Page 28 – LuAnn Nigara

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#82: Deborah Rosenberg: Tailoring Your Interior Design Firm to Your Core Beliefs

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AWDB:

#117: Power Talk Friday: Deborah Rosenberg: Cruelty Free Design Certification is Here

#137: Michele Williams- Scarlet Thread Consulting- Actionable Tips for Time Management

#180: Power Talk Friday: Michele Williams Talks About Profit First and Why it Matter to You

#218: Marketing & Resources for Cruelty Free Design

#395: Power Talk Friday: Michele Williams: Financial Health Checklist for Your Interior Design Business

#580: Brad Leavitt, AFT Construction: The Two “B” Words: Budget and Builders

#615: Power Talk Friday: Brad Leavitt: Overcoming Resistance in the Design-Build Process

#649: Power Talk Friday: Brad Leavitt: Understanding Design-Build from the Builder’s Perspective

#809: Power Talk Friday: Michelle Rohrer-Lauer: Turning Eco-Friendly Design into a “Green” Bottom Line

WTFP:

Vita’s Tip in 10 With Vita Vygovska: An Easy Tool to Increase Your Productivity

Vita’s Tip in 10 With Vita Vygovska: You Are the Leader in the Room

Vita’s Tip in 10 With Vita Vygovska:Entrepreneurship is Hard: Do this to Make it Easier

06-16-202308-08-2024

887: Power Talk Friday: Renee Bush: Bringing the Spark Back Into Your Interior Design Business

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1:10:01

887: Power Talk Friday: Renee Bush: Bringing the Spark Back Into Your Interior Design Business

Today With Renee Bush:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s common for business owners to feel burnt out, lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of where to go next. Today, Renee Bush of Tandem is sharing her insights on how to reignite the spark when you just don’t know how to move forward.

Pick It Apart

[14:21] Renee shares why creative businesses are so different from other industries, and why inspiration matters to us.

[26:33] Renee discusses the value of having a “north star” guiding you in your business.

[30:59] Renee breaks down the three pillars of taking control of how your brand is perceived.

[35:40] Renee and LuAnn discuss how to attract clients that align with your values.

LuAnn Nigara and Renee Bush’s Ah-Ha Moments

“I started figuring out that we need to solve all of this first and create a North Star that then we can use to make decisions. That really set me on a path of helping designers figure out their North Star. Who am I? What do I want? Why do I do what I do? How do I do it? What’s my superpower? Who am I trying to work with? All these key things that then become that Northstar business framework that then we use to make decisions.” -Renee

“When we have the right client, who is excited to follow our process because they see our value, that brings profitability. They go through the process the way we ask because they get it.” -Renee

More About Renee Bush

Tandem designs premium brands and solves strategic business problems for interior designers. Everything they do is centered on a strategy to help differentiate you in the market and to define and serve your ideal client. Their goal is to help you identify and define who you are as a business and to give you all the tools and resources you need to manage your premium brand effectively.

Working in the design industry for the last decade, Renee initially ran and managed a multi-disciplinary graphic design studio and helped build it from the ground up. From there she began working at Studio McGee as the Director of Design Operations where she worked to build out and refine all of the design operations and processes. It was there that Renee found her love for the Interior Design industry and her driving purpose of helping creative entrepreneurs succeed using quality branding, strategic thinking, and streamlined processes.

Renee has worked with dozens of interior design entrepreneurs to strategize, problem-solve, and refine their brands and business operations. Some of her clients include Boxwood Avenue, High Street Homes, Light & Dwell Interiors, Susannah Holmberg Interiors, and more. With her experience in the design world and a Master’s in Business Administration, Renee excels at getting straight to the heart of any issue and always has a creative solution up her sleeve.

Connect with Renee Bush

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

#236 Shea McGee of Studio McGee Joins Me Today!!!!

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Other Shows Mentioned:

#606 Phoebe Oldrey: How a Niche Can Give New Life to Your Business

#720 Flash Back Friday: Cheryl Janis: Defining and Owning Your Niche

#849 Power Talk Friday: Staci Davidson: Why You Need Someone to Handle Everything But Design

06-13-202303-04-2025

886: Victoria Larson: Sometimes You Have to Shrink Your Business to Grow with Intention

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886: Victoria Larson: Sometimes You Have to Shrink Your Business to Grow with Intention

Today With Victoria Larson:

Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by textile and wallpaper designer Victoria Larson. After creating gorgeous hand-screen-printed textile collections and dreamy wallpaper patterns for more than a decade, Victoria made a plan to leave the textiles behind (but in good hands) and focus solely on the wallpaper, which allowed her to reenergize her brand and grow with intention.

