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In this episode of The Well Lived Podcast, we’re joined by our friend and fellow designer Katie Rempel, founder of Studio Sonny, for a conversation about building meaningful work in a crowded, competitive world. While our roots are in interior design, this conversation reaches far beyond one industry. We talk openly about what it feels like to create something of your own, navigate comparison, and find your footing when it seems like everyone else is doing the same thing, louder, faster, or more visibly. Katie shares her path from design school to running her own studio, what it’s really like working independently, and how leaning into community has shaped her confidence, creativity, and business. Together, we explore why collaboration matters, how sharing knowledge raises the standard for everyone, and why success doesn’t have to be a solo pursuit. This episode is for designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone building a career or business in an oversaturated space, wondering if there’s room for them too. In this episode, we discuss: Building a business in a crowded industry without losing your voiceWhy community matters more than competitionNavigating comparison, especially in visually driven industriesFinding confidence when you’re working on your ownHow collaboration benefits both the work and the people behind itWhy your best ideas often come from looking inward, not outward At its core, this conversation is a reminder that while the work may be personal, you were never meant to do it alone. Connect with Katie Website: ⁠⁠www.studiosonny.co Instagram: @studio.sonny_ To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠ To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠ Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

If you have ever felt like you need to wait until the kids are grown to have a beautiful home, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Nicole and Sydni share tips to design a home that truly grows with you through every stage of family life. From kids and pets to everyday mess and movement, they talk about how to make thoughtful choices that support real living without sacrificing beauty. They cover where it actually makes sense to invest, how to choose furniture and materials that last, and why designing for family life is not about kid proofing but about creating a home that works harder for you. This episode is about shifting your mindset, letting go of perfection, and building a home that feels calm, functional, and lived in. Because your life is happening now, and your home should support it. To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠ To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠ Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Welcome to season 2! Renovations look sexy on TV. Real life can be a little more complicated. In our first episode of Season 2 (and kicking off 2026), we’re pulling back the curtain on what actually happens during a renovation: the timelines, the budgets, the messy middle, and the stuff no one tells you before you knock down a wall. We’re joined by our longtime collaborator, trusted contractor, and all-around straight shooter Adam Marmo of Marmo Contracting. If you’ve ever watched HGTV and thought, “Why doesn’t my renovation look like that?”, then this episode is for you. Together, we dive into: How to land on the right contractorThe truth about HGTV timelines vs. real-life renovationsWhy the lowest quote is often the most expensive mistakeWhat contractors really mean when they say “trust the process”The biggest red flags homeowners should watch for before hiring a contractorWhy living through a renovation is harder than anyone expectsHow designers and contractors should work togetherWhat’s actually behind your walls (and why it matters)How to think realistically about budgets, contingencies, and timelinesThe value of experience and why it shows up in pricingThis episode is part education, part therapy session, and part reality check, all delivered with honesty, humour, and zero sugarcoating. If you’re planning a renovation, dreaming about one, or currently living in the chaos of one, this conversation will help you feel more informed, more grounded, and a lot less alone. Welcome to Season 2. Let’s do this properly. Connect with Adam Website: ⁠www.marmocontracting.com Instagram:@marmocontracting To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠ To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠ Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

In this end of year wrap up episode, Nicole and Sydni reflect on 2025 through roses, thorns, and buds. To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠ To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠ Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived.

In this episode, Sydni and Nicole sit down with their dear friend, Brit Johnson, Owner and Principal Design of The Style Co., to explore the pressure of the picture-perfect home and why beauty alone isn’t enough. Together, they unpack how homes should support real life, meaningful rituals, and evolving seasons, not unrealistic standards. A conversation about belonging, intention, and what it truly means to design a well-lived space. Connect with Brit Website: www.thestyleco.ca Instagram:@t.h.e.style.c.o To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

