Have you ever felt hesitant to ask for help? You’re not alone; I used to hesitate to ask for help too. But I realized that there is power in asking for help.

Imagine how wonderful it would be to no longer worry about having all the answers or wondering if asking for advice will be viewed negatively. You can eliminate these doubts and worries with the help of a coach, who can give you tailored advice based on expertise and past success from other clients. As a result, there will be more interesting conversations that can lead to more effective solutions than if done alone.

Coaching is an effective way to gain insight and guidance on personal and professional goals. You can unlock your potential by exploring yourself deeper. When you work with a coach, you will be challenged in your thinking, pushed to take actionable steps toward reaching success, and provided with an encouraging support system.

Take advantage of today's episode about the power of coaching and access both the programs I am part of, as well as my own programs, to start unlocking your potential today!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Identify the value and power of coaching
• Learn from my experiences with different coaching programs  
• Examine the misconceptions about life coaching and discover what they help you with

Check out the show notes >>> ⁠Want to Elevate Your Interior Design Business? The Power of Coaching for Success⁠

Links Mentioned:

• Blogging Your Way
• Business of Design with Kimberly Seldon
• DesignYou with Tobi Fairley
• Find Your Voice with Bethany Wrede Peterson

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started My Career

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Enroll in Business of Design with Kimberly Seldon or DesignYou with Tobi Fairley today to scale your interior design business!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics.

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question.

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Can't decide between a four-year and a two-year interior design degree?

It is important to remember that both degree programs have advantages and disadvantages, so consider your personal goals and circumstances before choosing between them.

And who better to discuss this than Jill Hornbeck? Her advice will help you decide based on your unique needs and aspirations.

Explore your options with Jill as she shares her Interior Design, Marketing, and Teaching expertise to help you determine which degree is best for you.

Featured Guest:
Jill Hornbeck has always dreamed of becoming an architect but found working with colors and furniture more interesting than designing homes and buildings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from UC Davis and an MBA in Marketing from Cal State East Bay. In 1992, she founded Everett Interiors in Livermore and has taught at Las Positas College since 2001.

After UC Davis, she worked at an interior design firm doing model homes and residential design. She then worked for a homebuilding company as a marketing coordinator in the sales office doing graphics and public relations. Along with teaching at LPC and running her own interior design business, she's also a mom of three.

Her advice to potential students is "to get the experience right away. There is a lot of awareness about this industry thanks to HGTV and you need to show that you understand it's more than just putting samples on a board. The products in Interior Design are more complex than people realize. So, having experience with products and clients will help you build confidence in your design skills and your ability to communicate with the many people you will encounter."

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Identify the skills you need to develop while getting experience as an interior designer
• Discover the 3 steps you can take to prepare for your dream job
• Examine the number one question: Which degree program should you take and why?

Check out the show notes >>> Choosing Between 2-Year and 4-Year? What to Look For in an Interior Design Degree

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started My Career 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Enroll in Business of Design with Kimberly Seldon or DesignYou with Tobi Fairley today to scale your interior design business!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics.

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Do you want to learn about the technical side of design and make an interior design space plan for your client's project?

Everyone can enjoy an interior designer's expertise in organizing and utilizing home space. But, if you're unfamiliar with Interior Design Space Planning, you may feel daunted by the task!

It is important to assess space and apply design principles that reflect your client's style and lifestyle. So here are some tips to help you create a space plan that makes your client's home look beautiful AND functional!

Don’t wait any longer – find out more by listening to this episode. Let me brush the surface and share a few tips so you can get started today.

This requires practice and experience, so I recommend that you do it before you take on your first client. Use this opportunity to space plan your home and run different scenarios.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn about what Interior Design Space Planning is, its importance, and the 4 steps you can take to get started
• Create your first interior design space plan with the 9 tips for designing efficient spaces
• Analyze the different space planning software options available to you and choose the ones best suited to your needs

Check out the show notes >>> 4 Steps to Create an Interior Design Space Plan For Your Project

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

1. NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
2. 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Listen to Related Episode:

1. Episode 28: Designing Your Success: Finding the Right Niche in Your Interior Design Career with Yvonne Harty
2. Episode 17: 23 Best Books Every Interior Designer Should Have for Business & Personal Growth

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at@rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

On the surface, the world of aircraft & aviation seems light years away from the creativity and aesthetics of interior design, but today's guest, who dared to explore beyond the surface and pursued a long-hidden passion found a connection. It was that connection that made her thrive in her second career as an Interior Designer.

Join me in this week’s episode as Yvonne Harty, a NorCal Award-winning Luxury Interior Designer shares her journey of leaving her 20-year career in aviation, enrolling in a design school, overcoming challenges, discovering her niche in kitchen and bath design, and finding a renewed sense of fulfillment in her second career.

Featured Guest:
Yvonne Harty started Harty Interiors three years ago designing personalized and functional spaces in the greater Sacramento area.

