To-The-Trade Episode Summary Heather Cleveland of Heather Cleveland Design joins Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson to talk about what really separates a mature design firm from the pack: not talent, but process. Heather shares her creative roots, her love of textiles, and the practical path that sharpened her technical confidence, then goes deep on the
To-The-Trade Episode Summary To-The-Trade host Laurie Laizure sits down with Phil Hotarek, a plumbing and HVAC contractor and decorative showroom owner in San Francisco, who also serves as president of Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association (DPHA). Phil explains that DPHA was created to connect the industry’s key segments, manufacturers/brands, independent reps, and showrooms, in a
To-The-Trade S3E03 Inside DPHA, Roundtables That Build Real Trust with Phil Hotarek Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary Marsha Sefcik joins Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation about running a design business with more clarity, stronger margins, and fewer “chaos leaks,” while still respecting the realities of life outside the studio. Laurie begins by sharing that they were introduced through Sarah from Mydoma, one of IDC’s longtime
To-The-Trade S3E02 Reverse Engineer Your Design Income with Marsha Sefcik Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In this episode of To-The-Trade, Laurie Laizure talks with Boston-based interior designer Dane Austin about the long game of building a design career, the quiet power of community, and why comfort and quality should drive nearly every major furnishing decision. Dane shares that he’s known he wanted to be a designer since
Inspire. Source. Collaborate. What is Design Edge? Our mission for this show is simple: to build a culture of real connection across our Interior Design and Home Furnishings industry. Designers deserve a stronger voice, and brands deserve partners they can trust. Leading designer-focused manufacturers aren’t just a source for product, they’re collaborative partners. Join us at Design
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In the last episode of 2025 the To-The-Trade podcast from the Interior Design Community, hosts Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson get real about what it takes to support design pros, and where the business of interior design is heading next. Laurie opens by thanking Nile for the behind-the-scenes work that goes into
To-The-Trade S2E58 2025 Finale, The ROI Mindset, Follow-Up Revenue Plan Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In this episode of To-The-Trade, host Laurie Laizure sits down with Montreal-based designer Romina Tina Fontana, founder of Fontana & Company, to discuss how her deep background in marketing and graphic design shapes her approach to running her interiors studio today. It is a conversation that blends branding, editorial photography, client education,
To-The-Trade S2E57 Budgets, Boundaries and Beautiful Shoots with Romina Tina Fontana Read More »
To-The-Trade Episode Summary In this To-The-Trade podcast episode, Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson sit down with DC area designer Isy (Isabel) Jackson of Chelt Interiors to talk about British-influenced interiors, sourcing antiques, holiday decorating, and the real business of interior design behind the pretty pictures. Isy shares her creative origin story, starting with a very
To-The-Trade Episode Summary This episode of the To-The-Trade interior design podcast features a rich, honest conversation between host Laurie Laizure and Los Angeles designer Shannon Ggem, who was recently named a Kitchen Design Innovator of the Year. Shannon shares how her Massachusetts roots and life in the Malibu Mountains have shaped her signature mix of
To-The-Trade Episode Summary On this episode of the To-The-Trade, Laurie Laizure sits down with designer and entrepreneur Sarah Brohm, founder of UA Designs, to talk real process, pricing clarity, and the operations that carry a project from concept to completion. Sarah’s path began in nursing, a background that sharpened her skills in systems, communication, and
