The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer
  • 4.9 (19)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Welcome to The Business of Beautiful Spaces, the podcast where interior design matters! As Interior Designers, we understand the power of creating beautiful and functional spaces that not only look good, but also enhance our daily lives. Join us on this journey as we explore the ins and outs of the interior design industry and dive into the business side of things. From one interior designer to another, we'll share our experiences, insights, and lessons learned as we strive to create spaces that not only make a statement, but also make a difference. So sit back, relax, and let's get started on The Business of Beautiful Spaces. The Business of Beautiful spaces Freebie:  https://the-business-of-beautiful-spaces.ck.page/ Mentorship One on One : https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/mentorship The Profit Academy for Interior Designers Online Course: https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com You can find us at  www.thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com, email us at hello@thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com or any social media platform @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.

  1. 3D AGO

    136 - Let's Talk About the Challenges of Running an Interior Design Business, From Start-Up to Profitability with Suzanne Robson

    Send us a text From Start-Up to Profitability with Suzanne Robson In this replay episode, Laura sits down with interior designer Suzanne Robson, one of the very first students of The Profit Academy for Interior Designers. Together, they dive into the real challenges of launching and running an interior design business—from navigating pricing to setting boundaries with clients—and how Susan was able to build a profitable practice right from the start. You’ll hear Suzanne's perspective as a brand-new business owner alongside Laura’s hard-won wisdom from decades in the industry. Their conversation uncovers the surprising commonalities that all designers face, whether they’re just starting out or have been in business for years. This episode is packed with practical insights, encouragement, and proof that profitability is possible at every stage of your design journey. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    38 min

  2. SEP 8

    135- Let's Talk about the Importance of Contracts in your Interior Design Business with Lawyer Erica Canas

    Send us a text Today, we’re talking about one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of running a design business: contracts. I’m thrilled to have Erica Canas, Esq., a Florida licensed attorney and interior design enthusiast, join us for this important conversation. Erica is the founder of ID Law Shop, where she creates “best-practices” legal templates specifically for interior designers and architects. Her journey began when she couldn’t find legal templates that were actually tailored for her clients. She saw outdated forms, generic templates, and resources that weren’t created by real lawyers. With 16+ years of contract drafting experience under her belt, she’s made it her mission to provide legal resources that are actually useful for interior designers. From contracts to intellectual property matters, Erica’s expertise is vast. She also offers full-service copyright and trademark registration to protect your designs and branding assets. And if you’re looking for custom drafting services, her flat-fee rates ensure you’re protected without the fear of runaway legal fees. It’s an important episode today as we discuss legal protection for designers, how to structure your contracts, and why having the right legal documents in place can protect your business and help it thrive. Let’s dive in! Website: https://www.idlawshop.com/about Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    46 min

  3. SEP 1

    134- Part 4: Let's Talk Profit Strategies, Follow the Profits, Not all Projects are Sexy

    Send us a text Welcome to the grand finale of our four-part Profitable Design Series with Laura Thornton! In this essential episode, Laura helps you shift from just designing beautiful spaces to designing a truly profitable business. Learn why reviewing your numbers regularly is more important than any brand board—and how to spot what’s really working for your bottom line, even if it’s not the “sexiest” project in your portfolio. Discover how small, simple jobs can sometimes pay more than those big, glamorous renovations—and how to stop running your business on chaos and crossed fingers. Laura shares real-life examples, practical strategies, and her favorite questions for post-project reviews so you can lean into what actually grows your business. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why regular profit reviews (by project, product, and service) are your business superpower.How to spot patterns and double down on services that are truly sustainable and scalable.Why custom and curated pieces often yield higher profits than retail products—and how to talk about this with clients.How a simple “post-mortem” after every project can boost your efficiency, margin, and joy.How to create a business blueprint—not just a beautiful brand board. Listen to the full series: Listen to Part 1 - Know your numbers. The Foundation of ProfitabilityListen to Part 2 - Time is Money, literallyListen to Part 3 - Efficiency gains, they belong to youIf you loved this series and are ready to master the art of pricing your design services, I've created the thing just for you! The Profit Academy for Interior Designers.  This course is your ultimate guide to mastering the financial side of your design business. You’ll gain the clarity, tools, and confidence to price your projects for maximum profit, build client trust, and create the thriving business you’ve always dreamed of. Learn more → Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    12 min

