Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay

When your client looks at marble and porcelain, they see two tiles. As the designer, you see sourcing, samples, maintenance, installation, trades, lead times, revisions, coordination, risk… and hours of work they may never see. Years ago, I charged the same design fee for two bathrooms in the same home. One involved a straightforward porcelain selection. The other involved marble, multiple suppliers, stone-yard visits, samples, revised drawings, fabricator conversations, installation issues, and a client who changed her mind after approval. Same approximate square footage. One took roughly three times the work. In this episode, I'm breaking down the invisible work that needs to be considered when you're pricing an interior design project, including: Six questions to ask when assessing the scope of a selection How client preferences can impact your design fee Why changes after approval need clear boundaries How customization and complicated materials affect profitability Why two projects with the same square footage shouldn't necessarily have the same fee The importance of tracking your hours, even with flat-fee projects Your client isn't just paying you to know the difference between marble and porcelain. They're paying for everything you know, anticipate, and coordinate because of that decision. If your pricing isn't capturing that work, it might be time to take another look at your design fee. Episode Resources: Learn more about Pricing With Confidence: rebeccahay.com/pricing Watch the Original Video: What's the Difference: Marble vs Porcelain -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

When is an ideal client a lemon? When you don't have the process to serve them. Today I'm talking about two very different interior designers. I've been both of them, and maybe you have too. One is saying yes to every consultation, decorating job, and small project that comes through the door, hoping it will eventually lead to something bigger. The other already knows she wants to offer full-service design but feels unsure, intimidated, or overwhelmed by everything that comes with it. Full service isn't a level you "graduate" to as a designer. It's a business model, and it isn't right for everyone. In this episode, I'm sharing five questions to help you decide whether full-service interior design is actually the business you want to build. We're talking about the work beyond the design, the kind of client relationships you want, fewer versus higher-volume projects, profitability, lifestyle, and why saying yes to everything can actually keep you from the projects you want most. I also share how I went from taking on lots of smaller projects to building a full-service firm, and why the biggest shift wasn't better marketing or a prettier portfolio. It was process. Because when you can clearly articulate the entire journey, clients can finally trust you to take them on it. Episode Resources: Episode 209: Why Decorating Can Be More Lucrative Than Design Episode 222: Tailor Your Business to Your Lifestyle Rebecca Hay YouTube Channel Learn more about Power of Process: https://rebeccahay.com/powerofprocess -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

I didn't go from sourcing $20-a-yard fabric to confidently presenting $300-a-yard fabric overnight. In the early years of my business, I wanted to create elevated, custom spaces, but I was constantly trying to save my clients money. Cheaper fabric here. Retail instead of custom there. And eventually, the design I had envisioned would get watered down. In this episode, I'm sharing what actually helped me break out of that cycle. We're talking about knowing your numbers, setting realistic client expectations, presenting higher-end options with confidence, giving clients fewer choices, having a backup ready, and getting comfortable with the fact that sometimes your client is going to say no. Because if you want to move your design business upmarket, you can't wait until you magically find clients who are already asking for $300-a-yard fabric. Sometimes, you have to be the one willing to put it on the table first. Listen in for the behind-the-scenes story of how I learned to do exactly that. -- FREE WORKSHOP: Ready to Book Better Full-Service Clients? If you're ready to move beyond clients who question every dollar and start booking better-fit, bigger-budget projects, join me for my free workshop: 3 Mistakes Standing Between You & The Full-Service Design Business Of Your Dreams I'm breaking down the common mistakes that can keep talented designers from booking dream clients, plus the practical shifts I used to build a more professional client experience, present proposals with confidence, and grow my own design firm. Save your spot for the free workshop → rebeccahay.com/dream -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

