A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today With Geraldine Morrison:

What happens when you stop guessing in your business… and start making decisions based on real industry insight?

In this episode, LuAnn is joined by Geraldine Morrison, Chief Partnerships Officer for Domestic and Global Brands at NKBA | KBIS. With leadership experience at brands like Samsung and LIXIL, Geraldine brings a unique perspective on how manufacturers, designers, and industry organizations intersect—and why that matters to your business.

Recorded live at KBIS 2026, this conversation goes beyond what NKBA is and gets into how it actually supports you as a business owner.

Because here’s the truth: many designers are making decisions in isolation. They’re relying on instinct, past experience, or what they’re seeing on social media. But that only gets you so far.

Geraldine shares how access to real data, market research, and industry connection can change the way you operate. From understanding shifts in consumer behavior to recognizing where opportunities are emerging, this is about making smarter, more strategic decisions.

You’ll also hear how NKBA is expanding its reach, from global initiatives like Global Connect to its growing presence at High Point Market, creating more opportunities for designers to connect, learn, and grow.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re making decisions without the full picture, this episode will challenge you to think differently about where you get your information and who you’re connected to.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

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The guest on today’s Power Talk Friday is Fred Berns, the only Interior Design Industry Business Coach, and Speaker.  Fred was a Speaker at the Design Blogger’s Conference, held in L.A. In March, where he spoke about how to create your bio, so this show is tagged onto the Design Blogger’s Series. This is the fourth time that Fred has appeared on this show and LuAnn is really happy to have him back again because he always brings so much value. (He previously appeared on shows #22, #48 and#96.) Today, Fred will help you to figure out your ‘only‘, so listen in now and find out why it’s so important.

 

Fred creates personal bio’s and other promotional materials for design professionals, worldwide. He has had more than twenty-five years of experience, training design professionals and creating their online profiles, website, and social media copy, blogs, and marketing forums. He also offers a wide range of business coaching services, including his High-End Performance Coaching Program, his bio briefing and his website once over. Listen in to today’s show to find out from Fred how you can really stand out in the marketplace.

 

Today, Fred talks to LuAnn about:

 

Why it’s so important for you to figure out your ‘only’.

How he helps designers to arrive at their ‘only’.

Some categories to consider when trying to figure out your ‘only’ phrase.

How to be sure that you are really the ‘only’ one when making that claim.

How to subtly modify your ‘only phrase’, if necessary.

Using the word ‘specializes’ to better describe your ‘only’ and to differentiate yourself.

That your ‘only’ doesn’t have to be a big thing.

How having an ‘only’ helps you to charge a higher fee.

How he helps people to draft letters to inform customers that they are raising their fees.

How educating people about your value helps to overcome their resistance to your charging top dollar.

Why he encourages you, as a designer, to highlight rather than hide your past.

That it’s often the small things that make you unique.

Some examples of how you can incorporate your ‘only phrase’ into your bio, to make yourself memorable.

Ways for newly graduated designers to set themselves apart.

His victory vocabulary.

Using the law of attraction to draw the kinds of clients you’d like to work with towards you.

That the most financially successful designers are not necessarily the best designers.

‘Only’ is not the only word, but it’s the best one!

Today With Josh Kasper of Studio Kasa:

Art is one of the most overlooked, and under-monetized, elements in interior design.

In this sponsored episode, LuAnn sits down with Josh Kasper, founder of Studio Kasa, to talk about how designers can approach art differently, not just as a finishing touch, but as a strategic part of both the design and the business.

Josh shares how his firm helps designers source art efficiently, elevate their projects, and create an additional revenue stream without adding more work to their plate. From understanding how to guide clients through art decisions to avoiding the endless rabbit hole of online sourcing, this conversation reframes what’s possible when you have the right process and partner in place.

If you’ve ever struggled with how to confidently incorporate art into your projects, or how to make it profitable, this episode will open your eyes to a smarter way of doing it.

More About Josh Kasper:

Having spent almost a decade on Wall Street at iconic firms including Goldman Sachs, Josh Kasper launched himself into the art world as a collector. While engaging with traditional advisors and galleries he found the art to be too expensive and mostly based on what was considered “in” versus his unique tastes. 

This brought him directly to artists’ studios, which led him to develop an Instagram feed (@_Studio Kasa_) where he could share both artists’ stories and their creation process. One day someone asked him to source artwork for their home... the rest is history.

Today Josh Kasper leverages his experience in financial services and as an art curator working almost exclusively with interior designers offering various solutions at all pricing thresholds, while providing a seamless client experience.

