I Confess... I Painted the Town Red

Summary

Confessions of an Interior Designer

Episode: I Confess... I Painted the Town Red
Host: Caroline Turner
Guest: Megan J., Principal Designer, Megan J. Design
Date: January 21, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, host Caroline Turner sits down with Chicago-based designer Megan J. to pull back the curtain on the unpredictable, hilarious, and sometimes shocking side of luxury interior design. From career pivots to outlandish client copycats to paint disasters that nearly tank million-dollar projects, nothing is off-limits. The episode is jam-packed with personal stories, anonymous listener confessions, and honest discussion about the ups, downs, and every shade in between in the high-end interiors world.

---

Meet the Guest: Megan J. (00:01:06 – 00:13:15)

• Background: Fourth career, former pre-med student, fashion industry survivor, clinical social worker, fundraiser, and now thriving designer.

• Path to Interior Design:

  • Moved from fashion and social work into design following a pandemic-induced career rethink.
  • Megan’s psychology and nonprofit backgrounds unexpectedly primed her for client communication and managing tricky personalities.
  • “It's a lot of mirroring... Sometimes people don't actually understand what it is they're communicating until you say it back.” (Megan, 06:03)
  • Real estate connections and “style to sell” sessions snowballed into a steady client base.

• Early Design Education:

  • Completed the New York Institute of Art and Design’s certification (pandemic-era).
  • Confidence in color—“I've always loved color. I've always, like, color has always been really important to me.” (Megan, 08:46)
  • Emphasis on how foundational programs give designers confidence—even if not all skills are taught.

---

Megan's Vice: Genealogy and Wine (14:08 – 18:51)

• When unwinding, Megan confesses to getting “drunk and deep-diving into genealogy” (14:11), tracing her family tree for hours.
• Favorite party fact: She’s met up with genealogists in cemeteries and is plotting to secure Irish citizenship through ancestry.
• “You're even being productive when you're drunk—that’s impressive!” (Caroline, 14:53)
• Both hosts reflect on family heritage, culture, and how history is more meaningful through personal context than rote memorization.

---

Confession #1: The Copycat Client (19:05 – 27:59)

The Story (read by Caroline):

• A designer is thrilled to work with a stylish new client, until the client starts mimicking her look—first the bag, then the haircut, eventually her entire wardrobe and style down to unique, one-off vintage finds.
• The obsession peaks when the client's style completely shifts again—this time to mirror her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
• “She wants to skin you and wear you. Like, this is scary.” (Caroline, 21:19)
• The client never acknowledges the copying, leaving the designer feeling creeped out but trapped by professionalism.

Discussion & Insights:

• Both hosts debate how to address such social boundary-crossing. Megan says she would have had to call it out jokingly (“Do I need to start charging you for styling advice?”—25:05).
• Caroline connects the story to the social media era: “...People are deciding they like someone's aesthetic and they're just co-opting the entire thing.” (24:58)
• The phenomenon touches on identity, insecurity, and the increasingly blurred lines between admiration and imitation.

Notable Quote

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is a bit much.”
— Megan J., 26:21

Penance

• Collective advice: “Just be normal. Why are you being such a freak?” (Caroline, 27:59)
• Megan expresses empathy: “I hope for her sake she finds her own path...and at least acknowledges it when she borrows from others.” (27:30)
• A suggestion: Time spent alone and maybe hiring a stylist—to find her own look rather than absorbing everyone else’s persona.

---

Confession #2: The Red House Disaster (29:30 – 41:55)

The Story (read by Caroline):

• A seasoned designer overseeing a historic estate project is horrified to receive a client text: “Why is our house red?”
• Due to a one-letter error in a color code, the entire house is being painted neon red instead of a deep green. Half the job is done with the wrong color, risking HOA fines and historic district violations.
• The designer pauses work immediately, takes responsibility, and proposes solutions.
• “Thank god for errors & omissions insurance!” (32:18)
• The clients are gracious; disaster is narrowly averted.

Discussion & Takeaways:

• The panic and helplessness designers feel when mistakes happen are universal.
• “Business owners, the only thing you can do is bring solutions—not just apologies.” (Megan, 33:34)

Notable Quote

"Bad shit happens, but the way you handle it is what matters...How you solve, how you move forward is what people remember—not the initial problem."
— Caroline Turner, 40:05

• Both hosts discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations with clients—that things will inevitably go wrong, and it’s the process of fixing it that builds trust.

Lighthearted Digression: HOAs and Lightbulbs

• Caroline jokes about lightbulb temperature as a neighborhood issue:
  “If I was HOA president, I'd make everyone use 2700 Kelvin.” (34:32)

Penance

• Reward for the designer: “You deserve a vacation—sans work phone.” (39:59)
• The lesson: Be upfront, communicate, and “wrap it up in a bow” for the client.

---

Personal & Industry Conversations (42:05 – 61:17)

Megan’s Wallpaper Collection (42:16 – 47:22)

• Launching a collection with French brand Isadore Le Roi inspired by New England coastal motifs, including panoramic murals and Nantucket basket weaves.
• Megan collaborated closely, sending real flowers as references and working with three artists.
• “You had a previous relationship, so there was already trust.” (Caroline, 47:07)
• The project will debut at Paris’s Deco Off.

Creativity, Color, and Challenging Conventions (49:40 – 55:13)

• Megan is known for her brave use of color and pattern mixing, though her base style is rooted in tradition.
• “I’m just a little bit braver when it comes to playing with colors and whimsy.” (Megan, 50:05)
• Caroline notes Megan’s work flips expectations through unexpected color and texture choices.
• Both agree that color sense and the drive to create unique spaces are innate qualities for designers.
• Trust between designer and client is crucial: “You hire me to push you—so when I do, remember this.” (Caroline, 53:53)

---

Megan’s Renovation and Reflections on Business Ownership (55:16 – 60:24)

• Megan’s favorite room in her own home is the attic bedroom: “I love a room that feels like a storybook.” (55:27)
• Both celebrate the joys and challenges of running a design firm, especially the satisfaction of business ownership and work/life integration.
• “It’s lit a fire under my ass, but in a good way.” (Megan, 56:50)
• Chicago's supportive design community is contrasted with the status-focused culture on the East Coast.

---

Final Reflections: What Made You Feel? (60:35 – 62:44)

• Megan shares a touching story: Her young daughter recently told her she wants to be “a mommy and a designer,” because she sees Megan doing both.
• “Not just that she said she wants to be a mommy… it’s the fact that she thinks she can do both.” (Megan, 61:15)
• Both reflect on generational shifts—in work, motherhood, and the importance of visible role models.

---

Key Takeaways

• The design world is full of unexpected challenges—what matters is how you respond.
• Personal style can be a surprisingly fraught territory—boundaries, flattery, and the pitfalls of imitation.
• Career pivots, especially from outside creative fields, bring valuable people skills and resilience.
• Brave design choices, especially with color and pattern, come from innate creative instincts (and sometimes, childhood tantrums over lava lamps).
• Building a business that fulfills both creative and analytic drives is uniquely satisfying, especially when you can see its positive impact on the next generation.

---

Notable Quotes

• On mirroring in client management:
  “Sometimes people don't even mean what they said until you say it back and they reanalyze it…”
  — Caroline Turner, 06:03

• On tricky clients:
  “She wants to skin you and wear you. Like, this is scary.”
  — Caroline Turner, 21:19

• On mistakes:
  “Bad shit happens, but the way you handle it is what matters.”
  — Caroline Turner, 40:05

• On innate creative vision:
  "It's totally a brain thing...I actually get chills when I feel like something really comes together."
  — Caroline Turner, 51:36

• On motherhood and career:
  "My daughter told me…she's gonna be a mommy and a designer. It's not just that she said she wants to be a mommy or designer. It's that she thinks she can do both."
  — Megan J., 61:15

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:01:06 – Megan’s winding career journey
• 08:40 – Transition to interior design during the pandemic
• 14:08 – Confession: Megan’s genealogy deep dives as a vice
• 19:05 – Confession #1: The copycat client
• 29:32 – Confession #2: The red house disaster
• 42:16 – Megan’s wallpaper collection: the creative process
• 49:40 – Challenging design conventions and talking color
• 55:16 – Owning an old home as a designer
• 56:29 – The highs and surprises of running a business
• 60:35 – What made Megan feel: parenting and role modeling

---

Where to Find Megan J.

• Instagram: @meganjdesign
• TikTok: @meganjdesign (not active, but the handle is there)

---

This entertaining and insightful episode is essential listening for anyone curious about the reality of luxury design, dealing with difficult clients, or following an unexpected creative calling. The stories are raw, real, and just a little bit outrageous—exactly as promised.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Confessions of an Interior Designer. I'm your host, Caroline Turner. Here we talk through the crazy stories that they certainly don't tell you in design school, because, let's face it, every space has its sins. Are you ready to hear Confession? Hi, everyone. Today we're joined by Megan J. A designer who blends bold color, global inspiration, and a love for pieces with real history. She's the founder of her namesake studio, known for interiors that are joyful, personal, and full of personality. When she's not designing, you'll often find her hunting for vintage treasures around Chicago with her kids in tow. Welcome to Confessions. Thank you so much for being here.

[B]

Thank you for having me.

[A]

I'm so excited.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

It's going to be really, really good. We've obviously run into each other at events and we've been at the same things, roundtables and things like that. But I'm excited to get to do a one on one.

[B]

I know it's a great way to get to know each other.

[A]

Absolutely. Yeah. Just on mic, when everyone can hear.

[B]

No pressure.

[A]

No pressure at, um. Okay, so before we get into the confessions, tell me how you got here.

[B]

Oh, man, it's been a long road.

[A]

I love to hear that because it is for most people I know, like, it's really, like, there's lots of pivots in this industry.

[B]

Yeah. It's fast been fascinating to hear them on your podcast. Like, truly, like, everybody has their own trajectory. Yeah. So for me, like, this is my fourth career.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

That's incredible.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're like.

[B]

Yeah. No, I mean, like, I say that, but like, at the same time, like, I should have just done this from the start. That's how I kind of feel, you.

[A]

Know, especially once you find the thing that you're. You feel like you're meant to be doing and you're really good at. It's hard because you're like, wait, what was I doing before? Why was I?

[B]

Yeah. And I would say a lot of designers, like, we have probably always been doing this in some way. You know, whether you had a dollhouse that you were designing or, you know, choosing your own pink color in your bedroom or, you know, like. Yeah, I was doing it for years.

[A]

Always. Yeah. It's like innate, I feel like, at that point. But you don't really realize that it can turn into an actual care.

[B]

No. And I'm from a family of all doctors, so there was a little. There was an expectation to, at the very least, explore that as an avenue. So, Yeah, I wouldn't say that was one of my careers, but I studied. I was pre med in college, which did not last very long because I had, like, lab at 8:00am on Tuesday.

[A]

Yeah, but you have to be incredibly smart, though, to be pre med. I mean, that's, you know, clearly you had some.

[B]

It didn't last. I don't know. I didn't make the cut. But.

[A]

But that's not because of your smarts. I think it's. That's because you knew it wasn't right.

[B]

Yeah. And my brothers were both going in there, like, they were in residency at the same time. And I was just like, I don't want to do this.

[A]

That looks like it sucks.

[B]

You really, really, really need to be committed.

[A]

You have to, like, want it to do that.

[B]

I mean, I. It's a complete.

[A]

Could not be commitment.

[B]

So I moved to New York right after college. I just knew I wanted to live in New York. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I grew up in Connecticut, and we would always go into the city and I loved it. I just felt so, like, it was so alive and energizing. So two weeks. I think it was like two weeks after I graduated, I moved to New York.

[A]

I mean, every young adult's dream.

[B]

I didn't have a job. I don't know what I was thinking. But my poor. I went in and worked with a broker to find a place. Also, looking back at it, I was like, what was I thinking? I mean, I literally go into New York City by myself. And if you know anything about the rental market in New York, it's insanely competitive, expensive. I don't know. I had a lot of gumption. So I did it and found a place in Murray Hill.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, it's basically an extension of college.

[A]

Yeah. But it's become very chi chi now. Like, I feel like Murray Hill has turned into Not.

[B]

Not. There are a lot of dive bars. And I'm glad social media didn't fully exist at that.

[A]

I say that all the time. Yeah. Thank God I was born.

[B]

Yep, yep. Yeah. So it was like 2006. So it was like, right when, like, Facebook was starting. So a lot of these things do not exist, but are documented, rather. So I worked in. I got a job in fashion. So I knew, like, I wanted to go for it. And unfortunately, it was at the same time as Devil Wears Prada came out. Yeah, sure. And I was an assistant. Oh, my God. And I wore this woman who thought she was like, oh, what's her face My gosh.

[A]

Miranda Priestly. Yeah.

[B]

And so she would have me stay at the office for no good reason until like 10 o'.

[A]

Clock.

[B]

Power trip. Totally. She would have me go to Duane Reade and get tampons at like midnight. It was just like, what am I doing? What am I doing? And I remember there was one day where they asked me. They had like a samples closet and they asked me to make all of the hangers go in the same direction. No, I was like, I need to leave right now. I. This is. I cannot. I have a degree, you know, what am I doing with my life? You know, so.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Yeah. The natural next step was to go to grad school because I.

[A]

Well, if you don't know what to do, go to grad school, obviously.

[B]

And I went and got a. I got a master's in. In clinical social work. Wow. So. Which comes in handy, I would imagine.

[A]

It does. Think about it. I say all the time, I need a psychology degree.

[B]

Yeah. Think about how many times you've dealt with like a client situation. Right.

[A]

I'm sure you can de. Escalate so well.

[B]

It's a lot of mirroring. Mirroring.

[A]

I can't even say interesting.

[B]

Like, Sally, what I'm hearing from you is that, you know, having like, high end cabinetry is. Is really important. But Joe, like, you want to, you know, do a mix. Mm.

[A]

That's actually a really great tip. That's a. I'm going to start using that of like. Yes, I understand.

[B]

It could be like, patronizing, but, like, sometimes I feel like people don't actually understand what it is they're commun.

[A]

No, I think you're right about that because sometimes if you parrot something back to someone, they'll be like, well, maybe actually I meant like, they don't even mean what they didn't mean what they just said until you say it back and they like reanalyze it and they're like, oh, actually.

[B]

Or no, that's not exactly it.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

You know, I think this is what is important to me or whatever, you know, that's.

[A]

I mean, a good piece of info right at the beginning. I love it.

[B]

It's come in handy.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

That's what I tell my dad. Anyways.

[A]

It was completely worth it.

[B]

Yes, there are transferable skill entirely. But I. I graduated from grad school during the recession, so I couldn't find a job, and so I went and worked for university doing development, like, not fundraising and alumni relations, and went to school there for nonprofit management.

[A]

My Goodness.

[B]

And started working for a nonprofit doing fundraising.

[A]

And. Wow. Which is a whole separate world. I mean, that's a. Yeah. I don't know a ton about it, but I've heard bits and pieces, and it's.

[B]

Yeah. But also, like, very transferable skills. I was working with. I was fundraising primarily with lawyers, so, like, having to have, you know, like.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And I'm married to a lawyer.

[A]

My parents are attorney, so I completely understand.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Being able to have a conversation with a professional, one on one. Yeah, absolutely.

[A]

If I wanted something growing up, I had to make a PowerPoint presentation and show my work and, like, prove why that one.

[B]

Make a case. I want it to make a case.

[A]

Hello. It's helped me more than anything else. I can talk pretty much anyone into anything at this point because I learned it from manipulating my parents.

[B]

Well, my parents. Sorry. Of course, they're like, of course you went into fundraising because you cut your teeth at, like, on asking us for money. I was like, yeah, I got a lot of naturals. I'm a natural, guys. But so, yeah, so I did that. And then we moved to Chicago in 2017, and I was doing that remotely, but I had my son in 2018 and decided to take a break and think about what I wanted to do and also spend time with him. Fast forward to the pandemic. And, you know, we were all having these, like, you know, existential crises, Right. Yes. So that was my moment to have my little crisis and be like, what am I doing? What do I. What is it? What is it that, like, really gives me joy? And at that time in 2020, I had my daughter. So I decided to do a certificate program, which I know a lot of other guests talk about, which I love.

[A]

And I think it's such valuable information because it's very accessible.

[B]

Very. Even in a pandemic.

[A]

Yes. Did you also do the Art Institute?

[B]

No. I did the New York Institute of Art and Design. Yes.

[A]

Nice. You felt. Did you. Were you happy with the program? Did you like your experience?

[B]

I know Abigail, I think she mentioned, like, it gave her confidence, and I think that was it for me. I knew I had a design voice and kind of that innate ability, especially with color. Like, I've always loved color. I've always, like, color has always been really important to me. I have a lot of stories in my childhood about having tantrums over color. Like, literally, if I didn't get, like, the lava lamp of my dreams, all was lost.

