Advertise on podcast: The Interior Design Business

As interior design gains ground as a serious career and profession, more and more academic institutions are offering degree and master’s level interior design courses to teach the rudiments of this highly technical subject. But is this enough?  Susie and Jeff are joined by three renowned designers - Charu Gandi from Elicyon, Franky Rousell from Jolie Studio and Laura Hammett from Laura Hammett Interiors to discuss whether design schools adequately equip budding designers with the skills they need to take their place in our industry. We explore the the important subjects that they don't teach at design school, and invite our panel to suggest what students and employers should do to identify and plug those gaps. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Arte in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Thank you to our series supporters, Decorex 2026. We are a Wildwood Plus production.  Chapters (00:00:00) - What Don't They Teach You in Design School?(00:01:45) - Interviewing Designers(00:04:53) - Interviewing: Fit and Hard Work(00:07:04) - How do you test out a candidate's portfolio?(00:12:13) - Have You Got What it Takes to Be a Design Designer?(00:13:16) - Do graduating designers have the skills they need to survive life in an(00:19:46) - Teaching the management of client relationships(00:24:17) - The role of guest lecturers in interior design(00:27:31) - Can Anyone Become an Interior Designer?(00:28:59) - Are Interior Designers Team Players?(00:30:26) - What do you think are the really valuable lessons that they can't(00:36:27) - The Secret to Working As an Interior Designer(00:38:34) - The Importance of Interiors(00:39:33) - The Interior Design Exhibition

Entering an interior design award can boost visibility, credibility, and client trust - but not all awards are created equal. In this episode, Jeff and Susie are joined by two BIID award-winning designers, Jennifer Hamilton from The Vawdrey House and Melinda Kiss from Keyhole Interiors for a deeper dive into the awards process. We'll explore how designers can identify award schemes with genuine merit and industry recognition, how to present a standout project and the storytelling techniques that capture attention and bring design concepts to life. Thanks to our episode partner, the British Institute of Interior Design, for their support. We are a Wildwood Plus production.  Chapters (00:00:00) - The Interior Design Business(00:01:25) - Jennifer Vaudrey House(00:02:06) - The BIID Interior Design Awards(00:04:00) - The British Institute of Design Awards(00:05:56) - The Making of an Award Entry(00:09:17) - The Marketing and Awards(00:11:15) - The Impact of Client Wins and Awards(00:13:52) - The BIID Awards(00:16:37) - British Institute of Interior Design Awards(00:17:59) - The BIID Awards 2017(00:18:50) - What truly defines an award winning interior design project?(00:20:54) - BIID Awards 2017(00:22:29) - Projects for the Future: Eskdale vicarage(00:23:48) - What Is The Secret to Timeless Spaces?(00:25:17) - The Narrative of the(00:26:42) - The Clients' Project(00:28:58) - Outstanding Project(00:30:09) - The BIID Awards 2018

Interior designers have a bad rep on building sites for being demanding, difficult and dis-organised, but is this fair? In their drive for perfection, are interior designers their own worst enemy? Do designers efficiently provide the information needed by builders, or do contractors sometimes wilfully misunderstand their design intentions? What can designers and contractors do to make each other’s lives easier? In this episode, Jeff and Susie are joined by renowned interior designer Joanna Wood, Founder of Joanna Wood Interiors and Paul Fitzgerald, Founder and Managing Director of Hawksmoor Construction to answer these questions and more.   This episode was recorded as part of the Design Talks programme at Decorex 2025. Thanks to Decorex and to our episode partners, Sofas & Stuff for their support.  Chapters (00:00:00) - Interior Designers: Difficult, Diva and Irrit(00:01:01) - Interior Design and Construction(00:01:48) - Both of the presenters start off with a brief introduction(00:03:22) - Do Interior Designers Have a Bad Reputation Among Contractors?(00:05:06) - Are Interior Designers Accused of Neglect?(00:05:54) - Do Interior Designers Have Prejudices About Their Jobs?(00:06:40) - Are Interior Designers Bad For Contractors?(00:11:02) - Projects and Construction Contractors(00:13:09) - Tender Process(00:16:41) - The quality of the Tender Pack(00:19:05) - Choosing a contractor(00:23:57) - Interior Designers: Do You Need a Contractor?(00:26:18) - Paul, have you ever refused to work with an interior designer on(00:28:26) - Paul and Joe: The Contractor Relationship(00:31:24) - How often do you need to go to site on a project?(00:32:59) - What's your biggest bugbear?(00:37:12) - Interiors Design: When Problems Occur, Do Designers Let(00:38:26) - What's the funniest, maddest thing a designer's(00:40:14) - The Worst Contractor Ever Do(00:42:26) - Inside The Interior Design Business Podcast