  4. AUG 25

    133. Part 3: Let's Talk Profit Strategies, Efficiency Gains, They Belong to You.

    Send us a text Welcome to Part Three of our special four-part series on building a profitable interior design business with Laura Thornton! In this episode, Laura brings together everything you’ve learned so far—understanding your numbers, tracking your time, and getting lean on spending—and reveals how to turn efficiency into profit that’s yours to keep. If you’ve invested in your systems, process, and team, you deserve to be rewarded. Laura shows you how efficiency and smart procurement are not reasons to lower your fees, but the very foundation for sustainable, scalable growth. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why efficiency gains and streamlined systems are your business’s reward—not a discount for clients.How investing in tools, team, and technology pays for itself through better margins and less stress.Why procurement is the untapped profit center that can transform your business—and how to claim it.How strong vendor partnerships (like Laura’s experience with Decor-Rest) can help you avoid client “comparison shopping” and elevate your value.How to communicate the true worth of your service and confidently charge for your expertise and streamlined process.Key Takeaways: Efficiency and time-saving systems aren’t “extra”—they’re built-in investments you deserve to profit from.Procurement offers scalable income and supports a seamless client experience.Your profit covers more than just your paycheck—it pays for your business’s foundation: rent, insurance, software, team, and more.As you grow, tracking your profits by project type and revenue stream helps you see what’s truly sustainable—and what’s not.Ready for the next episode in the series? Listen to Part 1 - Know your numbers. The Foundation of ProfitabilityListen to Part 2 - Time is money, literallyListen to Part 4 - Follow the Profits, not all projects are sexyIf you loved this series and are ready to master the art of pricing your design services, I've created the thing just for you! The Profit Academy for Interior Designers.  Learn more → Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    17 min

  5. AUG 18

    132 - Let's Talk Money Matters with a Financial Therapist

    Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton sits down with financial therapist Aseel El-Baba to dive deep into the hidden challenges creatives and designers face around money, self-worth, and pricing. Aseel shares her inspiring personal journey from growing up in Lebanon and immigrating to Canada, to becoming a Bay Street financial advisor, and ultimately shifting to a holistic practice as a financial therapist. Through her story and expertise, Aseel reveals why so many designers—especially women—struggle to charge what their work is truly worth, and how money taboos and deep-seated beliefs from childhood and culture continue to impact our businesses today. Together, Laura and Aseel explore practical tools and mindset shifts to help designers build confidence with money, reframe their relationship with wealth, and weather the inevitable feast-or-famine cycles of the industry. The conversation covers the power of somatic practices, emotional literacy, and the importance of making financial decisions from a grounded, empowered place rather than fear. Listeners will leave with actionable advice and the inspiration to redefine wealth and value in both their business and personal lives. Holistic Optimal Wealth: https://www.holisticoptimalwealth.com/ Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    42 min