[A]

I relate to this so hard. Yes. I'm the same way yeah. Or was the same way.

[B]

Yeah. So it was a good experience. It wasn't, you know, it was a good foundational experience.

[A]

Sure, sure. I mean, I went to a four year design school and I still feel like half that shit is like, you know, not necessary.

[B]

Some things can't be taught too, you.

[A]

Know, it's also design schools, I've said this before, they're not prepping designers to own their own businesses. They're prepping Gensler employees.

[B]

Right, right, right, yes.

[A]

Design school is not even necessarily giving you the skills you need to be operating a residential design firm.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You know, I feel like it's. But to your point, it gives you the foundational confidence to be able to know what you're talking about, which is obviously very important.

[B]

Yeah. So for me, it kind of, you know, just opened up the opportunity to even think about it. Could I do this? What would it look like? How do I want to do it? You know, it just got me thinking about it again, like, because I hadn't thought it was a career. So it was a great. Yeah, for me it was a good experience.

[A]

And how did you decide? Did you decide to immediately go out on your own or were you planning, like, did you want to get some time under your belt or how did you decide to sort of do that journey?

[B]

So I mentioned to our realtor that I was taking this and she had seen what I'd done to our house in Chicago. She was like, why don't you, like, why don't number one, you come and do stuff in my house? And then she referred me to clients and I started doing. Because during the pandemic, the real estate market was nuts.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It was crazy.

[A]

I started my business June of 2019 and it could not have been a better time because immediately influx. That I would not have gotten that young otherwise.

[B]

No. And I've heard that from a lot of.

[A]

It was like a. Yeah. A lucky break in timing. It just was. And I feel like what a great time to be like start in this industry. I mean, also terrifying. But like.

[B]

Yeah, well, yeah, I just went with it. And.

[A]

And it does. I mean, if we, we learned how to like feed to the fire in Covid. If you can be a designer in Covid, you can pretty much do it any other time.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

So I feel like it's like we got the heart.

[B]

That's true. Yeah, that's very true.

[A]

Like we learned how to like all of the things that I feel like are actually the really nitty gritty, difficult logistical stuff.

[B]

Project management.

[A]

Yeah. The amount of time that sunk into that, I feel like it's just. But it was a good time to, like, practice.

[B]

Yeah. So she had me, I did them. I, I. What did I call them? I called them. I called these sessions style to sell sessions.

[A]

Oh, nice.

[B]

Where I would just go into somebody's house that they were selling a home, and I would say, get rid of this. Paint this smart. Move this around. And they listened to me and their house is sold. Their houses probably would have sold anyway, given the market. But I think I built enough trust with these people that then they hired me to do their next house. So it kind of cascaded.

[A]

That's the key. Yeah.

[B]

Cascaded down from there. Amazing. But then after doing that for a few months, I realized, like, I do need firm experience. So I worked for a firm for a couple years just to, like, get that. Get that chunk of solid. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. And then when did you officially start?

[B]

It'll be two years in January that I will have restarted my own business.

[A]

Amazing. And how does it feel?

[B]

It feels like a blessing. Like just constant fun, constant activity, energy. Yeah. I really loved it.

[A]

That's amazing. I feel the same way. We're very lucky to get to do this as a job.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

I feel like I say that most days of the week. There are occasional days where I'm like this. I feel like that's with every job.

[B]

Business owner, too.

[A]

Yeah. When you're dealing with profits and legislative, that side is less fun. But the designs.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, my God. Couldn't be better. Couldn't be better. Couldn't be better. Here's a confession I know a lot of you can relate to. For years, I told myself I had my project management under control. Sure, I had 30 different tabs, docs, and emails open at once. And yes, I'd occasionally panic, search for a specification at midnight. But I was still managing. Right then I tried Programma, and I realized I wasn't managing. I was just surviving. And barely. When I demoed the platform, I was most impressed by their incredible AI web clipper that pulls every single spec from a supplier's webpage straight into your project schedule. We're talking product details, dimensions, pricing, finishes, everything captured in seconds instead of the hours we used to spend copying and pasting into spreadsheets. It saves me so much time, and most importantly, it's given me back the headspace to actually focus on design instead of drowning an admin. So here's my advice. If you're serious about streamlining your design business and Actually reclaiming some time in your day. Head to programa.design and use code CONFESSIONS25 to get 25% off your annual subscription. Trust me, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. What is a vice you partake in?

[B]

Okay, this is really random. Okay. Just generally.

[A]

I'm a nerd.

[B]

I'm a nerd. I'm sure that's not shocking at all. I have this thing where if I have too much wine, I will go down a black hole about genealogy. I cannot drink. Like, literally. You want to get into a conversation of where I existed, like, where my family came from, like, hundreds of years ago? Give me, like, two glasses of wine and I will. I. It. It's too much. It's too much. I had a dinner party on Saturday night, and at the end, I was like, I did not need to go into everything I went into. So, yeah, it's very random. That is totally my advice.

[A]

I'm obsessed with that. That's so good. I mean, you're even being productive when you're drunk. Like, how is that? That's.

[B]

Wow. I don't know. Wow.

[A]

Amazing. It's so funny because Claire has a family member who did the same, and now they're going to get EU citizenship because of it. Which, like, if that makes the case for looking into your genealogy. My goodness.

[B]

No. I'm trying to get my mom to do it because her mom, My mom's grandmother, was Irish, and so I think my mom can get it, and I'm like, but then maybe I can inherit it. No, I have a whole. I mean. No, no, no, no. When I was pregnant, like, some people do, like, get obsessed about nesting and, like, you know, designing the nursery, I literally was like, where do I come from?

[A]

I understand that.

[B]

I needed to know where this child originated. Yeah. Like, I needed. I need. I.

[A]

That is an interesting point, when you're about to bring a child into the world.

[B]

It was weird.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I have been guilty of meeting random genealogists in random cemeteries in upstate New York. Like. Like, the shit is weird. And I will talk all about it when I'm drunk.

[A]

Honestly, I think this is fascinating. And I'm gonna get you drunk, so. In Paris, so you can tell me all about.

[B]

It's really not that interesting. I find it fascina. Fascinating.

[A]

Clearly.

[B]

Clearly. But, yeah, no, it's.

[A]

I mean, I understand that instinct. Cause I feel like I have no culture outside of, like, being American.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Because no one from my family is like. Like, you know, if you're Italian, like, you're Italian. Like, even if you're not totally, like, five generations removed, you still have that culture.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

Like, the only culture I really feel like I have is Southern culture.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

But, like. Like, my mom is, I think, English and Irish and, like. But we don't really know. You know, no one is. My dad is Native American and also Irish, so it's like, we know a little bit about that, but I don't feel like I have any. Like, you're not.

[B]

You don't feel like. Yeah.

[A]

You're not tied to anything except for South Georgia. So I could see myself also getting into that and just trying to figure out, like, where it all comes from, because it is. It's fascinating.

[B]

I think it's fascinating. I always hated history because I think the history classes, because it was so much memorization, and I felt like they didn't put things into context.

[A]

Like, tell me a story. Don't ask me the date. If you tell me some gossip, I will remember that shit.

[B]

Or, yeah, it's like, oh, so and so. So birthed a child, and then they died, and it was a plague.

[A]

So much of history just telling people plague.

[B]

It's like, you know, and hardship and, like, you know, people dying and surviving and. Yeah, you don't learn about history. Like, to me, it was always done in a vacuum. Right.

[A]

Like, I think you're right about.

[B]

It happened in Boston, Massachusetts, in 17. Blah, blah, blah. There was so much other shit going on. And so, yeah, I think if you attach, like, yourself to it again, like, sorry, I'm, like, going way.

[A]

No, no, no. I love this. I'm living for this right now. Sorry if y' all are bored, but.

[B]

Oh, man. Maybe I should start a podcast on genealogy.

[A]

I think you should.

[B]

No, I shouldn't. No, I shouldn't. No.

[A]

No one tag something on.

[B]

No one would listen at all.

[A]

I don't think that's true.

[B]

No. They can just come to my house and I'll have a glass of wine.

[A]

It's like.

[B]

You know what it's like? It's like drunk history.

[A]

Have you ever watched that? I love drug history.

[B]

I'm like, that.

[A]

That's not a bad thing. I think that's entertaining.

[B]

It's not. I don't think I could. I just. I'm like, you know, when you. I don't really drink that much. I'm, like, saying all this, like, I like such a drinker, but, like, literally, I. I'm just envisioning myself at this, like, dinner party and, like, looking back, and I'm like, oh, my God. Like, I should. I didn't read the room. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just in my mind being like, yeah, no, they glazed over. Yeah. No, this was so.

