Holistic Interior Design Podcast

Welcome back! In this episode, I’m taking you deeper into what holistic interior design really means to me — and how my personal journey shaped the way I approach space, energy, and design today.

I’m sharing my story — from growing up in chaotic, shared spaces, to discovering the magic of theatre, finding sanctuary in my first apartment, and ultimately weaving together spirituality, energy work, and design. You’ll hear about the turning points that led me to become a certified Feng Shui practitioner, Reiki Master, and holistic designer — and how I integrate it all into the work I do no...

🎙 Episode 173 – Unfiltered & Intentional: The New Era of This Podcast

Hey there — welcome back to the Holistic Interior Design Podcast. It’s been a minute, and I’m so happy to be here with you again. This is episode 173, and it’s the beginning of a brand new chapter. A return to where this podcast first started: to serve you, my design clients, and to offer support for creating intentional, aligned spaces.

At the top of the episode, I light a candle to bring in clarity, presence, and connection — and I pull a card from the Rider Waite dec...

A Rebirth in Business: Realignment, Retrogrades & Raw Intention

In this short and sweet solo episode, I’m reconnecting with you after a much-needed pause. I light a candle, pull a card from my Rider-Waite deck—the Nine of Wands—and reflect on its powerful message about burnout, boundaries, and being close to completion.

With the Aries New Moon, a solar eclipse, and both Mercury and Venus in retrograde, it feels like the perfect time to slow down and realign. I share what’s been unfolding behind the scenes—from stepping away from projects that no longer fel...

This episode recaps the first Design Coach Collective retreat, focusing on the experiences and insights gained by aspiring interior designers. The retreat emphasized community, identity exploration, niche definition, ideal client understanding, legal aspects of business, marketing strategies, and the importance of networking. Attendees engaged in various exercises and workshops aimed at enhancing their skills and building connections within the industry.

Takeaways

In this episode of the Holistic Interior Design Podcast, host Jenna Gaidusek shares her journey into the world of interior design, her embrace of technology and AI, and the importance of community among designers. She discusses her experiences with e-design, the impact of AI on the industry, and the tools and resources available for designers. Jenna also emphasizes the significance of mindfulness and grounding practices in her life and work, providing insights into how designers can enhance their creativity and productivity.

About Jenna:

Founder of AI for Interior Designers ™

Jenna is a visionary en...

In this engaging conversation, the hosts discuss the formation of the Design Coach Collective, highlighting the journey of Tamara Romeo into the world of interior design and coaching. They explore themes of community building, personal growth, and the importance of collaboration among designers. Tamara shares her unique path from advertising to design, emphasizing the significance of marketing and branding in attracting clients. The conversation also touches on the importance of having a supportive team and the value of mentorship in achieving business success.

Want to see if the Ready Set Launch Retreat is for you? Book a...

In this episode of the Holistic Interior Design Podcast, I’ll be diving into a topic close to my heart: the five signs that you’re ready to start your own interior design business. If you’ve been dreaming of taking that leap but aren’t quite sure if the timing is right, this episode is for you. I’ll guide you through the key signals that it’s time to turn your passion into a thriving business, from recognizing the experience you already have to giving yourself permission to finally prioritize your creativity. We’ll also explore the desire for mor...

In this episode of the Holistic Interior Design Podcast, Rachel Crawford shares her personal journey of becoming an interior designer, detailing her struggles, triumphs, and the integration of spirituality into her design practice. She discusses her early life, the challenges she faced, and how she found her voice through theater. Rachel also highlights her career transitions, the founding of her own business, and the creation of the Design Coach Collective, a mentorship program for aspiring interior designers. The episode emphasizes the importance of holistic design and the healing power of spaces.

00:00 Introduction to Holistic Interior Design

In this episode, the host shares updates and changes happening with Design Coven, a community for holistic interior designers. They discuss the Design Coven community, the podcast, and upcoming events. They introduce Design Coach Collective, a new offering that focuses on coaching and teaching interior design practices. The host, along with two other designers, will provide coaching packages to help designers launch and grow their businesses. They also announce a launch party and a retreat called Ready Set Launch, which aims to help designers start or revamp their businesses.

