Today with Claudia Ricciardone:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Claudia Ricciardone, founder of Claudia Josephine Design.

Claudia and I discuss those stubborn pain points that we face in starting a business. Coming from a psychology background, Claudia teaches us that pain is what actually causes us to grow in that it forces us to find a solution. Listen in as Claudia shares her own solutions as she navigated turning her hobby into a business.  I don’t know about you, but when a psychologist offers business advice, I am going to listen.

LuAnn and Claudia Ricciardone’s Ah-Ha moments:

“When there is a pain point, ask yourself what quality you need to develop to move past that pain point.”- Claudia Ricciardone

“In addition to the content I provide for my promotional offerings, you just never know who you are going to meet that could be a colleague that you can learn from, and they learn from you, and improve your business.” – LuAnn Nigara.

“Hire the best photographer you can afford. Hiring a great photographer is what got me published in my first magazine, LUX Lifestyle Magazine.” – Claudia Ricciardone.

“Wherever you are in the business, you can see your goals clearly, but you can still have fear. The difference is taking the plunge or not. If you are running a business there is no getting around making an investment.” – LuAnn Nigara

“When the student is ready the teacher will come. The right guides will come.” – Claudia Ricciardone

More about Claudia Ricciardone:

Claudia Ricciardone is a luxury residential interior designer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Claudia provides full-service interior design services with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly furnishings and décor through the company she founded, Claudia Josephine Design. 

Claudia is a certified GREEN Accredited Professional (AP), member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), and Maria Killam Certified True Colour Expert. She served as the interior design columnist at LUX Lifestyle Magazine, where her work was published and distributed internationally. Claudia’s designs were also recently featured in Southpark Magazine.

Connect with Claudia Ricciardone:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#50 Veronica Solomon: Powerful Marketing For Your Interior Design Firm- Website to Fan Engagement on Facebook

#58 Maria Killam: Color- When You Can Own It As An Expertise, You Can Charge Higher Fees

#752 PTF: Kelsey Kurtis: Connection-Based Branding For Success

Today with Marianna Zimmerman

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Marianna Zimmerman, owner of The BEST is yet to come DESIGNS, LLC. 

“Your current situation doesn’t have to be your final destination.” This quote from Marianna gives you a little clue of what we’re discussing today. For years Marianna was working in administration at a hospital. She questioned if she was able to do what she REALLY wanted to do, own her own design business. With the support of her husband and her decision to believe in herself, she has successfully owned her firm for 12 years. If you have any doubt or fear or questions about your abilities, know that this episode will give you the kick in the pants you need.

LuAnn and Marianna Zimmerman’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I didn’t want to feel like I was playing catchup, but I had to realize that it’s not about playing catch up or competing. It’s more about sharing my gift and what I can offer to the world.” – Marianna Zimmerman 

“Not every project is photo worthy. The reason you do what you do is to make the client happy. In the end, a happy client is the goal, not the professional shot.” – Marianna Zimmerman

“You have to be the one to do it. Whether you have the emotional, physical or financial support of someone or you’re on your own with no support, ultimately you have to be the one to do it. You have to decide to be excellent and make the decision to execute.” – LuAnn Nigara

More about Marianna Zimmerman:

Marianna Zimmerman, Brooklyn NY Native lived many years in Boston Ma until eventually settling down 9 yrs ago in good ole Dallas Texas. After Graduating from QC Design school 2001, She became a Certified Interior Designer and then a ASP Home Stager in 2009. With over 20 years of experience and helping friends and family design their homes part time while always working 2 jobs as a single mom, She moved to Texas and her husband encouraged her to use her gift & venture into her own business.

She launched The BEST is yet to come DESIGNS LLC in 2011.

Marianna believes “great design is about creating a beautiful space that you feel comfortable coming home to.” She is devoted to designing with luxury and style that is affordable. She has always believed in the motto “your current situation doesn’t have to be your final destination”… The Best is yet to come!

While specializing in Modern aesthetics, she has traveled all over helping clients with a variety of different styles and genres. She is a self proclaimed decor fanatic and always finds that “one unique piece” that she incorporates & leaves her stamp in the project.

She believes being an East Coast girl, living in a Texas world is what separates her from other local Interior Designers- Her modern, edgy, “think outside the box” flare combined with her passionate work ethic & outgoing friendly personality makes it natural for her to work with each client’s specific style and needs.

