Today With Amy Flurry:

Join us on this episode as we welcome Amy Flurry back to the show. Amy operates a boutique communications and brand development firm in Athens, Georgia. Along with her team and advisor, they partner with companies in the home furnishings industry to develop and implement focused communication plans, expand marketing strategies to connect to the interior design trade and apply trend direction to product development.  In today’s episode she’ll be telling us all about Aloka Homes, a company that re energizes vintage quilts, made of layers of saris that were hand-stitched in India 60-80 years ago. Prepare to be inspired by the artistry and story behind these remarkable pieces! 

More About Amy Flurry

Amy Flurry operates a boutique communications and brand development firm in Athens, Georgia. Along with her team and advisor, they partner with companies in the home furnishings industry to develop and implement focused communication plans, expand marketing strategies to connect to the interior design trade and apply trend direction to product development.

Amy has two decades of editorial experience, producing features and writing for top print and online publications. In 2011 Amy authored Recipe for Press (Pitch Your Story and Create a Buzz,) and is a nationally recognized speaker on the subject of DIY PR. Recipe for Press (Designer Edition) is her newest book with the tools interior designers need to take advantage of the press opportunities available to creative professionals. The book took shape after two years as creative director of the first-of-its kind project management app for interior design professionals.

Amy is co-founder of Paper-Cut-Project, a company that conceives highly crafted installations for fashion houses including Hermes, Kate Spade, Valentino, Christies and the Victoria & Albert Museum. She is also principal in aloka, a home accessories company with an emphasis on limited-supply vintage pillows and throws thoughtfully styled for today’s living.

Connect with Amy Flurry

Aloka Home

Website

Get the books!

Recipe For Press’ Instagram

Aloka Home’s Instagram

Post Press Kit

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn University – Registration is now OPEN for the Winter 2024 semester!

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB 323 Amy Flurry: How to Pitch Press and Build Relationships

AWDB 108 Power Talk Friday- Amy Flurry-How To Pitch and Get Press For Your Interior Design Firm

AWDB 21 Stacy Garcia- A Thoughtful Conversation with a Design Visionary

AWDB 47 Gail Davis: Make Your Life Count

AWDB 100 Scott Kravet – Celebrating our 100th Episode!

AWDB 757 Power Talk Friday: Nitesh Chaudhary: Jaipur Living: The Manchaha Initiative

Today With Bessie Seeley:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many designers start their businesses on the side, from home, or wherever we can squeeze in our work. And as they grow, most of them pivot to a studio as soon as possible. After all, that’s how you connect with clients and get taken seriously…right? But what if I told you that where you work from doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does. What if I told you that you could run a thriving business right from your kitchen table? I’ve seen several business owners do just that over the years, and my guest today, Bessie Seeley, founder of Kardinia Interior Design, is the same way. Bessie began her career at home, but even as she grew, even as she thrived, even as she hired, she remained working from her kitchen table for the first four years in her business. And as she grew her business, she did so very deliberately. She knew that she wanted to open a studio eventually. But she was strategic about the decisions she made on that path and what she prioritized first. Today, she’s sharing her insights into how she built her business with clarity and strategy.

Pick It Apart

[2:01] Bessie shares her story of how she started, and grew, her business from her kitchen table.

[8:47] LuAnn and Bessie discuss the strategic side of growing your business and making decisions like opening a studio or leaving your job.

[10:23] Bessie talks about her company culture and workplace flexibility.

[24:15] Bessie and LuAnn unpack what goes into finding and building a team that functions as a well-oiled machine (without being micromanaged).

LuAnn Nigara and Bessie Seeley’s Ah-Ha Moments

“There are so many capable designers out there, but it’s not just about creating beautiful functional designs. That’s a huge part of it. And that’s why clients come to us—our general aesthetic that people are drawn to. But for me, it’s really about that other thing, which is that I want every client to feel listened to and cared for.” -Bessie

“That is the huge lesson of what you’re talking about and how you have six women that sit around you, and everybody is just in concert together. Because you have identified what is the most important thing for you in the building of your team. And you don’t deviate from it.” -LuAnn

More About Bessie Seeley

Bessie Seeley is the founder and Principal Designer at Kardinia Interior Design, a full service boutique interior design firm based in Winter Park, FL. Kardinia Interior Design’s design style can be described as timeless, curated, and bespoke, and our aesthetic seeks to balance beauty with functionality. Our collective interest and passion for creating beautiful spaces, our streamlined design process, and the white glove service and experience we offer to each and every one of our clients makes Kardinia Interior Design the coveted and creative boutique design studio it has grown to be. Bessie launched this business alongside a corporate finance career in 2018, and today, Kardinia Interior Design is a team of 6 and designs homes nationwide. Bessie lives in Orlando with her husband Jason and son Harrison.

Connect with Bessie Seeley

Website

Website

Instagram 

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn University – Registration is now OPEN for the Winter 2024 semester!

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#786 Meredith Huck: From Corporate to Interior Design Business: 3 Insights to Succeed

#291 Cheryl Luckett – From Side Hustle to Full Time Interior Design

Today With Sonja Capasso:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today we’re welcoming Sonja Capasso of Capasso & Co to the show. I met Sonja a few months ago and I couldn’t wait to finally sit down with her and learn more about her journey.