Originally from Germany, where she began a beloved 20-year career in aviation, Yvonne’s passion for Interior Design was ignited when she decided to build her own home.

After moving to the US about 11 years ago, she had to start looking for a new career. While she continued her aviation career in the Sacramento area, she decided it was time to explore her talents by enrolling in a formal design school.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode: 

• Find out the main challenge a new interior designer face so you can avoid it
• Learn the benefits of having a coach in your interior design career or business
• Discover how staying on your lane attracts the type of clients or projects you want to work with

Check out the show notes >>> Designing Your Success: Finding the Right Niche in Your Interior Design Career

NEXT STEPS

Grab your freebies:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Is picking an interior design niche challenging for you? Don’t worry; I find it challenging, too. Why? Because there are a lot of options to choose from and a lot of factors to consider.

Like this one: Do you have to be passionate about it? Because if you don't have the passion for it, why bother going into it, right? Why spend time, energy, and effort on something that does not satisfy you?

To some, it wasn't even necessary. You can start your interior design career without it. Even me! I’ve always thought of myself as a generalist and was surprised to find out that I have a niche, too, now that I think about it.

This episode may be challenging but don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. Will share with you the pros and cons of having a niche, my niche-related realization, as well as different niches you can try out.

Also, thank you, Sophia, for listening in from Hungary. I love hearing all the feedback and seeing people worldwide listen in and discover if Interior Design is the career for them. Keep them coming!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn how to rethink your interior design niche
• Discover the different niche areas and interior design projects you can do
• Find out the 3 steps you can take after choosing a niche

Check out the show notes >>> Can’t Decide on Your Specialty? The Different Interior Design Niche Markets You Can Choose From

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebie:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

What makes a great interior designer? Is it solely based on creativity? Or skills?

In part two of my conversation with Lindsay Kjellberg of LHK Interiors, she shares two essential skills a successful interior designer must have and her own experiences, including her mistakes and what she learned from them.

Whether you have kids or not, having these skills will help you set your interior design career for success. Go listen to hear all her great advice!

About the Guest:

In 2004, Lindsay Harker Kjellberg founded LHK Interiors as the Principal Designer. Based in Modesto, California, they specialize in custom residential design with extensive experience in kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Their goal is to build long-term relationships with their customers. Whether it is for entertaining friends and family or conducting business, they are dedicated to creating a spectacular space for each client while striving for a “worry-free” design. By walking their clients through New Builds, Remodels, Staging, and Decorating, every project is unique and exciting from conception to execution.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover what Lindsay wishes she had known when she started her interior design career.
• Learn the 3 benefits of knowing how to run a business.
• Find out how to vet your A-Team

Check out the show notes >>> How to Get the Best of Both Worlds of Career and Parenthood Through Interior Design With Lindsay Kjellberg Part 2

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebie:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Listen to Related Episode:

Episode 24: How to Get the Best of Both Worlds of Career and Parenthood Through Interior Design With Lindsay Kjellberg Part 1

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/design-curious-interior-design-podcast-interior-design/id1639838828

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com (https://rwarddesign.com/) to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Are you interested in interior design but don't have the time to attend school full-time?

You don't have to worry - there are several masterclasses and courses you can take to jumpstart your interior design career! Best of all, these classes do not require you to be on campus. Learning from home will make this exciting journey more convenient for you.

We are also celebrating this week. Why? Along with Galentine's Day and Valentine's Day, it's my birthday on the 15th! So to celebrate my birthday, I'm giving you a list of courses you can take. It's all here, so you no longer have to scour multiple websites to find which course works best for you. Your path toward success begins right here!

Listen now to my latest episode and celebrate my birthday with me to get access to the amazing gifts I've prepared just for YOU today!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Know the 5 courses you can take to start an interior design career
• Find out the 7 Principles of Design
• Discover the 3 reasons why taking a CAD class is essential to becoming a designer

Check out the show notes >>> 5 Courses You Must Take To Kickstart Your Interior Design Career

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career 

Listen to Related Episodes:

• Episode 1: Interior Design: An Introduction & the 3 Paths You Can Take To Get There 
• Episode 23: The Roadmap to Becoming an Interior Designer 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/design-curious-interior-design-podcast-interior-design/id1639838828

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Are you an interior designer juggling your career or business and family life?

It's no secret that being a parent and having a career or owning a business can be overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be this way!

In today's episode, Lindsay, my special guest, wants to show you how having both is possible with the right strategies in place. She will help you navigate work-life balance with practical tips on how to handle your projects and clients, as well as how to get your kids involved in your business.

So listen and learn from Lindsay how to be a master of parenting and running an interior design career or business at the same time!