Taking The Strain - How To Be a Safe Pair of Hands. The only things in life more stressful than building or renovating a home are bereavement, divorce, and redundancy. And yet the finished result should be life-changing for the client and worth all the pain of the experience. To assist their clients, interiors designers must act as a safe pair of hands, ready to support and guide through the ups and downs of the design and project process, skilfully managing any unforeseen dramas, problems, or delays enroute. So, how can we best prepare and manage our clients to minimise the stress for them – and for ourselves, and emerge successful and feted at the finish line? Jeff and Susie are joined by two acclaimed interior designers Helen Bygraves, Co-Founder of Hill House Interiors and Christian Bense, Founder of Christian Bense to find out the best strategies behind achieving a stress-free project.  This episode was a recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Decorex 2025. Thanks to Decorex and to our episode partners, Sofas & Stuff for their support.  Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Interior Design Business(00:01:40) - Interior Designers(00:02:54) - Interior Designers on Vandalising a Home(00:04:51) - Having a career change in interior design(00:06:50) - Interior Design: The Client's Issues(00:09:24) - Does a stressy client affect your fee proposal?(00:11:43) - Project budgets and timescales(00:18:23) - Clients' emails and WhatsApp(00:22:41) - What do you do about clients' fear of making decisions?(00:24:51) - How should designers go about managing their clients expectations?(00:27:31) - Setting guidelines for the build phase(00:29:42) - Projects and the stresses of designing(00:32:42) - Interior Design Report(00:34:43) - How to Win the Client's Trust(00:36:41) - The Interior Design Business

It has often been said that interior design would be a great job if it wasn’t for the clients. They can be unappreciative, indecisive, and unreasonable even when their project is on track and bellicose, belligerent, and litigious when things go wrong. In fact, the designer-client relationship which often begins as a love affair can sometimes end tragically in the bitterest of divorces. But is there really such a thing an awkward client, or are any problems just down to poor communications? What can make a good client turn bad? And how can designers effectively manage this most important and sensitive of relationships? Jeff and Susie are joined by  Simon Mayhew from Txtured and James Roberts from James Roberts Interiors to answer these and other questions in front of a live audience of designers at the Design Central North West event at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.   Thanks to our series partners Naturalmat for their support.     Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro to the Interior Design Business(00:00:39) - An awkward Client(00:01:41) - Three of the Designers(00:03:06) - Getting Off On The Right Foot With Your Clients(00:04:53) - How To Lead a Design Team With Age(00:08:40) - How To Win A Friend's Over(00:09:18) - Are there any client categories that you avoid?(00:12:38) - On Working With An Angry Partner(00:13:26) - How to manage a big project's budget(00:14:12) - The importance of access to the client(00:16:37) - How to Talk Budget With the Client(00:17:53) - Budgeting in the UK(00:20:15) - Projects' length and timings(00:23:37) - The Challenges of Leading a Project(00:27:29) - The Importance of a Fee Proposal(00:31:17) - Interior Design: Natural Mat(00:35:43) - A Good Team For Tougher Clients(00:38:03) - The Big Picture(00:41:34) - Structural engineers: Quality of design and cost(00:46:37) - "It's like a funeral..."(00:46:53) - How To Read 2-D Plans(00:51:49) - How to Deal with Difficult Contractors(00:53:19) - The On-Site Blame Game(00:58:21) - "When to say enough is enough?"(00:59:00) - What Do You Do When a Client Threatens to Sue You?

Interior designers know that lighting is crucial to the success of every project. Bad lighting can be simultaneously gloomy and glary – deadening colours and flattening textures, while good lighting can make even basic decorative schemes sing. But lighting is also a highly complex and technical minefield that designers must somehow learn to navigate.    Susie and Jeff are joined by Lee Lovett, founder and managing director of Soho Lighting and award-winning interior designer, Henriette von Stockhausen, founder and Creative Director of VSP Interiors to explore how interior designers should go about managing this critical design element. They also discuss how early in the project cycle lighting should be considered and the lighting knowledge and tools that designers need to succeed at every project stage. This episode was recorded in that front of a live audience of designers at the Simpsons showroom in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour.Thanks to our series partners Naturalmat for their support. We are a Wildwood Plus production.    Chapters (00:00:00) - The Importance of Lighting in the Interior Design(00:01:27) - Both of the Electricians have now reached 25 years of practice(00:02:56) - Lighting(00:04:38) - Should Lighting be Included in Project Space Planning?(00:05:52) - The Lighting of a Home(00:07:04) - How to Describe Good Lighting(00:09:11) - How Lighting Affects the Client's Mood(00:09:43) - How to light a house room(00:12:06) - The Art of Architectural Lighting(00:13:34) - How to light architectural features indirectly(00:15:25) - How to Lighting a Low Ceiling with High Ceilings(00:20:07) - How to light a period house?(00:22:03) - Natural Mat(00:23:13) - Lighting layering(00:25:48) - Interior Lighting(00:28:36) - Lighting and shadows(00:32:08) - In the Elevator: Architectural Lighting(00:34:54) - The Perfect Spotlight(00:37:47) - Dimming Systems(00:40:30) - Setting the lights on and off(00:42:11) - The Secret to Lighting Design(00:42:58) - Inside The Interior Design Business