Good businesses are grown strategically, and believe it or not, sometimes, we have to shrink in order to grow. In this episode, Victoria shares her story. We talk about finding creative solutions, leaving a legacy, and gaining creativity by crunching numbers, and so much more.

Pick It Apart

[0:51] Victoria explains how she scaled back the fabric side of her business in order to focus on her wallpapers

[11:43] LuAnn and Victoria discuss the importance of relationships, especially with licensing partners.

[19:35] Victoria speaks about how she got into the money mindset and how that has helped her have more time to be creative.

[33:49] LuAnn asks Victoria to elaborate on some of the lessons learned through her transition.

[37:50] LuAnn and Victoria talk about SOPs and why they should always be changing.

[39:26] Victoria and LuAnn discuss how to make a solopreneur business sellable.

LuAnn Nigara and Victoria Larson’s Ah-Ha Moments

“One thing I’ve learned is you have to, for the most part, take emotion out of running a business, and you have to look at it more like a CEO.” – Victoria Larson

“I support the business, but the business has to support me.” – Victoria Larson

“If you don’t mind the systems and the money, you’re going to quickly find you can’t afford to do what you love anymore.” – Victoria Larson

“There’s the payoff every day of the week for paying attention to the system and process, because every day of the week you make more money, you have more joy, you have a better outcome, your client experiences better your product delivery is better. So there’s all the payoff all the way along, but then there’s also, ‘Hey, I have options at the end of this line.’” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Victoria Larson

Victoria is a creator and weaver of tales through textile and pattern design. She works through the lens of the beauty and soul of the sea; art for art’s sake; fine materials and craftsmen; and the uplifting effect of design on the human spirit.

After choosing to stay home with her twin girls, Victoria fell back in love with painting and block printing and eventually launched her first collection of hand-screen-printed fabrics in 2010. Later she added wallpaper and printed grasscloth. The collection is a fusion of a life-long love of painting, art, and design.

Raised on and around the Chesapeake Bay, it’s no surprise many of Victoria’s designs are inspired by the water light. Later, she accompanied her professional Sailor husband to coastal towns all over the world, her sketchbook in hand. Her designs capture the joy of childhood summer days, the soul of the sea, and the simple beauty of natural patterns.

Victoria also licenses designs for fabric company, Stout Textiles, and home brand, Cailini Coastal. In addition, she has licensed white-label designs to tabletop and swimwear companies.

As VLT’s CEO, she does more than just make pretty things. With a business degree from U of MD, College Park, and a certificate from The MD Institute College of Art, she’s obsessed with how to marry design and business.

Most days you will find her in the coastal town of Annapolis with her husband and rescue doodle. The girls have grown and flown.

Connect with Victoria Larson

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

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AWDB #173 Mabley Handler Interior Design Launches New Furniture Line with Kravet Inc

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Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #360 David Phoenix and His New Kravet Fabric Collection, Well-Suited

AWDB #388: Corey Damen Jenkins: Interior Designer, Furniture Designer, & Gentleman AWDB #404: Sue Firestone: The Malibu Collection with Kravet Inc AWDB #433: Nate Berkus: Introducing His Collection with Kravet AWDB #465: Jan Showers: A Glamorous Career AWDB #839: Flashback Friday: Candice Olson: How to Be an Overnight Success in 25 Years AWDB #840: Jean Stoffer: Work in Harmony Through Every Season of Life

06-09-202303-04-2025

885: Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall: Generate Business Referrals Without Asking

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1:2:20

885: Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall: Generate Business Referrals Without Asking

Today With Stacey Brown Randall:

Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Stacey Brown Randall, a business referral whiz who is here to help us understand referral marketing strategies and to share her methods of generating referrals naturally—without manipulating, incentivizing, or even asking.

Stacey is the host of the Roadmap to Referrals Podcast and the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, as well as my co-author in A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts (volume 1).

In this episode we talk about systems and strategies, the client experience, and how to find key referral moments throughout your interactions that will make you the designer your clients refer over-and-over again.

Pick It Apart

[3:40] Stacey explains her approach to getting fabulous referrals and how it’s different then what most of us were taught.

