The DesignDash Podcast

As a design firm grows, knowing what to handle yourself and when to bring in help can make all the difference. Jessica Marchant, founder of Blue Sky Creative, joins Laura Umansky and Melissa Grove to talk about recognizing where you need support, making room for your strengths, and finding flexible ways to get the expertise your firm needs.

When a past client comes back years later, it's a great feeling — but what happens when your design firm has grown beyond the type of project they need? Laura Umansky and Melissa Grove discuss how to navigate returning clients, communicate changes in your business, and recognize when saying no is actually the best decision for everyone.

When Carly Filbin started Blue Jay Interiors in 2021, she never set out to build the biggest firm possible. After launching the business with a partner and eventually becoming a solo owner, she’s learned how to grow her firm one step at a time while staying focused on the kind of work — and life — she actually wants.

Should interior designers charge for that first consultation? Laura Umansky and Melissa Grove debate the pros and cons of charging for an initial meeting, from filtering out tire-kickers to removing barriers for the right-fit client.

When is PR actually worth It for Interior Designers?
Melissa and Laura dig into one of the most common questions in their Design Dash community: when does public relations actually make sense for a design business? They talk through what editors are really looking for beyond a pretty photo, why relationships and personal connections often matter as much as the work itself, and what it actually costs to work with an outside PR firm versus handling things in-house.
They cover:
What makes a project stand out to editors when everyone's work looks polished
Why personal relationships with editors can matter as much as photography or styling
The real cost of working with a PR firm, on retainer versus per project
How long the process actually takes, and why you may have to sit on a project for a year or two before it's published
What to realistically expect from PR (placement, not guaranteed clients)
In-house PR options for solo designers and smaller firms who aren't ready for an agency
Laura's firsthand experience working with a publicist, including a Legends window feature and a book inclusion that came out of it
If you've ever wondered whether hiring a publicist is worth the time and money, this conversation lays out what actually goes into that decision.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher

When something goes wrong on a project, do you tell the client — or just fix it?
Every designer and every ops lead hits this moment: a price jumps, a piece gets discontinued, a wall opens up and reveals a mess nobody saw coming. Do you loop the client in immediately, or handle it quietly and move on?
In this episode, Melissa and Laura pull back the curtain on the calls they make behind the scenes every single day, from six-figure furniture reorders to a door ripped clean off its track during a photo shoot. They get into what actually decides whether a client hears about a problem: the dollar amount, who's at fault, whether it affects the move-in date, or just gut instinct built from years of getting it wrong first.
They also share the COVID-era mistake that changed how Laura handles every substitution since, the "guided design experience" philosophy that shapes how their studio frames bad news, and why the best client conversations aren't about hiding problems, they're about never showing up without a solution already in hand.
If you've ever sat with that pit-in-your-stomach feeling before a hard conversation with a client, this one's for you.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher

Callie Blanks shares how renovating fixer-uppers, a background in business and marketing, and a strong point of view shaped her unconventional path into interior design. She also opens up about pricing with confidence, building a business through Instagram, investing in professional photography, and taking the leap to open her own design studio and showroom.

In this episode, Laura and Melissa explore how defining your ideal client or avatar can transform your marketing and project selection. They share practical tips on identifying, refining, and communicating with your perfect audience to grow a more fulfilling and profitable business.
If your inquiries never quite match the work you want to be doing, this is the episode that tells you why, and what to do about it.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher

In this episode, Adriana Hoyos shares her inspiring journey from a self-made interior designer in Ecuador to a globally recognized furniture and interior design brand. Discover her unique design philosophy, the importance of legacy, and how family and resilience drive her success.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher

In this episode, Anne Golliher, founder of Storied Interiors, shares her unique approach to interior design, focusing on using clients' existing pieces and creating meaningful, personalized spaces. She discusses her journey, business philosophy, and how she connects emotionally with clients while building a profitable business.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher