Today With Michelle Blemel:

Michelle Blemel, Principal Designer of Amberleaf, Inc., has over 25 years of experience serving high-end residential and commercial clients. But despite her deep expertise, Michelle found herself attracting clients who weren’t aligned with the luxury, turnkey service she wanted to deliver.

In this On Air Strategy Session, we dive into the real behind-the-scenes struggles that many seasoned designers face:

Why vague website messaging leads to misaligned clients

How flexibility can backfire when you’re positioning yourself as the expert

What to change in your testimonials and proposals to reinforce your value

How to conduct project “autopsies” to continually refine your client experience

If you’re ready to move from “custom to chaotic” to a streamlined, high-touch design business, this episode will show you how to make the shift.

Plus, be sure to revisit Episode 1048 with Melanie Lybrand for another powerful positioning breakthrough.

LuAnn Nigara and Michelle Blemel’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“A strong brand doesn’t mean you’re for everyone. It means you’re the perfect choice for the right people.” – Michelle Blemel

More About Michelle Blemel

Owner and Principal Designer at Amberleaf, Inc. in Pasadena California, Michelle Blemel has over 25 years of experience in all phases of design and project management. She leads a full service design firm facilitating all aspects of design from concept to completion.

She received her Associates Degree in Interior Design from the Colorado Institute of Art, and continued her education at Parsons in Paris and Los Angeles.

Known for her creative approach to customized design and use of color. With clients in high-end residential as well as commercial projects, including restaurants, ski resorts, hotels and medical offices.

Michelle has distinguished herself as a creative problem solver, providing innovative solutions to tough design questions.

Connect with Michelle Blemel

Website

Facebook

YouTube

X

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

⁠⁠Design Trade Service⁠⁠

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

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Inside Voice – Sign Up!⁠

Other Shows:⁠⁠⁠
AWDB 1048: On Air Strategy Session: Melanie Lybrand: Overcoming the Fear of Raising Your Interior Design Rates

Today With Wingnut Social Podcast:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode is a little different—in the best way. I’m not behind the mic as the host… I’m in the guest seat.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being invited onto some truly outstanding podcasts—conversations that dive deep into business, leadership, mindset, and the real-life lessons I’ve learned through decades in this industry.

In this special crossover series, I’m excited to bring a few of those guest appearances to you. When the roles are reversed, the conversation shifts—you’ll hear fresh perspectives, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights that don’t always surface when I’m the one asking the questions.

If you enjoy what you hear today, I encourage you to explore the host’s show as well. You’ll find links to their podcast and the original show notes below.

Check Their Show Notes!

Have you always wanted to write a book? Have you also wondered if it’s worth the investment? LuAnn Nigara has written two amazing books and is about to launch her third book, A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 (which Darla wrote a chapter in). In this episode of the Wingnut Social podcast, LuAnn talks about the process of writing and self-publishing a book—and whether or not it’s worth the ROI. 

LuAnn is the co-owner of Window Works in New Jersey and created an award-winning podcast for interior designers, A Well-Designed Business. She is a sought-after keynote speaker with over 30+ years of experience in the industry. LuAnn gave Darla the education, strength, and courage to start her design business. If you’ve had dreams of becoming an author, this is a can’t-miss episode. 

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

• LuAnn’s Website
• A Well-Designed Business podcast
• Get on the email list for LuAnn Live!
• The Power Talk Friday Experts (Book #1)
• The Making of A Well-Designed Business

Resources & People Mentioned

• Book Launchers

Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social

• https://www.WingnutSocial.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
• On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
• Darla’s Interior Design Website
• Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
• 1-877-WINGNUT (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)

Today With Melanie Rosenburg:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. What does it mean to create a truly luxury experience? You’re not just creating something nice to look at. You’re creating the space that they are going to live in, foreseeably for a long time. And you’re bringing an expertise and a vision into the picture that they can’t do for themselves.

But today we’re going a level deeper into what that luxury service really entails. A luxury experience for your client is about all of those things, absolutely. But there’s something that takes it to the next level: being able to hear what a client really wants and needs, even when they don’t know how to articulate what that is.

My guest today, Melanie Rosenburg, is here to share how she creates one-of-a-kind, truly authentic projects that form that true luxury experience.

