Podcast Summary: Confessions of an Interior Designer

Episode: I Confess... I'm Leaving

Host: Caroline Turner
Guest: Gracie Miller
Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode recorded from Paris, Caroline Turner and her long-time right hand, Gracie Miller, break format to share their own stories, reflecting on Gracie's impending departure from Caroline Turner Interiors after five years. Instead of unpacking anonymous confessions, the duo reminisces about the firm's journey, the highs and lows of working in luxury design, and the unique bond they've forged as co-workers and friends. The episode is as much a tribute to growth, mentorship, and friendship as it is an insider’s look at the rhythm of an evolving creative business.

Setting the Scene (00:04–03:00)

• The episode opens with Caroline introducing the special nature of this recording: no anonymous confessions, just personal stories.
  • Caroline: “No confessions, except our own.” (00:11)
• The two record from their Paris hotel room during Deco Off. The mood is light, with inside jokes about bathrobes, sunglasses, and champagne.
• Gracie’s first time in Paris, also her first as a fiancée, is celebrated with laughter and warmth.

Gracie’s Farewell & Business Reflections (03:00–07:00)

• Caroline shares that Gracie, her creative partner and close friend, is leaving the company.
  • Caroline: “It is going to be very difficult to unglue from each other, I think.” (03:00)
  • Gracie: “Five years is crazy to say out loud.” (03:22)
• The conversation quickly becomes emotional as both express gratitude and reflect on their growth together:
  • Gracie: “You’ve been so much more than a mentor to me… I know we’re parting ways, but… you are definitely in my life forever.” (04:17)
  • Caroline: “We started in my dining room… a complete and total hot mess.” (03:55; 04:01)
• Hints at Gracie’s own future firm, Caroline’s gentle encouragement, and the realities of timing personal milestones with career ambition.
  • Caroline: “You can do it. I know I can do it…” (05:00)

On Mentorship, Leadership & Company Culture (06:41–16:22)

• The discussion turns to being a good boss, with both sharing how past negative experiences shaped their management philosophy.
  • Caroline: “Having a bad boss taught me so, so much.” (05:21)
• Gracie credits Caroline for giving her creative freedom and the push needed to grow:
  • Gracie: “You gave me the freedom… you saw something in me that I didn’t see… I will forever be grateful.” (05:47–06:24)
• Reflections on “trial by fire” moments, first-day anecdotes, and how the business scaled from working out of Caroline’s home to a legitimate office.
  • Gracie: “One of my favorite days… Caroline was out of town and I was managing her bathroom renovation… hadn’t even met you yet!” (08:27)
• They highlight the special chemistry and fun they brought to client relationships; their dynamic duo status is noted by clients.

Lessons From Growing a Design Firm (12:04–17:44)

• The challenge and reward of making big leaps—hiring employees, investing in office space—are explored.
  • Caroline: “If we hadn’t taken that step, probably earlier than we should have…” (12:38)
• The importance of hiring people who are eager to learn, willing to do the “gritty jobs,” and who take real ownership—something Gracie embodied.
  • Gracie: “I wanted to learn every aspect of this business… I just wanted to be in every single part.” (14:19–14:42)
• A humorous exchange about the confusion caused by multiple employees named Grace or Gracie.

Advice for Aspiring Designers & Real-World Lessons (17:44–23:01)

• Gracie’s key advice for junior designers:
  • Be “very hungry” and open to learning everything, including unpleasant tasks.
  • Gracie: “You have to fail to be successful… be open to doing any job, even if it seems stupid.” (18:23)
  • Take copious notes, even when you think it isn’t necessary.
• Emphasis on humility, willingness to look “like an idiot” in front of contractors or on-site.
• The power of verbalizing uncertainty or fears in a workplace—Caroline stresses the importance of communication between boss and employee.
  • Caroline: “If you’re verbalizing that you’re concerned… I need to know that.” (21:13)

Building a Collaborative & Healthy Work Dynamic (23:42–31:42)

• Caroline and Gracie discuss how the best creative results come from collaboration and flat hierarchies.
  • Caroline: “Design is a collaborative animal… you kind of have to be with other creative people.” (24:06)
• Caroline shares memories of her mentorship with Kelly Wearstler, emphasizing the importance of “generous creativity.”
  • Caroline: “I learned… how to have generous creativity, because it makes a better product.” (25:31)
• Examples of how Gracie was granted early, real responsibility, like managing a mosaic floor as an intern.
• Both acknowledge the value—and the rarity—of being trusted with big tasks early in their careers.

Preparing for Independence & What’s Next (27:18–32:06)

• Gracie identifies needing to focus on proposals, money management, and business process as her next growth area:
  • Gracie: “I feel very confident in the whole design side… I need to know more about the business side.” (27:18)
  • Caroline: “It’s not even math. It’s money… If you can pull them apart, it gets a lot easier.” (28:48)
• Reflection on how both have grown into their roles, with Gracie now handling meetings and client communication independently.
  • Caroline: “I will ask you to do something, and you’ll say, already done… how is that possible?” (31:49)
• Light banter about what Caroline will do without her, and the unique synergy that’s difficult to replicate.

