That simple question can kick off budget clarity, scope creep, or a procurement handoff. Here’s how to respond with calm authority and keep the project on track. You’re cruising. The concept is landing, the pieces are speaking to each other, and you can finally see the room becoming what you promised. Then the email comes […]
Can We Swap This? How to Handle Client Revision Links for Cheaper Items 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 »
That markup question can feel personal, especially when it lands mid-call. Here’s how to answer calmly, protect your profit, and keep the conversation professional. A moment every designer recognizes You’re on a discovery call. The vibe is good. The client seems excited. Then it drops, casually, like they’re asking what time you want to meet
How to Confidently Answer “What Is Your Markup?” (Without Underselling) Read More »
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 »
You open your inbox on a Monday morning and there it is, three new inquiries that came in overnight. One is a sweet couple who loves your work, but thinks a whole home furnishing project can be done for 8,000 dollars, including furniture. Another wants to “pick your brain for a few hours” and assumes
Interior Design Rates on Your Website, How to Share Pricing Without Boxing Yourself In Read More »
Note: This post is educational and reflects “business of interior design” practices shared by design pros. It is not legal advice. When you’re onboarding a new client, the non-refundable retainer conversation sets the tone for expectations, cash flow, boundaries, and how seriously the client takes the process. This is a significant client-management moment for designers,
Non-Refundable Retainer for Interior Designers: 3 Policy Models That Work 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 »
When I ask designers this question inside Interior Design Community, the answers come fast. You can almost feel people exhaling. Picture this. It is 11:37 p.m., you are sitting at your kitchen table with a laptop that sounds like a small airplane, half a glass of grocery store red, and an inbox full of “quick
If You Started Your Interior Design Business Today, What Would You Do Differently? Read More »
Is Your Favorite Brand Actually Designer Friendly? In the Interior Design Community, we asked design pros a simple question that hits the heart of the business of interior design: what makes a brand truly designer-friendly? The response was loud and detailed. This piece draws directly on that real talk and offers interior designer tips for
Designer friendly brands, 7 non-negotiables real designers expect Read More »
The Real Meaning of “Reasonably-Priced”: What Our Interior Design Community Had to Say Written by Sharon Sherman Designers hear it every week, “Are you reasonably priced?” This article unpacks real language you can use and practical pricing strategies for designers. It draws on insights from the Interior Design Community and is built to help you reframe
Pricing strategies for designers, what “Reasonably Priced” really means Read More »
