Podcast Summary: Confessions of an Interior Designer

Episode: "I confess… I gave my client bedbugs"
Host: Caroline Turner
Guests: Erin & Matt Napier (Kismet House)
Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid, humorous, and occasionally chaotic episode, Caroline Turner welcomes Erin and Matt from Kismet House for a deep dive into the unconventional and astonishing realities of the luxury interior design world. The trio discusses the origins and dynamics of Kismet House, reacts to anonymous designer confessions (including a harrowing bedbug incident), and offers practical, heartfelt advice to fellow designers. The episode is filled with memorable anecdotes, unfiltered industry truths, and the kind of designer “gossip” usually reserved for happy hour.

Guest Introduction and Kismet House Origins

[00:04–11:08]

• Erin and Matt’s journey began when Matt, a retired Cal Fire firefighter, and Erin, a stay-at-home mom in a new town, started sharing their fixer-upper journey on Instagram in 2016.

• Erin’s initial intent was finding community, not influencer fame:

  “I didn’t know you could do it as a job...I was just doing it for fun, hoping maybe I’d find clients or friends.” – Erin [02:00]

• As their following grew, brand opportunities knocked—surprisingly at first:

  “That is so exciting when you first get that email: nothing in return, we just want to send you something. You’re like, what?” – Caroline [02:08]

• Matt’s transition from firefighter (after 22 years and PTSD) to project manager/renovator for Kismet House was momentous and challenging:

  “I was crushed. I didn’t know what to do...this is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, and I can’t do it anymore.” – Matt [07:27]

• The pandemic’s timing provided the push to go all-in on the business:

  “The fact that the world was shut down made it easier to make the gamble...what else are you going to do?” – Erin [05:14]

Key dynamic: They attribute their success partly to understanding each other's stressors and communication styles (“When he needs a minute, I walk away...when I need the world to be quiet, he gives me space.” – Erin [06:40]).

Husband-Wife Team: Roles & Workflow

[11:38–18:10]

• Erin is the creative, vision, and content powerhouse (designs, sourcing, editing, social media).

• Matt runs logistics, tech support, and project management; he’s the grounder amidst creative chaos.

• Their workflow now includes management and staff, with clear delegations to preserve creative energy:

  “We work really hard to keep her in the creative side...once it gets too clouded in with the other things, the creativity shuts down.” – Matt [14:18]

• They emphasize mutual respect and partnership—a recurring theme:

  “The value of someone who can make not only what you visualize in design come true, but also understands you emotionally—that’s all you could ever ask for.” – Caroline [17:06]

Industry Realities: Navigating Design, Contractors & Respect

[18:10–20:59]

• Matt’s unique position as both partner and project manager helps bridge the sometimes-contentious gap between contractors and designers.

  “They’re not going to tell him to f*** off. He speaks their language.” – Erin [19:19]

  “You would be shocked how many contractors will not stand behind their product.” – Caroline [18:57]

• Gender bias and respect are openly discussed:

  “Well, and he’s a man...There’s just a bigger level of respect there.” – Erin [19:23]

Personal Questions: How They Met & “Vices”

[20:59–22:52]

• Erin and Matt met on MySpace—self-described “pioneers of online dating”:

  “Our mutual friend Tom set us up. He slid into my DMs before that was a thing.” – Erin [20:19]

• Favorite “vices”: Matt enjoys “a nice little gummy and cooking dinner” [21:05]; Erin is obsessed with Duolingo and her position atop the Diamond League [21:20].

Confession #1: The Paris Antique Sourcing Horror

[24:49–34:15]

• Anonymous confession: Designer shares a harrowing story of antique sourcing in Paris, narrowly escaping a potentially dangerous situation after going alone to an off-site warehouse with a stranger—a $500 bistro table becomes the “ransom” for safe return.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Is this a murder podcast? What’s happening?” – Erin [24:55]
  • “Don’t go to a second location. Don’t light up a room. It’s a life rule.” – Erin [28:04]

• All agree on the critical need for safety protocols when sourcing abroad. Advice includes tracking devices (Airtags in shoes/bags), sharing location, carrying battery packs, and never going to a second location alone.

