Turnkey Design Talk

Hosted by Adam Scougall

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

Hosted by interior designer Adam Scougall, Turnkey Design Talk is a podcast for solo interior designers and decorators who want to run calmer, more controlled businesses — and finish projects properly. The show focuses on what actually makes the difference in a design career: how projects are led, how boundaries are set, how decisions are made, and how work is brought to a confident, photo-worthy close. This isn’t about trends or overnight success. It’s about taking responsibility for the outcome — from the first client yes through to the final reveal. If you care about delivering beautifully finished homes, creating genuine wow moments for your clients, and building a business that works on your terms, you’re in the right place. https://www.instagram.com/adamscougall | |

Listen to episodes

55 recent

September 7, 2026Episode 625 min

The Discovery Call: 5 Things You MUST Know Before Booking the Consultation

Your discovery call should do a lot more than establish whether you and a potential client “click.” By the end of that call, you should know whether there’s actually a viable project worth pursuing. Are they a DIY client who really wants your advice so they can manage the project themselves — or are they a potential full-service client who wants someone to take control? What’s the real scope? What are they prepared to invest? And does that investment realistically cover both the project and your professional fees? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m sharing five things you need to nail on your discovery call before booking that paid consultation. We’ll look at how to spot a client who has already started running the project themselves, how to uncover what they really want from you, how to have the investment conversation without turning the call into a quotation — and how to work out whether the numbers actually stack up. Because the discovery call isn’t the time to start designing, give away your best ideas or automatically assume every enquiry is a full-service opportunity. Use your discovery call to discover. Get this right, and you’ll walk into your next consultation already knowing who you’re dealing with, what they want, what they’re prepared to invest — and whether the scope, service and numbers actually match Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

August 31, 2026Episode 526 min

What Is Turnkey Interior Design — And Why Should You Offer It?

What does it actually mean to offer a turnkey interior design service — and what separates it from simply designing a room and ordering the furniture? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, Adam breaks down the difference between “help me do it” and “do it for me” clients, and why a genuine turnkey service is about taking responsibility for getting the approved design all the way across the finish line. From professional receiving and storage to a clearly defined programme, coordinated installation, styling, photography and that all-important home reveal, you'll discover how a properly run turnkey process can create a better experience for your client — and a stronger, more profitable service for your business. Adam also introduces his FINISH Framework , the backbone of his Turnkey Design Success System, and explains how it takes a project from that first client conversation through to the finished reveal. And stay to the end, where Adam shares three questions that will quickly reveal whether you're ready to confidently lead a truly turnkey project. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

August 24, 2026Episode 420 min

The Legal Side of Coordinating Trades: 5 Must-Haves for Interior Designers

If you’re an interior designer or decorator coordinating painters, electricians, cabinetmakers or other trades, do you know what you’re actually taking responsibility for legally — and are you charging properly for it? After getting updated legal advice from Australian legal counsel Sprintlaw, I’m sharing five legal must-haves for coordinating trades , including how my own NSW business can stay closely involved in trade coordination even when the client contracts with and pays those trades directly. We’ll cover the real work involved in managing painters, electricians and cabinetmakers, why handing trade management back to the client can create chaos, and why client-direct trade payments do not mean your coordination should be free. Plus, I explain how I structure my implementation fee and why every designer should get their own legal advice on how to coordinate — and be compensated for coordinating — trades where they operate. Free Solo Designer Profit Guide: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