Connect with Marianna Zimmerman:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

Other Shows Mentioned:

# 167 Kelsey Grose- Winner of Best New Design Blog at Design Bloggers Conference 2017

# 203 Darla Powell- How to Launch an Interior Design Firm

# 455 Megan Molten- Planning Creates Success in Your Interior Design Business

# 631 Ariella Horowitz- Success for Design-Build Firms is in the Details

# 677 Megan Molten- To Succeed, Focus on Your Why

Today With LuAnn Nigara on Speaking Your Brand Podcast with Carol Cox:

In this panel conversation hosted by Carol Cox, LuAnn joins fellow powerhouse women to talk about what it really means to build a thought leadership platform. From podcasting and speaking to owning your niche and telling your story, this episode is packed with insight for anyone ready to step up and be seen.

LuAnn shares her journey from launching A Well-Designed Business to growing it into a multi-million-download platform, and how her focused, niche-driven approach helped her become a sought-after speaker and mentor in the interior design industry. You’ll hear her thoughts on consistency, visibility, and the mindset shifts that separate dabblers from real business leaders.

Whether you’ve thought about hosting events, sharing more of your voice, or simply showing up more powerfully in your brand, this episode will inspire you to stop waiting and start leading.

What You’ll Hear:

• How LuAnn built visibility and authority through podcasting and live events
• Why niche clarity is critical to growth
• The difference between vulnerability and over-sharing in business
• What it takes to speak with confidence—and why it’s a skill worth learning
• Why generosity and collaboration fuel long-term success

More About Carol Cox:

Carol Morgan Cox is the founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand, host of the weekly Speaking Your Brand podcast, and a sought-after presenter and trainer on public speaking, business storytelling, AI strategy, and women’s leadership.

Connect with Carol Cox:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

Podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

The Power Talk Friday Tour

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

Carol Cox’s Shows on A Well-Designed Business:

Episode 140: Today We Celebrate the 1st Birthday of A Well-Designed Business! Carol Cox of Speaking Your Brand Interviews LuAnn!

Episode 307: Carol Cox: How To Be a Great Panelist at an Interior Design Event

Today with Chanae Richards 

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. The journey to building a well-designed business isn’t always linear. Sometimes designers come from the most unlikely of careers. That’s something we have heard many times on the show. But today Chanae Richards shares the story of how she founded her firm Oloro Interiors. Not only did she come into the space as a second career, but she even built her interior design business in an unusual and unexpected way. She has made some very unique decisions along the way that have led to her success.

LuAnn and Chanae Richard’s Ah-Ha moments:

“There’s the confidence, and there’s the know-how behind that confidence. It’s not just the showy ‘I know it all,’ but it’s why you know it and how you know it and having them believe that you understand the guts to it.” -Chanae Richards

“What’s interesting about this is that when you think about if somebody hypothetically said, ‘I want to be an interior designer…I have my education and my internships and I have my chops and I’m ready to go, but I don’t have clients yet. Should I start focusing on a rental space while I try to build my design business?’ You could line up ten business coaches and more than 50% of them would say, ‘No, don’t divert your attention.’ But you did it because you didn’t ask anyone’s permission, and that’s sometimes the best thing in the world. And it worked for you.” -LuAnn Nigara

“I’m able to do all that I do, simply because I have hired and cultivated great teams, both at the firm and the Center. I have a number of people who are simply brilliant and I mean that. I hire great people and empower them to do great teams both inside and outside the firm.” -Chanae Richards

More about Chane Richards:

Chanae Richards is the CEO & Principal Designer of ọlọrọ interiors, an interior design firm with offices in Philadelphia and New York. Her curated spaces and design expertise have been featured in ELLE Décor, Business of Home, Philadelphia Magazine, and Apartment Therapy as well as on national syndicates including MSNBC, National Geographic, Vice, CNN, and The Travel Channel. An inaugural Philadelphia Mural Arts Fellow, Chanae also serves as the Managing Director of Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Entrepreneurial Resource Center, a groundbreaking initiative providing residents with free business resources and support for community innovation.

Chanae received her BA from Temple University and MA and MPA from Rutgers University. She is also an alumna of Bank of America Women’s Institute at Cornell University and a member of the Black Interior Designer’s Network.

Connect with Chanae Richards:

Website 

Instagram 

LinkedIn

Pinterest

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Mydoma Studio: Mydoma is your complete designer toolkit. Mydoma makes it easy to streamline your processes, track projects, communicate with clients, and get organized. It’s created by designers for designers, specifically to address what you need as a business owner. I’ve said countless times that systems and processes are how you reach the next level of profitability. Mydoma Studio makes it easy to do that. You can get 20% off your first three months by going to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #06 Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward

AWDB #711 Christine Platt: The Afrominimalist