LuAnn Nigara and Melanie Rosenburg’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“I stopped asking my clients what their budget was, and I stopped asking my clients what their style is…I always ask them, how do you want the specific space or home to feel when you walk in.” – Melanie Rosenburg

“Interior design, custom window treatments, it’s luxury, period. Whether it’s entry-level luxury or it’s I’m flying on a jet plane to Paris to pick my furniture luxury. It’s luxury.” – LuAnn

More About Melanie Rosenburg

Introducing Melanie Rosenburg, the creative mind behind MASH Habitat Interiors, where the art of interior design is transformed into a personalized journey of style and functionality.

As the driving force of this design studio, Melanie excels in curating spaces that speak to the unique tastes and aspirations of individuals and families. Her dedication to crafting original, one-of-a-kind designs ensures that your space will stand out in a crowd and speak to your specific lifestyle goals.

What sets Melanie apart is her commitment to your project no matter the scale. She takes pride in customizing budgets that align with your values and priorities, providing transparency throughout the design process to minimize unexpected surprises.

Connect with Melanie Rosenburg⁠

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

LinkedIn

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

⁠⁠Design Trade Service⁠⁠

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other Shows:⁠⁠⁠

AWDB #548 Terri Taylor: Calculating Flat Fees & Budgets

AWDB #760 Jessica Harling: The 7 Step Sales Process for Interior Designers and Window Treatment Professionals

AWDB #761 Window Treatment Friday: Pricing Window Treatments: How to Ballpark the Numbers on the Fly

AWDB #1060 Design Trade Service: Quality Vendors, Trade Pricing and AI. Your Go to Sourcing Platform

Today With Nicole Heymer:

Hi, welcome! Today, I’m bringing this amazing episode back because, frankly, this one is pure gold. Nicole Heymer, of Glory & Brand, is one of those experts who can take what feels like a foggy mess in your mind and turn it into a clear, strategic plan for your brand. In this conversation, Nicole breaks down the essential discovery process that every business owner should go through before they touch a single pixel on their website.

What you’ll learn:

• Why your website should never be a guessing game
• How Nicole’s discovery process acts like “therapy for your business”
• The keys to identifying your core message, audience, and user journey before a single design decision is made
• How a clear website strategy can actually improve your confidence and decision-making

If you’re ready to attract better clients, raise your rates, and finally feel proud of your website—this episode will show you how to start.

LuAnn Nigara and Nicole Heymer’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“First, get very clear on what you need and want your website to do for you and your clients.” – LuAnn Nigara

“One of the most common errors I see is that I have to dig to figure out what area they serve.” – Nicole Heymer

“If your messaging is that you have amazing service, then you better be amazing at service. You don’t just say it. You have to do it so that people tell other people.” – Nicole Heymer

More About Nicole Heymer

Nicole Heymer is the founder of Glory & Brand, a boutique creative agency specializing in branding, websites, marketing automation, and strategy. Since 2011, Nicole has worked with a wide variety of clients at every stage in their development, from nationally known interior design firms to local custom home builders.

Nicole’s clear, practical take on branding has been featured by a range of design industry resources—from the Wingnut Social podcast to the Design Influencers Conference to the . You’ll find her methods in print, on industry webinars, and as the framework for branding workshops.

Connect with Nicole Heymer⁠

Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

⁠⁠Design Trade Service⁠⁠

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

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other Shows:⁠⁠⁠

AWDB #125: Nicole Heymer- How To Brand Your Business. Yes, again! Do not miss this one!!!

AWDB #306: Rachel Cannon: Key Steps for Success in Your Interior Design Business

AWDB #287: Sandra Espinet: Keys to a Luxury Interior Design Brand

AWDB #259: Kae Whitaker – Get New Clients with the Right Email Sequence

AWDB #248: Marina Umali: How Feng Shui and Interior Design Meet

AWDB #256: Nancy Ganzekaufer- A Powerful Strategy to Attract More Clients

Today With Pippa Biddle:

Today with Pippa Biddle, CEO and co-founder of Quittner, we explore why newsletters are becoming the most powerful marketing tool for designers – outperforming social media with 70-85% open rates. Pippa shares how she transformed her business communications from dry corporate speak to authentic storytelling, creating a newsletter that builds genuine community and drives sales. Learn why email marketing gives you ownership of your audience, how to find your authentic voice, and practical strategies for crafting newsletters that people actually want to read. Plus, discover the unexpected ROI of choosing email over chasing social media algorithms.