What do you do when the big design projects aren't coming in as quickly as they used to? In this episode, Rebecca sits down with interior designer and business owner Karin Bennett for a candid conversation about the decisions that help keep a design firm profitable when the market shifts. They talk about when it makes sense to take on smaller projects, why Karin continues investing in marketing during slower seasons, and how she balances keeping her team busy with protecting the standards of her firm. Then they get into the numbers: flat fees, tracking hours, implementation fees, and why your pricing model needs to evolve as your services and projects change. You'll also hear why Karin prefers hiring experienced team members, how that has made delegation easier, and what she wishes she had understood about hiring much earlier in her business. If you're navigating a slower season, questioning your pricing or trying to make smarter decisions about what your design business needs next, this conversation will give you plenty to think about. Episode Resources Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp Episode 71: Focus on your strengths and take back control of your business with Karin Bennett Learn more about Karin at her website and follow her on Instagram. -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

What happens when the market changes and the way you've always run your design business isn't working quite the same anymore? In this episode, I'm joined by Sascha Lafleur, co-founder of West of Main, for an honest conversation about adaptability, growth, structure, and what it really takes to build a sustainable interior design business. Sascha shares how West of Main has evolved through different economic cycles, from expanding into furniture and décor services and hourly consulting to building e-commerce, retail, and a designer trade program. We talk about why adding more services isn't always the answer, why smaller firms need to protect their capacity, and how financial data and strong systems allow you to make smarter decisions when the market feels uncertain. You'll hear: How to recognize when your design business needs to pivot Why different revenue streams perform differently depending on the market The hidden operational cost of launching something new Why structure becomes increasingly important as your business grows How to choose what deserves your time and attention Why knowing your numbers gives you more freedom as a business owner How West of Main is supporting designers through its trade program If the design market feels different right now, this episode is a reminder that changing course doesn't mean something has gone wrong. Sometimes adapting is exactly how you build a business that lasts. Resources: Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp Episode 68: Scaling your business & virtually servicing your clients with Sascha Lafleur Learn more about Sascha Lafleur at her website and follow her: @westofmain & @westofmainshoppe. Designer Trade Program Discount code: enter code resilientbydesign at checkout ---- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

If your business feels like a constant cycle of busy seasons followed by slow ones, this episode is for you. I'm breaking down why so many interior designers get stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle and what's really behind that inconsistency. Because the truth is, your current workload didn't happen overnight. It's a result of what you were doing 3 to 6 months ago. In this episode, I walk you through how to shift from reacting to your business to building something more predictable. I focus on three key areas: your visibility, your pipeline, and the decisions you might be avoiding. If you're craving more consistency and stability in your business, it starts with what you do today. Episode Resources: Episode 88: Back to Basics. Let's set some goals! Episode 200: Try this hack to fast-track your goals Episode 261: My 7 step framework to accomplishing your goals (with freebie) Learn more about Designers Room: A new coaching program for Interior Designers This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

There was a time when I felt chained to my inbox, constantly reacting, jumping between tasks, and always playing catch-up. That changed when I started time blocking. In this rebroadcast episode, I'm sharing three simple, actionable tips you can start using right away to improve your focus, reduce overwhelm, and manage your time more intentionally. Before you dive in, I encourage you to take a step back and look at where your time has actually been going. A quick time audit can help you make small, meaningful shifts without overhauling your entire schedule. Inside this episode: How I structure focus, buffer, and free days How to map out your ideal week A simple daily habit to help you stay on track Time blocking doesn't have to be all or nothing. Start small, stay consistent, and build from there. Learn more about Designers Room: https://rebeccahay.com/waitlist Original Resources: Lisa Canning Conquer Your Calendar Course The Gap and the Gain 10x is easier than 2x Full Focus Planner Read our Blog: How to achieve more by doing less -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

There comes a point in business where what once worked no longer feels aligned. In this episode, I'm sharing a big decision: after years of teaching my signature program, Power of Process, I will not be launching it again. This isn't about walking away from something that didn't work. It's about recognizing when you've outgrown something that did. We're talking about the stages of business growth, how to know when it's time to pivot, and why so many designers feel stuck even after building their systems. If your business is working, but something feels off… this episode is for you. Episode Resource: Learn more about Designers Room & Join the waitlist! This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8