Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

Are you working harder, taking on more projects, and increasing your revenue—but still wondering where the profit is going?

Many creative entrepreneurs start their interior design business because they love the work, but over time, they find themselves overwhelmed by the administrative side, unpredictable income, and the pressure to constantly create more.

In this episode, I’m joined by business strategist Sallie Ogden, founder of Brimm and creator of Brimm Capital, to talk about why more revenue does not always equal more freedom. Sallie shares how shifting your focus from chasing revenue growth to building predictable profit can completely transform the way you run your business.

If you want to simplify your interior design business, create stronger business systems, improve operational efficiency, and build a clear plan for long-term profitability, this conversation will help you rethink how you approach scaling. Sallie breaks down why intentional planning, smart automation, AI tools, and niching down can help you grow a sustainable creative career without burning yourself out.

Featured Guest
Sallie Ogden is a business strategist, founder of Brimm, and creator of Brimm Capital, a framework designed to help female entrepreneurs build real profit—not just revenue. After scaling her own company to multiple seven figures and experiencing the challenges of unsustainable growth, Sallie became focused on helping business owners create smarter systems, predictable profit, and sustainable growth. Through consulting and coaching, she helps entrepreneurs simplify sales, improve operations, leverage AI tools, and build businesses that protect their time while creating wealth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✳️ Why profit matters more than revenue growth
✳️ How to build scalable business systems
✳️ Ways AI tools simplify daily operations
✳️ Why niching down creates business growth
✳️ How to create predictable profit plans

Read the Blog >>> 4 Ways to Simplify Your Interior Design Business and Create More Profit

NEXT STEPS:
🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start creating a design career you truly love.
👉https://my-design-mentor.mn.co

Check out our Designer's Playlist!
*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey
*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer
*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:
📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right
📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:
📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign
🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

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

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio
3:09 From Corporate Law to Founding Her Own Business
5:58 Shift from Chasing Revenue to Protecting Profit
8:02 Brimm Capital’s Profitability Framework
10:04 The Five Pillars of Business Systems
11:19 How Interior Designers Can Use AI
17:34 AI Tool Recommendation for Interior Designers
22:34 Mistakes to Avoid When Scaling a Business
26:48 The Power of Niching Down

Are you struggling to decide where to spend your time, energy, and money as you build your interior design business? I got you!

One of the biggest challenges I see aspiring and emerging designers face is knowing when—and how—to invest in themselves and their business.

Many creatives hesitate to spend money on education, systems, coaching, legal support, or professional expertise because it feels risky. But what if not investing is actually costing you more?

As interior designers, we regularly ask clients to trust our expertise. We encourage them to invest in professional guidance because we know it saves them time, prevents costly mistakes, and helps them achieve a better outcome. The same principle applies to building a successful design business. If you want clients to value your expertise, you must learn to value expertise yourself.

In this episode, I explore the investment mindset that separates hobbyists from serious professionals. I share why adopting a CEO mindset, making intentional investments, and planning for business growth can help you avoid burnout, build client trust, create stronger business systems, and ultimately develop the career and business you've always wanted.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ Why an investment mindset fuels long-term business growth
✔️ How time investment builds your business foundation early
✔️ Questions to ask before every strategic business investment
✔️ Why NOT investing often costs more long-term
✔️ How professional expertise scales as your business grows

Read the Blog >>> Building a Strong Interior Design Business Foundation Through Intentional Investment

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the Summer '26 Launch Your Business Bootcamp

🎯 Join My Design Mentor and lock in the lower rate

Check out our Designer's Playlist!
*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey
*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer
*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:
📺 Watch this FREE webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right
📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:
📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign
🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

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

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction to Investment Mindset
4:18 Investing Throughout Every Career Stage
8:55 Investing Time Before Investing Money
10:40 Questions to Evaluate Business Investments
12:53 Making Decisions Using Data, Not Emotions
14:05 Why Hiring Experts Accelerates Growth
17:19 The Hidden Costs of Underinvesting
19:30 Developing the CEO Mindset for Success
21:31 Final Call for Summer Boot Camp and Pricing Reminder

If you've ever found yourself staring at your bank account hoping the number magically went up overnight, or waiting until December to figure out what — if anything — you get to pay yourself this year, this episode is going to feel like a direct message just for you.

So many of the designers I work with are talented, passionate, and completely in the dark about the financial side of their business. And here's the thing: that's not a character flaw. It's an education gap. But it is your responsibility to close it — and that's exactly what today's conversation is all about.

In this episode, I sit down with Carla Titus, a fractional CFO and financial consultant with over 17 years of experience in corporate financial planning and business strategy. Carla breaks down the practical financial planning strategies every interior designer needs, from simple two-week cash flow forecasting to building financial reserves, paying yourself consistently, and knowing exactly when it's time to bring in a fractional CFO.

Whether you're just starting or ready to scale, this conversation will shift the way you think about money in your business — and give you real tools to move forward with confidence and financial stability.

