The DesignDash Podcast

Episode 85: Should Interior Designers Mark Up Product? The Truth About Pricing, Profit & Transparency

Should you mark up product as an interior designer?
If that question makes you feel even a little weird in your stomach, you’re not alone. It’s one of those topics that gets whispered about in designer circles, and somehow still feels “controversial” even though… it’s literally how business works.
Here’s what we unpack in this episode:
• The four most common pricing models designers use (cost-plus, split discount, straight retail, pass-through)• Why we give our clients 15% off retail and why that works beautifully for our firm• The truth about “double dipping” and why that argument doesn’t hold water• Why transparency doesn’t mean handing over 100 invoices a month• The risk designers carry behind the scenes that no one sees• And how to confidently explain your value without apologizing for being profitable
We also talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough: procurement is not just clicking “add to cart.” It’s months of coordination, quality control, troubleshooting, vendor relationships built over decades, and protecting your client from chaos they never even know happened.
Because here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud:
Interior design is a creative business.But it is still a business.
If you want stronger profit margins, healthier cash flow, and the confidence to talk about your pricing without flinching, you’ll want to listen to this one all the way through.
We don’t just answer the question.
We explain the why behind it.
And that’s the part that changes everything.
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https://designdash.com/
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Episode 84: Are You Resilient Or Just Enduring? The Decisions High-Performing Women Avoid with Lois Barth

If you’ve ever ended a day thinking, I made a hundred decisions today and I’m still not sure I made the right ones, this episode is for you.
We sat down with Lois Barth, executive coach, human development expert, and author of Courage to Sparkle for what is less an “interview” and more a real-time working session. Lois has coached and supported members of our team over the years, so this conversation goes straight past the surface and into the moments most founders don’t talk about out loud.
We get into what’s actually happening when you feel stretched thin even though, technically, everything is “fine.” Why going slow to go fast can feel almost impossible. Why busyness becomes a badge of honor. And how to tell the difference between being productive and just moving fast enough to feel in control.
What we talk about in this episode
Lois helps us unpack some of the biggest internal battles women business owners face when the answers aren’t obvious, including:
The decision high performers avoid most when they’re overwhelmed, and why naming it directly is so hard
The difference between busyness and productivity, and how to get honest about what really moves the business forward
Why confidence gets confused with skill building, and how to separate who you are from what you’re still learning
The adrenaline loop founders get addicted to, and why stepping out of fight-or-flight can feel wrong at first
How to lead with “beautiful honesty,” and why honesty paired with kindness is a real business tool, not a soft skill
The shift that needs to happen first if you want a steadier business, not a louder or bigger one
A simple practice you can implement immediately: moving from criticism to curiosity when doubt and uncertainty hit
If you’re building something real and you’re tired of feeling like your nervous system has to be the fuel source, hit play. This episode will help you make cleaner decisions, lead with more clarity, and stop treating burnout like the price of ambition.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 83: What Designers Get Wrong About Trends and How to Spec for the Long Term with Stacy Garcia

Your clients are not “behind.”
They are just living in a different timeline than the product world.
In this episode of DesignDash, we sit down with Stacy Garcia, a globally recognized designer, trend forecaster, and entrepreneur whose work quietly shapes what your clients will want next, often before they even know how to describe it.
And what I love about this conversation is that it’s not a “here are the trends, go copy them” kind of episode.
It’s a real talk, business-meets-design conversation about how to think like a professional when trends are moving fast, budgets are real, and your client is looking at a Pinterest board that’s already six months late.
We also talk about:
The myth of “freedom” when you start a business, and what freedom actually looks like over time
Imposter syndrome, even when you do have experience, and why formal training is helpful but not a dealbreaker
Why having a supportive tribe matters more than you think (and how to find one if you don’t have one nearby)
Stacy’s decision-making style as a worst-case-scenario planner, and why that can be a superpower in business
The real reason trends matter for residential designers, especially when you’re specifying kitchens, baths, hard surfaces, and anything your client will live with for a decade
How hospitality influences residential design, even when clients don’t realize that’s what they’re craving
Why saying yes to everything creates chaos (for you and your team), and how discernment becomes the new growth strategy
The “no diva rule,” the power of saying no, and why the right client shows up faster when you stop filling your calendar with the wrong ones
By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer way to think about trends, a smarter way to protect your time, and a reminder that your value isn’t just your taste.
It’s your ability to see what a space can become before anyone else can.
If you’ve ever had to talk a client off the ledge of demoing the one thing they should keep, or if you’ve ever said yes to a project and immediately felt the stress hit your chest, this one is for you.
Hit play.
Then tell us.
Where do you need more discernment right now, in your design decisions, or in your business?
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 82: The Biggest Hiring Myth Holding Interior Designers Back