In this episode, Jeff and Susie dive into the dynamic world of pop-up installations while exploring the enduring appeal of Decorex. Recorded at the Sofas & Stuff showroom on the Kings Road, they’re joined by designers Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́(Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co) and Lucy Mayers (Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler), both creators of standout temporary spaces for Decorex 2025. Together, they explore what makes a pop-up truly successful, the creative and logistical challenges behind these here-today-gone-tomorrow marvels, and how temporary design can deliver lasting value. The conversation continues with insights from Decorex’s Sam Fisher, QEST’s Deborah Pocock, and Ricky Partner from Sofas & Stuff. They look at the secrets behind Decorex’s ongoing relevance, the importance of curation, and the role of live craftsmanship in engaging audiences. Whether you’re a designer, exhibitor, or simply passionate about interiors, this episode offers inspiration and practical advice on making the most of pop-ups and trade shows. Tune in for expert perspectives, behind-the-scenes stories, and a celebration of creativity at the heart of the design industry. Thanks to Sofas & Stuff and to our series partner, Naturalmat, for their support. We are a Wildwood Plus production.    Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Interior Design Business(00:01:24) - Introducing the Design Teams(00:02:18) - What makes a good pop-up?(00:03:56) - What Makes a Signature Space?(00:05:23) - How a bar can feel like a garden?(00:08:01) - The Circus Lounge at Decorex(00:12:54) - The Luminous Tented Bar at Decorex(00:20:04) - The DPA Pop Up(00:23:57) - What motivates you to create pop up design?(00:26:46) - Decor X: What Lessons Have You Learned?(00:30:32) - Natural Mat(00:31:48) - Decorex(00:32:25) - The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust(00:33:17) - Decor X: What sets Decor X apart?(00:37:07) - Decor X: A Curation Experience(00:38:38) - What Makes the Decorex Show So Successful?(00:39:53) - What exactly are the goals of an exhibitor at Decorx(00:43:58) - Decorx: Making Spaces(00:47:42) - How do exhibitors measure the success of their participation in Deco(00:53:19) - Wonders of the World 2017 talk(00:54:35) - Decorex Pop-ups

It is often said that Interior Design is 5% creativity and 95% uphill slog. Most of what we do involves translating a creative vision into a set of instructions for someone else to build and then battling through to make sure the vision is realised. So, while the process is important, without that precious initial spark there is no interior to build. All designers suffer at times from designer’s block – there are times when the ideas simply will not flow, and times when the designer can find themselves drowning in the 95% of project admin. So how can designers keep their heads above water and keep the creative spark alive? Where should they look for the design hooks that will make their projects sing? And how can they hold onto their vision while weathering the din of project noise that can sometimes threaten to overwhelm them? To find out the answers to these and other burning questions, we’re joined in this show by two very special guests – Venetia Rudebeck and Romanos Brihi – the creative drivers behind London based practice ‘Studio Vero’ – recently named one of House and Gardens Top 100 finest interior designers. Recorded at Studio Vero. Thanks to our series partners, Naturalmat, for their support.    Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Keep Your Creativity in the Interior Design Business(00:01:28) - Inside Studio Vero(00:04:13) - What sort of projects do you focus on?(00:05:48) - How do you start a project?(00:08:28) - Working with Romanos and Venetia(00:10:35) - Do you also take inspiration from your clients?(00:11:43) - How does inspiration from the design process influence your work?(00:13:33) - Are Clients' Existing Possessions a BENEFIT or(00:15:36) - The interior of a house(00:18:04) - How important is the design process for the client?(00:19:09) - The Art of Working With a Client(00:20:51) - Interior Design's Creativity(00:23:18) - Visit The National Trust's London Homes(00:24:24) - Meet Natural Match(00:26:56) - How to Develop a Design: Christie's(00:28:44) - The Layering of Color in Interiors(00:30:02) - The Art of Antiques and Furniture(00:32:16) - How often do you need to meet with a client?(00:35:01) - Australian Interior Designers: Inspiring Work(00:37:57) - Getting inspired by places(00:40:01) - Inside The Interior Design Business