Honest Reflections & Their Strong Bond (32:06–46:32)

Memorable Moments & Vulnerability

• Gracie asks Caroline when she was the “maddest” at her; Caroline recalls a specific workplace incident—handled with honesty, vulnerability, and quick forgiveness.
  • Caroline: “If people take responsibility, I will not be mad.” (34:05)
• Caroline asks Gracie the same in return; Gracie shares a travel meltdown story from Florence airport.
  • Gracie: “Probably when we were in Florence at the airport… you got upset… I was like, I can’t take this.” (35:21)

Favorite Memories

• Top personal and work highlights:
  • Gracie: “Top two would be us going to Italy for sure… that trip was so spectacular.” (38:28)
  • The Noah Kahan concert in Chicago.
  • Their collaborative commercial project, The Fits, which was a major source of pride.
    • Gracie: “That’s my proudest project by far.” (40:39)

On Healthy Work Relationships

• They discuss how their gratitude for each other and ongoing communication has been central to their happiness and success at work.
  • Caroline: “If you don’t, this is actually how we are… we are this annoying.” (41:51–41:55)

Constructive Criticism & Personal Growth (42:30–49:09)

• Caroline invites Gracie to give her honest feedback as a boss; Gracie gently notes that Caroline can let negative emotions take over at times:
  • Gracie: “When you get upset, it almost takes over your brain for a minute… it’s hard to see past it.” (42:46)
• They talk through how pressure from clients, people-pleasing tendencies, and generational differences affect emotional boundaries at work.
  • Caroline: “That’s something I really admire about Gen Z… the ability to put a wall up.” (44:08)
• They recognize the importance of self-care and keeping job pressure in perspective, joking about how sometimes designers “act like brain surgeons.”
• Both agree that passionate investment in the work is a double-edged sword—it’s rewarding, but can be emotionally taxing if not managed.

Closure, Legacy, and Looking Ahead (49:09–End)

• Caroline shares that some of the podcast’s past anonymous confessions were actually her own, teasing listeners to guess which ones.
  • Caroline: “There are a couple stories over the last two seasons that are mine, that are my confessions…” (49:25)
• Final thoughts about the reality of the stories on the podcast—they’re real, not exaggerated for content.
• Caroline and Gracie look ahead: Gracie is excited to apply what she’s learned at a new firm, eventually hopes to helm her own business. Caroline expresses pride and support, suggesting "CCI Southeast" as a future possibility.
  • Caroline: “When you’re ready, tell me, and I’ll make sure I support your growth.” (51:41)
• Emotional recognition of Gracie’s legacy at the firm:
  • Caroline: “You feel really, really good that you’re that valuable to so many other people, not just in our internal team.” (52:50)
• The two end on a high note, expressing gratitude, reflecting on the deep personal and professional impact they’ve had on one another, and sharing inside jokes about the possibility of a company jet and shopping at Paris fleamarkets.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “You’ve been so much more than a mentor to me… you are definitely in my life forever.” – Gracie (04:17)
• “Having a bad boss taught me so, so much.” – Caroline (05:21)
• “I wanted to learn every aspect of this business… even if at the time I didn’t think I was going to start my own thing.” – Gracie (14:19–14:42)
• “You have to fail to be successful… be open to doing any type of job, even if it seems stupid.” – Gracie (18:23)
• “Design is a collaborative animal… you kind of have to be with other collaborative and creative people for it to [work].” – Caroline (24:06)
• “If people take responsibility, I will not be mad.” – Caroline (34:05)
• “Top two would be us going to Italy for sure… that trip was just so spectacular.” – Gracie (38:28)
• “When you get upset, it almost takes over your brain for a minute… it’s hard to see past it.” – Gracie (42:46)

Key Takeaways

• The reality of growing a creative business means improvising, trusting your team, and embracing vulnerability—trial by fire builds resilience.
• True mentorship and team dynamics can profoundly shape individual careers, company culture, and creative output.
• Willingness to learn, take risks, fail, and be transparent about mistakes are all essential in creative industries.
• Work relationships that blend professionalism with genuine friendship are rare and valuable, and should be treasured.
• Success in design (and business) depends as much on communication, honesty, and self-care as on aesthetic skill.

Listen for:

• Behind-the-scenes stories about “growing up” in the business together, from managing renovations to signing expensive leases.
• A rare, real conversation on the fears, nerves, and mistakes made along the way—plus all the big laughs and tender moments that come with them.

Episode wrap-up:
A thoroughly engaging, funny, and moving episode that reveals the heart at the center of Caroline Turner Interiors—and illustrates why “Confessions of an Interior Designer” is such a beloved, authentic look at the industry. This conversation is a masterclass in professional vulnerability, mentorship, and mutual respect, and will resonate with anyone navigating growth, change, and creative partnership.