Designer's Oasis

About Designer's Oasis

How do I build an interior design business? How do I get portfolio-worthy projects? Do I "have to" offer full-service interior design? How do I charge for my services? What if I want to do things differently with my interior design business? How do I take my design business to the next level? Feeling overwhelmed? I got you friend. Welcome to the Designer's Oasis Podcast. Consider this your place for a fresh drink of water for the inspired, creative, ambitious, and let's admit it, occasionally overwhelmed interior designer. Whether you are just starting your interior design business or you're looking to grow or scale, here you'll find actionable, real-world, and above all SIMPLE ways to launch, establish, and scale your interior design business with confidence. Introducing your host, Kate Bendewald of Kate Bendewald Interior Design, real-life interior designer, mama, and CEO who grew her 6-figure interior design business on word-of-mouth referrals. Kate doesn't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to running your business. Instead, she offers authentic, approachable advice to help you start where you are.

Publisher

Kate Bendewald

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

4 May 2022

Latest episode

17 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 132 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   17 Mar 2026

   #105 | How to Set Boundaries in your Interior Design Business (& Life)

   Interior Designer's Business Blueprint (http://designersoasis.com/join) In this episode, Becca and I talk about the role boundaries play in building a sustainable interior design business. We explore why boundaries can feel difficult to set — especially for women and service-based entrepreneurs — and how designers can begin creating healthier expectations around time, scope, communication, and client relationships. In this episode, we discuss: What boundaries actually are and why they're simply expectations Why interior designers often struggle with setting boundaries The four types of boundaries that help protect your business Time boundaries like office hours, meeting schedules, and communication response times Scope boundaries and how to prevent scope creep in design projects Emotional boundaries and protecting your energy with clients Financial boundaries, including payment expectations and project terms Why clear boundaries help protect your professional reputation How listening to your intuition can help you recognize when a boundary is needed Practical ways to start practicing boundaries in both business and life If you're ready to build a design business that supports your life — not the other way around — I'd love to invite you inside the Interior Designer's Business Blueprint + Membership (http://designersoasis.com/join). Inside, we help designers refine their processes, strengthen their pricing and positioning, and build profitable businesses with the support of a thoughtful, collaborative community. Doors are open through March 22, so if this conversation resonated with you, now is the perfect time to learn more and join us. Mentioned in this episode: DOORS ARE OPEN through March 22nd! - Join Today! Interior Designer's Business Blueprint (http://www.designersoasis.com/blueprint) FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers 🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer's Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join WANT MORE? 🛒  Template Shop (https://shop.designersoasis.com/) - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer) 🔖 Interior Design Business Articles (https://www.designersoasis.com/post) ⬇️  Free Resources (https://www.designersoasis.com/resources) FOLLOW ALONG 🤳Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/designersoasis/) 📍  Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/Katebendewald/) 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis) ------------------------------------- ***Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts*** FOLLOW this channel so you never miss an episode! - https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis EPISODE WEBSITE ⇗- designersoasis.com/episode/how-to-set-boundaries-in-your-interior-design-business

2. 

   12 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   #104 | Take a Look Inside the Interior Designer's Business Blueprint with Esther Ellard & Colleen Slack

   Interior Designer's Business Blueprint (http://designersoasis.com/blueprint) "You don't have to build your business someone else's way—you get to build it around your values, your lifestyle, and the way you actually want to live." What if the biggest shift in your business doesn't come from working harder, but from getting clearer about what actually matters to you? In this episode, I'm joined by two longtime Designer's Oasis members, Esther Allard and Colleen Slack, for an honest conversation about building an interior design business that feels profitable, aligned, and sustainable. We talk about the power of community, the importance of setting boundaries, and how defining success for yourself can completely change the way you run your business. Esther shares how a painful client experience became the catalyst for stronger boundaries, better pricing, and a business built around her faith and family. Colleen shares how she evolved her firm over time and stepped into a more differentiated brand by incorporating human design and nervous system regulation into her design process. This conversation is such a powerful reminder that there is no one right way to build a successful interior design business. The goal isn't to copy someone else's formula. It's to create a business that supports your values, your lifestyle, and the work you want to be known for. If you've been craving more clarity, more confidence, or more support as you grow, this episode will remind you that you do not have to figure it all out alone. In this episode, we cover: Why community matters so much for interior designers, especially solopreneurs How hearing other designers' perspectives can help you make better business decisions Esther's journey from staging to interior design and the client experience that changed everything How difficult projects can become turning points instead of reasons to quit Why stronger boundaries often lead to better clients and a healthier business How Colleen built a design business that reflects her values and unique strengths What it looked like to integrate human design and nervous system regulation into her firm Why there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success in interior design How core desired feelings can help shape your business model and decisions Why profitability and lifestyle do not have to be in conflict How to reverse engineer your business around the life you actually want The role of accountability, shared wisdom, and support inside a strong design community If you're ready to build a design business that supports your life — not the other way around — I'd love to invite you inside the Interior Designer's Business Blueprint + Membership (http://designersoasis.com/join). Inside, we help designers refine their processes, strengthen their pricing and positioning, and build profitable businesses with the support of a thoughtful, collaborative community. Doors are open through March 22, so if this conversation resonated with you, now is the perfect time to learn more and join us. Mentioned in this episode: DOORS ARE OPEN through March 22nd! - Join Today! Interior Designer's Business Blueprint (http://www.designersoasis.com/blueprint) FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers 🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer's Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join WANT MORE? 🛒  Template Shop (https://shop.designersoasis.com/) - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer) 🔖 Interior Design Business Articles (https://www.designersoasis.com/post) ⬇️  Free Resources (https://www.designersoasis.com/resources) FOLLOW ALONG 🤳Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/designersoasis/) 📍  Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/Katebendewald/) 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis) ------------------------------------- ***Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts*** FOLLOW this channel so you never miss an episode! - https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis EPISODE WEBSITE ⇗- designersoasis.com/episode/look-inside-interior-designers-business-blueprint

