When the traditional path in interior design didn’t feel like the right fit, Ashleigh Cochran trusted her instincts and chose something different. In this episode, she shares how that bold decision led to the creation of Oar Haus Interiors — a CAD and rendering studio built specifically to support other designers behind the scenes.

Ashleigh opens up about her early love for the technical side of design, why she walked away from the full-service model, and how she turned a niche skillset into a thriving, values-aligned business. We talk about the power of learning through experience, setting boundaries that protect your creativity, and building a business that doesn’t just look successful — but feels good too.

Whether you're at a career crossroads or simply craving more alignment in your work, this episode is your reminder that there’s no one right way to be a designer, and sometimes the most fulfilling path is the one you carve out for yourself.

You can find Ashleigh at https://www.oarhausinteriors.com/

Be sure to get an additional 15% off on services through Oar Haus Interiors

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In this episode of Founders & Friends we chat with Nina Silver, the founder of Drafted by Design. Nina talks candidly about how the birth of her son inspired her to make big moves within her drafting business. As her family grew so did her business so she talks in depth about the struggles and advantages in balancing the two.

She also dives into the complexities of hiring employees and how she navigates managing a team. She talks about the importance of finding employees that she really can trust on the internet. Nina has been able to scale her team from 1 all the way to 11 in a matter of a few years.

Nina is a designer and drafting expert known for blending creativity with precision. With a background in fine arts and a BA in Design from Cal State Long Beach, she discovered her passion for spatial planning and technical drawing early on. Her career spans residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, and she’s built a reputation for detailed, intuitive plans that bring design visions to life. Today, she leads a growing team, supporting designers nationwide with streamlined, high-quality drafting services.

You can find Nina over at https://draftedbydesign.com/

This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design

If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.

www.vetted-bydesign.com

https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/

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In this episode of Founders and Friends, we’re joined by Kathryn O'Neil, a virtual CFO and bookkeeper who’s on a mission to help interior designers ditch the spreadsheets and build thriving, profitable businesses.

With a degree in architecture and a promising career at a design firm, our guest never imagined pivoting to finance until the 2008 recession hit. After being laid off and watching her firm close its doors, she found herself rethinking everything. What followed was a bold move back to school for an MBA, a shift toward entrepreneurship, and ultimately, the creation of a virtual bookkeeping business specifically tailored to interior designers.

Now, with over a decade of experience, a QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, and a deep understanding of the design industry, she’s known as the go-to “bookkeeping fairy godmother” for creatives. In this episode, she shares how her unexpected career path led her to support designers in understanding their numbers, streamlining their systems, and making smarter business decisions. She dives into how giving birth to her daughter really fueled her to stay dedicated to her business.

We also talk about what designers often get wrong about their finances, the difference between a bookkeeper and a CFO, and why tracking your profitability is more empowering than intimidating.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by receipts, spreadsheets, or the mystery of your profit margins—this episode is for you.

You can find Kathryn over at https://www.thedesignerscfo.com/

This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design

If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.

www.vetted-bydesign.com

https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/

Connect with all things Founders & Friends

https://www.instagram.com/foundersandfriendspod/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1706365610291273