Today, his company Studio Kasa serves as a trusted resource for interior design professionals:  


Curating artwork tailored to each client’s aesthetic and the unique character of every space


Managing the full end-to-end process from sourcing through shipment and installation


Negotiating pricing and offering competitive designer referral fees


Saving designers valuable time so they can focus on their clients and core design work

Connect with Studio Kasa:

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Join the giveaway!

Through May 5th, when you book and attend a discovery call or webinar with Josh, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a featured piece of art. (See it below!)

Pretty cool, yes.

But the real opportunity is this:

You will learn how to turn something you’re already doinginto a structured, profitable part of your business.

Go to studiokasa.art/luannand choose the session that fits your schedule and you will be entered to win!

Today With Duke Renders and Jenna Gaidusek:

AI is everywhere right now.

Some designers are excited about it. Others are frustrated by it. And many are quietly wondering…

Is this actually helping my business or just adding more noise?

In this episode, LuAnn sits down with Mina Duque of Duke Renders and AI expert Jenna Gaidusek to cut through the confusion and get to the truth.

What is AI actually good for in the design process?

Where does it fall short?

And most importantly… what happens when you present something to a client that isn’t fully thought through?

Because once you present it, it’s no longer an idea. It’s a promise.

You’ll hear why AI can be a powerful tool for early-stage exploration—but why it cannot replace the accuracy, accountability, and decision-making required for real-world execution.

Mina breaks down Duke Renders’ structured process, from clay renderings to final visuals, and how that process helps designers catch costly mistakes before they happen.

And Jenna explains exactly why AI-generated images can look beautiful at first glance… but fall apart when you zoom in.

This episode will change how you think about:

• AI as a brainstorming tool—not a final deliverable

• The difference between inspiration and execution

• Why accuracy protects your profit• How better visuals lead to better decisions not just prettier presentations

If you’ve been wondering whether you still need professional renderings in the age of AI, this conversation will give you your answer.

And it will likely raise your standards in the process.

Connect with Duke Renders:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Houzz

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

Episode 951Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: More Interior Designers Share the Value Of Using Duke Renders For Your Rendering Projects

Episode 905Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: Why Successful Design Firms Choose Duke Renders for Their Rendering Projects

Episode 823Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: A Case Study For a Successful Business Plan

Episode 722Power Talk Friday: Duke Renders: How to Incorporate 3D Renderings into Your Interior Design Business

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! On this episode, LuAnn sits down for a chat with Denise Wenacur, the principle of DW Design & Décor in Croton on the Hudson, which is a beautiful community just outside of NYC.

Design-build is the hot topic of the day, and you’ll learn the importance of having an interior designer as the point person for the client between the architect, the builder and themselves. She discusses the ways having an interior designer on their team from the outset truly benefits the process and the result of the project.

If that wasn’t enough, Denise will share tips for connecting with people who can introduce you to the type of projects you are looking for.

Tune in to this engaging and informative conversation!

Show Highlights:

Denise recounts why and how she changed her business model to include the construction part.

She is always the first point of contact as the interior designer. She rounds out each team with an architect, contractor, and whichever trades need to be added, as well.

Each team member has their unique perspective and experience that they bring to the job, all working together for the good of the client and a perfect outcome.

Making a 3D version of the architect’s plans can assist in both the design and the build in amazing ways.

Denise has a video on her website explaining the pros and cons and importance of having a designer involved at the beginning of construction.

One big successful project will generate referrals.

Sharing on social media tips and ways that your services have made a positive impact will further help you to get noticed.

Denise also holds a Construction Manager certificate from Pace University. This helps build confidence when she’s working with the rest of the team.

Communication is everything, and it’s all about the client.

Denise feels like she’s doing a good job when she gets new clients from her referral partners.

Denise shares some ideas on how to meet architects and builders in the area.

It’s important to create the relationship first.

A CFO surprise!

When you know your numbers, it instills confidence and that comes across to your clients.

Potential clients will know if you know what you’re doing.

Resources:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

Purchase LuAnn’s Book!

Power Talk Friday

LuAnn Live

Connect with Denise!

Denise’s Website

Denise’s Facebook

Denise’s Instagram

Denise SINGS!The 1-4-5’s YouTube Channel

Other episodes mentioned:

#380 Circle Design, John and Theresa Dorlini

#361, #442, Kimberly Merlitti

#441 4Pt Design Build, Laura and Cliff Muller

#181 H2 Design Build, Angela Rasmussen

#202 Enoch Sears

#292 Jana Phipps