Featured Guest:

In 2004, Lindsay Harker Kjellberg founded LHK Interiors as the Principal Designer. Based in Modesto, California, they specialize in custom residential design with extensive experience in kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Their goal is to build long-term relationships with their customers. Whether it is for entertaining friends and family or conducting business, they are dedicated to creating a spectacular space for each client while striving for a “worry-free” design. By walking their clients through New Builds, Remodels, Staging, and Decorating, every project is unique and exciting from conception to execution.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover how to set boundaries with clients instead of being at their beck and call
• Find out what is essential to scaling your interior design business
• Learn why making hard choices is the key to work-life balance and two (2) surprising yet sweet rewards of being a working mom

Check out the show notes >>> How to Get the Best of Both Worlds of Career and Parenthood Through Interior Design With Lindsay Kjellberg Part 1

NEXT STEPS:
Grab your freebies: 

• NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Listen to Related Episode:
Episode 05: The Do’s and Don’ts of Interior Design Internships

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

When does a career in interior design begin? Is it when you enroll in classes or get hired as an intern?

Well, your interior design journey starts way earlier than that. It is when you decide it is the career you want.

Then, what are your next steps after deciding you are interested in interior design?

In this episode, I share the roadmap I created to help you plan for your dream career in interior design. It’s a free resource to help you take the next steps in your journey to interior design.

With this roadmap, you won't need to worry about gaps in knowledge or skills you will need to succeed.

Check this episode out to learn about the roadmap to becoming an interior designer so you can begin to move toward a fulfilling future today!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out the steps you need to take to be a successful interior designer
• Discover why it’s necessary to apply for an internship with an interior designer 
• Learn more about the 7 junior designer roles and responsibilities

Check out the show notes >>> The Roadmap to Becoming an Interior Designer

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

NEW!! Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

3 Things I Wish I had known when I started my career 

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Listen to Related Episode:

Ep05: The Do’s and Don’ts of Interior Design Internships

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here.

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Is it possible to learn and grow as an interior designer, even if you've been in the field for a while? Absolutely! Ellen Walker, today's special guest, is a testament to this.

She has been an inspiration to watch as she shares her expertise and journey to becoming an award-winning interior designer. It's helpful to hear how everybody achieves success since everyone's story is different.

It's been a long and challenging journey for her. From having her interior design dream dismissed as a legitimate career to starting her own company as a side hustle, she's now a principal interior designer getting awards for her contributions.

So here's Ellen's story of struggle and success to inspire you and help you decide if interior design is the right career path for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out her practical advice for up-and-coming interior designers
• Discover the 6 reasons why she struggled in the confidence area as an interior designer and the one thing that helped her fix it
• Learn what up-and-coming interior designers need to know about having a career as an interior designer

Check out the show notes >>> The Secret Sauce to Becoming an Award-Winning Full-Service Interior Designer with Ellen Walker

Featured Guest:

Ellen Walker from Red Deer County in Alberta Canada is the Principal Interior Designer of Ellen Walker Design Group. She loves to travel and draws inspiration from nature, art, architecture, beautiful fabrics, and furniture wherever she happens to be. Interior design, however, encompasses more than a visual aesthetic. Great design is characterized by functionality, timeless style, and a positive emotional connection with those who use the space.

She is an industry leader in incorporating the psychology of design into her projects and solves people's design problems. She has access to design, psychology, and environment experts, allowing her to deeply understand what people need in their spaces to live better.

Throughout the years, she's worked on renovations ranging from one room to a full house. In addition, she's worked on new builds that vary from small to large projects in residential and commercial spaces. She's obsessed with creating and remodeling spaces of all stories.

Connect with Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Ever wonder why interior designers pick between residential and commercial design?

In today's episode, I give you the inside scoop on what it's like to be a residential interior designer. Based on my experience, I outline the pros and cons of working with clients one-on-one.

The concept of home and nurturing connects with me deeply and personally, which helps me be passionate about residential interior design and want to help other people have homes they love.

If you need help deciding between residential and commercial interior design, listen to this episode to help you decide which interior design career suits you best.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Understand the pros and cons of residential interior design
• Learn the 3 reasons why a residential interior design resonates with me so much
• Discover the essential parts of working with residential design clients

Check out the show notes >>>  Why I Chose Residential Interior Design Over Commercial: The Pros and Cons

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Did you know that your own personal experiences can help you niche down and speak authentically to the interior design market you serve? It’s all about really understanding their needs and who better understands them is one of their own.

Today's special guest, Kricia Palmer, is a doctor turned interior designer and life coach who left clinical medicine to pursue her Interior Design degree. Through her business, House Calls for Physicians, she now helps other busy women physicians create inspiring, mindful homes, so they can kick back, relax, and enjoy life's moments in them.

