Trade Tales

Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen

Business of Home's editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen talks to interior designers about nurturing creativity, finding a firm’s financial footing, setting goals and discovering their own version of success as a result.

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179 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes179

Newest first

Nov 10, 2021 · 38 min
How a better contract made Katie Hodges a better designer
Interior designer Katie Hodges went from making the pages of Architectural Digest with her first project to nearly leaving the profession for good just a few years later. The thing that brought her back: getting clearer in her contract.
Oct 27, 2021 · 37 min
Design, real estate and contracting—Keisha Gilchrist's triple threat
Keisha Gilchrist occupies a rare space in the home industry: As a design principal, real estate broker and general contractor, she’s set up to usher her clients through every step of the process. But on the business side of things, she’s still learning how to navigate the new terrain.
Oct 13, 2021 · 46 min
Peggy Haddad on the radical accessibility of e-design
Denver-based Peggy Haddad launched her e-design company in 2019 with the motto “interior design for all,” but struggled to make the business model work. Then, she found a tech tool that unlocked a new level of revenue.
Sep 29, 2021 · 30 min
Stephanie Sabbe on the path to creative freedom
Nashville-based designer Stephanie Sabbe seemed destined for a career in design—quite literally, according to one fortune teller’s prediction. But while the creative side of the job came naturally, she’s finding new ways to grow her business on her own terms.
Sep 1, 2021 · 40 min
Why Traci Zeller is cultivating distance (in a good way) with her clients
After pivoting from a career in business and law, North Carolina–based designer Traci Zeller has put the tools of her former trades to work, building a firm driven by organization, attention to detail and clear communication.
Aug 18, 2021 · 35 min
Sean Leffers on bringing your worldview into your work
Los Angeles–based designer Sean Leffers isn’t afraid to lead the way in designing a world he believes in—from highly conceptual spaces that explore climate change and gender to a firm that is built around mutual respect and a surprising version of leadership.
Aug 4, 2021 · 39 min
How Eneia White started charging what she’s worth
New York–based designer Eneia White had been burning the candle at both ends to get her new firm going when the city ground to a halt at the onset of the pandemic. Forced to push pause, she was finally able to figure out what it’d take to break out of the busyness trap.
Jul 21, 2021 · 35 min
Heidi Caillier and the art of leveling up
Amid an influx of new work, Seattle-based designer Heidi Caillier is actively exploring how to take her business to the next level. One thing she knows is required? Saying no.
Jul 7, 2021 · 36 min
How Alison Giese is growing her firm without staffing up
Designer Alison Giese shares how she manages a staff of remote employees to scale up and down as the need arises, how she turned an Instagram hobby into a revenue stream, and why she embraces virtual services.
Jun 23, 2021 · 33 min
Why Everick Brown Design talks to clients about return on investment
Everick Brown and Lisa Walker-Brown always knew they worked best as a couple. With a little help from a business coach, they’ve learned how to leverage their place in the industry and start speaking their clients’ language.
Jun 9, 2021 · 39 min
Park & Oak on setting client expectations: "You might cry"
Glen Ellyn, Illinois–based designers Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto teamed up to create a design business on their own terms—a decision that resulted in runaway success, a growing team and a frank assessment of the challenges a project can bring.
May 26, 2021 · 1 hr 12 min
How Noz Nozawa learned to invest in herself
When San Francisco–based designer Noz Nozawa pivoted from a marketing career to running her own design firm, she intentionally kept her business lean. Now, she's spending to grow.
May 12, 2021 · 44 min
Why Victoria Sass puts the story first
Minneapolis-based designer Victoria Sass left behind a career in commercial design to pursue residential work. It meant changing everything—except her love of great stories.
Apr 28, 2021 · 49 min
Max Humphrey on rewriting the rules of design
You’re supposed to grow your firm, hire assistants, streamline your process and tackle as many jobs as you can, right? Wrong, says Portland, Oregon–based designer Max Humphrey.
Apr 14, 2021 · 39 min
How Eche Martinez turned a small project into a big break
San Francisco–based designer Eche Martinez took what he thought was a small project. It turned out to be a six-month-long interview for a much bigger one.
Mar 31, 2021 · 37 min
Beth Diana Smith on leaving the corporate world behind
When Irvington, New Jersey–based interior designer Beth Diana Smith launched her firm after a career in finance, she tapped into her corporate skillset to satisfy her process-oriented mind while allowing her creative side to thrive and grow.
Mar 17, 2021 · 37 min
Why Amanda Teal completely changed the way she charged
Menlo Park, California–based interior designer Amanda Teal found herself doing less and less of what she really loved—so she changed everything.
Mar 2, 2021 · 49 min
Nile Johnson on making space for creativity
Philadelphia-based interior designer Nile Johnson scored a dream client—one so good that she recommended him to all her friends. That's where the trouble began.
Mar 1, 2021 · 43 sec
Trade Tales: Coming soon!
A trailer for Business of Home's new podcast, Trade Tales. The show, hosted by editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen, will feature interviews with interior designers about nurturing creativity, finding a firm’s financial footing, setting goals and discovering their own version of success as a result.

Trade Tales

How a better contract made Katie Hodges a better designer

Design, real estate and contracting—Keisha Gilchrist's triple threat

Peggy Haddad on the radical accessibility of e-design

Stephanie Sabbe on the path to creative freedom

Why Traci Zeller is cultivating distance (in a good way) with her clients

Sean Leffers on bringing your worldview into your work

How Eneia White started charging what she’s worth

Heidi Caillier and the art of leveling up

How Alison Giese is growing her firm without staffing up

Why Everick Brown Design talks to clients about return on investment

Park & Oak on setting client expectations: "You might cry"

How Noz Nozawa learned to invest in herself

Why Victoria Sass puts the story first

Max Humphrey on rewriting the rules of design

How Eche Martinez turned a small project into a big break

Beth Diana Smith on leaving the corporate world behind

Why Amanda Teal completely changed the way she charged

Nile Johnson on making space for creativity

Trade Tales: Coming soon!