A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today With John McClain: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined for the second time by John McClain. John is an accomplished interior designer, business coach, and author of The Designer Within. In this episode, he shares a bit about his back story with us—from crisis to conquest. John is here to help you understand that you can learn and grow from your mistakes, and success can be born out of failure. John shares his dark night of the soul story with us, but it didn’t end there. He turned that rough patch into a catalyst to organize his business for the better. Since then he has implemented a “How We Work” document, detailed client contracts, flat fees, and non-negotiables because his business is worth it. He is worth it. And you are worth it. LuAnn Nigara and John McClain’s Ah-Ha Moments: “Until you’ve been through a serious business crisis, it’s hard to know how it really cuts you in your gut.” – LuAnn Nigara “I don’t care if you’re a solopreneur or if you have 25 people working for you. Your company policy is your company policy. And that is what you have to stand by.” – John McClain “A lot of people don’t take the time to sit down and come up with the rules [of their business]. ” – John McClain “You do have to take time—really getting clear with who you are, what you do, how you do it, why you do it, and your non-negotiables.” – LuAnn Nigara “I want to be an advocate for other designers and out in the world, to really stand up for themselves. And to have a company philosophy, have a company vision have a company backbone that they can stand behind.” – John McClain More About John McClain: John McClain is an accomplished interior designer, business coach, speaker, on-air contributor, and writer who has turned his lifetime passion for interior design into an opportunity to do the same for others through his book, The Designer Within (available now at thedesignerwithin.co). John McClain Design has offices in Central Florida and Los Angeles, CA. His projects have received numerous awards and have appeared in many publications including Traditional Home and Elle Décor. John’s design advice can also be seen regularly in print, television appearances, and online in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Us Weekly, and many more. Connect with John McClain Website Instagram Book and Designer Courses What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com 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: #472: John McClain: Running His Firm from Two Coasts Makes Systems and Tools Critical #145: Sandra Funk of House of Funk: Why and How She Re-Branded her 10 Year old Firm #801: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: How Mistakes and Obstacles Led to Growth & Transformation #842: Joshua Smith: Sell the Experiences, Not the Commodity

Today With Kandrac & Kole: What does it actually take to stay in business with someone for more than two decades? In this episode, Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Design share what has sustained their 21-year business partnership. And no, it’s not just friendship. We talk about defined roles, decision-making authority, handling disagreement without ego, and the operational discipline that supports long-term success. This is not a conversation about “getting along.” It’s about structure. If you’re in a partnership, considering one, or leading a growing team, this episode will challenge you to examine how clearly roles are defined, how conflict is handled, and whether your leadership habits are protecting your business or quietly limiting it. Partnership is not chemistry. It’s clarity, accountability, and shared standards. Listen in and decide how you want to lead. More About Kandrac & Kole: Voted among Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kandrac & Kole has gained national recognition on HGTV and in publications including The New York Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Home Magazine, and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. Kandrac & Kole are known for their friendly, energetic personalities, their unique use of color and pattern, and their bespoke designs.  Joann and Kelly, experts in residential and commercial design, share engaging stories about their design projects, travels, and personal experiences on their podcast Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole, as well as through their popular blog and national speaking engagements. Their passion for interior design extends to their charity work in the U.S. and Guatemala. Connect with Kandrac & Kole: Website Blog Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole Podcast Instagram  Facebook  Pinterest What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. 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 Mentioned: 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 Mentioned: Episode 616 Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole: Onboarding New Interior Design Clients

Today With Bri Ussery: Today with Bri Ussery, we’re talking about a topic most of us think we’ve mastered but probably haven’t: communication as operational infrastructure. Bri, a strategist and fractional COO for interior design firms, explains why even the most well-built systems fall apart without clear, intentional language supporting them. From weekly update emails to onboarding decks to meeting notes, she shows how the words you use either reinforce your authority and stabilize your projects or quietly create ambiguity, scope creep, and timeline wobble. If you’ve ever said, “But it was in the contract,” or felt frustrated that clients aren’t responding the way you expected, this episode is for you. Bri walks us through her four pillars, how language signals expertise, how communication sets the pace, why documentation holds the truth, and how structure shapes client behavior. This conversation will challenge you to look at your processes through a new lens and strengthen the thread that runs through every client interaction. More About Bri Ussery: Bri Ussery is a strategist and fractional COO who works alongside interior design principals to build the operational architecture that sustains exceptional creative work. Her work focuses on strengthening the clarity, structure, and rhythm beneath a studio—how projects move, how decisions are made, how communication flows, and how the business measures its own health—so that vision can be executed with consistency, integrity, and financial steadiness. Bri began her career in design and understands the pace, pressure, and precision required to run a studio with a full slate of projects and a team to lead. She also saw how quickly strong work can fracture when the structure behind it isn’t steady : when timelines stretch, expectations drift, and studios are forced to reinvent the wheel with every project. She believes that the caliber of the work is magnified by the architecture that holds it and that good structure doesn’t constrain creativity, it protects it. Ah Ha Moments with Bri Ussery: “Clarity is kindness.” - Bri “Documentation holds the truth.” - Bri “There is a difference between being warm and being vague.” - LuAnn Connect with Bri Ussery: Website Architecture of Communication Deck Instagram 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 Mentioned: 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 Architecture of Communication Deck Other Shows Mentioned: AWDB #986: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: Boundaries and Expectations are a Few of My Favorite Things AWDB #831: Flashback Friday: Nate Berkus: The Importance of Creating An Exceptional Client Experience