August 17, 2026Episode 359 min

From Imposter Syndrome to More Clients — with Christine Corcoran

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m joined by high-ticket sales strategist and business mindset master coach Christine Corcoran , bestselling author of Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Your Superpower and founder of the Unstoppable Women event. Christine has coached interior designers and other creative business owners through the mindset, visibility and sales challenges that can quietly keep talented people playing small. And in this conversation, we get right into them. We talk about why imposter syndrome can still show up 10 or 15 years into your career , why being good at something can actually make you undervalue it, and why comparing your pricing to the designer down the road tells you very little about what your business needs to charge. Christine also challenges the idea that referrals alone are enough to build a reliable design business. We explore visibility as a business strategy — from social media and speaking to camera to partnerships, events, cold outreach and deliberately putting yourself where potential clients are already making decisions. We also get into the uncomfortable stuff around money and selling : discounting your fees, giving away consultations, overdelivering to prove your worth, avoiding conversations about money, emailing a proposal and then hoping the client says yes, and taking on the wrong client simply because you’re worried there won’t be another one. And Christine leaves us with practical actions you can start this week: prioritise your own marketing before disappearing into client work, build a bank of evidence of the results you’ve already created, and develop a lead-generation system that doesn’t leave your income entirely in the hands of referrals. We finish by talking about Unstoppable Women , Christine’s Gold Coast event, and why she wants Australian women in business to get better at celebrating their achievements, networking, collaborating and asking, “How can I help you?” rather than allowing tall-poppy syndrome to keep everyone playing small. In this episode: Why imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear when you become experienced Separating your self-worth from the value of your design service Why “What is everyone else charging?” can be the wrong question Becoming comfortable talking about money Why discounting can undermine your own value Visibility beyond simply posting on Instagram Creating opportunities instead of waiting for referrals Getting past the fear of outreach Three practical actions to build confidence, visibility and leads The story and thinking behind Unstoppable Women If you’re a talented designer or decorator who knows you need to become more visible, more confident and more proactive about creating opportunities , this conversation is for you. http://christinecorcoran.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/christinecorcoran_coach/ https://www.facebook.com/ChristineCorcoranCoach https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-corcoran-1860187a/ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-next-level-life-with-christine-corcoran/id1276992872 book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Turn-Impostor-Syndrome-Into-Superpower/dp/1763812308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1T8Q6DJRQALG0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SqS_co7k1-ADp9g10GIxFOxxGrPcPOlygxMEur7mpXRrilU-bKaBZdWwGSnNz4JCF9BKViPuKd2iP2aMB8hYfPqW_nJ3SG99vgYueNEUz1I.6DAcjMB9Vo5Z6f61vFMroB5-7V3KdGPpQYnoqR8SFJ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=christine+corcoran&qid=1764290762&sprefix=christine+cor%2Caps%2C624&sr=8-1 Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

August 10, 2026Episode 219 min

Beyond Instagram: Finding Better Design Clients

Instagram can be a useful part of your marketing, but it shouldn’t be the only place you’re looking for your next interior design client. In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk , I’m looking at how solo interior designers and decorators can think more broadly about finding clients — particularly when posting consistently on social media isn’t translating into actual enquiries. I share some of my own experiences of where design work has come from over the years, why getting in front of the right people matters more than simply being visible to more people, and how you can start creating opportunities for potential clients to discover what you do. If you’re spending hours creating content and wondering where the actual clients are, this episode is for you. Because ultimately, we’re not trying to become content creators. We’re trying to build successful design businesses. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

August 3, 2026Episode 116 min

Markup vs Trade Pricing: How Should Interior Designers Price Products?

Turnkey Design Talk is back for Season 6! After a short break, I’m kicking off the new season with one of the pricing questions I hear constantly from solo interior designers and decorators: how much should you mark up the products you specify—and should you be passing your trade discount on to your clients? Some designers pass on their entire trade discount. Others retain the retail margin. Others use a standard markup. So which approach is right? In this episode, I break down the difference between trade pricing and markup , why there is no magic percentage every designer should be charging, and why your own profitability should ultimately determine your pricing strategy. I’ll also introduce you to Stressed Sally and Calm Claire —two equally talented fictional designers with very different approaches to pricing. Sally changes her markup whenever an expensive item makes her nervous, while Claire establishes a pricing philosophy, applies it consistently and reviews it against the actual profitability of her projects. We cover: Trade pricing vs markup and how they differ Why copying another designer’s markup percentage can be a mistake The danger of changing your markup based on the price of individual products Why consistency can make quoting simpler and increase your confidence How your overall project profit margin should inform your pricing decisions My own approach to markup and why I currently use a consistent 30% markup on trade pricing The goal isn’t to find the “perfect” markup percentage. It’s to create a pricing structure that covers your costs, supports your service and helps you build a profitable, sustainable design business. Download the free Solo Designer Profit Guide: https://www.turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Welcome back to Season 6 of Turnkey Design Talk . Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