[A]

There's nothing worse than when you've lost the room, but you keep going and you're like. And I know they still want to hear it.

[B]

Like, oh, yeah. No, no. Like, yeah, yeah. Oh, my gosh. I'm not gonna. I will stop.

[A]

That was an incredible vice. I'm obsessed.

[B]

It's a unique one.

[A]

I mean, I always say I need to add one to my list that I don't really have to add. I will say, you're welcome.

[B]

You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome.

[A]

Okay, let's get into this. Get into this. I had a client a couple years ago who hired me to remodel her home. It was a straightforward project, and I thought we clicked pretty well, so I was excited to work with her. We met a couple of times to walk through the plans, talk about materials, fabrics, all the normal early stage stuff. She seemed to really respond to my design style, so the whole vibe was easy and enjoyable. Then one day in one of our first in person meetings, she casually asked where I'd gotten my bag. It was this adorable green Chloe bag that I'd had for six years. It's not the most typical choice, but it fits my style, and it's one of those things that makes me happy. I told her where it was from without thinking twice. Why wouldn't I?

[B]

Right?

[A]

That would be weird. If you gatekept where your bag is from.

[B]

Why are you asking?

[A]

Yeah. But also, yeah. And then, I kid you not, at our very next meeting, she walked in holding the same bag. Not similar, the same. The only difference was the shade. Because mine was a discontinued color. I actually laughed when I saw it and said, oh, wow, you got the bag. She laughed like this was the most normal thing in the world. In that moment, I didn't think much of it. I just thought, okay, she likes the bag. That's flattering, a little odd, maybe, socially, but harmless. Which, like, yeah, I feel like I'd probably think the same thing. Then a couple weeks later, she showed up with her haircut into the exact same style as mine, a French bob. I've had that haircut for years, and it's not exactly common. It's giving fleabag. It's one of those things you either commit to or don't. And she hadn't just cut it. She had it styled the exact Same way I slightly tousled at the front and very clean through the back.

[B]

Right? Yeah. Okay.

[A]

She asked me if I liked it, and I said something like, oh, wow, it looks great. Short hair is the best.

[B]

I can speak from experience.

[A]

Exactly. I would know. And I just moved on. But in my head, I was thinking, did she take a photo of me to the salon?

[B]

Oh, my God, that's true.

[A]

But like, yeah, right.

[B]

I probably would also think that it's not like something you can just describe.

[A]

You would have to be like, I want her haircut.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

So those two things could be written off as a coincidence if she hadn't started showing up in my clothes.

[B]

What? This is weird.

[A]

Really weird. Really single white female vibe. Like, this is. She wants to skin you and wear you. Like, this is scary. I should mention I have a pretty specific personal style. Eclectic, colorful, a little vintage, a little quirky. I get comments on it often. So when she started showing up in my clothes, there was definitely something weird going on. It started with shoes. I had a pair of red vintage boots I'd found at a flea market the year before. They're not something you'd stumble upon twice.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

This is the thing.

[B]

It's not like. It's like, hey, I'm wearing a J. Crew sweater and the chick goes to see a J. Crew. No, it's like she is searching.

[A]

She is becoming you.

[B]

But it takes effort.

[A]

Okay, yeah, she's working for this. Which, fascinating at this point, the amount of time you're spending on this. You could have designed your own home. But okay, then the earrings. I love big sculptural earrings. And suddenly she did too. This beautiful coat that my mother in law had bought me last Christmas that I loved for its funky pattern. She wore it to a site visit. I don't know how she did it, but somehow she began replicating my wardrobe almost perfectly. And she didn't even try to hide it. She would ask me where things were from, then show up in the exact item a week later.

[B]

I wish the podcast could show my face. I feel I'm like, very confused. This is very thorough. Okay, very.

[A]

And like, what do you do when you see your client get out of the car and you're like, they look like me?

[B]

I feel like, okay, sorry, continue on.

[A]

No, no, no. But there's so much to talk about.

[B]

I will share my thoughts.

[A]

Obviously, it got to the point where I'd catch myself thinking, is she waiting for me to notice? Do I comment on this? By the end of the project, walking through the site with her felt completely ridiculous. Same coat, same bag. This is insane. Same coat, same bag, same haircut. We looked like twins. To the point that one day one of the contractors laughed and said, are you two coordinated today?

[B]

Okay. Wow. If a contractor is noticing that, okay.

[A]

She shrugged and said, great minds think alike.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. I remember standing there thinking, no, this is not green minds think alike. This is identity theft. I ignored it as best I could because what else is there to do? I can't just send her a cease and desist or file a restraining order. Even though it certainly felt like I was being stalk. There were so many times that I wanted to call her out, but she was my client and she was paying me for the project. I had to suck it up and be professional. When the project wrapped, I'd occasionally check her social media out of curiosity, and I kid you not, her style had shifted once again. Gone was the French Bob and the colorful clothes. In their place was a completely different aesthetic. Almost like an old money, maybe east coast style. And when I scrolled a little deeper. I have chills. I realized the new style was eerily similar to a woman she posted with often. Turns out her brother had just gotten engaged and the woman was her future sister in law. Oh, wow.

[B]

This is wild. I don't know, there's something about like, I. I'm so curious what her other.

[A]

Like, you brought.

[B]

Bring up the brother. Whatever. I'm. I was thinking about, like, what other relationships does this person have? What are you compensating for, like, what is going on that.

[A]

Well, it's interesting because I feel like we're kind of getting. Sorry, not to get too esoteric, but we're kind of getting to this point in like our society where it's like, I'll see on social media all the time, what shoes are we wearing this season? It's like, what do you mean? You're wearing shoes that you like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That you want to use. I feel like it's gotten to the point where, like, because of social media, where like, people are deciding they like someone's aesthetic and they're just co opting the entire thing.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

It's fucking insane to do it to someone in person. I mean, it's insane both ways.

[B]

I think I would have had to say something.

[A]

I think I would have to say something.

[B]

I think I would have. I. I think I would have made like light of it and would have said something like, oh my gosh, this. What are the. What are the chances? Wait a second. This is the same as mine. Do I have to start charging you for styling advice? Like, I think I would have.

[A]

Yeah. Honestly, that's.

[B]

Something a little bit sarcastic like that. And see, because maybe that would have led to like, oh, I just love your style so much and I don't know what my style is.

[A]

Or maybe you could have figured out the underlying. Yeah, and I do think that's generous, like, to think that maybe she just isn't. Doesn't have her own path. But, like, no, it's creepy to then also change so, like, so hard. Right. To a completely different aesthetic in like, a seemingly short amount of time because you're spending time with a different person.

[B]

It's like Rosamund pike and Gone Girl. I don't know why I'm thinking of that movie.

[A]

She absorbs other people's personalities like a sponge and then becomes them. Like, that is kind of a scary person.

[B]

Yes. I think, I think that's really.

[A]

Also. Imagine marrying into that family. That's her sister in law.

[B]

Is it? We don't know if she's married. This person.

[A]

I don't know if this woman is married, but she says, my brother got engaged. So the woman was her future sister in law.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, you know, what's the saying? Like, replication is the nicest form of flattery.

[A]

Oh, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Yes.

[B]

Thank you, Claire. There's this saying, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is a bit much.

[A]

This is more than that. This is more than flattery. I've had clients be like, like, I love your bag, and then show up with that bag. That's happened to me a couple times.

[B]

But then how. Or they acknowledge it.

[A]

Of course I loved your bag. I went out and bought it. I hope you don't care. Whatever.

[B]

Like, I have to go look it up or totally. And also, that's a normal interaction. You do it with your friends.

[A]

You do that with anybody. You know, sometimes I'll be like, wait, would you care if I also buy those shoes? We won't wear them on the same day. You know, like, but you have to be normal about it.

[B]

No, it's absolutely. I think I feel like that happens all the time, like, with friends. Like, oh, my God, I love your sweater. Where did you get it? And they say. And then you're like, like, ooh, I'm gonna. You know, and then you go get.

[A]

It and then you tell your friend, like, yes, totally. I feel like, oh, they like the thing. I like, I have good taste. Like, that is flattering. Becoming Me, The French Bob was such a commitment.

[B]

That's such a commitment.

[A]

A French Bob grow out is. No, it's such a huge, really gnarly.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's time. That's. That's time.

[A]

My God. Okay. Some penance.