LuAnn Nigara and Pippa Biddle’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“I think for most people, social media is junk food, newsletters are protein. You do not want to turn your protein into junk food, then it’s just junk food too.” – Pippa

“You do not own your audience on social media platforms. You do not have their email addresses and only a tiny fraction of the people who follow you see what you put out into the world.” – Pippa

“Luxury is built on relationships and trust… conveying yourself through words and video, if that’s your way to do it, is extremely powerful and is a quick up the ladder to getting there than putting out, like you said, an image that doesn’t say anything behind it.” – LuAnn

“There are so many people who can make a room beautiful, but there’s only one you. So how do you show up?” – Pippa

More About Pippa Biddle

Pippa Biddle is the co-founder with her husband, Benjamin Davidson, of Quittner, a lighting and homewares design practice in the Hudson Valley of New York. As CEO of Quittner, Pippa leads business strategy, growth, marketing, and communications. With a deep background in writing as a published author, essayist, and current writer for the Magazine Antiques, Pippa brings a story-forward approach to brand development. Pippa has a degree in creative writing from Columbia and has previously written for the Atlantic, Wired, BBC, Guernica, and more. She has spoken on the power of storytelling to catalyze action at conferences and gatherings from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi.

Connect with Pippa Biddle

Website

Instagram

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

⁠Design Trade Service⁠

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

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠

Corey Damen Jenkins – Instagram

Staged To Sell – Instagram

Inside Voice – Sign Up!

Hamilton Creatives

Other Shows:⁠

AWDB #274: Power Talk Friday: Kae Whitaker- Part 2 of Email Marketing for your Interior Design Firm

AWDB #987: Kate Wood: Discovering and Leaning into Your Niche

AWDB #1082: What Would Lu Do?: The Big Shift: What’s Changing on A Well-Designed Business and Why

Today With Shea & Syd McGee:

This powerhouse episode from 2016 features the dynamic duo behind one of the most recognized interior design brands today—Shea and Syd McGee of Studio McGee. We’re bringing this gem back because it’s more relevant than ever.

What you’ll learn:

• How they carved out a distinctive design identity that stood out from the start
• The early strategic choices that laid the foundation for a now-iconic brand
• Why transparency and authenticity fueled their rapid online growth
• How they navigated business roles as a married couple—dividing and conquering with purpose
• The mindset shifts that transformed obstacles into opportunities

LuAnn Nigara, Shea & Syd McGee’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“Once I decided I wasn’t going to be everything to everyone, my brand started to grow.” — Shea McGee

“You can’t build a sustainable business if you’re not looking at the financials every single week.” — Syd McGee

More About Shea & Syd McGee

Shea McGee is the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Studio McGee,

leading the creative direction for all facets within the Studio McGee Inc. portfolio of brands— Studio McGee, the interior design arm, and McGee & Co., the product side. Shea’s path to launching Studio McGee in 2014 began years before when she leM her position at an ad agency in order to manage the remodel of her and her husband Syd’s first California home. Documenting the process on social media, Shea became an early online influencer, quickly attracting a loyal following with her approachable style and ethos.

The online success led to the launch of her own interior design firm, Studio McGee. The design business experienced rapid growth, paving the way for the launch of their e-commerce brand, McGee & Co., along with a lineup of licensing partnerships and marketing opportunities that amplified their design voice—an autobiography, Make Life Beau+ful, a coffee table book, The Art of Home, a long-running show on Netflix, Dream Home Makeover, and product collaborations with brands like Target, Kohler, Ann Sacks, and Pura.

Today, Shea is regarded as one of the leading innovators in the interior design industry with her ‘sophisticated but not stuffy’ approach, while maintaining a consistent focus on empowering others to “Make Life Beautiful” by enhancing their daily lives through good design.

Connect with Shea & Syd McGee⁠

Studio McGee

McGee And Co

Studio McGee Instagram

McGee And Co Instagram

YouTube

The Art Of Home Book

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

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

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!

⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠

⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠

Mydoma Studio – Get 20% off your first three months!

Other Shows:

AWDB #1082: What Would Lu Do?: The Big Shift: What’s Changing on A Well-Designed Business and Why

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

AWDB #540: Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development