"The Interior Design Business" is a monthly podcast for professional interior designers working in the UK. We hear from practitioners, educators and influencers who appreciate the day-to-day and longer-term challenges that designers face and offer practical, first-hand advice on how to deal with these issues. "The Interior Design Business" enables you to learn from others in the design community so that you can develop the skills you need to succeed as an interior designer. We're informed, insightful and entertaining, too. "The Interior Design Business" is a joint production of Tessuto and Wildwood Plus, the people who connect the professional design community.
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September 4, 202612 min
Design Dialogues For Decorex 2026 With Alex Dauley and Grant Pierrus of AEVEN Collective
We welcome Alex Dauley and Grant Pierrus of AEVEN to discuss the thinking behind their bold, collaborative concept for the Decorex Bar. This exciting space for Decorex 2026 will be far more than somewhere to pause for refreshments. Instead, it will be a curated destination intended to spark conversation, foster connection and celebrate the creative energy that defines the design community. Alex and Grant explore the inspiration behind the concept and share their thoughts on the importance of building networks and community in interior design. Recorded at the Arte showroom in the Design Centre at Chelsea harbour. The interior design business is a Wildwood+ production. Chapters (00:00:00) - A Seat at the Table: London Craft Week (00:05:09) - A Taste of Decorex: Interdisciplinary chairs
September 1, 202615 min
Design Dialogues For Decorex 2026 With Claudia Dorsch
Acclaimed designer Claudia Dorsch reveals the thinking behind one of the most ambitious spaces at Decorex 2026: the show’s VIP Lounge. Drawing on her experience designing homes across city, ski and surf destinations, Claudia shares how she is re-imagining the traditional mountain chalet through a “back to the future” lens, creating an immersive environment that blends craftsmanship, heritage and contemporary design. We explore Claudia’s creative process, the challenge of transporting visitors from central London to the mountains, and the collaborations with more than 40 brands helping to bring the vision to life. Inspiring, thoughtful and practical, this episode offers a fascinating preview ahead of Decorex 2026 and insights into the power of design to create memorable experiences. Chapters (00:00:00) - Claudia Dorsch Interior Design at Decorx 2017 (00:06:24) - The Chalet project with 40 brands supporting the design (00:13:47) - Decor X 2017: A creative theme
August 28, 202612 min
Design Dialogues For Decorex 2026 With Claire Coles
As Decorex 2026 approaches, this episode shines a spotlight on the remarkable journey of wallpaper artist Claire Coles, whose richly layered and highly tactile creations are redefining the relationship between art, craft and interiors. Drawing inspiration from nature, travel, vintage wallpapers and decorative history, Claire discusses how her distinctive process combines paint, embroidery, collage and hand-cut materials to create bespoke wallpaper art for interior designers and homeowners alike. The conversation also explores Claire’s long-standing relationship with Decorex, from her early appearances in Making Spaces to becoming the creative talent behind the show's 2026 visual identity. For designers, makers and anyone passionate about contemporary craftsmanship, this is an inspiring discussion about creativity, community and the power of handmade design.
August 6, 202646 min
Lighting Reimagined With Samantha Bartlett, Luke Thomas, James Ratcliffe and Shaun Gumbs
Lighting has evolved from a functional necessity into one of the most expressive tools in the interior designer's palette. With intelligent fixtures, light can now shift in colour, temperature and intensity throughout the day, warming mornings, energising afternoons, and creating cinematic evenings, all tuned to how we actually live. It can transform art, sculpture and materials within the home, add layers and drama, quietly shaping mood, emotion and experience. How are interior designers and lighting specialists working together to use light and shade in new and exciting ways? How could we see these ideas in action at WOW!house 2026 and what is the likely impact of such creative, design sensitive collaborations on the future of luxury residential design? Host Jeff Hayward is joined by WOW!house 2026 room designer, Samantha Bartlett, Luke Thomas from John Cullen Lighting, James Ratcliffe from Homeplay and Shaun Gumbs from Lutron in front of a live audience of designers to find out. This episode was recorded at the Design Club in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Our thanks to our partners, Lutron, and to the Design Centre for their support. The interior design business is a Wildwood Plus production. Chapters (00:00:00) - Wonders of the Interior Design Business (00:01:59) - Lighting Design for Luxury Homes (00:03:22) - Interior Lighting (00:08:58) - Lighting Design and Interior Design (00:13:24) - What are Layers in Lighting? (00:14:46) - What is the difference between LEDs and halogen light Bulbs? (00:18:26) - The Making of a Kitchen (00:19:12) - How Do You Design a Lighting Project? (00:19:54) - The bird's beak (00:21:49) - Living With Quetra (00:27:17) - Intelligent Lighting (00:32:49) - Wireless Lighting Installation (00:38:00) - Lighting (00:43:15) - Does Lighting Affect Your Projects? (00:44:09) - Lighting Your Home (00:45:39) - The Interior Design Business