Today with Jessica Matteson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Jessica Matteson started her business with lots of experience but little time and money to invest in getting Jessica Matteson Landscape Architecture off the ground. Jessica shares her journey from starting with just $35 in advertising postcards to running a successful luxury landscape architecture business. Pick it apart: [14:28] Jessica shares her onboarding process in detail [18:12] Jessica gives a tip on how to handle a client introducing new wants in the middle of a project [22:78] Jessica shares how she broadens the scope of projects to include additional products [26:20] Jessica shares how she used to do her discovery process and the benefits of conducting it with her new method [34:28] Jessica tells the story about how she invented her one-day service concept [41:20] Jessica shares her simple marketing strategy she’s used since day one [52:30] Jessica tells about her early years and the mantra that got her through LuAnn and Jessica Matteson’s Ah-Ha moments: “I’ve stopped converting people. I just look for people who are open to the message.” – Jessica Matteson “Just do one thing. Don’t ever let yourself do nothing. Because the difference between something and nothing is everything.” – Jessica Matteson “Just get ready for when the opportunity is fully available.” – Jessica Matteson “You can’t work out hard enough in one day to achieve the body you want.” -LuAnn (paraphrasing Jessica’s statement) More About Jessica Matteson: Jessica Matteson is a landscape architect that believes in the great joys of life. She works with residential and select commercial clients to design landscapes and distinctive outdoor experiences. Using her signature discovery process, she identifies the special magic of each property and combines it with each clients’ unique identity to create something one-of-a-kind and exceptional. By harnessing the nuances of light, sound, air movement, and perspective, as well as the subconscious psychology of plantings and materials, she tells an original story of a place and its inhabitants. Jessica’s work is influenced by travel to more than 20 countries to study all genre of landscapes and wild places. She has a Masters of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of science in horticulture, both from Cornell University. Before opening MLA, she worked for highly respected firms in both the south and northeast as well as an organic design-build company in New York State. Connect with Jessica Matteson: Website Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com 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

Today With Jenna Gaidusek: AI is not going anywhere. But how you use it inside your design firm? That’s a leadership decision. In this follow-up conversation with Jenna Gaidusek, we move beyond what AI can do and dig into what it should do inside your business. Because here’s the thing: Ignoring AI is not leadership.But using it without standards? That’s not leadership either. In this episode, we talk about: What is absolutely off-limits when using AI Why uploading other people’s intellectual property is a hard no How to protect client financial and project data Why “Chat said so” is not a strategy How to create internal SOPs and guardrails for your team AI is a tool. It is not exercising judgment for you. It is not leading your business for you. If you are the principal of your firm, you are responsible for how this technology is used. This episode will help you think like a CEO in the age of AI and put boundaries in place before problems arise. Because systems create freedom. And standards protect integrity. More About Jenna Gaidusek: Meet Jenna Gaidusek, a visionary entrepreneur, interior designer, and one of the most trusted voices in the world of design technology. As the founder of AI for Interior Designers ™, Jenna has dedicated her career to helping creative professionals navigate the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence with confidence, clarity, and a healthy dose of curiosity. Jenna’s approach is refreshingly practical and deeply human. She understands that, for many designers, AI can seem intimidating or out of reach. That’s why she’s made it her mission to break down complex concepts into real-world strategies that anyone can understand and apply—no tech background required. Through her on-demand learning platform, The DAIly, as well as live workshops, in- person events, and personalized advisory, Jenna empowers designers to use AI not just as a buzzword, but as a genuine tool for creativity, efficiency, and business growth. A longtime advocate for ethical technology, Jenna partners with leading industry groups and publications to ensure that AI is used responsibly and transparently in the design world. Her insights are grounded in real experience: before becoming a tech educator, Jenna built a thriving design firm and launched platforms like eDesign Tribe and eDesign U, both acquired by Mydoma Studio in 2022. Connect with Jenna Gaidusek: Website Instagram  Youtube LinkedIn 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 Shows Mentioned: AWDB EP.618: Jenna Gaidusek: How to Build an Online Business in Interior Design AWDB EP.911: Power Talk Friday: Jenna Gaidusek: Introducing Virtual Assistant Certification by Mydoma Studio AWDB EP. 1110: Jenna Gaidusek: Mastering AI Tools for a Streamlined Design Business