Hiring your first team member can feel like this weird mix of excitement and panic.
Like… you want help. You need help.But you’re also thinking:
What if I don’t have enough work for them next month?What if they mess something up and it blows back on my reputation?What if I’m supposed to have SOPs, onboarding, and a whole “system” and it’s all… in my head?
Yeah. This episode is for that moment.
In this Design Dash episode, we get honest about what hiring actually looks like in a small interior design business. We talk through the myths that keep designers stuck doing everything themselves, and what really builds trust when you’re delegating the work you’ve been carrying alone for years.
We also talk about:
Why not having everything figured out is actually normal—and sometimes an advantage
The biggest myths around hiring your first (or next) team member
How delegation really works when everything has been living in your head
Why consistency beats perfection when it comes to managing people
The trust-building habits that make delegation easier and micromanaging unnecessary
How meetings, check-ins, and real-time training protect your reputation instead of putting it at risk
What to look for in a hire that will actually complement you, not clone you
This episode is for designers who are growing, tired, excited, and just a little unsure of what comes next. If you’re at the stage where you know you can’t do everything alone anymore, but you don’t want to blow things up by hiring the wrong way—hit play.
This conversation might save you months (or years) of frustration.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 81: Busy but Not Growing: A Real Conversation About Scaling an Interior Design Business with Alexandra Hartley

You can be “so busy”… and still not be moving forward.
If that line hits a little too close to home, you are not alone.
In today’s episode, we do something we have never done on Design Dash before. Instead of a polished, hindsight-style interview with someone who already has it all figured out, we pull back the curtain and do a real-time coaching session with Houston-based designer Alexandra “Sandy” Hartley of Alexandra Hartley Interiors.
Sandy is talented, thoughtful, client-focused, and right at the crossroads so many solo designers know too well. Do I hire? Do I stay solo? Where should I invest my money so I’m not just busy, but actually growing? And how do I scale without blowing up the parts of the business I genuinely love?
What we dig into in this episode
We get honest about the “in-between” season of business growth, including:
Sandy realizing her calendar is full but she is still the bottleneck.
The uncomfortable math of tracking time and seeing what she is really paying herself.
Where her hours actually go (spoiler: client communication, admin, invoicing, order tracking… and not nearly as much design as you would think).
The mindset shift around hiring when your systems are not perfect yet, and why that can actually be the best time to bring in operational support.
The real question behind “I need better processes” and what Sandy is actually avoiding.
A practical hiring path: admin and bookkeeping support first to buy back time, then marketing support later so the pipeline feels less unpredictable.
A memorable moment where Sandy shows a potential client the messy behind-the-scenes work on her phone and the client basically says, “You’re hired.”
A specific timeline to stop overthinking and start moving: committing to an end-of-Q1 hire for behind-the-scenes support.
If you are a solo designer who is drowning in admin, stuck in evenings of invoicing, and quietly thinking, “I can’t stay here forever, but I don’t know what next looks like,” this conversation will give you something you can actually use.
Not inspiration. Not theory. Clarity. Language for what you are feeling. And a decision framework for what to do next.
And maybe the biggest takeaway: growth is not linear, and being at the crossroads does not mean you’re failing. It means you are right on time.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 80: Hiring, Planning, and Growing Your Design Firm in 2026

We tried to start the year with a guest… and the tech gods said “absolutely not.” So instead, you get just us, and honestly? We’re coming in hot.
Welcome to our actual first episode of 2026 (call it episode 1.25 if you want). It’s a solo kickoff, and we’re talking candidly about what it really feels like to start a new year when you’re already knee-deep in the work. Real talk about planning, hiring, imposter syndrome, optimism (borderline delusion), and why waiting for things to be perfect is the fastest way to stay stuck.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why we moved our annual planning to January and how that shift changed the way we start the year
What we’re genuinely excited about in 2026, from High Point to big, long-term projects and new Design Dash offerings
Hiring conversations we’re having right now, who to hire, when to hire, and why fear is part of the process
The imposter syndrome that shows up when you’re growing a team (and why it’s more common than you think)
Why your processes don’t need to be perfect before you hire, and how the right people help you build them
The tension between being optimistic and being realistic as a business owner
Marketing, social media, and why doing something imperfect is always better than doing nothing
Our recurring theme for the year
If you’re a firm owner thinking seriously about your next hire, your next phase of growth, or how to create more freedom in your business without sacrificing quality, this episode will meet you right where you are.
2026 is already underway. The question is whether you’re leading it, or letting it lead you.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 79: What 40 Podcast Conversations Taught Us About Business, Risk & Growth