She also has a course where she teaches women physicians how to be designers and design their homes for themselves. So if you want to learn how to niche down & serve your tribe, grow, and pivot your interior design business to work for you, check out her episode.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out ways you can turn Facebook community membership into your course launchpad
• Discover how her internship helped her build her own interior design business
• Learn three (3) tips on how to switch careers with ease

Check out the show notes >>> Do You Have a Passion for Interior Design but Scared to Make the Switch? How to Take the Leap with Kricia Palmer

Featured Guest:

Kricia Palmer is a physician, interior designer, and certified life coach. By creating intentionally designed spaces, she helps busy women physicians make coming home the most enjoyable part of their day. She left pediatric allergy and immunology after practicing for several years to pursue her creative passion by becoming an interior designer. With all the knowledge and experience she gained as a physician, she is now empowering women doctors to put themselves first. Additionally, she is creating a more mindful work environment for them.
She has also discovered how many other physicians crave creative outlets in the past few years. As part of her signature course, Design Academy, she not only offers 1:1 design services, but she teaches interior design as well. Through her business, House Calls for Physicians, Kricia has become known as the interior designer for women physicians and has created magazine-worthy spaces that offer inspiration from busy lives for clients across the country. Besides creating drawings and fabric samples, she enjoys spending time with her family, working at F45, dancing, reading, and experimenting with acrylics.

Links Mentioned:

• Check out Tobi Fairley's membership here

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Do you want to start 2023 right?

I know you do, and I want you to win the new year. That's why, in this episode, I'm sharing my planning process. It's the same process I took to accomplish all six goals I had written down for my interior design business for 2022. But that didn’t happen by accident.

If you want to learn what goals are worth setting for your interior design career or business, how to achieve them, and simply to get inspired to start your 2023 right, this is a must-listen.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover how to plan for your short and long-term goals
• Find out why people might shy away from making goals and what to do instead
• Learn about making S.M.A.R.T. and S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals

Check out the show notes >>> Ready to Take on the New Year? How to Turn Your Dreams and Goals into Reality This 2023

Looking for accountability on your goals? Send them here >>> podcast@rwarddesign.com

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Have you been thinking of pivoting but are still unsure? Perhaps, you want to start a podcast? Well, you'll find this episode helpful if you need help like I was. Why? Because my podcast coach is here to share her inspiring interior design journey with us.

Instead of getting a degree, Bethany began her interior design career as an intern. What gave her the confidence to do this? Her learning-by-doing approach to her interior design career. It was based on the belief that disciplines are all-encompassing.

The result? Since she didn't let what she lacked stop her from becoming an interior designer, she started her own business and podcasts geared toward helping others in the field.

The interior design field can also be a stepping stone into another career. So if you need some inspiration on when and how to pivot your interior design, this one is for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn the advantages of having the same life experiences as your target market
• Find out how to get into interior design without a degree and the career paths you can take after working as an interior designer
• Discover the 4 questions you need to ask to craft your brand message

Check out the show notes >>> The Embrace of Change: How An Interior Designer Pivots to Become a Podcast & Messaging Coach with Bethany Wrede Peterson

Featured Guest:

Bethany Wrede Peterson is an interior designer turned podcast and messaging coach. Her goal is to help interior designers and personal brands find their voice to become profitable, lead with confidence, and cultivate a sense of purpose. She began her design and self-development podcast, Arrived, in 2019 to help single men find their voice at home and in their relationships.

Following the first pandemic lockdown that temporarily shattered the interior design industry in 2020, Bethany received multiple requests to help other peers launch podcasts. Her podcast and coaching needed a narrative more closely aligned with her own story.

Her online course and membership community, Find Your Voice, helps creatives discover their ‘Why’, find their voice, and launch their podcast in eight weeks. Her voice and work have appeared in The Guardian, Wallpaper | Architectural Digest, onlinecoursetalks.com, LuAnn Nigera's Well-Designed Business, I Am CEO, Subkit, and Minnesota AM 950 Radio, with her podcast Arrived and Arrive Daily streamed in 25 countries.

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, send me an email at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Need help deciding what to put on your Christmas wish list?

Since fourth grade, I have always enjoyed learning and reading. The hope of understanding, growing, transforming, and changing is essential and inspiring. So it's great to see others embrace that growth mindset as well.

In today's episode, I share 23 books you should check to know more about interior design as a career and a business. These books are great for your holiday wish list, as they are a must-read if you are starting out in interior design or building a business around it.

Is there a book you'd recommend that I should read? Feel free to send them my way. Reading new books is one of my favorite things to do, and I would love to add that to my list.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out how audiobooks can help you get into the habit of reading
• Learn about the 23 books I recommend for interior design, business, money mindset, and personal development.
• Find out why reading is better than searching online for information

Check out the show notes >>> 23 Best Books Every Interior Designer Should Have for Business & Personal Growth

Holiday Season Offer:

Three ways to get a 30-minute one-on-call with me to ask me questions about starting a career in interior design or launching your own business

1. Sign up for My Design Mentor >>> https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor/
2. Purchase the Business Starter Kit within My Design Mentor
3. Refer a friend to My Design Mentor and get the bonus when they sign up

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Have you ever felt like you're all alone on your interior design journey? It's like there need to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything, yet you feel tempted to take on everybody as a client even though it's not a good fit.