[B]

I hope for this woman's sake that she finds her own path. Yeah. I find, you know, maybe it's like she's had an identity crisis or crises in her life. Yeah. Like, I find. I hope for her sake that she finds her own path. And aesthetic or is, you know, if she does want to dress in a way that other people dress, at least, like, vocalize and use it. Say it in, like, a complimentary way, like we're saying, because it.

[A]

Just be normal.

[B]

Just be normal.

[A]

Why are you being such a freak?

[B]

Yeah, just be normal.

[A]

That's the penance. Don't be a freak.

[B]

I hope she's normal. I hope she is normal.

[A]

We hope she eventually can be normal. Yeah. I think that she needs a significant amount of time alone. Okay. Because I don't think she has any idea who she is as a person.

[B]

That's the thing. Yeah. Right.

[A]

And I actually have never understood when people say that, like, I don't know who I am. What do you mean? Like, what do you mean? You're you. Like, you created you. Like, that, to me, is such a foreign concept, but that's clearly what is happening here. But I feel like the only way to, like, learn about yourself is to be with yourself without the influence of other people.

[B]

Totally. Yes.

[A]

And, like, read and take in other forms of media that are not just trying to, like, co op someone else's outward appearance.

[B]

Or she could hire someone.

[A]

Yeah. Hire a stylist to be like.

[B]

Hire a stylist to be like. I don't know what my stylist does. Exactly. She hired a designer to be like this. The same thing. Exactly. That's.

[A]

Yeah, I think that's what she actually. Yes, that's her penance. She needs the stylist. And honestly. Sorry. To that stylist. She ends up looking at, like, a carbon copy.

[B]

Like the stylist. She'll be like a Rachel zoe walking around 1000%. Like the hippie hair. Anyway.

[A]

The long, long way.

[B]

Yeah. Like the. Like the sunglasses.

[A]

Sometimes the flower crown is still in 2025 for some unknown reason.

[B]

Oh, my God. That would be. Too funny. Too funny. Too funny. Too funny.

[A]

Let's do it. Confession. Number two. Number two.

[B]

Number two.

[A]

Number two. Number two. After 25 years in Interior design, you'd think I'd be ready for anything. I've had water damage disasters, layout nightmares, and last minute client changes, but there's one incident that still makes my stomach drop. It was a close call that almost turned my dream project into a public nightmare. It was an 18th century estate, meticulously restored over decades. The clients were particular, but in a way that worked well for the project. We were in the final stages of exterior painting. Everything had been planned down to the last detail, or so I thought. The house was supposed to be a beautiful deep shade of green. Inspired by their forested setting over a weekend that the clients were in the area, they stopped by to see the progress. I wasn't on site. And then my phone buzzed. Why is our house red?

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

My stomach dropped. I clicked on the notification right away, and to my shock and horror, found myself staring at a picture of a half painted house that was in fact neon red.

[B]

Neon red?

[A]

That's what it's saying.

[B]

Whoa. Okay.

[A]

At first I thought the supplier had sent the wrong paint or mixed up two orders. Or maybe it could be the primer, because that's happened to me before where they put the primer down and you're like, sorry, why is this hot pink? Or whatever it is. And then of course, but neon red. I have an upper.

[B]

Not seen that it's not green.

[A]

I could have sworn I triple checked the swatch. I had approved a specific dark green, and I was near a heart attack at this point.

[B]

Ugh. I feel for this person already.

[A]

The panic that sets in.

[B]

Stomach is in my butt. You know what I mean?

[A]

Insane. Like, oh my God. You're like, breathe, box breathing. At this point, I dig into all the paperwork, emails, and confirmations, and then I saw it. One tiny letter in the color code had been wrong.

[B]

Oh, shit. Oh.

[A]

That tiny mistake had turned the earthy green into this awful tomato color. Bright, jarring, completely wrong for the house. And to make things worse, a color that would have violated the neighborhood's historic district regulations. Absolutely. Let's add that on.

[B]

Oh, yeah, piss off the old ladies too. Oh, God.

[A]

God forbid we could have been fined, forced to repaint, and left with a home that looked like a giant neon barn. I called the crew right away and told them to pause the paint job, even though it was already over halfway done. Half the house was covered in this bright red. And I just kept staring at the horrific pictures as I tried to think through the next steps. They weren't happy, but that was the least of my concerns. Then I called the clients. I apologized over and over letting them know that I would bear the cost of correcting it. I reassured them that the mistake would be fixed quickly and that I would personally oversee the repainting to make sure the house came out exactly as intended. The next few days were hectic. I coordinated with the paint supplier to see if anything could be done, and they weren't much help. Ultimately, this was on me, and I personally oversaw the repainting, making sure every inch matched the approved shade. Thank God for errors and omissions. Insurance. The clients, thankfully, were incredibly gracious. Although I'm sure they'll never forget the weekend their beautiful estate turned into a cherry red spectacle for the entire neighborhood.

[B]

Oh, it's like. And she wasn't there. You know, she was probably there on other days.

[A]

Yeah, of course. It's the weekend.

[B]

It's the day you're not there. I feel like that happens so often. It's so frustrating every time.

[A]

You can go to a job site every two weeks. It looks perfect.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Your client goes one time on a weekend.

[B]

I know. And they see something no matter what.

[A]

It's just the way of the universe sometimes. And it's so frustrating.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

I mean, clearly they handled this beautifully.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I was worried that there was gonna.

[B]

Be something about the clients. I know, Me too.

[A]

Like, thank God. The clients were just sort of like, I mean, it sounds like repaint it and everything will be okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I do think, like, from experience, the way that clients respond to things can sort of make or break the situation. And of course, you can't rely on that. But it certainly does add or subtract a significant amount of stress. Absolutely. If your client is losing their mind, it's a bit of a higher. Feels like a bit of a higher stakes situation than if the clients are a bit more reasonable.

[B]

Well, it's sounding too like she went to them with a solution. Yes.

[A]

Which is obviously the key.

[B]

Always helps. Yes. Rather than being like, oh, my God, your house. I'm so sorry. I'll get it fixed.

[A]

We'll figure it out.

[B]

Yeah. You'd be like, like, here's the plan. We will make it right. I will pay for it. It will happen on X date. Like, just wrap it up in a bow. And they're like, okay.

[A]

And. Because what can they really do? I mean, they can still be upset, but of course, of course, you know, it's not going to necessarily change. Move the needle in any way.

[B]

Unless, like, the old, like, HOA ladies came running out, like, you know, and finding God almighty.

[A]

I can Only imagine how.

[B]

Oh, my gosh, did you see that thing going around on Instagram? It was an HOA meeting, and this woman was talking about how cold light bulbs are offensive to the neighborhood. And, oh, gosh, I wish I remember what she said, but they say. They say, go away. And something else. And she said, warm light bulbs say welcome and hospitality. I mean, it was. She was dead serious, too. It was this stupid hoa.

[A]

I have a confession to me.

[B]

Oh, boy.

[A]

If I was my HOA president, I would make everyone use 2700 Kelvin. Fair enough, fair enough. Like, if I was president of the.

[B]

World, would you describe them? Would you describe them with adjectives or adjectives?

[A]

Oh, my God, that's insane.

[B]

No, that was hilarious about it. It was like. And she was so adamant. She's like, you know, cold light bulbs say get away. And so, you know, like, it was like, wow, this is what happens in the suburbs somewhere. Yeah.

[A]

There's no. You have nothing else better to do? There's. Surely. She doesn't listen to my podcast. There's someone who lives in my building who has cold light bulbs. And I liter, have thought about dropping light bulbs at her door and just being like, please change them. I'm literally begging.

[B]

Could you. Are they outside? No, no, no.

[A]

They're fully in her unit. But, like, we have sunrooms on the front, so everyone else's will be lit up really pretty and warm. And then it's like operating room in one section.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

And it does. But, like, I'm not gonna go out of my way to. I mean, I'm joking, obviously. I would never make her change her light bulbs. It's one of those things that you're like, it's okay.

[B]

Yes, I understand.

[A]

But for me, I do think, honestly, I would use 2200.

[B]

Yeah. Which is.

[A]

I know, a little. You know, like, I can't even find them anywhere. I'm like, I have to order them online. Anyway, I digress all that to say HOAs.

[B]

I'm also glad for her that the HOA wasn't. Wasn't a tear. Same.

[A]

Also, it sounds like this may be in the UK because 18th century, that's 1700s.

[B]

Right. I'm from Connecticut. There's a lot of 1700s, but, like, late 1700s. Right.

[A]

The 1770. Isn't that when we got here?

[B]

Well, I mean, I know. Let me tell you.

[A]

I know 1492 is when Christopher Columbus got here, but I didn't think I could tell you.