Featured Guest
Carla Titus is a finance expert with more than 17 years of experience in corporate financial planning, analysis, strategy, and online business operations. As the founder of Wealth & Worth Within, she provides Fractional CFO services, financial consulting, bookkeeping support, and strategic financial planning for entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses profitably. Carla's mission is to help business owners achieve financial clarity, improve cash flow, and make confident decisions that support sustainable growth and long-term success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✳️ Why cash flow is your business's oxygen
✳️ Simple two-week cash flow planning strategies
✳️ How to build financial reserves without overwhelm
✳️ When to hire a fractional CFO
✳️ How to pay yourself consistently and intentionally

Read the Blog >>> Cash Flow Management for Interior Designers

NEXT STEPS:

🔸 Save your seat! June 24 FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)

🎯 Join the Summer '26 Launch Your Business Bootcamp

🎯 Join My Design Mentor and lock in the lower rate

Check out our Designer's Playlist!
*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey
*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer
*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:
📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right
📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:
📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign
🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

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

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio
5:43 Cash Flow Explained
7:19 Practical Processes for Maintaining Healthy Cash Flow
10:18 Building Cash Reserves and the “Buckets” System
11:23 When to Consider Hiring a Fractional CFO
13:37 Strategy-First, Numbers-Second Approach to Business Growth
15:14 Common Money Mindset Challenges Business Owners Face
17:38 The “Hoarder” vs. “Spender” Business Owner Spectrum
19:34 How to Create a Habit of Paying Yourself
21:45 About Wealth and Worth Within: The Story and Services
24:01 The Best Time to Seek Fractional CFO Services

Have you been dreaming about starting an interior design career, but keep telling yourself you'll start when the time is right? Maybe you’re balancing a full-time job, raising kids, managing a household, or simply trying to figure out if you’re talented enough to make a creative career shift. I'm here to tell you something important: that perfect season is never coming. And the longer you wait for it, the longer you stay stuck in a career that isn't feeding your soul.

In this episode, I’m answering the real-life questions aspiring interior designers ask before making a career change. Questions like: Can I build an interior design business while working another job? Can I start a creative career while raising kids? How much time do I realistically need to invest each week? These are practical concerns, and they deserve honest answers.

Whether you’re pursuing interior design as a career shift, launching your first design business, or exploring a more flexible creative lifestyle, this episode will help you understand how to move forward with confidence, professionalism, and purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ How to balance interior design alongside your current job
✔️ Starting a design business while raising your children
✔️ How many weekly hours do you realistically need
✔️ Why intentionality beats hustle culture every time
✔️ How structure actually creates more flexibility in your business

Read the Blog >>> 4 Real-Life Questions About Starting an Interior Design Business

NEXT STEPS:

🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)

🎯 Join the Summer '26 Launch Your Business Bootcamp
🎯 Join My Design Mentor and lock in the lower rate

Check out our Designer's Playlist!
*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey
*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer
*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:
📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right
📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:
📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign
🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

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

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction: Q&A on Starting a Career or Business in Interior Design
5:19 Can You Start a Design Business While Working Another Job?
11:00 Can You Start a Business While Raising Kids?
15:57 How Much Time Do You Really Need to Get Started?
21:00 How Flexible Is Interior Design as a Career?
24:30 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start

If you’re an aspiring interior designer or you’re still in the early stages of building your business, chances are you’ve asked yourself questions like: Do I really need a professional website yet? Should I invest in custom website design? Or can I just use a template for now?

I hear these questions constantly from designers inside my programs, especially when they’re trying to balance launching their business with managing their budget wisely. And honestly? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options — WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, SEO, branding, copywriting, templates, custom builds… suddenly creating a website feels harder than designing a room.

That’s exactly why I invited website designer Robyn White back onto the podcast.

In this episode, we unpack what interior designers actually need when it comes to website design, how to know the right level of investment for your stage of business, and what questions to ask before hiring a website designer. We also talk about minimum viable product websites, brand strategy, portfolio photos, AI renderings, website maintenance, and why perfectionism may be holding you back from getting clients.

Featured Guest
Robyn White is the founder of RDW Design Studio, where she combines luxury market insight with strategic website design for interior designers. With a background working at one of the world’s most prestigious art galleries, Robyn brings a rare blend of strategy, aesthetics, and high-end client understanding to every project. She specializes in helping interior designers elevate their online presence through thoughtful brand strategy, SEO-conscious website design, and customized digital experiences that attract aligned clients and opportunities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✳️ When to invest in custom website design
✳️ Questions to ask website designers before hiring
✳️ Templates versus custom websites for beginners
✳️ Website platforms: WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace
✳️ Building a portfolio without completed client projects

Read the Blog >>> Essential Website Lessons Before Building Your Interior Design Website

NEXT STEPS:

🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)

🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠ 

Check out our Designer's Playlist!
*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey
*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer
*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:
📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right
📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:
📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign
🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

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

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio
4:02 Questions to Ask a Website Designer
8:59 SEO, Copywriting, and Branding Explained
11:13 Website Designer vs. Branding Specialist
15:12 Templates vs. Custom Websites
19:52 Minimum Viable Product Websites
22:00 Building a Portfolio Without Client Projects
25:51 On Using Stock Photos
27:01 AI Renderings for Interior Designers
28:25 How to Choose the Right Website Designer
31:12 Website Maintenance After Launch