Podcast Summary: "Confessions of an Interior Designer" – Episode: I confess... I slept with my client

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Confessions of an Interior Designer, host Caroline Turner delves deep into the complex dynamics of personal relationships within the luxury interior design industry. Joined by her esteemed guest, Paige Wassell—a celebrity interior stylist, content creator, and owner of Was the Store—the conversation navigates through their unconventional career paths, the challenges of high-end client interactions, and Caroline's bold confession of an affair with a client. Released on November 20, 2024, this episode offers an unfiltered look into the often-hidden emotional landscapes of interior designers working with affluent clientele.

Career Journeys: Unconventional Paths to Success [00:04 - 07:52]

Caroline and Paige begin by sharing their unique journeys into the world of interior design. Unlike many of their peers who pursued formal education in design, both women carved their own paths driven by passion and resilience.

• Paige Wassell’s Journey:

  • Background: Paige did not attend design school; instead, she studied communications and printing, influenced by her mother’s career in PR.
  • Early Career: Her aggressive approach led her to secure an internship at Vogue magazine during high school, despite lacking formal connections ("I had to email the HR guy. And I was like, wait, was I let go or was I fired?" [06:36]).
  • Transition to Styling: After being let go from a PR agency, Paige leveraged her Vogue connections to move into prop styling, working with Architectural Digest and high-end brands like Crate and Barrel and Joybird.

• Caroline Turner’s Path:

  • Initial Steps: Caroline shares her experience of starting her firm and her first internship, which was secured through unconventional means ("My first internship... was because I got drunk and emailed someone and was like, please, can I come work for you?" [08:22]).
  • Lessons from Rejection: Both women emphasize the importance of perseverance and using setbacks as stepping stones towards their current successes.

Building a Brand Through Social Media and Entrepreneurship [07:52 - 16:26]

The discussion shifts to how Paige harnessed the power of YouTube to build her brand and launch Was the Store.

• YouTube Success:

  • Content Creation: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paige pivoted to creating YouTube content, which eventually led to her gaining 100,000 subscribers.
  • Monetization and Product Launches: Her video titled "Stop doing this shit to your house" garnered significant attention, providing the momentum needed to monetize her channel and launch her own home decor line.

• Strategic Thinking:

  • Future Planning: Both Caroline and Paige highlight the importance of long-term vision in business. Caroline discusses how TikTok has been instrumental in attracting clients who are already invested in her aesthetic from the outset.

The Confession: An Affair with a Client [27:20 - 37:13]

The heart of the episode is Caroline's candid confession about her affair with a client, titled "The Affair Behind the Drapes."

• Setting the Stage:

  • Caroline describes working on a high-profile project for an ultra-wealthy East Coast couple, where the wife was frequently traveling, leaving her to collaborate closely with the husband.

• The Affair:

  • Initial Interaction: The husband began by giving her compliments and bringing coffee, which gradually became more personal and intimate ("He'd bring me coffee during site visits... his compliments became more intimate." [28:25]).
  • Escalation: One evening, after a stressful day, the husband invited her for a drink, leading to a night of passion on a custom velvet sofa she designed ("One drink became three, and before I knew it, we were sitting on the custom velvet sofa I designed for his living room." [29:35]).
  • Aftermath: Despite the intimacy, the wife remained oblivious. However, Caroline continues to receive referrals from the couple, leaving her questioning whether the wife is aware of the affair ("To this day, I still get referrals from them." [34:34]).

• Moral and Professional Implications:

  • Power Dynamics: Both hosts discuss the inherent power imbalance in such relationships, especially when the client holds significant influence over the designer's career.
  • Ethical Considerations: They debate the ethical boundaries of mixing personal relationships with professional engagements, emphasizing the potential risks to one's reputation and business integrity.

Navigating Professional Boundaries and Client Relationships [37:13 - 58:46]

Caroline and Paige explore strategies for maintaining professionalism while managing personal interactions with clients.

• Handling Difficult Situations:

  • Client Trust Issues: Caroline shares a scenario where a renovation client repeatedly changes plans behind her back. Both experts advise open communication as the key to resolving such conflicts ("Caroline: [...] ask to have a meeting and sit down with them and say, okay, here's the inspiration that you initially liked." [49:03]).

• The Role of Prop Stylists:

  • Business Growth: Paige underscores the importance of specialized roles like prop stylists in high-end design projects, noting significant returns on investment. For instance, Joybird reported a tripling of sales due to her styling work ("We tripled the sales with my images because it's extreme." [55:58]).
  • Artistic Collaboration: The conversation highlights how prop stylists add a unique artistic touch to design projects, transforming spaces into pieces of art through meticulous styling and collaboration with artists.

Reflections and Personal Growth [58:46 - End]

The episode concludes with personal reflections on mental health, empowerment, and the importance of setting boundaries.

• Mental Health Struggles:

  • Paige’s Experience: Paige opens up about recent mental health challenges, emphasizing the support from friends and family as crucial in her recovery process ("Having people to hold the mirror up for you and be supportive [...]" [61:31]).

• Empowerment through Boundaries:

  • Digital Boundaries: Paige recounts her first experience with blocking a persistent individual, finding peace and empowerment in setting digital boundaries ("I did that for the first time, so that was pretty fun." [62:22]).

• Business Strategies:

  • Limited Edition Drops: Paige discusses the strategy behind her product drops—offering unique, limited-edition items that create exclusivity and demand. She encourages listeners to subscribe to her newsletter for updates on upcoming releases and pop-up events ("We're dropping pillows December 8th." [64:56]).

Key Takeaways

1. Unconventional Paths Can Lead to Success: Both Caroline and Paige emphasize that formal education in interior design is not the only route to success. Passion, resilience, and strategic use of opportunities like internships and social media can propel one's career forward.

2. Maintaining Professional Boundaries is Crucial: Mixing personal relationships with professional engagements can lead to ethical dilemmas and potential harm to one's reputation and business.

3. The Power of Communication: Open and honest communication with clients is essential in resolving trust issues and ensuring successful project outcomes.

4. Leveraging Social Media for Business Growth: Building a brand through platforms like YouTube and TikTok can significantly enhance visibility and attract high-end clients.

5. Mental Health and Self-Care are Vital: Managing mental health through support systems and setting boundaries is crucial for sustaining a long-term career in a demanding industry.

6. Specialization Adds Value: Roles like prop stylists play a critical role in high-end design projects, offering specialized skills that enhance the aesthetic and functional appeal of spaces.

Notable Quotes

• "I did not go to school for interior design. I did not go to school for design at all. I went to school for communications and printing." — Paige Wassell [04:14]

• "Rejection is a big piece of it... having that early on really helped it not be an issue." — Caroline Turner [08:49]

• "We tripled the sales with my images because it's extreme." — Paige Wassell [55:58]

• "If you can't succeed at this one thing you're good at, it feels like you're a failure at everything." — Caroline Turner [11:50]

Conclusion

This episode of Confessions of an Interior Designer offers an unvarnished look into the personal and professional challenges faced by interior designers working with high-end clients. Through candid conversations and Caroline's bold confession, listeners gain valuable insights into maintaining professionalism, the importance of communication, and the ethical considerations of personal relationships in the workplace. Paige Wassell's entrepreneurial journey further underscores the significance of leveraging social media and specializing in niche roles to build a successful design business. Whether you're an industry insider or a design enthusiast, this episode provides a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the hidden facets of the luxury interior design world.