Today with Meryl Santopietro: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, I’m thrilled to have Meryl Santopietro. She is going to be sharing with us about her career and her decision to move her business to Manhattan. Meryl’s business was based in Rhode Island until she moved her business to Manhattan. She also has the pleasure of working with her two daughters every day. More About Meryl Santopietro: SANTOPIETRO INTERIORS is a family design firm based in New York City and Rhode Island, that is highly sought after for their diverse, expertly executed style, careful attention to detail and unparalleled project management expertise on the grandest scale. This A.S.I.D. (American Society of Interior Designers) Award winning design firm specializes in residential and commercial interior design servicing the most prominent figures in the worlds of media, fashion and finance. The varied backgrounds and expertise of the firm’s members provide clients with an unprecedented, comprehensive approach to design and careful attention to detail. Meryl, the founder and creative director, brings to the team a fine arts background with degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and Rhode Island School of Design and more than 30 years experience spearheading all levels of design projects. Alessandra, senior designer, has an apparel design degree from Rhode Island School of Design and experience working for some of the most notable fashion houses, including Ralph Lauren. Joy, director of marketing and development, brings a legal background with a law degree from Suffolk University and concentration in Intellectual Property law. Together, their ability to listen to their clients and transform spaces into oasis, tailored to each individual and their lifestyle is what makes them so unique and so beloved by their clients.  Connect with Meryl Santopietro: ⁠Website⁠ What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: ⁠luannuniversity.com⁠ ⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠ Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠here⁠. 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

Today With LuAnn Nigara: A Well-Designed Business® 10-Year Anniversary Series, Part 5 What happens when your business finally works? The referrals are steady.The revenue is consistent.The team exists. For many entrepreneurs, this is where survival ends. But it’s also where drift can begin. In Part 5 of the 10-Year Anniversary Series, LuAnn shares the leadership shift that happens after stability. Through a pivotal story from her early years at Window Works and a transparent look at her recent recalibration of the podcast itself, she unpacks what it really means to lead what you’ve built. This episode is about: • Recognizing where your real value lives• Avoiding drift when things feel comfortable• Recalibrating your business to serve both your mission and your life• Designing the next decade intentionally If your business works… this episode is your mirror. Because once it works, your job changes. Now you must lead it. 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 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

Today With Christa O’Leary: Today with Christa O'Leary, we explore how her background in psychology and marriage and family therapy completely transformed the way she approaches design. Christa shows us that great design isn't just about aesthetics, it's about creating environments that support wellness, help clients thrive, and make them feel how they want to feel when they walk through the door. Ever feel like your design work would be even better if you truly understood the people you're designing for, not just their style preferences, but how they really live, what they struggle with, and how they want to feel in their spaces? Christa talks about learning to speak your client's language (not designer language), assessing spaces in ways design school never taught, and why understanding personality types can be your greatest tool for client communication. Your design work can go deeper. It can change lives. More About Christa O’Leary: Founder and CEO of Home in Harmony Designs, Christa O’ Leary leads a distinguished design firm renowned for crafting exquisite interiors that elevate both aesthetic beauty and the well-being of her clients. With a rare combination of expertise— holding dual degrees in psychology and human development— O'Leary’ s foundation in marriage and family therapy uniquely informs her philosophy of “Design Inspired Living,” where interiors not only reflect personal style but also foster emotional and physical wellness. A celebrated figure in the world of interior design, O’ Leary has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Design Firms by Designer’s Today magazine and hailed as the “One to Watch” by Modern Luxury Magazine. Her insights and innovative approach have positioned her as a thought leader in the industry. She has shared her expertise as a keynote speaker at the prestigious High Point Market and participated as a Market Pro, further solidifying her influence in the design community. Additionally, she has been a featured speaker on the Traditional Home panel at HPMKT, offering her unique perspective on creating spaces that nurture and inspire. A celebrated author and advocate for sustainable living, Christa’ s work has captured the attention of national media, with appearances on CBS, NBC, and The Hallmark Channel. As a sought-after motivational speaker, she has inspired audiences worldwide, appearing on renowned radio shows and podcasts. Her signature designs, regularly featured in prestigious publications such as Modern Luxury, Designer's Today, New England Home, Luxury Interiors, and by the acclaimed international fabric house Kravet, encourage a life of elegance, harmony, and vitality. Most recently, O’Leary’s work was highlighted in the 2025 Hamptons Cottages & Gardens showhouse with her spectacular dining room space that was an overwhelming Instagram favorite. Through her visionary leadership at Home in Harmony Designs, Christa continues to push the boundaries of traditional interior design, blending her deep understanding of aesthetics and human psychology to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also deeply enriching those who inhabit them. Connect with Christa O’Leary: Website Instagram  Facebook  Book: Home in Harmony: Designing an Inspired Life Clutter Clearing Challenge Other Resources Mentioned: 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 Mentioned: #892: Sharon L. Sherman: Decoding Personality Types for Successful Client Outcomes #1081: Tracee Murphy: The Psychology of Luxury Sales in Interior Design

