Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today’s conversation feels especially close to my heart. After spending the last ten years building a business, scaling a team, and pouring everything into my work, I finally took the leap into motherhood — and now, I’m sitting here with a four-month-old at home, learning firsthand what it means to balance entrepreneurship with a brand new kind of responsibility.

That’s why I was so excited to sit down with interior designer Kim Lapin. Kim runs a thriving, highly intentional design business while also raising three kids under the age of four. Yes — three under four. But what’s even more impressive is the way she’s made conscious decisions to stay small, take on projects that feel deeply fulfilling, and outsource in all the right places — both professionally and personally — in order to create the life and business she truly wants.

In this episode, we talk about saying no to the pressure to scale, redefining success in motherhood, and letting go of the guilt that so many of us feel when we don’t do it all. Whether you’re in the thick of this same season, or just thinking about what sustainable success could look like for you, this conversation is full of insight, honesty, and so much grace.

Let’s dive in.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

In the evolving landscape of luxury homebuilding, discerning clients are seeking more than just high-end finishes—they desire a seamless, intentional experience from concept to completion. Today, I'm honored to welcome the co-founders behind Simple Finesse—Sia, Interior Design Principal and Creative Director, and Roderick, Architectural Designer and Residential Building Contractor. Together, they lead a Minneapolis-based, full-service architecture, interior design, and build studio dedicated to crafting clean, timeless, and intentional designs for both residential and commercial spaces.​

Sia brings over 15 years of experience consulting Fortune 500 executives, infusing each project with a strategic, process-driven mindset that harmonizes creativity with business acumen. Her leadership ensures that every design seamlessly blends aesthetics, functionality, and personal expression. Roderick, with a rich background in high-end residential architecture and a passion for refined, thoughtful homes, believes that great design emerges from collaboration. His expertise in 3D modeling and architectural visualization ensures precision and efficiency, bringing projects to life with meticulous attention to detail.​

In this episode, we'll explore how Simple Finesse's integrated design-build approach is redefining luxury homebuilding, the motivations driving clients toward design-driven studios, and the significance of being a minority- and women-owned firm in an industry where diverse perspectives are still rare. Let’s go!

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

Interior Design Service Agreement at IDCO Studio

Welcome back to The Interior Collective Podcast—where we dive into the business of beautiful spaces. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today’s conversation is one I know every designer needs to hear.

We’re joined by the incredibly talented Palmer Weiss—an interior designer whose signature style blends timeless sophistication with vibrant Southern charm. But beyond her eye for color and layered design, Palmer brings something rare to the table: a rock-solid business background. With experience in investment banking and retail merchandising, and an MBA from Kellogg, Palmer didn’t just fall into this industry—she built her design firm on the foundation of financial fluency.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to run a profitable design business. From creating airtight budgets, navigating scope creep, and maintaining profit margins without compromising creative vision, Palmer shares practical, specific strategies that every designer—at any level—can learn from.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by pricing, billing, or managing money in this industry, this one’s for you. So grab your notebook—Palmer Weiss is about to drop some serious wisdom.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

Design Assisted

Interior Design Service Agreement at IDCO Studio

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re diving into the art of bringing a new construction project to life.

Our guest is Stephanie Mahaney, founder of Stephanie Rae Interiors, most-known for designing functional, custom residential projects and elevated commercial spaces. With a background at Kemble Interiors and a deep understanding of the building process from her collaboration with Keating Moore Construction, Stephanie brings a unique perspective on integrating design and construction seamlessly.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How to collaborate effectively with architects, builders, and contractors
• Project management strategies to keep designs on track
• The communication skills every designer needs to navigate challenges and ensure a smooth process
• Balancing aesthetics and function to create homes that are both beautiful and livable

For many designers, custom new construction projects are the dream project, and Stephanie is breaking down just how to ensure they run smoothly. Let’s get started—here’s my conversation with Stephanie Rae.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

Interior Design Service Agreement at IDCO Studio

Welcome back to The Interior Collective Podcast, where we dive deep into the business of interior design. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re exploring one of the most critical aspects of a successful design project: client touchpoints. From the initial consultation to the final styling, how do you structure your process to keep clients informed, engaged, and—most importantly—confident in your vision?

To help us break it all down, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Susannah Holmberg. With over 13 years of experience, Susannah has built a design practice rooted in both fine art and interior design, crafting spaces that are highly customized, deeply intentional, and timelessly beautiful. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Domino, and more, and today, she’s here to share her insights on sequencing a design into clear phases—what those client touchpoints should look like, and what to cover in each.