If you have difficulties saying no, want to focus on serving the right clients, and want more freedom and control over the little time you have, this is where support people come into play.

When you start a business, saying 'no' to things can be challenging. Having someone help you carve out what's ideal is crucial since saying 'no' to some things allows you to say 'yes' to what's right.

In today's episode, I bring in Porsche Williams, a natural at being a support person. Her team handles all my client intake calls and does my client gifting, which has been so helpful for my business.

If you are looking for ways to outsource as you're getting your business started or enhancing your customer service, this episode is for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out how to know if your client is a good fit
• Learn the four (4) reasons why you should outsource your client intake
• Discover why it’s important to include gifting as part of your business model

Check out the show notes >>> How Outsourcing Client Intake Helps Interior Designers Convert and Retain Clients with Porsche Williams

Holiday Season Offer:
Get the chance to win a 30-minute bonus one-on-one call with me! Click here >>> rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor/

FREE Resource:
Check out the book Who Not How by Dan Sullivan. Click here >>> whonothow.com/

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, send me an email at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Are you planning to launch your interior design business?

Starting a business can be an overwhelming process, but don't worry - I have a list of action items (a part of the business starter checklist from My Design Mentor) that’ll help you get started, as well as some helpful tips on the tasks you'll need to complete to make your business dreams a reality.

This is the business starter kit I wish I had when I was starting, and it’s all ready to help you with starting your own. Well, you're one step closer to creating your very own business! So what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode to glimpse how easy it can be to set up your own business.

Also, enroll in My Design Mentor and choose the optional upgrade to access The Business Starter Kit for the complete checklist on how to start a business.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn what is in My Design Mentor Business Starter Kit
• Discover the importance of separating your business from personal
• Find out the pros and cons of using your name as your business name

Check out the show notes >>> An Experts' Startup Checklist to Effectively Launch Your Interior Design Business

Get the Interior Designers' business starter checklist to get your business going. Sign up for the Design Mentor >>> rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor/

Resource:

• Check out the book Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz >>> mikemichalowicz.com/profit-first/

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

How do interior designers create beautiful and functional rooms? This week's guest, Martha Lowry, approaches interior design using mathematics! For some people like Martha, the design and math parts of her brain are intertwined.

But despite successful careers in mathematics, computing, cooking, and teaching, why did she transition into interior design? Why could not she get past the desire to go into interior design? What made her stay in interior design, doing it for 29 years now?

If you are considering a change of career to interior design, this episode is a must-listen. What do you need to know before you make the switch? Would it be worth your time and money? All these and more in today's episode.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn about the challenges you'll face as an interior designer
• Know the four questions you should ask yourself before you leap into interior design
• Discover who else should be a part of your team other than tradespeople

Check show notes >>> Considering a Career Change? How to Transition to an Interior Design Career With Martha Lowry

Black Friday and Holiday Season Offer:
Sign up for My Design Mentor today and get access to our amazing bonuses! Click here >>> rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor

Connect With Me:
Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign

Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com

Do you like the smell of new furniture?

Does it give you happy feelings whenever you're around them?

Wouldn't it be nice to hang out with other designers after exploring showrooms?

If you are an Interior Designer, whether you work for a firm, are self-employed, or are a student, it is important to attend furniture markets like High Point Market. This market is the largest in America, occurring twice a year in North Carolina. It took me about 15 years to get to High Point Market, but I see myself going every couple of years.

Las Vegas does its markets in winter and summer, High Point does theirs in spring and fall, while the Dallas market is in January, which is known for its lighting shows.

While attending all of them is unnecessary because things don't change that much and it can add up too because you're paying for flights, hotels, and food, I find myself going to one of these markets about once a year or whenever I have a specific vendor I'm after.

So if you're on the fence about going to these markets, if you are curious about the activities and events that take place there, or if you want to know tips and tricks for making the most of your experience at the market, this episode is for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn from my own High Point Market experience
• Discover the 7 reasons why you must go to the High Point Market
• Know ways you can prepare for High Point Market

Check show notes >>> Getting the Most Out of Your High Point Market Visit

Black Friday and Holiday Season Offer:
Sign up for My Design Mentor today and get access to our amazing bonuses! Click here >>> rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor

Connect With Me:
Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

Have you ever listened to a podcast and thought, "Hey, I feel the same way, too! I could do that"? That's how Jodie Carter felt when she first heard Kimberley Seldon on the Business of Design podcast. An amazing designer with a ton of knowledge to share, she has partnered with the Business of Design coaching program to help others start their own interior design businesses.

If you're like her, who loves learning by doing, think about where you could be in the next 5 or 10 years. What if you could manifest your dreams into reality? It's definitely possible, and Jodie is living proof of that. She has an amazing approach to her business and believes in abundance and getting what she wants.