Today With LuAnn Nigara: When your business starts working, everything changes. In Part Four of the 10-Year Birthday Series, LuAnn shares the shift that happens when success creates complexity — and why growth without structure leads to burnout. What began as one microphone and one clear promise eventually became something bigger. More responsibility. More demand. More opportunity. And with that came a critical realization: You don’t scale by saying yes to everything.You scale by designing intentionally. In this episode, LuAnn walks through how A Well-Designed Business® evolved from a podcast into a thoughtfully built ecosystem — including Power Talk Friday, LuAnn University, Chairman of the Board, and the newly emerging Boardroom for Creatives. But this isn’t about the programs. It’s about the pattern. If you’ve moved from one-room projects to full homes…If you’ve tested new services and refined your offers…If you’ve felt the pressure of success and wondered how to protect your standards… This episode will help you see your own business more clearly. Because building the house is one level. Designing it on purpose is another. And leading what you’ve built into the next decade? That’s where we’re headed next. 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 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

Today with Marie Flanigan: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, I’m thrilled to have Marie Flanigan back on the show. Marie has more than a decade of experience as a thriving designer, one whose list of accolades goes on for days. In today’s episode, Marie is answering questions from listeners about how to make big decisions in your business— how to attract the clients and projects you truly desire, how to strategically market, how to handle client expectations, and more! LuAnn and Marie Flanigan’s Ah-Ha moments: “I think it’s so important to just live out doing the best you can— be the best at whatever you’re doing in the moment. That’s what builds the relationships, that’s what provides the contacts, that’s what gives you the 10,000 hours to become the expert and really grow into the area you want to be in.” -Marie Flanigan “You do want to turn away the business that sucks the energy out of you or that takes too much of your time away, because when the right projects come along you need to be open for that.” -Marie Flanigan “Gut instinct is very important, but you should also go on data.” -Marie Flanigan “It isn’t just about putting an ad in a newspaper— it’s all the little things that you do across your business.” -LuAnn Nigara More About Marie Flanigan: Originally trained as an architect, Marie Flanigan seamlessly unites structure with style, unlocking a unique level of depth through her mutual consideration of an interior and its framework. For more than a decade, Marie has crafted well-articulated spaces that expertly reflect the stories of those who dwell and work within. Her trademark signature of innovative simplicity is evident through the sophisticated use of color, texture, and light. Marie’s projects span the country, from luxury residences to high-end commercial showrooms, each one exhibiting her firm’s commitment to exceptional design and extraordinary service. Marie’s work and expertise have been featured by premier publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, House Beautiful, Southern Living, Domino, Traditional Home, Elegant Homes, Southern Home, and Luxe Magazine. She regularly shares her design and lifestyle advice with TV audiences, including her role on HGTV’s internationally broadcast series, Property Brothers: Brother vs. Brother. In addition to Marie’s design work, she has now launched collections with some of the industry’s top manufacturers including Visual Comfort and Aria Stone. Her debut book, The Beauty of Home, is now available for purchase. Connect with Marie Flanigan: Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest Twitter What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: luannuniversity.com 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: #89 Marie Flanigan – How Marketing Strategies Helped Her Grow Her Firm #50 Veronica Solomon – Powerful Marketing for your Interior Design Firm- Website to Fan Engagement on Facebook #06 Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward

Today With Megan Dahle: If your books are clean but your decisions still feel heavy, this episode is for you. My guest today, Megan Dahle, is a fractional CFO for creative business owners, and she has a unique way of helping entrepreneurs understand what their numbers are actually telling them without shame, overwhelm, or judgment. In this conversation, Megan shares her four-part framework for looking at your business numbers in a way that supports better decisions, calmer leadership, and long-term sustainability. We talk about the difference between historical information and future insight, why operational expenses are often misunderstood, and how clarity in how money comes in and moves through your business directly impacts your confidence as a decision-maker. This is not an accounting lesson. It’s a conversation about understanding patterns, recognizing direction, and leading your business with intention instead of fear. If you’ve ever thought, “I should feel better about my business than I do,” this episode will help you understand why and what to pay attention to next. More About Megan Dahle: As someone who has seen the intimate ups and downs inside hundreds of small businesses, including her own, Megan Dahle (pronounced “Dolly”) has an uncanny ability to spot the invisible habits, processes, and fears that make running a business harder than it needs to be. From a young age, Megan could “see” numbers inf the form of shapes and colors. Today, she uses that gift to translate confusing spreadsheets and financial statements into visual, intuitive tools that help creative business owners understand what their resources are actually buying, where growth is possible, and what kind of work truly lights them up. Megan doesn’t tell people what to do. Instead, she helps them uncover their own path by illuminating what’s been unseen and getting brutally but lovingly honest about their relationship with their business.  With a Master’s degree in accounting and 23 years of experience, Megan has spent the last nine years helping creative founders realize just how smart and capable they already are. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her wandering through gardens, playing at the bridge club, or curled up on the couch with a good book. Connect with Megan Dahle: Website Instagram What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: Watch the Docuseries! https://www.luannnigara.com/cob Register FREE for Prereqs for Success: 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 Mentioned: 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

Today With LuAnn Nigara: In Part Three of the A Well-Designed Business 10-Year Birthday Series, LuAnn moves the story forward into the phase almost no one prepares you for. The moment when hustle stops being the solution. Not because the work disappears. But because the work changes. By this point, the podcast no longer depended on LuAnn doing everything herself. It depended on something else entirely. Stewardship. In this episode, LuAnn shares what happens when stepping out of the weeds doesn’t mean stepping away, but stepping into a different level of responsibility. A level she had lived through before while growing Window Works, and one she recognized just in time this time around. You’ll hear how the work shifted from execution to bigger thinking, and why growth at this stage demands more discernment, not more effort. LuAnn walks through: What replaces doing when you stop doing everything Why long-term alignment matters more than enthusiasm How LuAnn University evolved from great courses into a true business school for creatives Why speaking engagements, partnerships, and opportunities must earn their yes How responsibility expands when you’re accountable to communities, not just yourself The difference between visibility and values Why some of the hardest no’s look great on paper And how leadership without ego creates stronger outcomes for everyone involved This is also the season where decisions began running through a future lens. Five years. Ten years. Twenty years. Will this still matter? Will I still be proud of it? And what happens when I’m no longer here to run it? This episode is about the quiet shift from building something exciting to protecting something meaningful. From growth to guardianship. From proving to preserving. If you’ve ever felt the weight of success get heavier instead of lighter, this episode will help you understand why. And why that weight is not a problem to solve, but a responsibility to lead. In the next episode, LuAnn will share what came next. The structures. The systems. And the decisions that allowed the business to grow without losing its soul. 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 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

Today with Sarah Magness Welcome to today’s episode! We’re really glad to have Sarah Magness, of Magness Design, with us today. Eight years ago, Sarah hatched as a ‘baby designer’ and launched right into the luxury market. Today she talks to us about the real-life experience she gained during this time, before opening her own firm. She also talks about the “New Heights” program at Marymount that she came to spearhead through her involvement with the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. And today we also have an excellent conversation with Sarah about the best way to talk budget with clients. This is often a really tricky area of business, so listen in to get Sarah’s very straightforward and clear advice. Magness Design began in 2010 with a focus on residential design. It is located in New York City and its current focus is on the preservation of historic properties, by saving them and making them livable. Their major projects are in New York City, the Hudson Valley area, and on Long Island. Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin and her graduate degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. She is a House Beautiful “Next Wave” designer and she’s also been featured in Architectural Digest for a very large townhouse project that she saved and renovated. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Working for three or four different design firms is a great way to learn the business aspect of running your own design business. The different people that Sarah first worked for, to gain real-life experience. The type of apprenticeship that architecture undergraduates are required to do. Sarah’s recommendations for getting to work for the best firms, after graduating from school. New York has a really supportive and talented design community. Budget is always an issue with clients. How Sarah approaches budget conversations with her clients. How to estimate a budget for your client on the spot. The importance of having really clear communication with your clients. It is often the clients’ choices that cause a project to go over budget. Giving the client an itemized list with the cost of each item on it. How to talk to your client about going over the budget for certain items. When and how to discuss fees with a high-end client. The language to use in order to get the best response from clients when dealing with multi-faceted projects. Sarah discusses the passion-projects that she’s involved with. Sarah has created a twelve-minute documentary called The Town Home, about a seven-story 1911 New York townhouse renovation project that she did. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Andrew Suvalsky #28 Christie Leu # 182 Dr. Ellen Fisher #71 Links: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter Reference: Click the ICAA organization link find your local chapter.

