Leaning on your network is a great way to improve your business and avoid pitfalls along the way. This week, we asked eight designers—Melanie Arguello, Stephanie Brown, Dezirae Bruni, Heidi Houdek, Ansley Majit, Dvira Ovadia, Brooke Sabia and Christopher Shields—about the essential lessons they’ve learned from industry peers.
Set Boundaries
“It’s OK to charge for my time to avoid scope creep. I learned this from a group of designers at a networking event in Round Top. We were all sitting in a circle sharing the harder, behind-the-scenes parts of running our businesses, and the topic of boundaries came up. Hearing other women talk so openly about valuing their time and confidently charging for additional work shifted my perspective in a big way. When I first started my business, I said yes to everything, and it quickly led to burnout and resentment. Over time, I realized that clear boundaries are actually better for both me and my clients. If something falls outside the original scope or requires additional revisions, it’s completely appropriate to issue a change order. I’ve never had a client push back, and in many cases, it actually builds more trust and respect.” —Heidi Houdek, Heidi Houdek Interiors, Austin
Understanding Scale
“I always struggled with scale. It was something I would rather avoid—a pretty dangerous vulnerability if you’re an interior designer. Then I attended a lecture, and the designer [revealed that scale] is the single most important aspect of design. The next thing he said, however, was: ‘Play with scale. There are no rules—it’s something you feel.’ From that moment, I was emboldened, and it set me on a path to feel more confident in studying the relationship of elements and the tension you create when you rewrite formulas. The bottom line is that scale is everything, and it is also nothing at all, because each of us can use scale in our own creative expressions.” —Brooke Sabia, Phase 4 Design Group, Chicago
It’s OK to Say No
“The absolute necessity of the word no. Our studio is only two years old, and as we’ve been building, the instinct is to help everyone. But you quickly realize you cannot run a profitable, high-standard firm on drop-of-the-hat meetings and small, high-maintenance projects. We’ve learned to trust our gut during the discovery phase: If a potential client doesn’t respect our process or shows red flags before we’ve even signed a contract, we pass. Ultimately, that move ends up making room for an even bigger ‘yes’ project.” —Stephanie Brown and Melanie Arguello, Saint Louise Design, Austin
Empower Your Employees
“The biggest lesson I learned from a fellow designer came from someone who completely reframed how I think about growth within a team. When her employees approached her asking for raises, she never shut the conversation down. Instead, she welcomed it, making it clear that compensation should reflect performance and merit. What stood out was how she used these moments as an opportunity to shift the mindset: She encouraged her team not to focus solely on what they were earning, but on what they were becoming. She emphasized continuous self-evolution—going beyond day-to-day project work and staying curious about the broader industry. This includes understanding new materials, keeping up with innovations in lighting and integrated appliances, exploring custom millwork solutions, and staying aware of evolving design trends and technologies. Today, I actively encourage my team to step outside their immediate responsibilities and explore areas they may not yet know. Whether diving into the technical side of a product, exploring new design systems, or attending seminars, workshops and trade shows, ongoing curiosity strengthens individual growth and elevates the quality of our work as a whole.” —Dvira Ovadia, Dvira Interiors, Dallas and Toronto
Keep a Tight Timeline
“One lesson in particular has always stood out to me. I remember a peer having a hard time closing a sale on a set of fine dining chairs. The selected fabric was fabulous, and the chairs were going to be perfect, but the client became overly concerned with the seat cushions’ springiness. Over several weeks, there was considerable back-and-forth regarding the chairs, involving numerous trips to the showroom for repeated sit tests. Finally the client relented and told the designer that she loved the chairs. However, after being so deep in an extended buying phase of the project, she just wanted to exert some control over something, so she latched on to the chairs. Telling! The client finally bought the chairs and my designer friend was relieved. We both learned that maintaining a tight project process with highly focused selection and buying steps keeps the client engaged and excited while reducing the chance of fatigue. Clients will always want to be heard, so be a good observer and listener.” —Christopher Shields, Christopher Shields & Company, Lakewood, Colorado
The Power to Walk Away
“I have always been comfortable course-correcting when something isn’t working, but earlier in my career I found it difficult to step away from a client once a project was underway, particularly when the project itself held so much promise. I remember sharing one such situation with another designer: Despite being actively engaged, nothing was gaining traction, the client struggled to make decisions, and communication was spotty. I found myself feeling anxious around the client. She responded simply, ‘She sounds like a bad client.’ That moment of clarity reframed everything. It taught me that even mid-project, discernment and the willingness to step away are essential to protecting the integrity of the work.” —Ansley Majit, L+P Interiors, Sausalito, California
The 3 C’s
“The biggest lesson I learned from another designer came from the principal of the first interior design firm I worked at. Watching her lead, I saw that great design is not just about vision or taste, it is also about clarity, communication, and confidence in how you guide a client through the process. She taught me that strong boundaries and clear expectations are not separate from good service; they are a part of it. That lesson has stayed with me and continues to shape how I run my own firm today.” —Dezirae Bruni, Dezirae Bruni Interiors, Las Vegas