In this solo episode, Rachel discusses the transition to a four-day work week and the reasons behind it. The focus is on prioritizing health, well-being, and creativity. The episode explores the benefits of the new work week, such as promoting rest, personal activities, and mental and physical health. The shift aligns with the firm's holistic values and fosters creativity and innovation. The host also shares the process and planning involved in implementing the four-day work week, including client communication and internal logistics. The episode concludes with the host discussing their personal activities on Fridays and inviting listeners to share...

Rachel provides an update on her interior design business and shares her plans for the future. She discusses her exploration of human design and how it has influenced her approach as a business owner. Rachel also mentions the changes she is making to Design Coven, including offering one-on-one mentorship. She introduces her new interns and talks about her intention to be more selective with clients and revamp her services. Rachel concludes by mentioning her collaboration with Fisher Paykel for a sustainable dinner series.

Connect with Rachel Larraine:

Website / Email: Rachel@tigerveil.com

Instagram<...

Welcome to Episode 163 of the Holistic Interior Design Podcast!

In this episode, we're diving into the world of social media content planning with a focus on theming out your week. If you've ever struggled with what to post or felt overwhelmed by the idea of keeping your social media fresh and engaging, this episode is for you. We'll be sharing five distinct themes to help you organize your content and maintain consistency throughout the week.

Connect with Rachel Larraine:

Website

Instagram

Interior Design Services

Interior Design Resources<...

Episode 162: The Proposal Blueprint: Crafting Interior Design Proposals for Easy Client Approval

Welcome to Episode 162 of our podcast! In this special group coaching session, we delve into "The Proposal Blueprint: Crafting Interior Design Proposals for Easy Client Approval."

In this episode, we cover:

Whether you're a seasoned designer looking to refine your proposal process or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, this...

In this episode, we are thrilled to introduce Giulia Martello, an Italian artist and astrologer whose work illuminates the path of self-discovery and cosmic insight. Giulia combines her artistic talents with her deep understanding of astrology to help individuals find authenticity and empowerment through celestial guidance.

Upcoming Workshop 5/19/24: Cosmic Currents

🌟 We invite you to join us for an enlightening workshop series called "Cosmic Currents," where you will embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment as we explore the expansive energies of Jupiter in Gemini.

In this workshop, Giulia will guide you thr...

Florals add so much to any room, especially when used intentionally to reflect the themes and branding of a space. To really take your designs to the next level, you can partner with a floral designer to help you translate your big vision as a designer into a work of living art!

Michael O’Neil of Designs by Nourish explains why and how designers can enhance their spaces with floral design, walking us through his own process of working with interior designers. He also shares with us his inspiring journey to creating a business he loves and ho...

In this episode, we're gearing up for an exciting month ahead in the Design Coven community! Join us as we highlight a variety of virtual and in-person events scheduled for May. From workshops to networking opportunities, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Tune in to discover how you can get involved and elevate your design journey with our vibrant community.

May 7, 2024, 10-11am PDT

May 13, 5-6pm PDT

Many artists and designers struggle with how to do what they love and make a living at it. For those of you who want to start your own businesses, this month’s Artist Spotlight with Interdisciplinary Artist & Designer Parker Heath will inspire you to get going today! Parker shares the fascinating story of how he discovered his passion for art and how he built his business in a relatively short amount of time. His secret? Just jumping in, building a solid foundation for himself, and going with the flow!

Parker and I also talk about his current wo...

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of vacation and short-term rental design with interior designer Paula Oblen. Once Paula discovered her passion for this niche, she was hooked. She shares the unique story behind her career and business, why she loves examining the convergence between hotel and home, and the importance of identity and branding in this space. She also gives us a preview of what’s ahead for her business as she continues to innovate and explore what she loves.

Paula’s journey as a designer and business owner is a great example of wha...

I’m excited to welcome our first doctor to the Holistic Interior Design Podcast, Dr. Natasha of Tulsi Wellness Center. Dr. Natasha practices Holistic Health, and as Holistic Interior Designers, it’s important for us to make our overall health and wellness a priority, while also considering how our designs contribute to the holistic health of our clients. 

Dr. Natasha shares her journey to practicing Holistic Health, her personal connection to Holistic Interior Design, and how we can take better care of ourselves as designers and creatives. Dr. Natasha offers great, simple tips that will help us in al...