Happy New Year! Yes, we know… this episode was supposed to be our final one of 2025. And yes, you are listening to it after the New Year. Consider this our way of easing into January—no rushing, no panic, just one last look back because the conversation was too good not to share.
In this episode, we reflect on the year that was, what challenged us, what surprised us, and the people who genuinely shifted how we think about design, business, and leadership. After nearly 40 conversations in 2025, we noticed some powerful through lines: risk, confidence, candor, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up and building something meaningful.
We talk about the guests who left a mark on us, from product designers and builders to operators, creatives, and even members of our own team. We unpack why honesty beats “everything’s great” energy, why saying no can be more powerful than saying yes, and why sometimes the biggest growth comes from not chasing the next shiny thing.
This episode isn’t about resolutions or big promises for the year ahead. It’s about perspective. About staying the course. About learning from people who are willing to be real about what works, what doesn’t, and what they’ve learned along the way.
So even if it’s a little late, we hope this conversation meets you exactly where you are, grounded, reflective, and maybe even a little optimistic about what’s ahead. Thanks for being here, and here’s to a great year.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 78: The One Thing Designers Get Wrong About Art—Every Single Time with Elise Arnoult Miller

What if everything you think you know about the art world is actually what’s keeping you out of it?
This week on the Design Dash Podcast, we sit down with the wildly insightful and refreshingly down-to-earth Elise Arnoult Miller, founder of Arnoult Fine Art, who’s celebrating 15 years of helping people connect with art in ways that feel personal, intentional, and totally un-intimidating. If you've ever felt like the art world is a velvet-roped mystery, reserved for insiders with secret passwords, this conversation is your VIP pass.
In This Episode, We Dive Into:
How a love of beauty, anthropology, and even luxury hotels unexpectedly led Elise to launch her own art advisory.
Why designers shouldn’t try to be experts in everythingan, d how calling in a specialist can actually make you look smarter, not weaker.
The subtle mistakes almost everyone makes with art (think: color, scale, hanging height) and how to start seeing them instantly.
What really matters more than “trend” when you’re spending serious money on art.
The quiet power of art as long-term value, emotional anchor, and cultural storytelling.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about navigating the art world or sensed there’s more depth available if you knew where to look, this episode will meet you exactly there.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 77: The 5 December Moves Every Interior Design Firm Needs for a Stronger New Year

If you’ve ever reached December and felt torn between slowing down and catching up, this episode is exactly what you need.
The truth is, December quietly determines how strong your next year will be. Most people treat it like a soft landing. We treat it like the month that sets the entire tone for the next twelve. Not with hustle. Not with burnout. With clarity, intention and smart cleanup that creates space for real growth when January arrives.
In this episode, we walk through the five specific moves we make every December to stabilize our business, sharpen our systems and position ourselves for a calm, powerful start to the new year. These aren’t theoretical ideas. These are the actual processes we use inside our design firm, the ones that consistently keep us organized and ahead of schedule instead of blindsided and overwhelmed.
Here’s a glimpse of what we cover:
How we use December as a quiet strategic advantage while everyone else is mentally checked out
The way we evaluate our potential-client pipeline so we aren’t carrying unnecessary weight into the new year
The review that instantly shows us what next year will look like across projects, timelines and workload
The simple method we use to understand where our team or ourselves need support before problems grow
How we build Q1 visibility and marketing with intention so January doesn’t feel like guesswork
The one action each of us would prioritize above everything else if time was limited
This episode is thoughtful, practical and deeply honest about what truly matters behind the scenes of a design firm at year’s end. If you’re a business owner who wants to enter next year organized, confident and genuinely prepared, you will take something meaningful from this conversation.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 76: The Truth Behind Rebranding a Design Studio with Rebekah Zaveloff

Every once in a while, you sit down with someone who doesn’t just talk about design… they embody it. And in this episode, Rebekah Zaveloff proves she’s one of those rare voices you don’t forget.
In this episode we sit down with Rebekah Zaveloff, co founder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio. If you don’t know her yet, you’re about to understand why so many people in the design world consider her one of the sharpest minds in the room. Rebekah takes us behind the curtain of a twenty year journey filled with hospitality grit, creative evolution, brand equity, naming nightmares, client psychology, and the real tension between what you want to build and what the market thinks you are.
If you’ve ever wrestled with evolving your brand, redefining your identity, or figuring out how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation is going to feel uncomfortably familiar in all the best ways.
We also unpack the real story behind building Kitchen Lab, spinning off Imparfait, and navigating the messy, exhilarating middle where most of us live. And let me tell you, this isn’t a polished highlight reel. It’s honest. It’s gritty. It’s unexpectedly funny. And it’s loaded with the kind of insight that only comes from two decades of trial, error, and refusing to settle.
Inside the episode, we explore
• The surprising place Rebekah says taught her more than design school ever did• What really happens behind the scenes of a rebrand• The moment she realized her company had outgrown its own name• Why brand equity is more powerful than most creatives realize• The tension between what clients think you do and who you’re becoming• The emotional cost of growth and why “imperfect” became the perfect identity• A rare look at how top creatives choose PR partners who actually move the needle
This episode is a reminder that design isn’t just about rooms. It’s about identity. It’s about evolution. It’s about learning to trust your gut even when the safe option is staring you right in the face.
If you’re growing a business, building a brand, or figuring out the next version of yourself, Rebekah’s story will hit you in the best possible way. It’s one of those conversations you think about long after it ends.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
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