We are joined by Mark Tremlett, founder and managing director of Naturalmat, Fiona Watkins founder and creative director of Fiona Watkins Studio and Melanie Zarins, Project Director at international design powerhouse, tp bennett to explore the topic of wellness and interior design. Interior design has evolved way beyond mere aesthetics to embrace wellness as a core principle. Whether designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, integrating wellness into design decisions is no longer optional - it’s essential. But whereas in the past wellness referred only to physical comfort and health, today’s definition has expanded to include mental health, the long-term health of our planet and of society as a whole. Never before in the history of the built environment have interior designers had so much to worry about or been under such pressure to do the right thing! But what exactly is the right thing? What and how should we be specifying to ‘Do No Harm’, and how can we fight against the tide of greenwash that threatens to engulf and overwhelm us? This episode was recorded in the beautiful and very comfortable Naturalmat showroom in Knutsford, Cheshire. Thanks to our series partner Naturalmat for their support. Idb is a Wildwood Plus production.   Books mentioned by Fiona Watkins: BIID Interior Design Project Book by Susie Rumbold The Little Book Of Colour by Karen Heller

Interior designers undertake complex, highly skilled, technical work, within a framework of building safety regulations and consumer protection legislation yet are still largely credited only for good taste and an ability to shop. But are designers their our own worst enemies? And if that is the case, how should they sharpen up their act, disabuse the public of this perception, and command the respect they deserve? In this episode, recorded at the London offices of LXA Projects, Susie and Jeff are joined by Sammy Bikoulis, Associate Director at LXA and Liz Bell, Director at Absolute Project Management and President Elect of the British Institute of Interior Design to answer these questions and explore the roles and responsibilities of interior designers. idb is a Wildwood Plus production.

It’s a problem most interior designers are familiar with. You have been given a brief for a lovely project, and you quote a fee based on that brief. But then the actual job turns out to be much more complex and difficult than you had expected and nothing like what you had quoted for. What can designers do to protect themselves from goalposts that move and projects that creep?  And what steps do they need to take at the start of a project to ensure smooth running further down the track? We’re joined by two renowned interior designers, Anna Burles founder of Run For The Hills, and Andrea Benedettini, founder and principal designer of Andrea Benedettini Interiors to explore the issues and potential solutions. This episode was recorded at the London office of Run For The Hills. idb is a Wildwood Plus production. 

Intimately connected with the interior of our homes, we use our outdoor spaces to relax, eat, socialise and connect with nature, and we appreciate the contribution they make to our wellbeing and mental health. But who should be trusted with the design of these significant spaces? Is it the role of the interior designer or the garden designer? And should these relate to the interior or the exterior of the host building? In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience of designers at the Design Central South West event in Bristol, Jeff and Susie explore these and other questions in the company of Cathryn Bishop from Cornish Interiors and Caroline Palk from Ashton House Design.     

We live in interesting, if not very challenging, times. But how do global conflicts, trade wars and economic uncertainties impact on the cosy world of interior design? Is this turmoil having a detrimental effect on our international clients both at home and abroad? And if so, can interior designers do anything to protect themselves from the chill winds of change? Jeff and Susie are joined by international design duo Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham, founders and co-directors of Salveson Graham, to find out more and learn how they are continuing to thrive against all the odds.

A Passivhaus is any building, new or retrofitted, that achieves the highest certifiable standard of energy efficiency while using negligible fuel for heating and cooling. As the planet warms, this is clearly where we should all be heading, but passive houses are not without their detractors, who claim that these buildings are boxy, stuffy and chilly. And is it enough for a building to be Passivhaus or does this still leave us a million miles away from achieving a truly sustainable built environment? What is the truth behind the hype? And is it possible to take a conventionally built 1990s house and turn it into a paragon of stylish sustainability? For this episode, we are joined by Jenny Hamilton and Ian Chapman, founders and co-directors of BIID award-winning architecture and design practice, The Vawdrey House, to explore these issues through the lens of a recent project.

The British have always been famously crazy about their animals, cossetting them with as much tender treatment as they do their children. Today there are 13.5 million dogs, 12.5 million cats, 1.5 million birds and 1.0 million pet rabbits in the UK, plus nearly a million each of tortoises, horses, Guinea pigs, hamsters and snakes. Unsurprisingly, interior designers are now being asked to design spas and bespoke bedrooms especially for pampered pets of all shapes and sizes, treating them as significant stakeholders in their projects. Jeff and Susie are joined by Lyne Arbid of Studio Indigo, Jo Sampson of Absolute Project Management and Katrina Burroughs, Interiors Editor of The Times and Sunday Times to explore this design trend in more detail and find out where it might be heading next.     This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers as part of the Design Talks series at Decorex. The Interior Design Business is a Wildwood Plus production.