[11:56] Stacey speaks to the referral ecosystem and why having a process and a strategy works.

[18:55] Stacey and LuAnn discuss the importance of seeing things from the client’s perspective as they move from new to active to alumni.

[28:37] Stacey advises to create an expectation map to guide everyone through the client experience.

[35:00] LuAnn talks about the vortex phase of a project that is full of pain points for the client and Stacey’s role in helping to remedy that with her advice.

[43:27] Stacey talks about how following her process led one of her coaching clients to both of their largest referrals to date.

LuAnn Nigara and Stacey Brown Randall’s Ah-Ha Moments

“I want referrals to, just as much as the next person, but I don’t want to feel awkward and uncomfortable, and feel like I’m off brand by trying to generate them.” – Stacey Brown Randall

“‘Natural’ doesn’t mean no work.” – LuAnn Nigara

“You have to understand what’s going through the mind of your client in each of the stages as they move from new to active to alumni.” – Stacey Brown Randall

“I believe you deserve referrals. But you aren’t owed them.” – Stacey Brown Randall

“Just like you can design a room, you can design a business that generates referrals.” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Stacey Brown Randall

Stacey Brown Randall is the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, host of the Roadmap to Referrals podcast and national speaker.

Stacey teaches business owners how to generate referrals naturally… without manipulating, incentivizing or even asking.

She has been featured in national publications like Entrepreneur magazine, Investor Business Daily, Forbes, and more. She is also the co-author of Luann Nigara’s book, A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts (volume 1).

She received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids.

Connect with Stacey Brown Randall

Roadmap to Referrals Podcast

Facebook

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

AWDB #69: Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall – Take Control Of Your Business – Employee Management

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #93: Power Talk Friday- Stacey Brown Randall- How To Create an Awesome Client Experience!

AWDB #364: Janelle Photopoulos: Leading, Not Simply Running, Your Interior Design Firm

AWDB #426: Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall: Generating Business Referrals…Without Asking

AWDB #867: Power Talk Friday: Casey Gromer: Do You Need a Fractional Integrator?

06-06-202303-04-2025

884: Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller: Tactics to Building a Thriving Interior Design Business During any Economic Climate

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884: Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller: Tactics to Building a Thriving Interior Design Business During any Economic Climate

Today With Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Running a business is hard. Running one through economic downturns and recessions is tougher. My guests today, Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller of Toledo Geller, have been running their firm together for 17 years. They’ve seen ups and downs in the financial climate—and through it all, they’ve pivoted, built up their network, and come out stronger than before. Today, they’re sharing what you can do in your business to come through even the toughest of economic climates.

Pick It Apart

[3:58] Jessica and Virginia share what they’re most proud of in their business over the years.

[17:03] Jessica and Virginia discuss how they’ve always ensured they had a strong pipeline of clients.

[26:40] Jessica, Virginia, and LuAnn talk about the importance of flexibility in business.

[43:28] Jessica and Virginia share their onboarding process for their operations manager.

LuAnn Nigara, Virginia Toledo, and Jessica Geller’s Ah-Ha Moments

“If you have a business model that you are looking to scale and you have a staff, you feel responsible to keep employed and fed at the end of the day as well as your own family.” -Virginia

“It’s clear in observing you all these years, that there is a bond and there is respect and admiration. You couldn’t have survived all these years, you couldn’t build a team of eight women behind you without it.” -LuAnn

“It shows the importance of flexibility. If we just said that we were one thing, and we followed one path, and that was it, we probably would never have made it this far.” -Jessica

More About Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller

Toledo Geller is a boutique firm that excels at delivering turn-key, custom residences for singles, couples and families who value exceptional design.

Virginia and Jessica’s approach begins with a deep dive into how each client dreams of living. Getting to know their clients intimately, thoroughly understanding their wish lists and worries, allows Toledo Geller to create a unique, luxury living space that truly reflects who they are—and what they love.

With their mastery of both the design and construction process, Toledo Geller partners with architects and builders from the blueprint stage to completion, providing project management and development oversight. The team works tirelessly to ensure the integrity of each project from start to finish—intent on not just meeting, but exceeding, clients’ expectations.

Toledo Geller was founded over a decade ago and they have been declared House Beautiful’s “Next Wave,” and have been finalists in Innovations in Interior Design, “Ones to Watch” and “Rising Stars” by industry magazines and associations.