I’m kicking off April with a preview of all the exciting Design Coven events coming up this month, for both Free and Pro Members. And as I am in the process of hiring a paid intern for my design business, Tiger Veil, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my hiring process. If you’re in the process of building a staff or just thinking about hiring in the future, my hope is that this helps you find the right team members who will elevate your business to the next level.

And if you’re thinking...

I’m excited to welcome two Design Coven members, Cassie and Angelica, to the podcast to share the story behind their holistic interior design business. Cassie and Angelica met in the Design Coven and discovered they had a unique connection, which led to them building a business together. They talk about how they work and fit so well together, how the Design Coven has helped them in the process of building their business, and how important it is to have a network built upon meaningful, personal connections.

I hope their story will inspire you to start your de...

This week I’m sharing an update on where I’m at with this podcast and my business, and I’m introducing my NEW podcast, The Holistic Hospitality Design Podcast. I outline seven reasons why I decided to start this new project, and I’m hoping it inspires you to find a targeted way to connect with your ideal clients. With us entering the second quarter of the year, now is a good time to assess where we are all headed and what we really want to create or call into our lives and businesses.

Featured in this Epi...

As AI becomes more and more popular, I want to address when interior designers should avoid working with it. 

I believe that AI can have many great uses, and I’ve talked about that in previous episodes, but when it comes to your design images—especially the ones in your portfolio—I think it does more harm than good. In this episode, I cover three specific reasons to not use AI images.

Featured in this Episode

Featured deck: The Nomad Tarot

Are you an interior designer or are you interested in Holisti...

We have a lot of great events coming up this March in the Design Coven, and in this episode, I’m giving you a preview of each of them. This month, we are embracing the energy of Pisces season by diving deeper into our dreams, exploring how they can empower us in life and business. 

For our Design Coven virtual events this month, we begin on March 11 with a New Moon Intention Setting event, available to all Free and Pro Members. On the same day, our Pro Members gather virtually for our Mystic Circle to talk all abo...

This week we’re diving into the writing and messaging on your website with Masha Koyen, a copywriter who works specifically with interior designers. She walks us through the 7 most common mistakes she sees interior designers make on their websites and tells us how we can correct them.

Masha also gives us a preview of what she’ll be covering in her workshop for Design Coven Pro Members on February 28. In support of our theme for the month, heart-centered design, Masha’s workshop is focused on how interior designers can build an emotional connection with their audience throug...

In this week’s episode, I’m giving an overview of the Design Coven’s theme for the month of February: Heart-Centered Design. I explain what it means to design from the heart and how all of our events this month will support us in reconnecting to our heart space. Together we’ll explore how we can connect with our clients’ heart centers as well, using design to evoke how they want to feel in their spaces.

Our upcoming events this month include our New Moon Intention Setting Gathering, the Art Meets Design Mixer, our Mystic Circle, and our Gr...

The World Design Capital has named San Diego Tijuana the design capital for 2024—the first bi-national designation in the organization’s history! And I’m excited to share that the Design Coven has collaborated with Sparks Gallery, ASID San Diego, and the World Design Capital to create a whole weekend of Holistic Design events, February 9 to 11, 2024. 

In this episode, I give you all the details of our first event on February 9th, the Art Meets Design Mixer. The goal of this mixer is to connect artists and designers, and there are 8 reasons that you won’t want to miss i...

This week, I’m inviting you behind the scenes for a sneak peek at a Design Coven Group Coaching session, usually available only to our Design Coven Pro members! This is a preview of our January workshop and group session, which centered on pricing. After I shared exactly how I establish my flat rate prices, the designers asked questions, and we worked through some of the challenges they’re currently facing with their design projects. This group coaching is what I feature in this episode, but if you’d like to watch the pricing workshop, you can access the full r...

A lot of new interior designers ask me how they should price their services, specifically whether they should bill hourly or do a flat rate. In this episode, I’m sharing my experience with different pricing structures and how I ultimately came to the decision to ditch hourly billing. I’ve been doing a flat rate since 2022, and I’ve found that this is what works best for me and my clients. I give you 7 reasons why you might want to consider doing the same.

I’ll be going much deeper into my exact pricing structure (how I get my...

Harness the power of this month’s new moon with this special replay of our January New Moon gathering in the Design Coven. Together, we tap into the energy of the New Moon in Capricorn and our Tarot card of the year, Strength. Move through a meditation with us to connect to the strength of the Lioness, and set your intentions for the year ahead. 

