meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

1075: What Would Lu Do?: The Ultimate Guide to Mounting a Designer Show House

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Design, Arts

4.8786 Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2025

⏱️ 17 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Are you thinking about saying yes to a designer show house? Before you commit, listen to this episode. A show house can be an incredible opportunity—but only if you approach it the right way. Too many designers assume that just participating will bring them business. It won’t. Today, I’m sharing the smartest, most strategic insights from three powerhouse designers at different stages in their careers: 🎨 Barbara Ostrom – The "Queen of Show Houses" explains why some rooms bring in clients while others don’t. 🏡 Laura Hodges – Managed an entire Southern Living Idea House and reveals how to juggle a massive project while keeping your business on track. 🛁 Naika Andre – A first-timer who learned, the hard way, what works, what doesn’t, and what she’ll do differently next time. We’ll cover: ✅ The real costs (hint: it’s not just the furniture) ✅ How to make sure a show house actually leads to press and clients ✅ Why marketing yourself is non-negotiable—no one will do it for you ✅ The tight deadlines and fast decision-making required to pull it off If you’re serious about making a show house work for your business, this is the episode for you. And if you want more details, listen to the full interviews with Barbara, Laura, and Naika—links are in the show notes. PLUS: If you’re in NJ, PA, or NY, check out the Mansion in May and Bucks County Designer House, where Hannah Goldberg and Lori Bruno will be showcasing their work. Window Works is honored to be providing the window treatments for both! What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Exciting Windows! 21st Annual Conference - April 16th-18th in West Palm Beach, Florida! Mansion in May Bucks County Designer House & Gardens Other Shows: AWDB #08: Barbara Ostrom: Curtain Up! Thirty Years of Spectacular Showhouse Rooms AWDB #960: Laura Hodges: The Behind the Scenes of the Southern Living Showhouse AWDB #1055: Naïka André: Do It Scared – A Designer’s Journey Through Her First Show House

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Picture this, all of your design products in one place. You've gotten the lowest designer trade possible.

0:06.8

You have ordered things easily and seamlessly, and the shipping is handled for you. That's Design Trade

0:13.1

Service. DTS is your virtual assistant for sourcing and logistics. At DTS, they eliminate the stress

0:20.7

of managing multiple accounts and orders.

0:24.0

With dependable service and no hidden fees, DTS lets you focus on what matters, your clients.

0:30.8

Elevate your design business effortlessly. Join now at design,radService.com.

0:49.0

Welcome to a well-designed business.

0:51.4

My name is Luann Nigara, and I'm so glad you found this podcast. Together with

0:55.8

my husband Vince and our partner Bill, we have grown our company Window Works from the ground up,

1:01.1

so I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business. I also know

1:08.2

that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.

1:11.9

So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business.

1:18.4

But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here too, mixed in with those aha moments that I love so much.

1:25.9

This isn't fluff.

1:26.9

Nobody has time for that. Whether you are a new

1:29.7

interior designer or a season designer, I am here to help you create and to manage the kind

1:35.5

of interior design firm that you dream of. It's straight talk and it's action. Are you ready?

1:41.2

Let's get started.

1:46.0

Hi, welcome to a well-designed business. Today, we are going to be talking about a big topic in our industry, designer showhouses, right? And maybe you've walked through a showhouse and thought, I'd love to do this someday, right? I mean, how could you not? It seems so, like just such an

2:03.5

amazing opportunity to just go hog while on your wildest dreams and inspirations and have to know

2:09.4

clients as saying, I don't like that, right? But here's a million dollar question. Should you

2:14.5

put yourself up for a showhouse? Okay, because here's the thing. A showhouse is no

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 10 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from LuAnn Nigara, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of LuAnn Nigara and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.