After 10 years of running my own creative studio, client touchpoints continue to be something we work on refining, implementing, and increasing in order to improve our client experience. If you’ve ever struggled with keeping interior design clients aligned, setting expectations, or simply creating a seamless design process, this episode is for you. Let’s get started.

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

Pricing Models for Interior Designers with Lindsey Borchard

Mastering the art of working with trade vendors is one of the biggest challenges interior designers face. From wholesale vendors to custom furniture workrooms, strong vendor relationships are key to a seamless design process. But how do you find the right vendors, create lasting partnerships, and ensure every project runs smoothly while maximizing profitability?

Today, we’re joined by Melissa Oholendt, founder of Oho Interiors, whose path to design was anything but traditional. After beginning her interior design studies in 2001, Melissa spent over 15 years in the fast-paced world of distressed debt hedge funds before launching a decade-long career in photography. In 2019, she returned to her first love—interior design—building a business that has since been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Domino, Homes & Gardens, and more. In 2024, she launched a shop with luxury retailer Perigold, was named a Top 40 Expert on The Expert, and took the stage as a keynote speaker at The Haven Workshop.

Melissa brings a wealth of experience in managing high-level vendor relationships, and today, she’s sharing her best strategies for sourcing, organizing, and collaborating with trade partners. Whether you're looking to refine your process, build stronger industry connections, or avoid costly vendor mistakes, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.

Mastering the art of working with trade vendors is one of the biggest challenges interior designers face. From wholesale vendors to custom furniture workrooms, strong vendor relationships are key to a seamless design process. But how do you find the right vendors, create lasting partnerships, and ensure every project runs smoothly while maximizing profitability?

Join the Serena & Lily trade program for exclusive perks, best pricing, custom sizing, and white-glove delivery at serenaandlily.com/interiorcollective.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

IDCO Studio Spec Book

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re sitting down again with one of the most respected names in the industry—Heidi Caillier. An AD100 designer, Heidi has built a career on reinventing tradition, crafting interiors that feel intimate, layered, and deeply personal. Known for her confident use of pattern, color, and nostalgic elements, she designs spaces that stand the test of time, valuing heirlooms, antiques, and handcrafted details over fleeting trends.

But beyond her signature aesthetic, Heidi has also simplified and standardized the business side of interior design—something we’re diving deep into today. I first learned of Heidi’s straight forward approach last October at Design Camp, and the details utterly blew my mind. Heidi’s model of whole home design presentations and flat rate product markup feels refreshingly easy to manage, and all around magical. We’ll explore why she made that decision, how it streamlines client communication, and why presenting an entire home concept at once—instead of breaking it into phases—has transformed her design process.

From the systems behind her full-scale presentations to how this approach strengthens client buy-in and decision-making, Heidi is sharing the strategies that make her projects not only beautiful but also incredibly efficient. If you’ve ever struggled with pricing transparency or felt overwhelmed by phased presentations, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Don’t forget to tune in to Season 2 Episode 1 to hear our first conversation about Heidi’s signature style after this episode. But for now, let’s get started.

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Hi! Welcome back to The Interior Collective - I’m your host, Anastasia Casey! Today, I’m excited to welcome Jason Saft, the mastermind behind Staged to Sell Home, a company that has transformed over $3 billion in luxury homes since its official founding in2016, but Jason’s been staging as a passion project since 2005. With an impressive background of more than 20 years in real estate sales and staging, Jason brings a unique perspective on what it means to craft interiors that are both aspirational and functional. Known for his contemporary, curatorial style and unwavering commitment to producing results, Jason has earned accolades for his work, including features in the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, and more.

For Jason, great design isn’t a straight line—it’s about balancing artistry and intent, creating spaces that captivate buyers and maximize value. Because I truly do believe there is no single way to run a successful design business, I’m thrilled to chat with Jason about how he has forged his own path in luxury staging, standing out as both a respected business owner and creative visionary. Jason’s approach is anything but conventional, and his 98% success rate speaks for itself.

Today, we’re diving into Jason’s methods for making luxury staging stand out, exploring everything from his business model and inventory curation to timelines and the decisions behind staging versus full-service design. And we’re especially excited to catch up because not only is Jason an IDCO Studio client, he is also a past attendee of our own Design Camp—so much so that he sent his team to the very next session!

Join us as we explore how Jason combines expertise, intentionality, and market knowledge to elevate homes and help buyers envision their dream lives.