  6. AUG 11

    131. Part 2: Let's Talk About Profit Strategies, Time is Money, Literally

    Send us a text Welcome back to The Business of Beautiful Spaces! This is Part 2 of our special four-part series on building a profitable interior design business with Laura Thornton. In this episode, Laura shares why tracking your time is one of the smartest—yet most underused—profit strategies for designers. From eye-opening stories about flat fees gone sideways to actionable tips on building better habits, Laura breaks down how understanding where your time really goes can transform both your business and your sanity. What You’ll Learn: Why flat fees without time tracking are a hidden danger for your profitThe real reason time tracking isn’t “micromanagement”—it’s smart business intelligenceHow to spot inefficiencies and bottlenecks (and fix them for good)The tools and habits Laura uses for herself and her team (no fancy tech required!)Why increased efficiency should increase your profit—not lower your feesHow to make time tracking a regular, stress-free part of your businessKey Takeaways: Don’t let “invisible” hours eat away at your flat fees—measure what matters!Time tracking helps you quote confidently, spot patterns, and work smarter.The reward for efficiency is higher profit, not lower pricing.Reviewing your tracked time regularly is the secret to less stress and more money. Ready for the next episode in the series? Listen to Part 1 - Know your numbers. The Foundation of ProfitabilityListen to Part 3 - Efficiency gains, they belong to youListen to Part 4 - Follow the Profits, not all projects are sexy If you loved this series and are ready to master the art of pricing your design services, I've created the thing just for you! The Profit Academy for Interior Designers.  This course is your ultimate guide to mastering the financial side of your design business. You’ll gain the clarity, tools, and confidence to price your projects for maximum profit, build client trust, and create the thriving business you’ve always dreamed of. Learn more → Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    23 min

  7. AUG 4

    130. Part 1: Let's Talk About Profit Strategies- Know Your Numbers, The Foundation of Profitability

    Send us a text In the first episode of our special four-part series, Laura Thornton—founder of Thornton Design and The Profit Academy for Interior Designers—shares the essential financial foundations every designer needs to run a truly profitable business. Drawing from her own journey and real-world client stories, Laura breaks down the difference between revenue, profit, fixed and variable costs, and tackles the age-old designer dilemma: margin versus markup. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to level up your studio, this episode will help you ditch the guesswork and build a business that’s as beautiful behind the scenes as it is in front of the camera. Learn why profit isn’t what’s left over, but what you plan for—and get simple, actionable steps you can take today to understand your numbers and design your business with confidence. Don’t miss the start of this powerful series! And remember, if you found this episode helpful, leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help more designers discover the show. Ready for the next episode in the series? Listen to Part 2 - Time is money, literallyListen to Part 3 - Efficiency gains, they belong to youListen to Part 4 - Follow the Profits, not all projects are sexy If you loved this series and are ready to master the art of pricing your design services, I've created the thing just for you! The Profit Academy for Interior Designers.  This course is your ultimate guide to mastering the financial side of your design business. You’ll gain the clarity, tools, and confidence to price your projects for maximum profit, build client trust, and create the thriving business you’ve always dreamed of. Learn more → Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    15 min

  8. JUL 28

    Ep.129 - Let's Talk About Understanding Your Profit Margins in Construction 

    Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I’m joined by Gabriela Eisenhart of Silo Studios to discuss how interior designers can confidently add construction management to their offerings—and boost profitability in the process. Gabriela shares how designers can start integrating construction-related services, improve communication with contractors and clients, and take more control over project outcomes. We cover everything from procurement strategies and vendor coordination to managing timelines, budgets, and liability. Gabriela also walks us through the first steps for designers who want to expand into construction or renovation oversight without feeling overwhelmed. If you're ready to increase your revenue and create a smoother process for your clients, this conversation is a must-listen. Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

    47 min
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About

Welcome to The Business of Beautiful Spaces, the podcast where interior design matters! As Interior Designers, we understand the power of creating beautiful and functional spaces that not only look good, but also enhance our daily lives. Join us on this journey as we explore the ins and outs of the interior design industry and dive into the business side of things. From one interior designer to another, we'll share our experiences, insights, and lessons learned as we strive to create spaces that not only make a statement, but also make a difference. So sit back, relax, and let's get started on The Business of Beautiful Spaces. The Business of Beautiful spaces Freebie:  https://the-business-of-beautiful-spaces.ck.page/ Mentorship One on One : https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com/mentorship The Profit Academy for Interior Designers Online Course: https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.com You can find us at  www.thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com, email us at hello@thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com or any social media platform @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.

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