VIRGINIA TOLEDO:

Virginia founded Toledo Geller in 2006 after recognizing a need in the luxury residential market for a firm with specialized knowledge in both the design and construction process. Formally trained in interior design, she also gained invaluable experience working along side her father, a general contractor, on construction sites.

A native of Brooklyn, Virginia is a mother who loves historical fiction and entertaining in her 1920’s Craftsman style New Jersey home, which she is constantly updating.

JESSICA GELLER:

The experience of renovating a children’s hospital playroom sparked Jessica’s decision to switch careers from social work to interior design. Her intuitive design sensibility is both innate and learned from experience in the field, and she gravitates towards the perfectly imperfect—such as introducing a color that seems “off” but magically completes the design.

A mother of three, Jessica moved to Essex Fells within a year of renovating her 1850s Hoboken townhouse to embark on transforming a 1920s center hall colonial into the perfect cozy home for spending time with her family.

Connect with Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

#349 Power Talk Friday: Peter Lang: The Designer CPA

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#395 Power Talk Friday: Michele Williams: Financial Health Checklist for Your Interior Design Business

#634 Power Talk Friday: Jessica Harling: A Specific Process for Onboarding a New Hire

#663 Andrea Hysmith: Structure and Flexibility, Keys to Reaching Goals in Your Interior Design Business

06-02-202303-04-2025

883: Power Talk Friday: Aubre Fox: Increase Your Profit and Create Your Own Flooring Collection With Revel Woods

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883: Power Talk Friday: Aubre Fox: Increase Your Profit and Create Your Own Flooring Collection With Revel Woods

Today With Aubre Fox:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today with Aubre Fox we answer everything you’ve ever wondered about working with Revel Woods. As the first point of contact and an interior designer herself, Aubre takes us through all of the steps and benefits to getting your flooring through Revel Woods. She also talks about their new showroom packages, which she is very passionate about.

Pick It Apart

[1:24] Aubre starts us off talking a little about herself and how she got into Revel Woods.

[6:10] What is the process when a designer wants to work with Revel Woods?

[26:34] How the backend works with how you get your commission.

[28:28] Aubre breaks down the types of products Revel Woods offers.

[44:37] Aubre tells us about Revel Woods new showroom package.

LuAnn Nigara and Aubre Fox’s Ah-Ha Moments

“As designers when you are working with any person in their technical realm, you have to understand when you’re having a technical conversation, there is no one helping to decide if this is aesthetically a good idea.” – LuAnn Nigara

“I love working with designers because it gives me the opportunity to educate them.” – Aubre Fox

“That’s how a well designed business runs, it looks at all the different revenue streams that are available to that particular business that makes sense for that business model.” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Aubre Fox

Aubre Fox is an Interior Designer and CEO of A Fox Interiors. Aubre has been committed to creating a space where other women can collaborate, inspire and empower one another. Being in the Design world for over 13 years she has used her creativity and “business building spirit” to inspire and encourage other women to chase their dreams.

Connect with Aubre Fox

#329: Power Talk Friday: John Dupra: Revel Woods Launches New To The Trade Program

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Other Shows Mentioned:

#452: Power Talk Friday: Revel Woods & American OEM: A Hardwood Flooring Company With Heart

#865: Power Talk Friday: Terri Taylor: The Real Deal When Working With Contractors On A Remodel

05-30-202303-04-2025

882: Bria Hammel: Doing Fewer Interior Design Projects and Increasing Your Profitability

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1:16:15

882: Bria Hammel: Doing Fewer Interior Design Projects and Increasing Your Profitability

Today With Bria Hammel:

Today on A Well-Designed Business I am welcoming back Bria Hammel. Bria is the Creative Director and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou. Bria was on before giving tips on how to scale your interior design business. And let me say, she is still a #smartlady. Bria has perfected her process for her out of state clients, as well as her team, to make the experience as easy and seamless as possible. Today she is sharing how, and the changes that her businesses have experienced since her last visit.

Pick It Apart

[1:35] Bria shares what she and her business, Bria Hammell Interiors, have been up to since her last visit.

[16:50] Bria talks about how she knew to incorporate prices that match a longer time getting projects finished.

[19:00] How EOS has been a lifesaver for Bria’s business and how they use it.

[23:31] Bria shares how she got her integrator.

