of designers and homeowners how to choose paint colors, finishes, and materials with confidence. Her mission is to help people avoid costly renovation mistakes and create timeless, joyful homes filled with personality and color. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✳️ How undertones determine the success of neutral colors ✳️ Why gray interiors need color to feel alive ✳️ The difference between warm and cool neutral palettes ✳️ How to identify undertones in paint and finishes ✳️ Simple ways to add color to gray rooms Read the Blog >>> Understanding Paint Undertones NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio 2:46 Maria’s Journey From Corporate Job to Color Expert 6:48 How Maria Developed Her Undertone System 10:21 Understanding How Color Works in Interior Design 13:48 Creating Timeless Spaces Without Relying on Trends 17:00 Why Trends Can Lead to Costly Renovation Mistakes 20:36 The Importance of Neutral Finishes in Home Renovation 21:22 Why Homeowners Need Color Guidance 23:38 Trends Shifting Away From the White Box Aesthetic

    28 min
  3. 185 | Are You Making These Interior Design Business Mistakes?

    APR 6

    185 | Are You Making These Interior Design Business Mistakes?

    When most people start an interior design business, they assume the hardest part will be creating beautiful spaces. But in reality, the design isn’t the biggest challenge — the business side of interior design is where many new designers struggle. I've seen talented designers make the same mistakes repeatedly when they first start their businesses. These mistakes don’t happen because they lack creativity or skill. They happen because no one teaches designers the sales guidance, client boundaries, and business structure required to run a profitable design business. In this episode, I’m sharing three common mistakes new interior designers make when starting their design business — mistakes I made in my early days as well. If you understand these pitfalls early, you can avoid wasting time, losing confidence, or creating unnecessary chaos in your projects. My goal is to help you build stronger client relationships, create a clear design process, and run a professional design business from the start. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔️ Why designers must lead the client, not follow ✔️ How boundaries build trust and prevent project chaos ✔️ Why interior designers must embrace the salesperson role ✔️ How to reduce client decision fatigue during presentations ✔️ Essential steps to make your design business official Read the Blog >>> Interior Design Business Mistakes New Designers Must Avoid NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  📖 Check out the best books every interior designer should have here. Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 2:28 Mistake 1: Letting Clients Drive the Project 4:20 Examples of Client-Driven Projects 7:44 Setting Boundaries and Scheduling 10:54 Mistake 2: Forgetting You Are a Salesperson 14:17 The One Strong Design Solution to Clients 17:53 Mistake 3: Not Making the Business Official 20:00 Essential Business Setup

    23 min
  4. 184 | How Coaching Makes Your Interior Design Business More Profitable With Sonia Barney

    MAR 30

    184 | How Coaching Makes Your Interior Design Business More Profitable With Sonia Barney

    Are you building your interior design business in a bubble? If you’re anything like I was in my early years, you probably assumed the hard part was the design. You thought, “If I can create beautiful spaces, the rest will fall into place.” But what no one tells you is this: guesswork is expensive. Shooting from the hip on markups, contracts, pricing, and processes can cost you years of profitability—and a whole lot of stress. In this episode, I sit down with award-winning interior designer and business educator Sonia Barney, founder of the Kaivari platform, to talk about why business support is not optional if you want a sustainable, profitable design firm. We unpack the role of coaching, personalized growth, business systems, and strategic mentorship in helping creative entrepreneurs skip years of trial and error. If you’re starting out—or feeling overworked and underpaid—this conversation will help you see why investing in business education and the right coach can completely transform your creative career. Featured Guest: Sonia Barney is an award-winning interior designer, business educator, and founder of the Kaivari platform. With over 20 years in the interior design industry and more than a decade as the owner of Sonia Barney Design, she has seen firsthand how many creatives struggle with the business side of their firms. Known for her analytical, systems-driven approach, Sonia teaches design business strategy through LuAnn University and is passionate about helping designers connect with the right coaches, resources, and community network to support personalized growth and long-term profitability. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✳️ Why guesswork kills interior design profitability ✳️ How coaching accelerates personalized business growth ✳️ When to hire different types of coaches ✳️ The power of community for creative entrepreneurs ✳️ How vetted mentorship reduces costly business mistakes Read the Blog >>> The Role of Coaching and Business Education in Your Design Business NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio 3:45 Sonia’s Design Business Journey 6:09 The Turning Point: Investing in Coaching 8:16 Different Coaches for Different Growth Stages 11:29 Building a Team 14:58 The Inspiration Behind Kaivari Platform 16:53 The Role of Coaches and Business Education 19:45 The Importance of Finding the Right Coach 22:16 Kaivari's Features and Future Plans

