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PODCAST

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers | Interior Design Business Pocast

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer

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

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

18:03

171. Let's table About Pricing With a Method: How to...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/05/18

Send us Fan Mail If pricing feels like a stressful guess, this episode will help you price with a clear method so you stop undercharging and start feeling confident in your numbers. In this episode, you will learn Why designers undercharge even when they are talented and bookedWhat it means to price the process, not the tasksHow to set a Minimum Viable Fee so you stop saying yes to unprofitable workHow a Pricing Ladder creates consistent packages clients can choose fromHow to account for comp...

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10:58

170. Let’s Talk About being booked and broke: The...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/05/11

Send us Fan Mail Booked and Broke: Two Futures of a Designer If your calendar is full but your profit feels shaky, this episode is for you. We are talking about the two paths most designers end up on: Future A booked and broke, or Future B calm and profitable. The difference is not talent. It is systems. In this episode, you will learn Why being busy is not proof your business is healthyThe three profit leaks that quietly drain your marginWhat booked and broke actually looks like in real life...

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20:40

169. Let's Talk About Stop Giving Away Design: 12...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/05/04

Send us Fan Mail If you have ever looked up at the end of a project and wondered, “Where did my time go?”, this episode is for you. Laura breaks down 12 common profit leaks that quietly drain revenue in interior design businesses, often disguised as “good service” or “just being helpful.” From extra meetings and endless revisions to showroom visits, rush timelines, and unpaid install days, Laura shows you exactly where designers unintentionally work for free, and how to set boundaries that pr...

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30:40

168. Let's Talk About The Mantras That Make Money

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/04/27

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re breaking down the business sayings I live by, and why they work. From “speed to the lead” (because fast response wins the job) to “nobody knows you exist” (because hope is not a marketing plan), I share the real-world strategies and psychology that turn inquiries into booked consults, marketing into momentum, and effort into revenue. We’ll also talk about “return on luck,” how visibility creates opportunity, and why revenue is built through systems, not...

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30:12

167. Let’s talk about how to set your hourly rate as...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/04/20

Send us Fan Mail Setting your hourly rate as an interior designer can feel confusing, emotional, and honestly a little awkward. In this episode, Laura breaks it down in plain English and shows you how to set an hourly rate that actually supports your business, not just your calendar. You’ll learn why copying what “other designers charge” is a fast track to burnout, what your rate truly needs to cover (including overhead, taxes, software, and non-billable time), and how to stop underestimating...

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50:53

166- Let's Talk About Cyber Security in your Small...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/04/13

Send us Fan Mail Most interior designers and small business owners believe cybersecurity is something they will deal with later or that their business is simply too small to be of interest to hackers. That assumption is no longer true. In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jason deCourcy, founder of Xoomler, to uncover the real reason small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and one-person design firms are now the primary target for cybercriminals. Hackers hav...

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45:16

165 - Let's Talk About Evolving Without Losing Your...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/04/06

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jamie Young of Jamie Young Co. for a conversation about longevity in business, what it really takes to build a brand that evolves through changing trends, shifting markets, and new seasons of growth while still staying grounded in timeless style and strong values. Jamie shares how she’s protected the core identity of her brand over decades, how she decides what to embrace and what to ignore, and why lon...

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38:33

164 - Let's Talk About Q1 Business Review for...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/03/30

Send us Fan Mail If Q1 felt busy but the profit did not match the effort, this episode is your CEO reset. In today’s episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton walks you through a simple, repeatable Q1 business review designed specifically for interior designers who want more profitability, better systems, and a lot less chaos. You will learn exactly what to review, what the numbers are trying to tell you, where profit leaks hide, and how to set clear goals for next month and...

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46:04

163- Let's Talk About from Chaos to Clients: Building...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/03/23

Send us Fan Mail Laura Thornton sits down with Darilyn Coles, CEO of Selocity, for a practical conversation on how interior designers can adopt AI in a way that actually strengthens their business. Darilyn explains why technology only works when the underlying process is clear first, and she shares how designers can use AI to streamline operations, improve speed-to-lead, and support stronger lead qualification without losing the personal touch clients expect. Together, they dig into modern le...

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16:23

162 - Let's Talk About Investing In Yourself & Your...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/03/16

Send a text If you’re running an interior design studio, you’re not “just” the creative you’re also the CEO, the project manager, the salesperson, and the money manager. In this episode, Laura Thornton breaks down why investing in yourself and your business isn’t a luxury… it’s a strategy. You’ll learn how to spot the hidden costs of trying to do it all alone (like undercharging, scope creep, decision fatigue, and inconsistent cash flow), and how mentorship, continuing education, and communit...