June 29, 2026Episode 1022 min

Confessions of a Part-Time Interior Designer

For years, I [kind of] kept a secret. While building my interior design business, publishing projects and creating beautiful homes for clients, I never actually quit my day job. In this honest episode, I share why keeping another source of income became one of the smartest business decisions I ever made — and why so many designers may be quietly doing exactly the same thing. We'll talk about: • Why financial stability can improve your decision-making • How another income stream removes desperation from your business • The freedom to say no to the wrong clients • Why fewer, better projects can be more profitable • The importance of systems, boundaries and profitability • The real reason many designers struggle to grow (and it isn't always time) After speaking with more than fifty independent designers, I've realised there isn't one correct path to success. Some designers want a large full-time practice. Others want a smaller, profitable business that fits around their life. If you've ever felt embarrassed about still having another job, this episode is for you. Because perhaps you're not behind at all. Perhaps you're simply building your business your way. Download the free Solo Designer Profit Guide at: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

June 22, 2026Episode 920 min

What I Learned From 50 Conversations With Interior Designers

fter speaking with more than 50 interior designers and decorators across Australia, the United States, Canada and the UK, I expected to hear the usual challenges. "I need more clients." "I need more marketing." "I need to charge more." While those issues certainly came up, what emerged was far more interesting. In this episode, I share five revelations that appeared again and again throughout those conversations. You'll hear why so many designers are unintentionally blending DIY and full-service projects, how clients often end up being asked to make decisions they were never equipped to make, and why some of the happiest designers have become crystal clear about the experience they want to deliver. Most importantly, we'll explore why so many talented designers are making life harder than it needs to be, and what the designers creating the strongest results seem to understand. In this episode: • The Hybrid Design Phenomenon • Why allowing clients to become the expert often backfires • How successful designers choose a lane and stick to it • Why good projects often fail to reach their full potential • The confronting truth behind designer burnout If you've ever wondered whether there might be a simpler, more profitable and more enjoyable way to run your design business, I think you'll enjoy this conversation. 🎁 Download the free Solo Designer Profit Guide: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Connect with Adam: turnkeydesignsuccess.com Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

June 15, 2026Episode 814 min

How To Get Paid For Project Coordination As A Designer

One of the most overlooked areas of pricing for interior designers and decorators is project coordination. I'm not talking about construction project management. I'm talking about the coordination of the people, products and services required to bring a design to life. That might include furniture, artwork, rugs and window treatments, but it could also include custom joinery, painting, wallpaper, electrical work, deliveries, storage and installations. The question is: How should you charge for that work? In this episode, I share the approach I've used in my own business and why separating my design fee from my project coordination fee helped improve my cash flow, reduce stress and increase my profit margins from around 20% to more than 30%. You'll discover: • Why design and project coordination are two different services • The most common ways designers charge for project coordination • Why I eventually moved to a percentage-based model • Why charging upfront can simplify your business • How to determine whether your current pricing is actually working If you've ever wondered whether you're being properly compensated for procurement, supplier management, deliveries, storage, installations and all the moving parts that happen after the design is approved, this episode is for you. 🎁 Download the FREE Solo Designer Profit Guide: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide Based on more than 50 research conversations with designers across Australia, Canada and the United States, this guide will show you what designers are charging in 2026 and, more importantly, how to calculate the hourly rate your business actually needs. Email: askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com And remember, you're not behind, my friend. You're building. Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com

June 8, 2026Episode 714 min

How to Discover Your Authentic Hourly Rate

How do you know if your hourly rate is actually working? In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, Adam Scougall explores a simple but often overlooked way to determine whether your current design fees are delivering the profit your business needs. Rather than copying what other designers charge, Adam shares why your last completed project may hold the answer. If you've ever wondered how much to charge for interior design services, questioned whether you're undercharging, or struggled to confidently increase your fees, this episode will give you a fresh perspective. You'll learn why profit margin matters, how to review a project after completion, and what successful designers often look at when evaluating their pricing. Whether you're an interior decorator, interior designer, or freelance creative, this conversation will help you think differently about hourly rates, profitability, and building a more sustainable design business. 🎁 Download your free Profit Guide: https://www.turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe on YouTube, follow the podcast, and leave a comment: Do you know the profit margin on your last completed project? Wondering if you're charging enough? Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's. Download your free copy: turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help. Email me at askadam@turnkeydesignsuccess.com