  “You got so lucky...And I understand—the treasure hunt, the dream of a warehouse full of French antiques—that is absolutely how I would get murdered.” – Erin [30:42]

Confession #2: The Bedbug Rug Debacle [34:27–41:27]

• Confession: An imported custom rug delivered and installed in a client's home brings...bedbugs. The designer is mortified, ultimately refunding the design fee and covering part of the extermination—though vendor blames transport, the trauma lingers.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “I would die. I like, I’m itching thinking about it.” – Caroline [35:42]
  • “I’d rather be kidnapped than have bedbugs—literally, on record.” – Caroline [38:31]

• Key takeaways: Total transparency and accountability, even for things outside your control.

  “It wasn’t technically my fault, but it felt like it was.” – Confessor via Caroline [36:46]

  • New protocol: Every imported textile now goes through professional cleaning.

Kismet House Q&A: Business, Boundaries, & Internet Oddities

How Kismet House Became a Business [41:35–45:29]

• Followers, brand outreach, and client demand made the leap from passion to business clear by 2018; 2020 brought full profitability.

• Discussed struggles with boundaries—free advice requests are overwhelming:

  “You don’t want to ignore people, but it’s too much—there's so many people who need help for it to be viable.” – Caroline [43:03]

  “That is what we had to realize: got to stop giving out all the free advice. Not because you have to pay me...physically cannot.” – Erin [43:25]

Parasocial Relationships, Internet Weirdness [46:19–49:53]

• Erin’s comedic, relatable communication style leads to strong audience connections—and oversharing (sometimes even “dick pics” and "sugar daddy" propositions).

  “You would think there would be one arena on the Internet where we don’t get harassed...Home design should be the one place!” – Caroline [47:43]

  "I've had women in my comment section: 'Tell your husband that, you know, if you ever die, I'm available.' I'm like, what?" – Erin [48:56]

Design Risks: Wins and Fails

[50:05–52:26]

• Erin’s best risk: Wallpaper. Always nervous, always worth it.

  “Take the risk with wallpaper. It always pays off.” – Erin [50:33]

• Worst fails: When she follows “hot” trends instead of instinct (e.g., regretting a trendy red paint color).

Partnership Learnings: Working Together as Spouses

[53:19–57:44]

• Erin is a deeply visual learner—Matt often builds mock-ups and physically holds items up for her.
• Matt must be kept fed during projects; he won’t feed himself or be communicative otherwise ("Do you need to eat?" is code for "you're being a monster!" – Erin [56:21]).
• Matt cannot give “ballpark” numbers: precision or nothing, much to Erin’s exasperation.

“Interiors That Make You Feel”: What Moved Them This Week

[57:46–61:44]

• Erin was struck by a sobering online joke about investing less worry in climate change because present-day political events are so overwhelming.
• Matt was moved by a TikTok from Steve Burns (of Blue’s Clues) on faith and kindness (“Why is it so easy to put faith in something you can’t see, but so hard to be kind to the person right next to you?” – [59:20]), and by watching the kids movie K Pop Demon Hunters with their children.

Where to Find Kismet House

[62:33–63:08]

• On all socials: Kismet House (K I S M E T H O U S E)
• Focus: “Kismet is meant to be in Turkish. The concept is creating spaces that feel meant to be.” – Erin [63:01]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Design Disaster Trauma:

  “I would have to go to therapy. I already do, but my poor therapist would...‘We need to talk about this rug.’” – Caroline [41:11]

• On Industry Realities:

  “You would be shocked how many contractors will not stand behind their product.” – Caroline [18:57]

• On Gender and Authority:

  "He’s a man...there’s just a bigger level of respect there." – Erin [19:23]

Key Takeaways

• Design disasters, personal safety, and contractor respect are everyday realities—prepare, protect yourself, and always be ready for surprises.
• Creative partnerships thrive with clear roles, mutual understanding, and lots of patience (and snacks).
• Building boundaries with clients and followers is crucial for sanity—“Don’t give it all away!”
• Embrace your mistakes as learning opportunities—sometimes what goes wrong is the best story you’ll tell (maybe on a podcast!).