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39:12

161. Let's Talk About Being Busy Is Not the Goal: The...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/03/09

Send a text If you are booked, busy, and still wondering where the money went, this episode is your roadmap. Laura Thornton breaks down the mid shift every designer must make: moving from creative operator to CEO leader. You’ll learn how to stop guessing, build a profit-first business model, understand the numbers that drive real sustainability, and create capacity without burnout. This is not hustle culture. This is leadership, strategy, and building a design business that funds the life you...

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19:50

160 - Let's Talk About The Power of Saying "No" To...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/03/02

Send a text From scope creep and unrealistic timelines to unlimited revisions and 24/7 availability, this conversation is all about how setting boundaries isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being clear, confident, and professional so your business can truly thrive. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why saying “no” is a leadership skill, not a weaknessThe most common moments designers need to say no — and why they matterHow over-accommodating leads to burnout, resentment, and lost profitabi...

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50:06

159 - Let's Talk About Scaling your Interior Design...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/02/23

Send a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with the brilliant Donna Hoffman, multi-award-winning luxury designer, business strategist, and founder of Impeccably Designed Homes, to talk about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) topics in the design industry: how to scale your business sustainably and profitably. Donna shares the story of how she built her seven-figure firm from the ground up, the systems and mindset shifts that made growth ...

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60:37

158- Let's Talk: Fireside Chat with the SheEO's in My...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/02/16

Send a text Part 2 of this conversation goes deeper into the internal side of long-term entrepreneurship. Less about tactics, more about judgment, intuition, systems, relationships, and the realities that only show up after decades in business. The group explores how decision-making evolves with experience, when to trust your gut versus your data, and why profitability, not optics, is what actually sustains a business. They also talk candidly about seasons of life, goal setting in mid-career,...

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59:55

157 - Let's Talk: Fireside Chat with the SheEOs in My...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/02/09

Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with three long-time colleagues and friends from very different industries to talk candidly about what entrepreneurship actually looks like over decades, not highlight reels. Together, they unpack the misconceptions people have about their businesses, the pivotal career moments that changed their trajectories, and the real trade-offs behind growth, scaling, and balance. The conversation moves beyond hustle cul...

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16:17

156- Let's Talk About Client Relationship 101

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/02/02

Send us a text Client Relationships 101: How to Set Boundaries, Stay in Control & Create Happy Clients Strong client relationships don’t come from being overly flexible or available 24/7. They come from clear leadership, well-defined processes, and confident boundaries. In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down exactly how interior designers can stay in control of their projects from day one without sacrificing warmth, professionalism, or client trust. If you’...

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56:35

155 - Let's Talk About Resilience with Andria Cowan...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/01/26

Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, I sit down with Andria Cowan Molyneaux, founder and principal designer of ACM Designs, for a deeply honest conversation about what it truly takes to build a design business that lasts. Andria is a designer who leads with integrity, intention, and quiet confidence. She’s built a respected, enduring firm grounded in exceptional client service, thoughtful design, and a commitment to lifelong learning. She’s also the current pres...

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18:44

154 - Let's Talk About How to Protect your Calendar...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/01/19

Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura dives into the real-world lessons behind building a profitable, sustainable interior design business—without sacrificing creativity or personal boundaries. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, she shares candid insights into what designers often get wrong, what actually moves the needle, and how small mindset and strategy shifts can create major business breakthroughs. Listeners will walk away with practical tak...

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22:49

153 - Let's Talk about AI and How You Can Integrated...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/01/12

Send us a text In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down how interior designers can begin using AI in a practical, ethical and non-intimidating way in 2026. Whether you are AI curious, quietly resistant, or already dabbling, this conversation is designed to help you see AI as a supportive team member rather than a threat to your creativity or value. AI cannot replace your intuition, your eye, or the human connection you build with clients, but it can absolutely re...

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27:00

152 - Let's Talk How to Price your Services Correctly...

The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior... ·

2026/01/05

Send us a text Laura breaks down why most designers do not have a pricing problem, they have a scope and structure problem. She walks through practical strategies to increase profitability at your current rates, including tightening and clarifying your scope, reclaiming billable hours you are already working, streamlining your process for efficiency, and shifting from selling hours to selling outcomes and expertise. She also walks you through a powerful breakdown of what your hourly rate actu...

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191 results

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