So what are you waiting for? Listen to learn more about Jodie's career journey in interior design and how having a "can-do" attitude gave her an edge over other designers.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover how to turn your passion into a successful career in interior design
• Find out how to start your interior design career backward through learning by doing
• Learn the 7 ways you can avoid experiencing extreme highs and lows when starting your interior design business

Check out the show notes >>> Why Attitude and Will Are All You Need To Be A Successful Interior Designer

Black Friday and Holiday Season Offer:
Sign up for My Design Mentor today to win a 30-minute bonus one-on-one call with me! This will give you the chance to ask all of your questions about starting out in your career. Lock in your rate now before prices increase in January.

My Design Mentor: rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor/

FREE Resource:
Business of Design Podcast

Connect With Me:
Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

Would you believe me if I tell you I still struggle with imposter syndrome? Despite graduating, getting my license, starting my own interior design business, and getting clients, it still affects my confidence. Honestly, it’s a mindset issue that requires ongoing management.

I wish it only happens in the beginning, you know? Like a right of passage, but no. It crops up at different points in my career as an interior designer. Good thing there are ways to help manage it.

You have a talent, creative one, and you need to share it with your clients. So be confident about that because I know you can do it. Listen to this week’s episode to learn how to deal with imposter syndrome and increase your confidence.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Know what imposter syndrome is and how it affects your confidence factor
• Identify the areas of your interior design career where imposter syndrome tends to show up
• Get effective tips for overcoming imposter syndrome before it breaks your confidence

Check out the show notes >>> Is Imposter Syndrome Holding Back Your Interior Design Career? The Best Way to Deal With It

FREE Resource:

Episode 03: Scared to Start a Career in Interior Design? The Right Mindset That Can Help You Overcome Fear

Check out these books and podcasts about dealing with Imposter Syndrome

• You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Cincero
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown 
• Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome >>> drshannonirvine.com/what-do-you-believe-success-secret-4-with-dr-shannon-irvine/
• What do you believe?: Success Secret #4 with Dr. Shannon Irvine >>> chalene.com/podcasts/overcome-imposter-syndrome/

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: contact@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

Are you a generalist interior designer who takes on anyone and everyone as a client? Do you get distracted by the latest interior design trends you tend to bounce around a lot? Is it always a matter of taking any job opportunity you can get, even if it isn't sustainable?

I get it. I fell for those traps too when I started. And the problem with being a generalist is you don’t honor what you’re good at. You often get distracted instead of focusing on what you do best. It’s okay to an extent to serve everybody only if you want to experience certain clients or certain projects to find out if it’s something you really want to get into or not. But after you weed them out, what do you do next?

Join me in this week’s episode as I discuss with Liz Toombs how she got into a unique niche based on her college experience, and share how she uses her niche to market and connect with people all over the country.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out why being a specialist works way better in any business compared to being a generalist
• Learn how to start a business during a recession or a pandemic without investors or loans
• Get valuable tips you can use if you are starting out on your own, with a small business, or just getting into the interior design career

Check out the show notes >>> The Art of Marrying Your Passion & Talent for Interior Design To Sell to a Niche Market With Confidence

FREE Resource:

• What Liz requires all her interns to read: Great on the Job Book by Jodi Glickman >>> greatonthejob.com/jodi-glickman
• The Design Curious Podcast episode Liz requires her interns to listen to >>> rwarddesign.com/episodes/the-dos-and-donts-of-interior-design-internships/
• Check out Liz's podcast about all things Greek housing, decorating, and beyond Sorority Chat >>> podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sorority-chat/id1623657154
• Learn the art of interior decorating for sororities: Interior Decorating 101: Sorority Edition >>> id101-sororityedition.teachable.com/
• Curious about how Liz and I met? Check this out >>> tobifairley.com/

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: contact@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

When I started my interior design career, I was clueless about some things. It was a bit overwhelming. To give you at least an overview of what you are getting yourself into, I share some information with you.

Whether you are applying or interning for a job in an interior design firm, want to start your own design business, or grow your firm into a larger company, this episode is for you.

Listen to understand the different teams and roles needed to operate an interior design business. I also share the many hats an interior designer solopreneur needs to wear. And if you are growing your firm into a larger company, these are the areas you can expand to and hire.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover what you're signing up for as an interior design solopreneur
• Find out what you need to hire first when starting an interior design business
• Understand the team structures and roles critical to building a design firm

Check out the show notes >>> Anatomy of an Interior Design Firm: Team Structure and Roles To Keep In Mind

Want to jumpstart your interior design career? Enroll in My Design Mentor >>> https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor/

FREE Resource:

• Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Do you have a full-time career and want to launch your interior design business? Is it possible to make it happen even though you work 40 hours weekly? Perhaps you always wanted to be an interior designer but took a different career path for some reason.