    33 min
  5. 183 | Key Steps That Help Interior Designers Attract Dream Clients

    MAR 23

    183 | Key Steps That Help Interior Designers Attract Dream Clients

    If you’ve ever said, “I’ll take any client I can get,” you’re not alone. Most interior designers start there — saying yes to every project, every personality, and every request… even when it drains their time, energy, and confidence. But here’s what I want you to know: dream clients don’t just appear because you’re talented. They’re attracted to clarity, confidence, and structure. And without clear boundaries, a professional contract, and a strong onboarding process, even the most exciting project can quickly turn into one you resent. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to identify and attract your dream clients — not by chasing them, but by designing your business in a way that naturally draws them in. When you shift your money mindset, define your non-negotiables, and confidently communicate your process, you stop attracting bargain shoppers… and start attracting aligned clients who respect your expertise and value interior design as a professional service. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔️ Define dream clients with clarity and boundaries ✔️ Build a structure before landing your first client ✔️ Strengthen money mindset to attract aligned clients ✔️ Use niching to attract ideal projects ✔️ Leverage networking for warm referrals Read the Blog >>> Key Steps to Attracting Your Dream Interior Design Clients NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 02:56 Building Dream Clients 3:48 Setting Non-Negotiables and Client Expectations 6:24 Money Mindset and Pricing Confidence 8:25 Recognizing Aligned Dream Clients 10:54 Networking for Referrals 13:00 Acting Like Your Future Designer Self

    17 min
  6. 182 | How to Build Financial Confidence as the CEO of Your Design Business With Danielle Hayden

    MAR 16

    182 | How to Build Financial Confidence as the CEO of Your Design Business With Danielle Hayden

    The moment you file your LLC… the moment you accept your first client payment… the moment you start working with vendors or contractors… You are no longer “just a creative.” You are the CEO of your business. As Danielle Hayden and I discuss in this episode, one of the biggest mistakes interior designers make is thinking they can outsource their financial understanding to bookkeeping services, financial automation, or even AI tools like QuickBooks integrations or ChatGPT. Here’s the truth: AI is powerful, but it cannot replace CEO responsibility. With automation and financial tech, many designers assume their systems are handling everything correctly. But inaccurate bookkeeping, duplicated transactions, or improperly reconciled accounts can quietly damage your financial health — and no AI tool will raise a red flag. Instead, it will confidently analyze flawed data and give you misleading conclusions. If you want sustainable business growth, better business decisions, and long-term business protection, you must understand your numbers. In this episode, Danielle shares a powerful framework to help you step into your CEO role with clarity — without doing everything yourself. Featured Guest Danielle Hayden is the co-founder and CEO of Kickstart Accounting Inc., a bookkeeping and accounting firm dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs understand their financials through bookkeeping, financial analysis, and strategic support. With a background as a CFO, Danielle’s mission is to equip business owners — from six figures to beyond — with the tools and insights they need to build profitable and sustainable businesses. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✳️ Why CEOs must understand their business financials ✳️ AI limitations in financial analysis and decision-making ✳️ Hidden risks inside QuickBooks financial automation systems ✳️ Danielle’s framework for deciding when to become an S Corp ✳️ Four essential roles for a strong money team Read the Blog >>> Financial Confidence for Design CEOs with Danielle Hayden NEXT STEPS: 📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio 2:51 The Hidden Risks of Financial Automation and QuickBooks 6:27 Why AI Cannot Replace Financial Expertise 9:45 Embracing Your Role as CEO 10:14 3-Step Framework for Becoming an S Corp 13:42 When to Hire Bookkeeping Services 15:08 The 4 Essential Roles on Your Money Team 20:00 The CEO Dashboard and Financial Clarity 21:33 Building a Sellable Business 23:29 Getting the Right Support as a Business Owner

    27 min
  7. 181 | How to Capture Stunning Photos of Your Interior Design Projects