[31:23] Bria explains how she meets for her out-of state clients, having a husband and being a mom of two.

[35:08] Bria shares the pitfalls she does encounter and how she handles them.

[48:03] Bria’s post project feedback process.

[51:45] Bria’s specification book for the builders.

LuAnn Nigara and Bria Hammel’s Ah-Ha Moments

“EOS has been such a lifesaver for me because it forces us to sit down weekly and determine what is and isn’t working, and identify problems and come up with solutions.” – Bria Hammel

“EOS is the reason we can handle some of this out of state work. It has made us have the structure that we live and breathe by and our clients can see that. So being able to bring them through such a structured process shows them that it doesn’t matter if we’re in the same city as them or not. We have all that structure. And that all comes from us.” – Bria Hammel

“That’s what clients want. They want to know that they’re in good hands. And when they come to you as a designer, and you’re in good hands, they will trust you with more.” LuAnn Nigara

More About Bria Hammel

Bria is the Creative Director and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou. She leads a fresh, talented team of women who are dedicated to designing beautiful, inviting homes for clients. For Bria, every project is about creating a home filled with surprising, thoughtful spaces that lead to unexpected moments. She has an incredible eye for detail and has a passion for designing spaces that tell her clients’ stories.

Bria’s work has been featured in national publications such as Traditional Home, HGTV Magazine, Forbes, Oprah Daily, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, and as well as many other local magazines. Most recently, Bria was named in Traditional Home’s 2022 Rising Stars of Design, a huge honor to her team and firm. Her roster of past accomplishments are nothing short of amazing as well— Brooke & Lou’s flagship store in Edina, MN, received House Beautiful’s Best Home Stores in America 2022, received 2nd Place in Sub-Zero Wolf’s Kitchen Design Contest in the Traditional category in 2019, was a finalist for an International Design Award, was selected as a 2018 Style Spotter for High Point Market Authority, and awarded the “Fresh Faces of Design” award in 2015 and 2018 from HGTV.

Bria has been fortunate enough to travel the world, which has given her a unique perspective on how people live, as well as a deep understanding of how different spaces can come together in incredible ways.

Connect with Bria Hammel

Brooke and Lou

Brooke and Lou Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

#474- Bria Hammel: Keys To Scaling Your Interior Design Firm

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#578- Lori Morris: When Working with the Luxury Client, the Answer is Yes!

#866- McCall Dulkys: Building a Successful Design Business From Around the World

#867- Power Talk Friday: Casey Gromer: Do You Need a Fractional Integrator?

05-26-202308-26-2025

881: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business

974 Power Talk Friday Katie Mcdonald How To Prioritize Your Well Being In Your Interior Design Business Thumbnail.png

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1:17:27

881: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business

Today With Katie McDonald:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I’m joined by Katie McDonald, certified holistic health coach, raw food chef and instructor at b.nourished. Katie’s motto is self-care is not fluff and it isn’t selfish. That is exactly what she helps her clients through so they can both take care of their business and take care of themselves. Katie has worked with several interior designers over the years and has discovered that in service to their clients and their craft, they ignore their own wellbeing, dismissing their needs, and even their own spaces. If this sounds like you, then you will enjoy this episode.

Pick It Apart

[2:00] What started Katie on her belief that self-care is not fluff and not selfish.

[6:01] Katie explains what to look for in yourself to determine if you are on the brink of needing self-care.

[19:07] The areas she focuses on with her clients because there isn’t one model that works for everyone.

[24:30] The art of concept and considerations.

[31:31] Katies shares the aha moments she and her clients have while working together.

[37:15] Katie’s relation to interior designers and how your home supports your self-care.

LuAnn Nigara and Katie McDonald’s Ah-Ha Moments

“I eventually hit the point where I realized that I can’t do this anymore and had to start embracing that if I wanted to get things done, I had to take care of myself.” – Katie McDonald

“When we slow our role, we become conscious participants in our life.” – Katie McDonald

“The best way to gain a competitive edge is to take care of yourself consistently.” – Katie McDonald

More About Katie McDonald

Over a decade ago, the demands of Katie McDonald’s corporate career occupied her every waking moment. She was left feeling depleted and depressed—suffering from spiraling mental and physical health crises that threatened her life.

Left with no choice but to transform her body-mind relationship, Katie abandoned her corporate job and finally started applying her knowledge of self-care, alternative health, and plant-based nutrition.