Don't worry. My guest Andrea and I got you! Because in today's episode, she'll share how she juggled a full-time trading career with a side hustle in interior design. Not only that, but she also successfully transitioned into interior design as her second career during the pandemic.

How did she do it? Listen and learn from Andrea so you can finally pursue a career you love and are good at.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover how to start a side hustle while working a 40-hour workweek
• Learn how to use a blank sheet of paper to map out your day/week
• Find out the 3 easy steps to cope with being overwhelmed and having information overload

Check out the show notes >>> From Side Hustle to Full-Time Career: How to Start a Second Career as an Interior Designer with Andrea Reordan

Free Resource:

• Get the book - Don't Keep Your Day Job by Cathey Heller >>> www.dontkeepyourdayjob.com/book
• Listen to the podcast - Don't Keep Your Day Job by Cathey Heller

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Do you have a design degree? How about an experience in graphic design, design studies, or interior architecture? Are you trying to pursue a career in interior design but not sure which expertise to pick?

Apart from one-to-one full-service design, there are a lot of other design careers out there, whether you're working for someone else or running your own business. It is not cut and dry because some options are obvious, while others may come as a surprise.

That is why in this episode, I share options you can check out to help you discover which design career is right for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Explore the different niches and specialties associated with residential design
• Find out the three reasons why interior designers branch out into creating their own products and furniture
• Discover five ways you can share your design expertise with the world

Check out the show notes >>> Getting Into Interior Design? 13 Careers Available for You

FREE Resource:

Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.

Connect With Me:

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

Have you ever sketched a plan for your dream home? Do you give home styling advice to your friends? Perhaps you simply enjoy designing beautiful spaces. Whatever your creative passion is, you can turn it into a sustainable career and business in interior design.

The journey of our special guest, Tracy Dyck of S3 Interior Design, proves this. Her first kick at interior design started at about seven years old - from designing her first bedroom to creating spaces for her Barbies. Years later, she made her home sustainable using straw bales for the exterior walls.

Though her journey is full of twists and turns, it eventually led her back to interior design and building her business. It shows how we all developed and changed over time. It shows how it is possible to start thinking and going in one direction, but as you grow and learn, you can pivot and go in another that is still authentic.

If you are considering or have decided to follow your passion into a career as an interior designer, listen to this episode and learn Tracy's best practices and processes.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover Tracy’s 3-step process to prepare for a career in interior design
• Find out what made her decide against interior design right out of high school and what made her change her mind
• Learn the two prerequisites you should learn as an interior designer

Check out the show notes >>> How to Prepare: Turning Creative Passion to Sustainable Interior Design Career & Business With Tracy Dyck

FREE Resource:

Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.

Connect With Me

• Website: rwarddesign.com 
• Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• IG: @rwarddesign 

In the interior design industry, internships are common. In fact, my design firm receives many requests for them. But why is an interior designing internship necessary? How does an intern approach it? What to expect from it? What should an intern do and not do to have a successful internship?

Today, I share the do’s and don’ts of an interior design internship and provide alternatives you can try to help jumpstart your interior design career. If you are looking for an internship, about to begin one, or currently working as an intern and want to maximize your experience, this episode is a must-listen.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode

• Learn how to succeed in your interior designing internship
• Watch out for the things you shouldn’t do as an intern
• Discover alternatives to interior designing internships

Check out the show notes >>> The Do’s and Don’ts of Interior Design Internships

Want to jumpstart your interior design career? Enroll in My Design Mentor

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

Is it possible to have a family and be a professional simultaneously? How do you succeed in interior design if you lack both the degree and experience? What is the ideal approach when couples run the same company?

Fueled by the desire to be more available for her kids, my guest Suzanne tried different careers, including real estate and staging, but realized she prefers working with people who want to stay in their homes instead of preparing them for the market.

Her company may have started slow and it may have taken her a long route to find success in her interior design career but 15 years and 5 employees later, they now have a business with a great team that’s transforming people's homes.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode

• Find out the 4 things you should know as an interior designer when you are just starting out
• Learn the 2 most challenging parts of her career and how she overcomes them
• Discover the alternative paths she took to launch her interior design career

Check out the show notes >>> How to Be a Successful Interior Designer Without the Degree and Experience With Suzanne Manlove

FREE Resource:

• Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

What is fear? It's the single-most crippling feeling and thought that will leave you stuck at your unsatisfying job for far too long, keeping you from starting your passion today.

The thing is, fear when facing a career change is often brought up because you, like most people, are resistant to change.

I get it. Change is hard, but it's usually good.