Today With LuAnn Nigara: In Part Two of the A Well-Designed Business® 10-Year Birthday Series, LuAnn picks up where the story left off last week. The decision to start the podcast had been made.The show had launched.And then something else happened. It started working. In this episode, LuAnn shares what it actually looks like when consistency turns into responsibility, and when momentum begins to apply real pressure. Not the kind of pressure that comes from chaos or hustle, but the kind that forces you to grow up as a business owner. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes truth about: Carrying fixed commitments alongside unpredictable work Why “hard” doesn’t automatically mean “wrong” The difference between being busy and being purposeful When standards stop being optional and start protecting trust Why boundaries must come before systems And what changes when your work begins to carry weight beyond you This is the unglamorous middle. The part most people don’t talk about. And the part where many businesses quietly break. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of growth and wondered if you’re doing it right, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a steadier way forward. 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 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

Today with Kae Whitaker Welcome to another episode of A Well-Designed Business. Everyone can start doing their happy dance today because we have Kae Whitaker on the show! After doing her really great series all about Facebook, LuAnn was considering doing another series, about landing pages, click funnels, email responders etc. She was out there, in Podcast Land, listening and looking out for the right person to have on the show- someone who could really relate to you, as Designers, as well as having all the necessary know-how, when out of the blue, she got a notification that Kae Whitaker was going live on Instagram. She went on over to have a look and there was Kae, talking about click funnels and email sequences… It was like hitting the jackpot for LuAnn because she knows that Kae really talks our language, so listen in to find out what Kae has to share with you today, about Email Marketing. Today Kae is here to talk about Sales Funnels. What they are, why we need to know about them and how we can apply them to our individual interior design firms. Kae answers the questions: What kind of content should be in an email sequence and how often should I send a potential client an email?  Kay is the Owner and the CEO  of Kae Whitaker Solutions and she has more than ten years of experience in Retail Sales and Marketing Development. Now, her focus is on helping Small Businesses to stay competitive in their market and helping them to reach and surpass their revenue goals. She has worked with some of the largest national retailers and she now leverages her expertise in Retail Sales and Marketing Development to create her Premium Coaching Programs, that really help Small Business owners to tune in to what matters most in their Marketing efforts, by streamlining their processes and maximizing on their clientele. Kae’s highest achievements come from helping others to reach their goals and she really loves having the opportunity to help people to take their brand to the next level. So, listen in now, to find out how to tune in to what really matters most for your business. Show highlights: Kae explains what a Sales Funnel Why Sales Funnels are really important for Designers. The major difference in the number of conversions, and also the ability to predict revenue, that Kae has experienced in her firm, since starting with Email Marketing. Where to start, with developing your Email Marketing. Thinking about what you could offer for free, in return for an email address. You’re really not interrupting anyone, with Email Marketing, because they only opt-in if they’re interested. Why video works so well, as an opt-in. What to do, right after getting your first opt-in. How to build a great, trusting relationship, through your emails. The whole point behind Email Marketing. What the content of the sequence of emails, following the opt-in, should include. The right time to schedule a chat with someone. Working with an Automated Email Responder. (Like Acuity Scheduling) Not stopping after the first ‘no’ can really set you apart from other Designers. If you can muster up the courage to get in front of a camera, do it! The video really converts well! Some alternative ideas, if you don’t want to appear on camera. All about what’s to be expected from Kae’s soon to be launched Email Marketing Bootcamp. It will be live on Tuesdays at 8 pm (Central Standard Time) and it will be recorded, so you can still catch it if you miss the live broadcast. The importance of spending the time to learn something new. Kae will be back on the show soon, to talk about the more technical side of Email Marketing. Kae's website: https://kaewhitaker.com