In this deeply personal and wildly inspiring episode, Nicole sits down with her longtime friend, mentor, and former HGTV superstar Cheryl Torrenueva, a designer turned high performance coach whose life has been defined by bold pivots, unexpected plot twists, and the courage to reinvent herself in her 40s. Together, they peel back the curtain on Cheryl’s extraordinary career journey: From being discovered straight out of universityTo filming 150+ TV episodes across HGTV, the Food Network, and DiscoveryTo nearly signing her dream deal with NetflixTo walking away from the industry entirely when motherhood cracked her open and forced her to redefine everything she thought she wanted.Cheryl shares for the first time publicly her identity crisis, postpartum struggles, health challenges, and the heartbreaking moment she realized the dream she had worked toward for 20 years was no longer her dream at all. And then? She rebuilt. From scratch. Into something more aligned, authentic, and powerful than she ever imagined. Today, Cheryl is the founder of Nueva Rosa, where she mentors interior designers, CEOs, creators, and on camera talent through career and personal goals, life pivots, career shifts, and personal transformation, blending mindset, strategy, data, and deep human connection. This episode is for anyone standing at a crossroads. Anyone craving change. Or anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and thought, “I don’t recognize this version of me anymore.” Cheryl’s surprising entry into television and how she built a 20 year on camera career The pressure, adrenaline, and loneliness behind the scenes of design TV The Netflix opportunity that came at the exact moment she discovered she was pregnant The identity unraveling that happened in early motherhood The postpartum fog, anxiety, and internal “cracked open” moment The painful mourning of her old self and why reinvention requires grief How she redefined success, purpose, and alignment The moment she knew interior design was no longer the path Why pivoting is not failure, it is transformation How Cheryl now coaches designers, creatives, and CEOs through their biggest life transitions The power of choosing yourself, even when it terrifies you Anyone navigating a big life or career pivot Mothers adjusting to identity shifts Interior designers, creatives, or entrepreneurs feeling stuck High achievers who feel lost despite checking all the boxes Anyone craving permission to start over Connect with Cheryl Torrenueva Website: Nueva Rosa Coaching: www.nuevarosa.com Instagram: @nuevarosa_coaching & @cheryltorrenueva To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

It’s officially holiday season, which somehow means joy, nostalgia, and feeling like your home should suddenly look like a magazine spread. Spoiler: it doesn't have to. In this cozy, hilarious, and deeply personal episode, Sydni and Nicole dive into how each of them celebrates the holidays, from Hanukkah candlelighting traditions to chopping down real Christmas trees and navigating the pressure of “perfect” holiday decor. They share their best design-insider tips for creating a warm, meaningful holiday home:✨ Choosing whites that never look sterile (yes… we talk undertones)✨ Why legacy decor beats buying a new theme every year✨ How to build a holiday collection you’ll love forever✨ Sentimental ornaments, velvet bows, and the magic of warm lighting✨ Hosting without losing your sanity (or burning the mulled wine) PLUS: Rapid-fire questions about matching PJs, favourite holiday movies, mulled wine vs. tea, and the universal existence of an Aunt Kathy. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, both, or just “holiday vibes,” this episode will make you laugh, exhale, and remember what actually matters: connection, nostalgia, and showing up for yourself. A holiday episode that feels like sitting by the fire with two friends, with zero pressure and all the magic. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Running a business with a partner (and if you're like us, your best friend!) sounds like a dream… until you realize partnership comes with hard conversations, high-stakes decisions, and showing up for clients even on the days you barely held it together. In this episode, Nicole and Sydni get honest about what it really looks like to blend deep friendship with entrepreneurship with their resident third brain and reality check, Erica. They unpack creative differences, emotional support, the importance of shared values, how they divide and conquer projects, and why vulnerability is the number one non negotiable in any partnership. Whether you're thinking about starting a business with someone or you're just curious how these two keep Stafford House Studio running while raising four kids and a company, this episode gives you a raw, heartfelt, and surprisingly hilarious look behind the curtain. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