So, if you're thinking about or already decided on changing your career or goals to be an interior designer, and are now facing an overwhelming and paralyzing fear you are making the wrong choice, this episode is for you.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn how to differentiate between circumstances you can control and those you cannot
• Find ways to start being intentional with your thoughts
• Discover the secret to never having to work a day in your life

Read the full show notes here 

Join the Design Curious Podcast Launch Giveaway in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Subscribe to Design Curious on Apple Podcasts or Follow on your favorite podcast platform

Step 2: Leave a Star Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser (if you're not an Apple user)

Step 3: Fill up this form to make your entry count >>> https://bit.ly/designcuriouslaunchgiveaway

Note: To validate your entry, post the screenshot of the action you did in Items #1 and #2 as a comment on the giveaway post.

Entries are accepted until Friday, 9/16/22 at 9 PM PST. The winners will be drawn at random on Saturday, 9/17/22 at 7 PM PST. Winners will be notified through email.

Free Resources:

• Learn more about the Thought Model Framework here
• Learn how to create thoughts that will serve your future here
• Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign

How does one start a career in interior design? Is it really required to have drawing skills to make it in this space? Do you really need to go to interior design school for it?

If these questions have been bugging you, don't worry. Because our guest for this episode shares her interior design journey that began only when she was already two years into college.

Would you believe it if I told you she couldn't draw, yet she enrolled in interior design? It's all because of one class that made her realize you can create wonders using a straight line.

So let’s explore Kelly Tivey's path into interior design as she talks about the five steps she took to be a successful interior designer.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn the different ways to keep learning outside of corporate training even after you have achieved success in interior design
• Discover two paths you can take if you don’t want to start your own interior design business
• Find out the four groups of people you should surround yourself with to get support in your career

Read the full show notes here 

Join the Design Curious Podcast Launch Giveaway in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Subscribe to Design Curious on Apple Podcasts or Follow on your favorite podcast platform

Step 2: Leave a Star Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser (if you're not an Apple user)

Step 3: Fill up this form to make your entry count >>> https://bit.ly/designcuriouslaunchgiveaway

Note: To validate your entry, post the screenshot of the action you did in Items #1 and #2 as a comment on the giveaway post.

Entries are accepted until Friday, 9/16/22 at 9 PM PST. The winners will be drawn at random on Saturday, 9/17/22 at 7 PM PST. Winners will be notified through email.

Free Resources:

• Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign

Did you know that Interior Designers are not the same as Interior Decorators, even though they’re being used interchangeably?

Did you know that by making your home the best it can be for your needs and tastes, you can go out into the world and be the best version of yourself? This is how you can improve people's lives through interior design.

In the first episode of Design Curious Podcast, discover why your surroundings matter and how beauty, intention, significance, and symmetry all work together to create an inviting, purposeful, and inspiring space.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn what interior design is and what interior designers do
• Find out the difference between an interior designer and a decorator
• Discover three different paths you can take to get into interior design

Read the full show notes here 

Join the Design Curious Podcast Launch Giveaway in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Subscribe to Design Curious on Apple Podcasts or Follow on your favorite podcast platform

Step 2: Leave a Star Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser (if you're not an Apple user)

Step 3: Fill up this form to make your entry count >>> https://bit.ly/designcuriouslaunchgiveaway

Note: To validate your entry, post the screenshot of the action you did in Items #1 and #2 as a comment on the giveaway post.

Entries are accepted until Friday, 9/16/22 at 9 PM PST. The winners will be drawn at random on Saturday, 9/17/22 at 7 PM PST. Winners will be notified through email.

Free Resources:

• Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.
• Need some motivation? Read Start With Why by Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/

Connect With Me:

Website: rwarddesign.com
Email Add: podcast@rwarddesign.com
IG: @rwarddesign 

Hi! I am Rebecca Ward, your Interior Design Mentor & welcome to Design Curious Podcast. This show is for the curious creatives who want to learn what it takes to become an interior designer.

Whether you are curious about a career in interior design (maybe you are trying to decide your college major!) or you are stuck in a job and desire to make a career change (the one you love), this show is an excellent resource for weighing your options.

Each week, you will learn about schooling & internships and understand whether a four-year degree is necessary to become an interior designer or at what point you call yourself an interior designer. You will learn the practical skills every designer needs to develop regardless of whether you want to work for yourself or someone else. You will be encouraged and empowered to overcome your fears of change, failure, and money.

With my 20 years in the interior design industry (CEO and principal designer of Rebecca Ward designs), I will help you on the RIGHT WAY to get started once you decide to become an interior designer.

Everyone loves a good origin story. With my interview episodes with incredibly talented designers, you will get an inside scoop on how they launched their careers. Listening to them, you will discover more than one path to being a successful designer.

Subscribe now and discover if interior design is the career for you!

P.S. I would be SO thankful if you took a quick minute to share this podcast with another design curious creative and leave me a written review for the show over on Apple Podcast! It’s the number one way you can thank me, and hearing from you fills my heart with so much joy!

Connect with Me!
Website: rwarddesign.com
Email: contact@rwarddesign.com
Instagram: @rwarddesign
Pinterest: @rwarddesign