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Ten years ago, A Well-Designed Business® didn’t exist. There were no downloads. No sponsors. No audience. There was just a decision. In this first episode of a four-part anniversary series, LuAnn takes you behind the scenes to the moment before the podcast, before the brand, before this became a business. She walks you through what her life and work actually looked like in 2015, running a successful, $2M business that depended almost entirely on two people. Herself and Vin. This episode is not about the launch. It’s about the choice that came before it. LuAnn shares the reality of being profitable but restless, successful but paying attention, and why the most important decisions in business are usually the ones no one applauds, likes, or even sees. If you’ve ever looked at someone else’s finished success and assumed the path was obvious or inevitable, this episode will reset that thinking. Because here’s the thing. Every business has a moment where everything changes. And it always starts with a decision. 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 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

Today With Katy Cassaw, Kat Benson, Heather Peterson and Jillian Richey: In this Overheard episode of A Well-Designed Business, I sit down with four powerhouse designers — Heather Peterson, Jillian Richey Echevarria, and Katy Cassaw and Kat Benson of Nest Interiors — to talk about what it really means to step into the CEO seat. Each of these women has worked with business coach Desi Creswell to move from creative chaos to confident leadership. Together, we dig into the mindset shifts that make it possible to run a business with clarity — letting go of control, delegating effectively, setting boundaries, and learning to trust your team. Whether you’re a solo designer trying to get out of overwhelm or leading a growing team, this episode is a masterclass in how to think like a CEO, and why that shift changes everything. More About Katy Cassaw, Kat Benson, Heather Peterson and Jillian Richey: Katy Cassaw and Kat Benson: Nest Interiors, co-founded by Katy Cassaw and Kat Benson, is a full-service interior design firm devoted to transforming vision into reality. With a focus on residential design, our expertise spans new construction, remodeling, consulting, and product installation. Guided by more than 20 years of combined experience, we craft timeless interiors that balance style and functionality. Each project is an expression of our clients’ unique story, brought to life through a refined mix of design influences—bold, sophisticated, and enduringly livable. Heather Peterson: Heather is the mix master and principal designer behind the layered interiors at Heather Peterson Design. Through a collaborative approach, HPD translates clients’ individual tastes and lifestyles into homes that are effortlessly stylish, functional, and truly personal to them. A Columbia University-trained curator and former design magazine photo editor, Heather uses her trained eye and sense of story to create balanced, thoughtful, and distinctive spaces. At Heather Peterson Design, the work encompasses a variety of styles which reflect a wide-ranging passion in interior design.  The team loves the challenge of blending all the things homeowners love, want, and value into a cohesive design. Jillian Richey: Jillian Richey Echevarria is the Principal Designer and CEO of Jillian Richey Design, a luxury interior design firm based in Hinsdale, Illinois, and Crown Point, Indiana. Known for her ability to create timeless, highly detailed homes, Jillian partners with clients, builders, and vendors to bring architectural visions to life—from custom cabinetry and millwork to full-scale furnishings and curated accessories. With nearly two decades of experience in the design industry, Jillian has grown her boutique studio into a thriving business, balancing high-end residential projects with a newly launched lifestyle venture: Jilly’s Boutique Café, a Parisian garden-inspired café and retail space that seamlessly merges her love of design, hospitality, and community. Jillian is passionate about the evolution of the designer’s role—from overextended creative to confident CEO. She shares candidly about the systems, leadership, and mindset shifts that allowed her to scale her business, raise her design fees, and empower her team. Guided by principles from Who Not How, 10x Is Easier Than 2x, and The Gap and the Gain, Jillian has embraced delegation, profitability, and sustainable growth while keeping her creative spirit at the center of her work. When she’s not leading design projects or building her café brand, Jillian is a wife, mom of two, and believer that design should be both beautiful and deeply livable. Other Shows Mentioned: Overheard Collection Desi Creswell Episodes AWDB #222: Power Talk Friday: Lee Cockerell- Customer Service the Disney Way AWDB #445: Tori Alexander: Her Production List Increases Efficiency and Profits

Today with Vanessa DeLeon Today on the show we have a brilliant and when I say brilliant I really mean it, brilliant business woman: Vanessa DeLeon. Vanessa has starred on several television shows on some big television networks such as NBC, Bravo, HGTV and DIY Network. She has also been in several magazines such as TIME, Cosmopolitan etc. and on top of that she is a spokesperson! Wow! Talk about impressive resume! Please stay tuned to hear all of her great advice and her shared experiences. Vanessa shares with us: The triple “D’s” What she would have done differently before starting her own business at 20 When does the momentum pick up? Dreams do come true Are vision boards a yes or a no? Entitlement…I don’t think so! Vacation? What’s that? 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 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