June 1, 202637 min
Inside WOW!house 2026 With Martin Kemp, Henri Fitzwilliam Lay and Darren Price
From bold concepts and standout schemes to the latest collections making their international debut, WOW!house has firmly established itself as an exciting and pivotal stage in the interior design calendar. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of WOW!house 2026, talking with designers, brands and sponsors about what we can expect to see at this year’s event. We discuss the creative energy that fuels WOW!house, the role it plays in setting trends, and what we can learn from its ever-evolving approach to storytelling and collaboration. Jeff and Susie are joined by Darren Price of ADAM Architecture, Martin Kemp and Henri Fitzwilliam Lay to find out what's in store for WOW!house 2026. Recorded in the THG Paris Showroom at Chelsea Harbour. Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Wowhouse 2026 (00:01:18) - Interviews with Sir Martin Kemp (00:02:59) - Adam Architecture's involvement in The Warehouse (00:08:52) - In the Elevator: Traditional Architecture (00:10:09) - The Making of 'The House' (00:11:13) - The Design Center's Front facade (00:12:44) - The Pop-Up Office (00:13:50) - The Designer Behind a Warehouse Bedroom (00:16:59) - Lighthouse Design: Self-Sponsor (00:18:24) - The inspiration behind Art Deco bedroom (00:22:52) - In the Elevator With Darren Ward (00:24:19) - What's been the most challenging aspect of pulling your space together (00:28:23) - Victoria and the Design Center (00:29:56) - Do Designers Follow The Latest Trends? (00:33:22) - What's Exciting About Wowhouse 2018? (00:35:46) - Wormhouse: The 100th Episode
May 21, 202643 min
The Power of WOW!house With Natalia Miyar, Sara Cosgrove and Alexandra Singer
WOW!house is renowned as an international showcase for acclaimed designers, bold, emerging voices and stellar brands with creative collaborations transforming ideas into fully realised, inspirational spaces. In this episode, we explore the true impact and potential of WOW!house through the voices of those shaping it from the inside. We’re joined by Natalia Miyar, who designed the Bedroom within WOW!house back in 2023, Sara Cosgrove of Sara Cosgrove Studio, who will be designing the Drawing Room for WOW!house 2026, and Alexandra Singer from luxury sponsor THG Paris. Together, they discuss what makes WOW!house such a catalyst for creativity, collaboration and commercial opportunity and why it has become a launchpad for new ideas, partnerships and design careers. Recorded in the THG Paris showroom at Chelsea Harbour. Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Interior Design Business (00:01:29) - The Design Team at Warehouse (00:05:25) - What is it about the exhibition? (00:08:04) - The interior of Wowhouse (00:11:02) - The Making of a Chelsea Harbor Hotel (00:17:01) - The London Design Studio's commitment to sustainability (00:18:54) - The Making of Your Room (00:19:25) - The St Leonard's Hotel (00:23:18) - The Making of Whitehouse (00:27:03) - Philip Jeffries: The Wowhouse Experience (00:32:01) - The Stabilo Warehouse Build (00:37:42) - A Last Minute View (00:38:16) - Has The Warehouse Room Led to Other Projects? (00:40:21) - The Creators of Wowhouse
April 30, 202644 min
United in Design With Alex Dauley And Eman Akbar
Traditionally, interior designers in the UK were well-heeled, well-connected lady decorators with good posture and expensive handbags, creating interiors for people just like them. One could even go so far as to say ‘Pale, Stale and Female’. It felt like this would never change, but then, in 2020, seemingly out of nowhere, a charity called United in Design appeared with a mission to shine a light on the issue and do something about it! Jeff and Susie welcome Alex Dauley and Eman Akbar from United in Design to talk about the charity, explain what exactly did they set out to do and find out how are they doing it? This episode was recorded at the wonderful showroom of The Rug Company in Chelsea Harbour, London. We are a Wildwood Plus production. Chapters (00:00:00) - The fight for diversity in interior design (00:01:28) - United in Design: The Charity's Journey (00:08:48) - Getting It: The Future of Interior Education (00:10:20) - United Design: What do you do? (00:13:07) - United in Design's journey since its inception (00:15:23) - How many students have been placed in internships? (00:16:38) - The Residential and Hospitality Internships (00:21:05) - The Centre for Career Change Through Mentoring (00:24:23) - The United in Design Alumni (00:25:41) - United in Design: Interiors Media (00:28:00) - Wonders House (00:29:30) - Wonders House Gets the Makeover (00:31:27) - The WowHouse Partnership (00:32:53) - The Rug Company Warehouse Partnership (00:34:08) - The interiors industry's three pillars (00:35:53) - Immigrant internship and mentoring (00:36:56) - UK Interior Designers: The barriers to diverse interests (00:44:09) - Interior Design Business
April 13, 202636 min
Putting The WOW In WOW!house With Claire German, Durgesh Sinh And Benedict Foley
