The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers

Send us a textLaura breaks down why most designers do not have a pricing problem, they have a scope and structure problem. She walks through practical strategies to increase profitability at your current rates, including tightening and clarifying your scope, reclaiming billable hours you are already working, streamlining your process for efficiency, and shifting from selling hours to selling outcomes and expertise. She also walks you through a powerful breakdown of what your hourly rate actually has to cover and why 200 dollars an hour is not what you think it is once overhead, taxes, and business costs are accounted for.You will leave this episode with a clearer understanding of how to protect your fees, honour your time, and run your design business like a true CEO, without feeling guilty for charging appropriately or afraid of client pushback.In this episode, you will learn:Why “pricing correctly” is not always about raising your ratesHow loose scope and fuzzy boundaries quietly erode your profitSimple ways to clarify what is included, what is not, and when additional fees applyHow to reclaim billable hours you are already working but not charging forProcess shifts that make your existing pricing more profitableHow to position your expertise and the transformation you provide, not just your labourWhat your hourly rate really has to cover and why your take-home is a fraction of that numberThe most common mindset blocks designers face around pricing and how to reframe themA free way to support the show is by leaving a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more designers discover The Business of Beautiful Spaces and step into their role as confident, profitable CEOs.In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us a textIn this fun, high value CEO-style episode, Laura shares her favourite business books, podcasts and AI tools that are shaping her strategy and success in 2025. Why business books matter for designersHow the right books can reshape the way you think, market, lead and sellHow to turn book insights into systems you use dailyHow AI can help implement the concepts instantlyBook #1: Building a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald MillerWhy StoryBrand is the clearest messaging framework for 2025The shift from talking about yourself to spotlighting your client as the heroHow to rewrite your homepage, services page, bio and scripts with StoryBrandHow pairing StoryBrand with AI becomes a messaging powerhouseBook #2: The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet HolmesThe power of focus and consistent actionWhy the Dream 100 strategy works for designersUpdated insights from Amanda HolmesHow AI can rewrite scripts, create outreach plans and build sales systemsBook #3: Scorecard MarketingHow to use quizzes to attract qualified leadsWhy scorecards reveal buying intent and segment your audienceHow AI can write your quiz, interpret results and automate follow-upLaura’s 2026 Reading ListThey Ask, You Answer by Marcus SheridanGood Strategy Bad Strategy by Richard RumeltThe Sales Playbook by Jack DalyThe 48 Laws of Power by Robert GreeneLaura’s Top Podcasts for 2025The StoryBrand PodcastThe Game with Alex HormoziDiary of a CEO with Steven BartlettAspire with Emma GredePlus bonus entrepreneurial listens for extra motivation.True Crime CornerBecause designers are allowed a little guilty pleasure too. Laura shares her current binge-worthy listens.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us a textLaura walks you through a guided audit of your year: your numbers, your systems, your clients, your values, and your big-picture goals for 2026 and beyond. If you have been feeling the impact of tariffs, market shifts, rising costs, or overwhelm, this episode will help you turn reflection into strategy.Your books and your numbersRevenue: What came in, from which services, and which projects were truly profitableExpenses: Where your money actually went and where the bleeds are hidingHow to renegotiate recurring costs and keep more of what you earnAI in your workflowWhere AI can streamline your admin, content, and communicationHow to use AI as a support tool (not a replacement for your design brain)Ideas for integrating AI in 2025 to reclaim time and energyTariffs, volatility and marginsHow this year’s tariff rollercoaster impacted pricing, vendors, and timelinesWhat to build into your proposals and contracts going forwardWhy smart designers now plan for uncertainty instead of around itYour favourite themes from the podcast this yearPricing, profitability, client experience, boundaries, leadership, and marketingA reflection on which episodes moved you to action and why that mattersGoals vs. actionsThe honest question: did your actions match your goals this yearBehaviour and boundaries that may not align with what you say you wantWhat needs to change in 2026 for you to achieve different resultsMission, values, ideal client, and BHAGsUpdating your mission so it reflects who you are nowEnsuring your core values are lived, not just writtenReassessing your ideal client as your pricing, brand, and standards evolveRevisiting your 3 year, 5 year, and 10 year BHAGsIn just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us a textGala Magrina — holistic interior designer; host of Going Beyond Spaces with Gala; creator of the Beyond Spaces methodology and a six-week online course for designers.Gala traces her path from visual merchandising at Diesel to a holistic design practice rooted in meditation, modern feng shui, WELL, and Vastu. We unpack yin vs. yang rooms, the five elements in everyday selections, why science is finally catching up to ancient building wisdom, and how wellness real estate and client expectations have reshaped our work since 2020. Gala also shares a transparent, less-is-more billing philosophy that prioritizes healthy materials, reuse, and right-sizing over endless purchasing.Connect with Gala:Instagram: @GalaMagrinaDesignPodcast: Going Beyond Spaces with GalaCourse: Holistic Interior Design for Designers (launches each September; join her list via website)In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us a textThis week on The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Charleston-based photographer Candice Brook, whose work behind the lens has helped countless designers turn their finished projects into powerful marketing assets.Candice shares what really goes into a strategic photoshoot — one that not only captures the beauty of a space but also builds visibility, fuels your PR efforts, and drives business growth long after install day.Together, Laura and Candice dive into what makes a photo truly impactful, how to collaborate with your photographer for the best results, and why waiting for “perfect” might actually be holding you back. From magazine features to Instagram reels and everything in between, this conversation is all about making your images work harder for you.If you’ve ever wrapped a project and wondered how to get more out of your photos, you’ll love this one. It’s practical, inspiring, and full of insights to help you elevate your brand through the power of great photography.In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design I @thorntondesign