Since then, Katie has been on a revitalizing journey of lifelong self-care.

Fully recovered from years of self-neglect, Katie now helps fellow doers embrace self-care so they can do more and be more while leading healthier, more intentional, and more nourished lives.

Katie leads with tough love to inspire, empower, and challenge audiences. She dispels the destructive myth that self-care is an obstacle to productivity and teaches that self-care is, in fact, a tool to create a more powerful and impactful legacy.

Connect with Katie McDonald

Katie McDonald’s coaching website to schedule your complimentary 30 minute self-care strategy session

Katie McDonald’s planners (get 15% off with code LUANN)

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors:

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

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:

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

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

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

#778: Deborah Main: A Journey Through Illness to Interior Design

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#811: Power Talk Friday: Heather Hansen: You Are Your Own Advocate

#858: Veronica Solomon: Cultivating Self-Awareness as a Superpower

Sass Says

05-23-202302-17-2025

880: Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum: Adventures in Business with the Brownstone Boys

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1:8:08

880: Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum: Adventures in Business with the Brownstone Boys

Today With Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum:

Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum, AKA the Brownstone Boys. Barry and Jordan are designers, DIY-ers, renovators, and restorers who followed their passions and serendipitously fell into a flourishing business together.

In 2018, Jordan and Barry bought a brownstone in Brooklyn and started The Brownstone Boys blog the day they closed on the house, and that’s just the beginning of their adventure. Today they are renovating their way across Brooklyn and New York City, one brownstone at a time.

In our interview, The Brownstone Boys share how they grew their business organically, how they are implementing systems and processes, and how to balance work and life when you’re in business with your partner.

Pick It Apart

[2:33] Jordan talks about the significance of his and Barry’s second date—a bike ride through Brooklyn neighborhoods where they realized they shared a love of brownstones.

[10:44] Jordan explains how The Brownstone Boys blog began and how that led to their first clients.

[20:13] LuAnn makes a point about how fundamental business questions and processes are imperative to successful businesses.

[35:43] Barry discusses how the business has grown organically over the last few years, but now they are intentionally restructuring and building in systems and processes to help it run smoother as they grow and pivot to different platforms.

[41:01] LuAnn asks Jordan and Barry to share lessons they have learned through their business and partnership.

[52:09] Jordan shares big news about his and Barry’s future.

LuAnn Nigara and The Brownstone Boys’ Ah-Ha Moments

“I think a lot of that has to do with listening…And no matter how many systems we implement, I still want that one-on-one authentic relationship with our client.” – Jordan Slocum

“We started our business, and it happened very organically…And right now we’re at a point in the business that we’re going back and really building in some structure that we should have a long time ago.” – Barry Bordelon

“We’re business partners, but we’re also life partners. And I think something that I’m really excited for with the new processes is separating—or trying to separate—work from our home life.” – Jordan Slocum

“There are difficult times. But I think it’s just really cool to be building a business with a partner and to be going through this together and to have this thing that’s our own.” – Barry Bordelon

More About The Brownstone Boys

We’re Jordan & Barry, AKA The Brownstone Boys.

We’re designers, DIY-ers, renovators, and restorers. We have a passion for old homes and everything that comes along with them: the details, the quirks, the character, and especially the parts that need lots of love. We have a ton of respect for all of those gorgeous original details and love restoring them but we are not afraid to add some modern touches.

We bought our 130 year old historic Brooklyn brownstone in 2018 and we’ve been slowly restoring it ever since. We started our blog and Instagram account the day we closed on the house. When we started our journey we found it hard to find the right information, but some of the best real estate, renovation, and design advice that we did find was on other helpful and creative blogs. So we decided to share our experiences as well. We are so fortunate and thankful that other people found it helpful…and maybe a little entertaining! We enjoyed sharing our journey and answering the thousands of questions we received. Eventually, we started helping people more and more with design advice, contractor & architect recommendations, and generally holding the hands of others who were trying to navigate renovating a historic home in New York and even around the world.

Some people that reached out really seemed like they needed more help than just a recommendation or suggestion, so we thought long and hard about it and nervously asked someone one day, “Would you like us to help you do it?” And like that, we had our first client. That quickly led to a second, then a third, and now we are full time Brownstone Boys designing and renovating our way across Brooklyn and NYC. We have found our true passion and pinch ourselves everyday that it’s also now our careers.

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