We are all eagerly anticipating WOW!house 2026 which will run from 2nd June until the 2nd July so what better time to take a look at the phenomenon that is WOW!house. From a standing start in 2022, WOW!house has, in 5 short years, grown to become the UK’s premier showcase for luxury interior design talent and style. Going way beyond the mere setting of trends, WOW!house has come to embody the aspirational direction of travel for the whole UK prime residential market. But how did it all begin? Where did the original inspiration for the event come from? And, how has it developed year on year to become the most hotly anticipated event in the London Interior Design Calendar? For this show, recorded in front of a live audience of designers in the Design Club at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, Susie and Jeff are joined by Durgesh Sinh from returning WOW!house sponsor, Nucleus AV, acclaimed interior designer and WOWzer, Benedict Foley, and the woman who launched WOW!house, CEO of the Design Centre, Claire German. We are a Wildwood Plus production. Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Wowhouse (00:01:36) - Interior Decorator at the Tate Modern (00:02:30) - The creative team at Nucleus (00:04:25) - The Wonders House (00:07:07) - The design centre at Zandon House (00:10:29) - Kips Bay and the Other Events (00:10:52) - The Warehouse's first show home (00:13:05) - The First Whale House (00:17:12) - Project Runway: Success (00:18:00) - The World's First Design Event (00:18:49) - Wond House: The Exhibition at 150 (00:23:23) - The Warehouse Alumni's 2nd year (00:26:26) - Wilson: I'm a Wozza and a Wowza (00:27:59) - How do you pick the designers for Warehouse? (00:30:05) - The Warehouse's media room (00:31:47) - What's the Value of Being a Sponsor in Warehouse (00:32:28) - Inside the Science Exhibition 2017 (00:34:23) - Benedict at United in Design (00:36:22) - A Round of Paul Watson
March 13, 202645 min
Why Craft Matters With Natasha Mann, Claire Coles, Louisa Pacifico, Sam Fisher And Katharine Pooley
We live in a mostly mass-produced, machine-made world of globalised banality. Interior spaces from north to south look and feel the same. Yet, as human beings, we revel in our individuality and crave the means to add a personal stamp to the way we live and the places we inhabit. We yearn to possess things that are unique to us and that no one else can have. Artisan-made items created by skilled and loving hands will deliver those special touches that make a room memorable and distinctive, but where should designers go to find these precious pieces? How can craft makers find an appreciative audience for their work? And how can designers best explore and source from the vast range of crafts in existence? To discuss this topic, we're joined by makers, Natasha Mann and Claire Coles, Louisa Pacifico from Future Icons, Sam Fisher from Decorex and internationally renowned interior designer, Katharine Pooley. Recorded in Katharine Pooley Studio in London. A big thank you to our series partner, Decorex Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Interior Design Business (00:01:21) - Three of London's best-known artists and their business (00:02:43) - What is craft in France? (00:04:03) - In the Elevator With Craftspeople (00:05:22) - How to Train to Become a Painter (00:11:57) - How Do You Find an Interior Designer? (00:13:00) - Are Artisan Made Materials Naturally More Expensive? (00:15:12) - Making Spaces at Decorx (00:16:41) - Making Spaces (00:20:40) - Interior Designers Work With Makers (00:23:08) - How to decorate a large house with an online gallery (00:24:52) - Claire's Small Business (00:26:21) - Storytelling in the Art World (00:27:02) - When You're On Your Own (00:27:50) - The Story of Interiors (00:31:39) - Will Your Objects Go to an Art Gallery? (00:32:20) - Bespoke Design: Managing Client Expectations (00:37:26) - The Color of Light (00:37:40) - Where should designers go to find the makers of tomorrow? (00:41:34) - Crafts in the Interior: Future Icon Selects
January 30, 202640 min
What They Don't Teach You at Design School With Laura Hammett, Franky Rousell and Charu Gandhi
As interior design gains ground as a serious career and profession, more and more academic institutions are offering degree and master’s level interior design courses to teach the rudiments of this highly technical subject. But is this enough? Susie and Jeff are joined by three renowned designers - Charu Gandi from Elicyon, Franky Rousell from Jolie Studio and Laura Hammett from Laura Hammett Interiors to discuss whether design schools adequately equip budding designers with the skills they need to take their place in our industry. We explore the the important subjects that they don't teach at design school, and invite our panel to suggest what students and employers should do to identify and plug those gaps. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience of designers at Arte in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Thank you to our series supporters, Decorex 2026. We are a Wildwood Plus production. Chapters (00:00:00) - What Don't They Teach You in Design School? (00:01:45) - Interviewing Designers (00:04:53) - Interviewing: Fit and Hard Work (00:07:04) - How do you test out a candidate's portfolio? (00:12:13) - Have You Got What it Takes to Be a Design Designer? (00:13:16) - Do graduating designers have the skills they need to survive life in an (00:19:46) - Teaching the management of client relationships (00:24:17) - The role of guest lecturers in interior design (00:27:31) - Can Anyone Become an Interior Designer? (00:28:59) - Are Interior Designers Team Players? (00:30:26) - What do you think are the really valuable lessons that they can't (00:36:27) - The Secret to Working As an Interior Designer (00:38:34) - The Importance of Interiors (00:39:33) - The Interior Design Exhibition
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