[B]

Colonial America. Okay. I love the tie in.

[A]

I mean, honestly, go for it.

[B]

1620. Okay. So 1620. Yeah. Wow.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. It's the Mayflower.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. But we thank you for the opportunity to.

[A]

Dating back to that. Like, that is.

[B]

What is this building?

[A]

Do you know?

[B]

No, I don't know. I should look this up.

[A]

Sorry. That's an insane question to ask you off the top of your head.

[B]

Well, it's not, actually. I mean, you never know. I just, like, this is like.

[A]

If you had known it, that would have been crazy.

[B]

Random nugget. I mean, there are, you know, I do. In my town, like, where I'm from in Connecticut, I do actually know the oldest buildings around, like, like, so there will be, like, parts of buildings that are from, like, the early 1900s.

[A]

That makes sense. Yeah.

[B]

But a lot of, like, colonial. Like, what you think of as, like, colonial American homes, like, along, you know, the Boston Post Road and in Connecticut, whatnot. A lot of them were, like, late. Yeah. Late 1700s. Like.

[A]

Yeah. I feel like I. It's very difficult to find. I mean, great. Chicago Fire is really the reason why we don't have very many old building. I mean, you know.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Relatively old compared to other countries or even compared to other states.

[B]

Everything is so new in this country. So comparably. I mean. Yeah.

[A]

So new and so ugly. Like, why is every. Every public service so ugly? I don't understand.

[B]

I have a beef with Catholic churches. I feel like that some, like. Because I feel like in Europe. Not that I'm super religious, but I. I just.

[A]

But if you're going to be a cathedral, be a cathedral.

[B]

Well, they're so beautiful in Europe. And then over here, it's like this, like, post modernist, like. I don't know. I just. I'm always like, why Catholic Church? Why. You know, and then there's the, like, the beautiful Episcopalian Church or Presbyterian Church or First Congregational Ch. Church. Yeah. I don't know. I have a beef about that. I don't know. Sorry. Catholics. It's not personal.

[A]

I'm a former Catholic, and I think. I don't know that there's lots of current Catholics that are listening in, considering these confessions of an interior designer. And I'm fully making fun of Catholicism the entire way, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

All right, cool.

[A]

You're in the right zone.

[B]

Okay, Cool, cool, cool. Yeah.

[A]

I don't think my priest would be very happy about this if he. Yeah.

[B]

You're behind, like, a confessional story.

[A]

Literally. Literally.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

When I was 14, my priest told me I had a Face for a habit.

[B]

What does one do with that information? What do you say? What did you say?

[A]

I mean, I'm ugly or like, I'm so confused.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

And he was dead serious. Full on. Wanted to convince me to go into a convent. And I was like, sir, I don't think, you know, I'm giving my religion teacher hell every day about the fact.

[B]

That dogs don't go to heaven.

[A]

So I don't think I've got out to be a nun. Oh, my God. That is a story in my family that I have a face for a habit.

[B]

That is too funny. You should. If you have a dating profile, you need to put that on your dating profile.

[A]

You're so right. They're technically all deleted.

[B]

Okay, go get ancestry.com and update your dating profile. There's my two tidbits of advice. This whole workday. I'm so glad we added science. Genealogy. I'm really, like. It just felt so natural too. It's perfect.

[A]

I love a callback. Did we do penance?

[B]

No. I don't feel like we did penance.

[A]

We haven't done penance.

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay. All right. Let's give these people some penance. So I don't know that anyone really deserves any other than maybe that the designer deserves a vacation sans work, phone sans work. Maybe regulate a little bit and, you know, be proud of yourself the way that you handled it.

[B]

That's what I think. I think she deserves a pat on the back for, like, going to the client with a solution and just getting it sorted out.

[A]

Bad shit happens, but the way you handle it is what matters. And I know that sounds like an Instagram, like, graphic, but it really is true. Like how you solve, how you move forward is what people remember, not the initial.

[B]

I've been telling my clients more and more, like at the first meeting, just things will go wrong.

[A]

Me too.

[B]

And that's okay.

[A]

Please expect it.

[B]

Please expect it, and we will work through it together. You know, this is. We are solution oriented. We are all in this together.

[A]

We're never gonna leave it like that. If you're unhappy, we will always do whatever it takes to make you happy. But it doesn't need to be a five alarm fire when something small goes wrong. Relatively small. I know it feels big to clients, totally. But when you've tiled a full room wrong, or whatever it is, when you've had much bigger situations that just happened.

[B]

Recently anyway, my fault.

[A]

But it's one of those things where it's like. But everyone ends up making it your fault. Somehow. And you're like, okay, well, yes.

[B]

Even if it's not your problem, sometimes it's also good to take it on as your problem in order to show, unfortunately, show accountability to the client. Make it feel like you again, you're being solution oriented and you want to get it done right.

[A]

Because often mistakes, and that's in heavy quotes on site is a. It's due to a combination of miscommunication. It's rarely one team that I feel like has done something wrong. It's like someone cross. And so it ends up being kind of everyone's fault.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

You know, and so I do think, like, if you're working with the right team and everyone's like, let's just split it and move forward, that's the ideal scenario.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

It's when you get in bed with contractors that are like, they did it, that it becomes a bit of a more difficult dance. It's just so unnecessary. It is, it's just, just clients would like us a lot better if we didn't do that, you know.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And the clients, I don't think they need penance other than like, thank you for being nice to me.

[B]

Thank you for being patient with the paint issue.

[A]

We appreciate it.

[B]

Glad we found a solution here.

[A]

Exactly, Exactly. Exactly, exactly. We're going to get into some questions. I have so much to ask you because you have a lot going on. Lot going on.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. I. I have other questions first, but I want to mainly know about the wallpaper line. So I'm going to ask that first. Okay. So tell me more. How did this come about? Who are you working with?

[B]

So I'm working with a brand. They're based in Bordeaux called Isadore Le Roi. And I approached them last January at Deco off when I went to gift me some wallpaper for the Lake Forest show house.

[A]

Perfect.

[B]

Which they very kindly did. Thank you very much.

[A]

And shout out.

[B]

Yes, exactly. And so one of the papers I put picked is their bestseller in Europe. Oh, it's a dunescape panoramic.

[A]

I saw it. It's beautiful.

[B]

Yes, it's beautiful, but it doesn't sell here.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

And I think just generally people are still coming to the, to the idea of panoramics.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

But the CEO knew that I'm from Connecticut and so he approached me and said, why don't we do a Connecticut or New England shoreline based version of Duke?

[A]

So cool.

[B]

And I said, yeah, sure, that would be great. How about, how about we make it a collection and do some other wallpapers that are based on New England motifs. So there's, for instance, a Nantucket. Do you know what a Nantucket basket is? Like a basket weave repeat pattern.

[A]

They're the ones that have the little, like, shell or like little white figurine on them. Right.

[B]

Scrimshaw.

[A]

Scrimshaw.

[B]

I think that's what it's called. Yeah.

[A]

They're so cool.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I feel. Would feel like a huge poser if I, like, purchased one, because that's just not my culture. But, like, I think it's so cool and.

[B]

Yeah, it's known for sure. And then there are. There's a cabana stripe that we're doing, which is really cute and kind of a nod back to the room that I designed for the show house, which was the cabana. And. Yeah, and we're still. We're still working on the. We're still finalizing the panoramic, but there'll be a few papers and then we'll showcase them in Paris at Deco Off.

[A]

I'm so excited. I can't wait to see.

[B]

I can't wait for you to see them.

[A]

It's going to be incredible. I mean, how fabulous you're getting to. I mean, premiere a collection of Deco off that is like, so major.

[B]

I know. I can't even fully wrap my head around it yet, to be honest.

[A]

I'm so excited to see them and use them and that's incredible.

[B]

Yes. I would love for you to.

[A]

So how involved were you, like, in the physical drawing design itself? Did you work with an artist in dictate or how did that work?

[B]

So the nice thing about this company is that they work with artists. They work with a lot of different artists to develop their papers.

[A]

Oh, amazing.

[B]

Yes. I knew I wasn't gonna help have the skill set to do this.

[A]

I couldn't, like, watercolor a wallpaper right now. That would be great.

[B]

I could try, but I'm not saying it would sell, you know, like, it would not. Sure. I don't know. An abstract interpretation of a basket weave or something.

[A]

Like.

[B]

Not. Yes. So I. Yeah, that was a conversation from the get go of how are we going to get this paper made? But I did pull a ton of inspo.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And I even, like, there's one paper that shows it's a plant that grows on the New England shoreline called a Rosa rugosa. It's a beetrose. And so I even shipped beetroses to France. Wow.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

Express. So they didn't die and so that they could actually see.