In this episode of The Well Lived Podcast, we are breaking down some popular interior design myths that refuse to disappear and revealing what actually matters when you are creating a home you love. We also answer a listener question about artwork height (spoiler alert: you are hanging it too high), share stories from past projects, and finish with a fun rapid fire round that they are, unsurprisingly, terrible at sticking to. Whether you are renovating, re-freshing, or simply design curious, this one is packed with real talk, practical wisdom, and the kind of honest conversations you only get from two best friends who also happen to be designers and moms. Send us your dilemmas and we might feature yours next! For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

This week on The Well Lived Podcast, we are joined by our dear friend, fellow interior designer and mega talent, Veronica Ng, founder of interior design firm, The Visionary Company. She is a mom of two and proof that you can build a thriving business while raising tiny humans. We dive into the real juggle of motherhood + entrepreneurship, from 5am wake ups and the chaotic after daycare red zone to carving out time for yourself without drowning in guilt. Veronica shares her leap from a fast paced events career to launching her own design firm, growing a team and figuring out boundaries that actually protect her energy including scheduled emails. Plus, we get into: Why support systems matter more than ever Pilates, osteopathy and skincare rituals that keep her grounded The restorative magic of girlfriend time and dressing up just for fun This episode is your reminder that caring for yourself is not selfish. It is how you show up better for everyone else. Grab your matcha and join us for a warm and relatable conversation on finding yourself in the middle of the mess. Connect with Veronica Website: www.designbyvisionary.com Instagram: @the.visionary.co For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

We started with no plan, no formal business training, and babies on our hips, but somehow built a successful interior design firm anyway. It’s laughs, lessons, and a whole lot of figuring it out as we go. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

In this episode of The Well Lived Podcast, Sydni engages in a deep conversation with Erica Zito, the operations manager at Stafford House Studio, about the intricacies of interior design, client relationships, and the challenges of balancing work and family life. They explore common misconceptions in renovation, the importance of budgeting, and the emotional impact of home design. Erica shares her insights on project timelines, the role of interior designers, and the significance of trust in client-designer relationships. The discussion also touches on personal routines, motherhood, and the evolving nature of work-life balance. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram  www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com Erica Zito’s Bio Erica is the operations manager with Stafford House Studio, amongst other design studios and industry professionals. With a strong background in project management and deep roots in the design industry, Erica has launched her own operations firm, dedicated to helping creative professionals streamline their businesses. From day-to-day administration to long-term development strategies, Erica and her team provide the operational support that allows designers, trade professionals and their teams to thrive in all areas of their business. If you’re interested in working with Erica reach out to [email protected].  What Erica's Loving Every Summer After Book Series by Carley Fortune - https://amzn.to/479Gha1 The Him & Her Podcast by The Skinny Confidential - https://tscpodcast.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Nicole shares simple, impactful design tips to help you refresh your home without a full renovation. From carpet runners and lighting to choosing personal art, she answers real listener questions and offers practical advice you can actually use to make your space feel beautiful, functional, and deeply personal. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

With over a decade of experience in the design industry, creating one-of-a-kind homes for one-of-a-kind families, we’re spilling the tea about real tools we use in our own design firm. In this episode, we’re sharing practical strategies and insider tips to help you tackle renovations, refreshes, and furnishing purchases with confidence. Whether you're reimagining a single room or planning a full overhaul, these are the tools that will help ensure your design decisions feel as good as they look. Trust us, this is one you'll keep coming back to! For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

TV taught us how to pivot, adapt, and deliver! In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on our HGTV days - the good, the glamorous, and yes, the gritty. We’re sharing what really went down behind the scenes, what we loved, what challenged us, and why we ultimately made the leap from working on set to working on-site full-time. We’ll also reflect on some unforgettable career highlights, including projects with Michelle Obama, Melissa McCarthy, Nate & Jeremiah, and the Property Brothers. These incredible experiences (and some serious trial by fire) taught us lessons we carry into every design today. Whether it's a small fix or a total transformation, we’ve learned how to make just about anything work beautifully. For more The Well Lived Podcast, follow along at: @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram www.thewelllivedpodcast.com To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram www.staffordhousestudio.com This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.