Today With Kate O’Hara: Today on A Well Designed Business, Kate O'Hara from O'Hara Interiors reveals her framework for positioning your design business to attract the clients you actually want: entry-level clients need you to be discoverable, mid-tier clients need you to be distinct, and elite clients need you to be discreet. Kate explains the reality that many designers appear to work with one type of client but actually serve different clients 80-90% of the time. She breaks down how each tier has completely different expectations, from entry-level clients who need education and reassurance to elite clients who want designer-driven solutions and white-glove service. The conversation covers where each client tier actually finds designers, the messaging that resonates with each group, and how to align your brand positioning with your business goals. If you're struggling to attract your ideal clients or wondering whether your current approach matches your target market, this episode provides the framework to audit and adjust your strategy. LuAnn Nigara and Kate O'Hara's Ah-Ha Moments “At an entry level, you need to be discoverable. At a mid-tier, you need to be distinct, and at an elite tier, you need to be discreet.” - Kate O’Hara "It's really getting clear on who you want to attract so that your messaging does align." - LuAnn Nigara More About Kate O’Hara Kate O’Hara grew up in the world of design. After a decade with the company, she stepped into the role of CEO + Creative Director, expanding the family design firm into new regions of the U.S. When she isn’t traveling between our Minnesota and Texas offices, you can find Kate speaking at conferences, working with our design team, and connecting with new clients and furniture lines. Connect with Kate O’Hara ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Houzz⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ What’s new with LuAnn Nigara ⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠http://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! Other Shows Mentioned: Episode 1148 In Good company CEO Conversations with Kate O”Hara A Framework for Understanding Luxury Clients Episode 958: Overheard: What I Wish I Knew Then: With Kate O’Hara, Erika Ward, Jennifer Stoner, and Alex Alonso Episode 1030: In Good Company: CEO Conversations with Kate O’Hara: Insights and Strategies on Successful Scaling Episode 1042: In Good Company: CEO Conversations with Kate O’Hara: End-of-Year Business Strategies for Designers: Pipeline, Productivity, and Press Episode 649: Power Talk Friday: Brad Leavitt: Understanding Design-Build from the Builder’s Perspective Episode 615: Power Talk Friday: Brad Leavitt: Overcoming Resistance in the Design-Build Process Episode 878: Throwback Tuesday: Brad Leavitt: A Builder’s Perspective on the Design Build Process A BIG Thank You to Today's Sponsor: Kravet Inc. continues to expand with beautiful new showrooms designed to support the way you actually work. Recent openings include Birmingham, Charleston, Water Mill, New York, and Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Each Kravet showroom features their innovative Workspace model, an interactive environment showcasing furniture, fabric, wallcovering, trim, and carpet samples, thoughtfully merchandised to mirror how designers source. By fabric type. By category. By color. By the way you think. And quick reminder, I’ll be giving a presentation at the Basking Ridge, New Jersey showroom on January 21st, 2026. If you’re local or can get there, I would love to see you in person. Mark your calendar and come say hello. Go to luannnigara.com/event to learn more and RSVP by January 16th

Susan is founder and principal of award-winning Sweet Peas Design, which she launched 13 years ago in the Chicago suburb of Libertyville as a one-woman firm. Today Sweet Peas Design is a full-service studio with a staff of six in downtown Libertyville and a branch office in Chicago. She and her team work with a broad-based clientele of entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professionals.   Susan is an experienced speaker, whether on interior design issues or the business of design. She is a popular speaker on design at libraries on the North Shore of Chicago. Susan has been featured on NBC/LXTV’s  “George to the Rescue” and  “Open House,” and she appeared on CLTV’s “Bring It Home” program. Her work has been published in numerous national and local magazines and newspapers, including Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago, Kitchen + Bath Makeovers, Trends Kitchens, Trends Bathrooms, Color Made Easy, Crain’s Chicago Business  and Chicago Sun-Times’ magazine, Splash.   Today on the show we have Susan Brunstrum! She has a big firm in Chicago and a signature line called LivableLuxe with a tagline that says “the little black dress of interior design.” She is a business woman, she is a woman who knows what she wants, knows how to do business and knows how to present herself. Her firm has won several designer awards but today we are going to focus on the financial part of business. Show Notes: The two project fee basis systems  The six phases of projects How do you utilize the project fee? If you don’t charge for your initial consultation you should! Three things to assess on a client when you first meet them What are the red flags when assessing a client? The difference between advertising and public relations Be patient!   Resources: https://www.sweetpeas-inspired.com – Sweet Peas Design https://www.studiowebware.com  https://www.quickbooks.com