[A]

Which, by the way, Clients are gonna love that story.

[B]

Well, my. Actually, I should give my mom credit. My mom actually sent it, and she was, like, so nervous she was gonna get, like, caught or something. She was like, is this an issue that I'm sending, like, plants over stuff to another country?

[A]

You think your mom arrested.

[B]

I think you're fine. Also, like, arrest you for sending?

[A]

I mean, I don't think so.

[B]

I'm thinking worse.

[A]

Do you pay a fine maybe, or.

[B]

It'S not an illegal substance?

[A]

No, I don't really think, like, France and the US they're worried about plants. It's more like, you know, when we don't have the plants that. And it could be, like, invasive. I think that you're not supposed to, like, bring things in and out anyway.

[B]

So I will say legally.

[A]

Yeah, sent.

[B]

My mother legally sent over some plants to the artist.

[A]

Very cool.

[B]

So she could see. And then I pulled pantone colors to give her really clear of what colors I felt were representative of the flowers. So it's been a process working with three artists over there to do the repeat patterns and the panoramic. Amazing. Wow.

[A]

I'm incredibly impressed. And I.

[B]

It's been fun.

[A]

Cannot wait to see. Okay, my final question for you. I know you said that this sort of not dropped in your lap. You obviously reached out to them initially, but how did you know that they were the right person? Partner.

[B]

Oh, gosh. So I had worked with them when I was at a firm previously to help design their collection. So I knew what the process looked like. Yeah, I think that was. That was. I mean, I just.

[A]

Well, there's already trust. Because you guys knew me.

[B]

Yeah. And they knew me. I would have. I had already gone over to France and met with them.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

So you had a previous relationship and a previous relationship.

[A]

Special.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

Yes. But this now, I will say is like. I mean, we'll see how it goes.

[A]

Should be frank.

[B]

We'll see. We'll see how it goes. Early, early days. But it would be fun to do other products, too. I think it's just another way to be creative. Right. I completely agree.

[A]

It also is. Is interesting because as an interior designer, you can only touch so many spaces personally.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Just, like, from sheer volume, it's impossible. But the idea that something that you create could aid another designer or another homeowner or another creative in their space, I think is really special.

[B]

Yeah, I like, love that.

[A]

And very meaningful. I feel this, like, furniture, fabrics, lighting. I think eventually I would want to do all of that just because it's so, yeah, like, it outlasts, I feel like.

[B]

Which one would you. What would be your top pick?

[A]

Lighting is one of my favorite categories, and I feel like we have this big chasm in price point. Like, major. Like, you can find really cool, insanely beautiful European pieces, but they're, like, 8,000 and up right now for one light. And, I mean, obviously, not every light, but the ones that I'm sort of, like, latching onto right now, and we've found other suppliers, but I feel like I really gravitate towards European lighting, and with tariffs and all of that, it's also just become kind of a nightmare. So I know that there's lots of people who feel like we should not be creating. Recreating historical pieces, like, we should not be creating repros. But unfortunately, we're at a point in the industry where we have to.

[B]

I don't even think of it necessarily as, like, you know, yes, a copy, maybe that's not great. But there's so much inspiration to be found. So much, so much, so much. Especially with vintage lighting.

[A]

Well, and there's pieces that are, like, you know, they exist. Seven of them in the world, and they're $40,000 a piece. Can we not take that and make a slightly more democratized version that then, like, you know, people can enjoy that stylistically? And I'm not saying I would, like, you know, want to sell lights for $200. Like, the quality would still need to be there, but in the price point of, like, $1,000 to a couple thousand dollars, we just have a few sources that are very corporate. They're beautiful.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it's just not, like, soul or charm.

[B]

I'm with you.

[A]

And there's a couple of small companies that I feel like are doing really cool stuff right now. Like, Huey Lighting has some really cool stuff. So I feel like there are some people who are sort of bridging this gap.

[B]

Kooky is like, Pookie has some amazing.

[A]

Yeah, you're known for your playful, colorful approach to design and for bending the rules. Ooh, really? Can you share an example of how you like to challenge conventions in your projects?

[B]

You know, for me, the colors I use and the pattern mixes is a little. You know, the mixing of patterns is a little bit unconventional. I still feel like my aesthetic is. Is based in traditional.

[A]

Oh, I think it Absolute interiors.

[B]

But, yeah, I think I'm just a little bit braver when it comes to playing with colors and whimsy.

[A]

Yeah. I think I also see in your work, like, you'll Use very traditional silhouettes, but then you do an interesting color choice or an interesting texture that I wouldn't have necessarily. Like, it's not obvious.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. And I think that is what makes your work interesting.

[B]

Awesome.

[A]

Thank you. I think it's a very positive thing.

[B]

I really. I think. I also think about how it feels, too. Like, the space in the show has house, you know? How often are you designing a cabana in Chicago? It's not often. You know, at least my clientele is not at that point yet. Call me. But I wanted it to feel like you were walking into, like, you know, the. The entry I did in yellow, and I wanted it to feel like an extension of the outside and feel like. Like sunshine, and then for it to feel a little bit opulent. And I'm the same way.

[A]

That's what drives me. Me is how ultimately, how do you want to feel in the space and then you can go from there.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And again, I think that's innate. I don't think everyone can.

[B]

I think so too. But don't you think the color thing is innate too?

[A]

100. Yeah. We learned color theory, but I. I've never been like, color theory, orange and blah, blah. Like, that's never entered my mind to be like, well, this one is across the color wheel from this. No. It's like, what in my brain is like. Like, I get like a.

[B]

It's totally a brain thing comes together.

[A]

And it's like, ooh, yeah, that's right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I mean, totally. Like, people make fun of me, but I actually get chills when I feel like something, like, really comes together.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so, yeah, it's a feeling, even on our side to know that it's gonna end up being right. But that's also. Sometimes what's hard about our jobs is how do you verbalize that this is right? And you just have to trust me. Other than this is right, and you just have to trust me.

[B]

So it's funny, the team I have now, Giselle, who's wonderful, and she's so good at drawing, and she's definitely got more of an architectural mindset, which is good, because I don't y. We're a really good match. She will start a project thinking about, like, if it's a furnishings project, for instance, she'll think more about the pieces. Whereas I'm, like, rummaging through the library, and I'm like, It's kind of like a weird puzzle in my brain, in a way, of how these things are going to work together and how they all interact. That is the first step for me. That is the first step for me. And then I'm like, okay, yes, this is gonna go on the sofa. And this and that. The rain, you know, it's like a. It's like a puzzle in a way.

[A]

I feel that same way.

[B]

Visualization. Well.

[A]

And then when you get it right, there's nothing. That feeling of when you're like, yeah, yeah, it's.

[B]

No. I think, though, like, the good thing is I have enough out on social media now where I feel like people understand what it is I'm doing, so. So when they come to me and they're. They're not like, oh, I'm scared of color.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

You know?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, of course.

[B]

So I don't think there's less of a convincing that I have to do because I think I. It's kind of clear that, like, okay, she likes color.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I think for me, it's so client dependent. We have some clients who will hire us and be like, we love everything you do, and then not like anything that we do.

[B]

Well, that's true, too.

[A]

I mean, that just happens. That happens rarely, but it is that feeling when you're like, I think you just hired the wrong person. But when you can get to a point in your career where your clients are seeking you out for your aesthetic, not just because you're an interior designer who can do the work.

[B]

Yeah, that's true.

[A]

That's when I feel like the real good clients, who you don't have to argue with and you don't have to convince. Come in. Which we certainly do have plenty of. I mean.

[B]

Yeah, there's always going to be some convincing, right?

[A]

Yeah, always.

[B]

I feel like one of the reasons they're hiring us is to put things together in an unconventional way and to.

[A]

Put things together that they would do a little bit.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

And people say to me all the time, like, I am, like, a little more neutral, but I hired you, so you'll push me. And I'm like, great, so I'm going to push you. So when I do, remember this.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

That you wanted to be pushed.

[B]

Yeah, no, I'll say, too. You know, like, oftentimes with clients, I do two schemes per room. Depends on the client. It depends on the scope. But oftentimes, too, I'll do one that's a little bit safer than the other. And I'll say, okay, this is the one that I like, and that's, you know, and I kind of prepare them. Yeah. And Then I oftentimes find they pick that one because it's like, yeah, okay. No, I see how if we were to play it safe and do a white sofa, it wouldn't pop as much.