3. 

   28 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   #103 | How to Handle Imposter Syndrome in Interior Design (And Why It Shows Up at Every Level)

   Imposter syndrome gets tossed around constantly in the design world — but what if it's not a syndrome… it's just a temporary feeling (and one we can learn to move through)? In this episode, we unpack why "imposter syndrome" might be the wrong label, how it can turn into an excuse that keeps you stuck, and what to do when those thoughts show up mid-project, mid-pivot, or mid-big-decision. We talk about the difference between filling real knowledge gaps (skills, systems, confidence builders) and rewiring your inner dialogue (self-talk, visualization, affirmations, community support). If you've ever questioned whether you "belong" because you don't have the "right" credentials, background, or path — this one is your reminder: you're allowed to build success in a way that fits your life. In this episode, we cover: 👉 Why we should stop pathologizing imposter syndrome (and what to call it instead) 👉 "Imposter feelings" vs. an identity you carry around 👉 How imposter talk can quietly become an excuse for staying small 👉 What to do when comparison spirals start while scrolling Instagram 👉 The power of the right next step (instead of needing a 5-year plan) 👉 Practical tools: visualization, affirmations, asking for support, and reflecting on hard things you've already done 👉 Why confidence matters in hard client conversations (especially budget conversations) 👉 How community helps you move through self-doubt faster Join the Business Blueprint Reset If you're feeling stuck, heavy, or like your business requires more effort than it should, Kate invites you to the Business Blueprint Reset — a 4-day experience designed to help you get quiet, reconnect with what matters, and uncover what's really driving your stress or indecision. Visit designersoasis.com/reset to learn more and register. Mentioned in this episode: JOIN the waitlist - Doors open early March: Interior Designer's Business Blueprint (http://www.designersoasis.com/blueprint) FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers Register for The Spring Reset (http://designersoasis.com/reset) - March 9th - 12th PODCAST: Episode 26: Raising Your Design Fees Without the "Ick" PODCAST: Episode 28: How Limiting Beliefs Might Be Holding You Back PODCAST: Episode 30: The Perfectionism Trap Daniel House Club Curated Collection (https://www.danielhouse.club/do) 🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer's Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/blueprint WANT MORE? 🛒  Template Shop (https://shop.designersoasis.com/) - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer) 🔖 Interior Design Business Articles (https://www.designersoasis.com/post) ⬇️  Free Resources (https://www.designersoasis.com/resources) FOLLOW ALONG 🤳Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/designersoasis/) 📍  Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/Katebendewald/) 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis) ------------------------------------- ***Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts*** FOLLOW this channel so you never miss an episode! - https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis EPISODE WEBSITE ⇗- designersoasis.com/episode/imposter-syndrome

Inside a recent episode

#104 | Take a Look Inside the Interior Designer's Business Blueprint with Esther Ellard & Colleen Slack

Published 12 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] But about halfway through, I realized that that wasn't the direction for my life that I wanted to continue on. So halfway through college, I decided to delve into what my next step would be. And I had always been interested in interior design, but I kind of took it, got my feet wet a little bit. I got certified in staging. So when I graduated college, I ended up starting my own staging company. And then about a year, year and a half in, that's when I really got into some of the interior design aspect, just with some of my connections. And fast forward, you know, six years and here we are today. […]

Who has been a guest on Designer's Oasis

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Holly Whitaker
• Annie Grace
• Laura McKowen
• Catherine Gray
• Andrew Huberman

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

65,270

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

62 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

78 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

92

Contact Designer's Oasis

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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• 

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• 

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• 

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• 

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Questions about Designer's Oasis