This is a look behind the scenes at what we do in our free monthly New Moon Intention Setting gatherings, which are open to both Free and Pro Design Coven members. I inv...

In this episode, I’m sharing how I personally weave rituals into my everyday life. I give you a sneak peek into a typical day for me, bringing you through my morning ritual, my workday ritual, and my evening ritual. I also talk about my new client ritual and my new moon ritual. All of these help me stay grounded so I can move through my days with a sense of purpose and intention. I also love infusing magic into everyday activities, and rituals help spark this magic. 

I invite you to try incorporating any of my rit...

This week we’re exploring how you can incorporate rituals into your design business. I explain what rituals are in a business context, why practicing them can be so powerful and transformative, and I offer you a few different types that can be done at various points of your design projects. 

If you want to explore rituals in your business further, join us in the Design Coven and practice one of my rituals with me! Coming up on Thursday, January 11, I’m bringing back my New Moon Intention Setting Circle, and it is open to all members of th...

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes in my business with 8 ways I’m planning to level up in 2024. Some of these are practices that I’m building upon from previous years and some are newer introductions to my business. I’m sharing these with you so you can also use them in your design business, and perhaps you’ll even be inspired to create your own list. And if you want to work on these with me, join us in the Design Coven for encouragement and support! Visit designcoven.com/join.

Featured in this Episo...

In our first episode of 2024, I’m sharing what’s ahead for the podcast and the Design Coven. I’m excited for these changes which include going back to two podcasts a week, releasing new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’m also making the Design Coven more accessible to members around the globe by making our official events and meetings virtual. So if you’ve been thinking about joining us in the Design Coven but haven’t yet, be sure to listen to this episode and learn how a membership with us (free or Pro) could benefit you!

Feature...

As we head into a new year, you might be looking for opportunities to uplevel your business, and one great way to do that is to attend networking events that will help you connect with other designers and vendors. I’m excited to share an event with Cosentino coming up in February, and Cosentino’s Regional General Manager Scott Newhan and Account Manager Jason Shephard are joining me on this episode to give us all the details! 

Scott and Jason talk about the history of the C.Next event, what designers can expect when they attend, and highl...

One of the most popular questions I am asked by new designers is how to get started right now in the industry. Today I am outlining seven steps you can take that don’t require you to wait until you have a certain amount of experience or a degree, and most don’t cost anything. You can truly take any of these steps right now! And if you have already started your interior design journey, feel free to share your tips with our community, and listen to see if any of these can help you take your business or netw...

In this week’s solo episode, I’m diving into some important design logistics and breaking down the differences between freight, shipping, curbside, and the white glove experience. Knowing your options and how to explain them to the client often separates new designers from experienced ones. So if you’re new to the industry, learning about this now will help you avoid any mistakes or surprises that could derail your project or harm your relationship with the client. Ensuring the pieces you’ve ordered get to your clients and are set up properly can truly make all the difference!

Fea...

This week’s solo episode is inspired by a question from one of our live audience members in Episode 137, and it points to a challenge we all face as interior designers, regardless of how long we’ve been in the industry: taking credit for our work.

We likely will all find a time when we pour a lot of heart and work into a project that we’re proud of, but then the client doesn’t acknowledge us for our involvement—or they significantly downplay our role. This can be so disappointing, but this doesn’t have to be the en...

I’m excited to share with you the first episode we’ve recorded with a LIVE audience! I moderated a panel all about publishing for an ASID chapter meeting held at the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) in Encinitas. We covered the key components of getting your work published, including hiring photographers, building your social media, and pitching your stories to editors with our talented and expert panelists: Architectural Photographer Jim Brady, President & Group Publisher at Modern Luxury Ken St. Pierre; and nationally-recognized communications expert and Creative Director of Experiences, Alexandria Ott. 

Jim, Ken, and Alex generously share...

This week is a special replay of a past episode, episode 35, Do You Need an Interior Design Degree? This question is consistently among the ones I am most frequently asked, and so now, about 100 episodes later, I want to make sure we address this important topic again. There isn’t a simple yes or no answer that applies to everyone, so in this episode, I share my personal path to becoming an interior designer as well as alternative paths you could take. If you’re thinking about becoming an interior designer, this episode will help you determine the direction that...