A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today With LuAnn Nigara: As the year winds down and routines slow, LuAnn takes this quiet moment to speak directly to you, no guest, no interview, just perspective. In this episode, LuAnn walks through ten patterns she sees business owners repeat over and over again that quietly make their businesses harder than they need to be. These aren’t mistakes. They’re habits, defaults, and decisions that once made sense, but may no longer serve you. Drawing from decades of experience, thousands of conversations, her work at Exciting Windows, Chairman of the Board, LuAnn University, and her role as President of WCAA, LuAnn offers a grounded, CEO-level look at what to stop doing if you want a business that feels stronger, healthier, and more sustainable. This episode is not about goals or resolutions. It’s about perspective. If you have a quiet moment during the holiday break, on a walk, in the car, or with a cup of coffee, this is a thoughtful, focused listen designed to help you pause, reflect, and step back into your role as CEO. 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 What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: ⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠ ⁠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

Today With LuAnn Nigara on The McClain Method Podcast with John McClain: Today I am excited to share Part Two of my conversation on John McClain’s podcast, The McClain Method. If Part One was about the journey, this episode is about the work. John and I dig into what actually makes a design business sustainable: mindset, pricing, branding, and the confidence to stand fully in your value. We talk candidly about what it means to be unapologetically yourself as a business owner, why professional guidance matters, and how clarity changes everything from your pricing to your client relationships. We also address the real-world challenges designers face every day: client objections, pricing conversations, markup debates, budget boundaries, and how to communicate value without overexplaining or apologizing. This is about learning to lead the process instead of reacting to it. If you’ve ever struggled with pricing confidence, client pushback, or feeling like you need to justify your expertise, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are and help you see what’s possible when your systems, mindset, and messaging are aligned. In this episode, we cover: Branding yourself with confidence and credibility The mindset shifts required for pricing growth Why transparency and communication matter in pricing Establishing systems, processes, and boundaries How to clearly communicate value to the right clients This episode is packed with practical advice and perspective to help you elevate not just your business, but how you show up inside it. More About John McClain: ⁠The McClain Method Podcast⁠ ⁠Website⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: ⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠ ⁠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

Today With LuAnn Nigara on The McClain Method Podcast with John McClain: Today’s episode is a little different, and one I’m really excited to share with you. This is a special "LuAnn Featured" episode where I share with you my appearance on John McClain’s podcast, The McClain Method. The conversation was thoughtful, honest, and reflective enough that we knew it belonged here on A Well-Designed Business as well. In this conversation, I share the journey that began with helping my husband, Vinny, build Window Works and evolved into creating A Well-Designed Business and the education platform that grew from it. We talk about why I saw such a clear gap in business education for designers, what it actually took to launch and monetize a podcast before podcasting was considered a “strategy,” and why having a real business plan is not optional if you want longevity. We also get personal. I talk about the importance of protecting your health, the reality of patience and burnout, the role Vinny has played behind the scenes, and the lessons that only come from decades of building, pivoting, and staying committed to the long game. This episode is full of honest stories, practical perspective, and encouragement for designers who know they’re capable of more, but may be standing in their own way. And be sure to join us next week for Part Two, where we shift into more specific strategies for building a sustainable, profitable design business. Episode Highlights: How Window Works came to be and what it taught me about running a real business Recognizing the missing business education in the design industry The birth of A Well-Designed Business and what it took to invest in its growth Why self-care, support systems, and patience matter more than we like to admit Expanding a brand with intention, clarity, and vision More About John McClain: The McClain Method Podcast Website Instagram What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: The Power Talk Friday Tour 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

Today With Emily Yeates: If you’ve ever found yourself whispering, “I love design but the business side is exhausting,” this episode is your wake-up call. Emily Yeates, founder of Urban Revival and creator of The Business Edit, joins LuAnn to pull back the curtain on how she built a thriving, efficient design firm and how she now teaches other designers to do the same. From contractor headaches and pricing pitfalls to intake calls and profitable proposals, Emily doesn’t teach theory. She hands you the system that actually works. Inside this conversation: – The real reason designers struggle with profitability (hint: it’s not your talent) – Why managing contractors is breaking your business and what to do instead – How to flip your intake calls, furniture sales, and vendor strategy into profit machines – Why The Business Edit is not a “market tour” and how it’s changing designers’ lives If you're ready to stop reacting and start running your firm like a business, hit play. The Business Edit returns January 27–29, 2026 in Las Vegas. Mention this episode for $1,000 off. Learn more at urbanrevivalphx.com More About Emily Yeates: Emily, the visionary behind Urban Revival, started her design firm over 15 years ago. Her passion for design ignited at a young age, growing up in a family of luxury real estate developers. With remarkable projects and record-breaking sales, Emily has been named by Luxe Magazine as one of the most promising designers across the country. Her talent has been featured in renowned publications such as Architectural Digest, Forbes International Properties, Domino, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Luxury Scottsdale, My Domaine, and more. Driven by a desire for mentorship, Emily has dedicated herself to helping designers overcome obstacles and accelerate their success. She possesses a unique ability to guide those who feel stagnant in their design businesses. Connect with Emily Yeates: Website Instagram The Business Edit What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: The Power Talk Friday Tour 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 Other Resources Mentioned: Learn about The Business Edit: UrbanrevivalphxLANDING business-edit-client-stories Book a complimentary call with Emily to review your business practices: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/businesseditinfo The Business Edit returns January 27–29, 2026 in Las Vegas. Mention this episode for $1,000 off. Learn more at⁠ urbanrevivalphx.com⁠

Today with Claudia Ricciardone: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Claudia Ricciardone, founder of Claudia Josephine Design. Claudia and I discuss those stubborn pain points that we face in starting a business. Coming from a psychology background, Claudia teaches us that pain is what actually causes us to grow in that it forces us to find a solution. Listen in as Claudia shares her own solutions as she navigated turning her hobby into a business.  I don’t know about you, but when a psychologist offers business advice, I am going to listen. LuAnn and Claudia Ricciardone’s Ah-Ha moments: “When there is a pain point, ask yourself what quality you need to develop to move past that pain point.”- Claudia Ricciardone “In addition to the content I provide for my promotional offerings, you just never know who you are going to meet that could be a colleague that you can learn from, and they learn from you, and improve your business.” – LuAnn Nigara. “Hire the best photographer you can afford. Hiring a great photographer is what got me published in my first magazine, LUX Lifestyle Magazine.” – Claudia Ricciardone. “Wherever you are in the business, you can see your goals clearly, but you can still have fear. The difference is taking the plunge or not. If you are running a business there is no getting around making an investment.” – LuAnn Nigara “When the student is ready the teacher will come. The right guides will come.” – Claudia Ricciardone More about Claudia Ricciardone: Claudia Ricciardone is a luxury residential interior designer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Claudia provides full-service interior design services with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly furnishings and décor through the company she founded, Claudia Josephine Design.  Claudia is a certified GREEN Accredited Professional (AP), member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), and Maria Killam Certified True Colour Expert. She served as the interior design columnist at LUX Lifestyle Magazine, where her work was published and distributed internationally. Claudia’s designs were also recently featured in Southpark Magazine. Connect with Claudia Ricciardone: Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events 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 Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order 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: #50 Veronica Solomon: Powerful Marketing For Your Interior Design Firm- Website to Fan Engagement on Facebook #58 Maria Killam: Color- When You Can Own It As An Expertise, You Can Charge Higher Fees #752 PTF: Kelsey Kurtis: Connection-Based Branding For Success