[A]

It's not going to have the same feeling as this other scheme.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But illustrating why they would be wrong sometimes is really important. That too, you know, of just. And it's not saying, like, you're bad. It's just to your point, if, you know, their inclination is more neutral to show them what that would look like. So you're answering the question of what would that look like for them, and then they can safely make the other choice.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

I feel like it's. When you and I struggle with this sometimes, too, where it's like, I know what the client is asking me for is not, but I still have to show them that it's not right sometimes.

[B]

You have to. Yeah. As a.

[A]

As you said, illustrate it.

[B]

You have to make a case. Right. Like, it's a way to illustrate it and make your case.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

If they're willing to pay for that additional time.

[A]

That too. That too. That's important. Okay. You renovated your family's 1890 Queen Anne Victorian.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

What is your favorite room and has it changed since you moved in?

[B]

So I knew when we bought the house, my favorite room was going to be the attic bedroom, and it didn't. Is the attic bedroom still to this day?

[A]

I love that.

[B]

I just love, like, a room that feels like a storybook, you know, just like. And, like, cool roof lines. I literally went through, I think, six different wallpaper installers to get someone who would actually do what I wanted to do, because they were like, you want two wallpapers and you want it on an attic ceiling. Like, you are crazy, lady. And it's not like I even picked a. Like a stripe that was going to have to align at the peak or something. But yeah, so that. That one was. I think I was able to really be creative with it and go to town and fall.

[A]

Sometimes those fall. Those fun small spaces are the ones that end up being, like, the most magical.

[B]

Yeah, I really like small spaces.

[A]

Me too. I love a house with rooms, specifically.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Not massive ones.

[B]

Yes. That's why I like old houses.

[A]

Same. Yes, Absolutely. Okay, one of my last questions for you. What is something that has surprised you about owning your own?

[B]

Confirm how much I freaking love it.

[A]

I love that answer.

[B]

I guess I knew I was gonna love it, but I didn't know how much I would love it. Like, I really Love it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Really do.

[A]

I do, too. It's worth it. It is worth all the fun stuff.

[B]

Yeah, it's absolutely worth it. I do. And I, you know, I have little kids, and so it's nice to make my own schedule. There's so many perks to it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's a lot that's hard. And, like, you, especially when you have staff, you're holding people on your shoulders, and there's a certain amount of pressure, but for me, it's just kind of lit a fire under my ass, and in a good way.

[A]

I feel the same way. I'm so much more motivated in this stage of my life because of all of that responsibility. Whereas it's a little bit easier when you're just like a junior designer or whatever it is, to just clock in, clock out, and clog along, chug along. And I never felt fulfilled in that environment, even though it was easier. And I feel like sometimes you don't know until you throw yourself in if you're gonna be good at it or not or if it's gonna fulfill you.

[B]

Yeah. I think for me, too, this is the first time that I've had a career that's fulfilled both. Both sides of my brain.

[A]

Yes. This career is very. Right brain, left brain. Hello. Well, especially neither side of my brain is working right now, is what I'm understanding.

[B]

We knew what you meant. But the, you know, the analytical side, like, the ability to run a business efficiently and also be creative, it takes, like, different areas of your brain, and.

[A]

Having to shift from one to the other at a moment.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

I feel is the hardest part for me.

[B]

Totally. No, but I think, like, I love.

[A]

That you can't get bored.

[B]

I can't get bored.

[A]

There's always something happening. It's always new.

[B]

There's always something happening. And. Yeah, no, I. But I enjoy both parts of it. Yes, I do, too, because I was always doing. You know, I was working in a nonprofit. I was running the budget and the fundraising. And then, like, I would do. I guess I would do, like, special events. And that, to me, was, like, my creative outlet. But this is really where now I'm able to do both. So, yeah, I. I knew I was gonna love it, but I didn't realize how much I was going to love it.

[A]

Amazing. Yeah, amazing.

[B]

And also, like, how people. When you start your own business, I was surprised by how much, like, reps have been really nice and, like, you know what I mean? They're, like, good for you, and, like, you know.

[A]

Yes. I felt that same way. When I started, and I was more supported than I thought I was going to be. For people who didn't know me, like, you know, I feel like it's. It. Chicago is a great place to do this job, I think, because we have a really supportive community just in general in Chicago.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I also think, like, people are willing to. They're just not as concerned with, like, name and followers and all of the.

[B]

Like, sort of New Yorker east coast are over here. I know. I mean, totally. It's like, what do you do? How much do you make?

[A]

What car do you drive? What does your dad do?

[B]

What's your family name? What school do you go to?

[A]

I mean, that's very important.

[B]

That's extremely important. It's like, I had. I had brunch with a friend. So, like, usually in the summertime, I go back to Connecticut for, like, few weeks. And I was catching up with a childhood friend, and she said to me, we were at brunch, and she was like, you know, I've just realized that. And she lives in Connecticut. Like, she hasn't left Connecticut. Okay. And I love this person to death. And she said to me, I think I've realized that, you know, what I do and where I went to school. School are, like, really important to me. Like. And I was like, huh? Yes, I know. You're just now realizing. No, I mean. And I told her, I was like, I know. And that's how a lot of people are in the East Coast. It's like, you know, that's great that you're not wrong.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And.

[A]

Okay, good.

[B]

Good for you. But, like, yeah, I couldn't hear less. Like, I don't know. I don't think that that's as much of a factor you get, you know, like, certain clients who. It's important to them to have for sure. You know, that just happens. But, like, there are a lot of people here who are more grounded.

[A]

Yes. It's just a little bit less, I guess, pretentious, less Mayflower folk. We haven't been here as long, so we don't have as much as a sale.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think that's probably what's happening. Before we go, my tagline for CTI is interiors that make you feel. We've talked about. Talked a lot about that this whole episode. What is something that made you feel recently? It doesn't have to be interiors. It can be anything. It can be interiors.

[B]

What's something that made me feel? It could be any feeling.

[A]

Anything.

[B]

Aw. My daughter told me the other day that she she says she's gonna be a mommy and a designer. Aww. And I thought, how. It's not just that she said she wants to be a mommy. It's not that she just said that she wants to be a designer. It's the fact that she thinks she can do both.

[A]

She sees you doing both and she thinks she can. Can do it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's really special.

[B]

I know. So that, yeah, that made me. That's.

[A]

That's really special because I. My mother is like truly one of the best role models ever. I wouldn't have affirmed if she hadn't worked as much as she did when I was growing up. But that was not. That just wasn't my experience. If you're. I think moms were still sort of like held to the standard of not being moms if you're in the workforce.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

And so it was just like, she. Rightfully so. Yeah. Had a career, thank God, and like, did what she wanted to do and followed her dream and later deferred it for us. But I think that was so important for me to see. But there is a part of me, Sorry, not to get too personal, but there is a part of me that's like, I don't think I can do this with kids. And I think there is something that comes from seeing your mother who was not given any sort of flexibility, was not given any sort of, like, you have kids. Here's.

[B]

Yeah, my mom was the opposite end of the spectrum. You know, she was a stay at home mom. Yeah. So. Yeah. So this is like me embarking on something that I. Yeah, I do. I. I mean, she was an incredible role model in so many ways.

[A]

But. Of course.

[B]

Yeah, but to sort of change as obvious to me.

[A]

Yeah. To break that cycle and for your child without you having to say it, say to you, I see that you're doing it and it looks easy enough that I can do it, even though it's not easy at all. I don't mean to imply that that's easy.

[B]

No, I put them to bed and I go back to work. Right, of course you do.

[A]

And she doesn't see that part, but it's still. That's incredibly special.

[B]

Yes. And you can have kids. Please, please. Come on.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Like, you can.

[A]

Totally. It's a complicated thing, though.

[B]

I feel like you are.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, we'll leave it at that. It's a complicated thing. And I'll leave the rest for my therapist.

[B]

You see, this is where the social work comes in.

[A]

Exactly. You're so right. You're so right. Okay, last thing on my list. Where can we find you? Like, socials and all that?

[B]

Oh, no, no, no. So go to. I mean, it's not very creative. It's Megan J. Design Perfect.

[A]

That's easy.

[B]

And my handle is Megan J. Design.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

Yeah. And I am on TikTok. I don't go on it, but I have a TikTok, and I believe it's also me. J Design Perfect.

[A]

We'll look that up.

[B]

We'll ask. We'll ask Liz, who helps me with social.

[A]

So, yeah, no, thank you so much for being here. I had the best time. This is so fun, and hopefully we didn't get a little too deep, but I hope you guys enjoyed either way. And until next week. Peace be with you.

[B]

Bye.