Trade Tales

Ali Faulkner on building a team that’s passionate about the client experience

Ali Faulkner’s first career in high-end hospitality has played a crucial role in shaping the firm she leads today—one in which everything from her firm’s back-end operati

Ask Us Anything: How Shaun Crha presents product pricing to clients

In this episode, interior designer Shaun Crha of Long Beach, California–based firm Wrenstead Interiors answers a question from a designer whose clients want to know exact

How Kelly Finley is building a firm that brings her joy

Kelly Finley set out to create her ideal firm—and then, after bringing that vision to life, realized a large staff and juggling tons of projects wasn’t all she’d hoped it

Ask Us Anything: Erica Vassalotti’s guide to photo rights

In this episode, interior designer Erica Vassalotti of Philadelphia-based design firm Bergman Vass answers a question from a designer who wants to make sure she’s maximiz

Why Molly Torres Portnof hands every prospective client an investment guide

Molly Torres Portnof keeps her firm’s inner circle small—which means that each person in her orbit, carefully chosen, has an outsize influence on her success. She brings

Ask Us Anything: Tina Ramchandani on attracting your ideal client

In this episode, New York-based interior designer Tina Ramchandani answers a question from a  designer whose firm is attracting plenty of potential clients—just not the o

Erica McLain on bridging the gap between science and design

Erica McLain has been continuously guided by a fierce drive and curiosity—qualities that propelled her to Stanford, the Olympics, and tech companies like Facebook and Goo

Ask Us Anything: Dane Austin on taking design presentations to the next level [Rebroadcast]

Boston designer Dane Austin joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who knows the basics when it comes to presenting design ideas, and is now looking f

Why Mandy Cheng won't delegate her firm's finances [Rebroadcast]

Mandy Cheng launched her creative career in set production before discovering that transforming interiors was a perfect fit. The past few years have been pivotal for her

Ask Us Anything: Melissa Oholendt’s go-to interview questions for new hires [Rebroadcast]

Melissa Oholendt of Minnesota- and Colorado-based firm Oho Interiors answers a question from a designer who is currently interviewing candidates for her firm’s first full

Why Ali Budd wants to do design TV differently [Rebroadcast]

Ali Budd had a shot at  TV stardom—and decided she wanted to bring viewers a side of the industry they hadn’t seen before. As the business she spent years building enters

Ask Us Anything: Blair Moore on protecting your firm from shipping issues

In this episode, New York and Rhode Island-based interior designer Blair Moore answers a question from a designer whose firm is facing a sudden rush of shipping problems.

How Angela Harris put wellness front and center in her business

Angela Harris’s firm marks a bit of a departure from the typical Trade Tales guest, with a portfolio that spans master planned communities, model homes, commercial, hospi

Ask Us Anything: Lucy O’Brien on designing around order minimums

In this episode, Philadelphia-based interior designer Lucy O’Brien of Tartan & Toile answers a question from a designer who recently had to compromise her creative vision

Rayana Schmitz on tapping outside experts to transform her firm

Rayana Schmitz balanced several different early career paths—from fitness trainer to firefighter—before landing on interior design. Today, she’s leading her firm with the

Ask Us Anything: Lauren Caron’s process-driven approach to far-away projects

In this episode, Seattle-based interior designer Lauren Caron answers a question from a designer who wants to expand her business beyond her home city without sacrificing

How Audrey Scheck established her firm’s C-suite

Audrey Scheck’s 20-person firm is a well-oiled machine—complete with a carefully structured leadership team and a top-down approach that sets the tone for every employee.

Ask Us Anything: Zoë Feldman on how to measure an employee’s design skills

Washington, D.C.–based Zoë Feldman on how to hire for aesthetic alignment, the metrics she uses to measure an employee’s progress at the firm, and how a team member with

How Hema Persad built ‘the smallest, most efficient’ team

Hema Persad’s experience as an A-list stylist taught her what the one percent is looking for in the design process—and helped her build a firm that’s structured to meet t

Ask Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart

Los Angeles–based Christine Vroom answers a question from a fellow designer with a question about a project pipeline gone wrong. Vroom jumps in with advice on the importa