More About Sonja Capasso

My interior design passion started a long time ago! I have a memory of living in our little apartment in Lake Bled, Slovenia, where I shared a room with my older sister. I was an antsy child and got bored quickly – which led me to rearrange our tiny room numerous times. I am not sure how I managed to pull apart our bunk beds at that young age, move the shelves, closets, and desks – but I kept doing it and each time I found a new layout that suited me at that time.

Those were my interior design beginnings, however, I didn’t pursue a career in design until I was 35 and decided to enroll to PBSC in Florida, where I earned an AS in Interior Design Technology where I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016.

I worked for a local design firm from 2015 – 2017, and after graduating, I immediately opened my own design business and started working part time as a rendering and drafting professional. It soon became obvious to me that this is my true passion and calling, so I changed my specialty from an interior designer to a drafting and rendering artist.

Over the course of my design career, I also flipped and remodeled multiple houses, designed commercial interiors, and gained great on the job and first hand knowledge and experience, which has helped me create better contract documents.

During my years in school, I also obtained a Florida Realtor License and a Broker’s license (which I let pass since we moved out of state), and I also became accredited with LEED AP ID+C since I have a passion for all things organic, natural, and sustainable.

After we moved from Florida to CT, I participated in a Designer of the year contest on HGTV, where I made it through the first cut. While I didn’t make it further, this was a huge accomplishment for me, and you can now find my interior design business listed on HGTV.com. While in school, I also submitted my student designs to our local South Florida ASID chapter, where I won the first prize two years in a row.

Since I switched my specialty to drafting and renderings, I have worked with over 100 interior designers, most of which are repeat clients. I thoroughly enjoy my work and I am so happy to be able to have independence, be my own boss, and run my business from home.

Connect with Sonja Capasso

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn University – Registration is now OPEN for the Winter 2024 semester!

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB 918 Lorna Gross: Unlock Your Potential: Reimagine and Reinvent Yourself, Over and Over

AWDB 784 Kelly Fridline: An Alternative Path—From Architecture to Coaching in Interior Design

AWDB 807 Power Talk Friday: Claire Jefford: Interior Design Boss Academy. Why Trust & Experience Matter in Creating a Profitable Business

AWDB 485 Power Talk Friday: Claire Jefford: Rock the Consult

AWDB 325 Claire Jefford: Create Valuable Content to Sell Through Your Website

AWDB 237 Claire Jefford- How To Get More Clients With Video Content

Other Resources Mentioned:

Badass Habits by Jen Sincero

Today With Heather Vitti Pruett:

My guest today is a great example of taking control and choosing her own path. Heather Vitti Pruett, owner of Vitti Interiors is here to share her successes of using connections to help her business, being recognized for heart-centered projects, and her experience taking a client to small claims court. No matter what is going on in life, we always have the option to choose a different path.

Heather is an active member of the American Society of Interior Design (ASID). And we are also getting into all of the value of joining a professional organization.

Pick It Apart

[1:47] Heather shares her first experience taking a client to small claims court and how she won!

[16:43] Heather shares her positive experience with the ASID chapter in San Diego.

[25:58] Heather did a design remodel at her daughter’s school which was estimated to be 200K, and how she did it for 60K.

[37:42] As a show listener, Heather shares lessons she has learned.

[38:35] The thing that Heather continuously tells new students at ASID to do.

[43:53] Referral benefits to joining organizations like ASID.

LuAnn Nigara and Heather Vitti Pruett’s Ah-Ha Moments

“When you treat your interior design as a business instead of a hobby, that is when it will be a business.” – Heather Vitti Pruett

“With networking, you never know who is going to refer you. I’ve gotten calls from out of the blue. Tell everyone what you do.” – Heather Vitti Pruett 

“Join organizations like ASID, WCAA, and IDS not only for education but for referral opportunities.” – LuAnn Nigara

“We all have the option to choose a different path.” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Heather Vitti Pruett

A passion for Interior Design was derived from a love of designing and hand crafting clothing at an early age. Heather developed a talent for working with texture, color, and textiles that translated into a style and unique eye for beautifying interior spaces.

After moving cross-country from the East Coast, Heather advanced her passion by attending the Design Institute of San Diego, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design.

Since earning her degree, Heather has worked on a myriad of projects ranging from high-end residential, commercial business, retail, senior living, and several types of military workspaces. In addition, she has been raising her spunky and exuberant daughter and plays drums in an all-female rock band.

Heather is an active member in the American Society of Interior Design (ASID).

An ever-ambitious working mom, she volunteers for city/beach cleanups and will assist troop leaders for events in her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. In the summer of 2022, she volunteered her time and skills to redesign her daughter’s school library. See project details in the “Projects” tab and see the “Press” tab to read an Alumni Spotlight article on the library, published by her college, Design Institute of San Diego.

Heather is also in the interview process of becoming a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.

Connect with Heather Vitti Pruett

Website

Instagram 

Facebook 

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn University – Registration is now OPEN for the Winter 2024 semester!

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #32: Robin Baron – The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development

AWDB #121: Charrisse Johnston- The National Chair of ASID & Principal / Interior Design Practice Leader at Steinberg

AWDB #742: Power Talk Friday: Renee Gurganus: Why You Should Join the WCAA

AWDB #851: Power Talk Friday: Alexis Varbero: Making Connections that Matter