    MAR 9

    181 | How to Capture Stunning Photos of Your Interior Design Projects

    Have you ever finished a beautiful project… only to realize you have nothing to show for it? I’ve seen so many talented interior designers pour their heart, time, and creativity into a space — only to walk away without the one thing that helps them book their next client: professional portfolio photos. Without strong website images or scroll-stopping social media visuals, it becomes harder to build trust, showcase your design expertise, and grow your business. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to consistently get portfolio-worthy photos of your interior design projects — even if you're new, working with real-life clients, or unsure how to approach photography contracts, styling, or working with an editorial photographer. Because when you have high-quality interior photography, everything changes — your portfolio strengthens, your brand elevates, and your work finally gets the visibility it deserves. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔️ Secure client permission through photography contracts ✔️ Choose editorial over real estate photographers ✔️ Style spaces for magazine-quality photos ✔️ Capture storytelling photo composition ✔️ Plan photography into project expenses Read the Blog >>> Interior Design Photography Tips for Stunning Portfolio PhotosNEXT STEPS: 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction: Why portfolio photos matter 2:16 Getting Client Permission in Your Contract 3:46 Scheduling Photography Early 4:53 Choosing the Right Photographer 7:15 Styling for Photo Shoots 9:58 Using Natural Light and Layered Images 11:05 Capturing Horizontal, Vertical, and Detail Shots 12:16 Organizing and Using Photos 16:02 Photography as a Business Expense

    18 min
  8. 180 | 5 Biophilic Design Elements That Create Healthier, Calmer Homes With Martha Lowry

    MAR 2

    180 | 5 Biophilic Design Elements That Create Healthier, Calmer Homes With Martha Lowry

    Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt calmer, without knowing why? Or noticed how a room flooded with natural light just feels better to be in? That’s not an accident. It’s your nervous system responding to your environment, and it’s exactly why biophilic design matters more than ever in interior design today. In this episode, I’m sitting down with returning guest and seasoned residential designer Martha Lowry to unpack what biophilic design really is — beyond the buzzword. We’re talking about how bringing elements of the natural environment indoors can dramatically improve emotional well-being, mental health, creativity, and even how clients experience their homes daily. This conversation is especially important for interior designers who want to design spaces that don’t just look beautiful, but truly support the people living in them. If you’ve ever struggled to explain why certain design choices feel right — or you want to add more depth, science, and intention to your client communication — this episode will help you understand how natural light, plants, color psychology, organic shapes, and neuro-aesthetics work together to create homes that heal, calm, and inspire. Biophilic design isn’t about trends. It’s about designing with the human experience in mind. Featured Guest Martha Lowry is a residential interior designer with over three decades of experience and a unique balance of analytical and creative expertise. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, and she is a member of the Design Leaders Collective. Based in North Carolina, Martha’s work focuses on creating emotionally supportive, beautifully intentional homes rooted in biophilic design, neuro-esthetics, and a deep understanding of how people experience space. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✳️ What biophilic design is and why it matters ✳️ How natural light impacts mood, energy, and well-being ✳️ Using plants and materials to bring nature indoors ✳️ Color psychology and emotional responses in interior design ✳️ How designers apply biophilic principles for healthier homes Read the Blog >>> 5 Biophilic Design Elements for Healthier, Calmer HomesNEXT STEPS: 🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠  Check out our Designer's Playlist! *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies: 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design 🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career Connect With Me: 📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com 🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week... Timestamps 0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio 2:51 What Is Biophilic Design? 4:54 Impact of Natural Light and Color in Biophilic Design 8:02 Live Plants vs. Silk Plants 9:05 Emotional Connection to Nature and Biophilic Design 12:16 Incorporating Nature-Inspired Elements in Design 16:25 Resources for Learning More About Biophilic Design 17:04 Advice for Designers Incorporating Biophilic Design

    22 min
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About

A show for the curious creatives who want to learn what it takes to become an interior designer. Welcome to the Design Curious podcast! Each week, you'll learn practical skills every designer needs to develop regardless of whether you want to work for yourself or someone else. You'll learn secrets from professional interior designers to help you avoid costly mistakes & regrets. You'll be encouraged & empowered to overcome your fears of change, failure & money. With my 20 yrs of experience, I'll help you on the RIGHT WAY to get started. Discover if interior design is the career for you!

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