Podcast Summary: Confessions of an Interior Designer

Episode: I confess... my client went rogue
Host: Caroline Turner
Guest: Abigail Morris (Abigail Morris Interiors)
Date: November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Caroline Turner welcomes Abigail Morris, founder of Abigail Morris Interiors, to share the real, unfiltered chaos behind luxury interior design. From career pivots and the realities of entrepreneurship to wild client stories—including the pain of seeing your work undone—this conversation delivers honest, hilarious, and sometimes jaw-dropping stories from inside the industry. The episode is shaped by frank listener confessions, industry advice, and personal anecdotes about the tricky balance between a designer’s vision and client control.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abigail’s Journey: From Tech to Design

• Circuitous Route to Interior Design
  • Abigail began her design interest at age 12 but took a practical path into journalism and corporate tech before returning to her true passion.
  • Undertook a certificate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the pandemic, mainly for confidence and technical skills (AutoCAD).
  • Abigail and Caroline both stress that design school is often about training employees for big firms, not preparing you to run your own business. ([03:33])

“I wish I would have done at least a business minor. What was I thinking?” — Caroline (05:31)

• The Big Career Jump
  • Abigail credits her shift to a reassessment during the pandemic and describes the financial realities of entry-level design roles (“couldn’t afford rent on 30k a year”—07:34).
  • She emphasizes the value of business skills and confidence, recommending targeted coursework over full degree programs.

2. Starting Out: Building a Client Base and Confidence

• First Clients & Networking
  • Started with friends and family projects, often unpaid portfolio work; built relationships with realtors for early jobs.
  • Social media now plays a big role in attracting clients.
• Coping with imposter syndrome: Abigail admits her own struggles and mentions it took years to subside.

“I was scared shitless. I was so afraid I had to wake up every day and choose purpose…” — Abigail (09:48)

3. Entrepreneurship Realities

• The Importance of Professional Support
  • Both recommend hiring a bookkeeper/accountant early on—even before you think you can afford it.
  • Caroline: “Get a business loan to hire an accountant. Amen. That would be my first hire.” (06:21)
• Imposter Syndrome & Facing Fears
  • Even years in, both designers struggle with self-doubt, but agree persistence wins.

4. Listener Confession #1: The Rogue Client

• The Confession ([11:06–15:43])
  • A client, after a lengthy and custom design process, impulsively rips down a gorgeous, expensive wallpaper to paint TikTok-inspired blue stripes—messy and unprofessional.
  • They also paint a vintage dresser (weeks to source!) sloppily, destroying its charm.
• Reaction & Reflections
  • The designers are aghast at the wasted effort and money; discuss feeling flummoxed, powerless, and frustrated.
  • Caroline emphasizes the tension between client ownership and designer pride:

“How much do you really have when someone else takes over a space you’ve put so much care into?” — Caroline (15:43)

• Both agree it’s all about boundaries, choosing the right clients, and sometimes just walking away.

Notable Quotes

• “Standing there, I just couldn’t process it. The wallpaper… was now replaced by something that undermined the entire design.” — Confession, read by Caroline ([12:46])
• “Are you okay? Like carbon monoxide… do they have a detector?” — Caroline ([14:28])
• “I guess I’ll just know never to work with them again or refer them to anybody… make sure they go on some sort of blacklist and move on with my life.” — Caroline (17:25)

5. Listener Confession #2: Scope Creep & Client Meltdowns

• The Confession ([20:02–26:32])
  • Designer, 38 weeks pregnant, goes above and beyond for a distant family connection, with the scope ballooning far past original intent—without contract or compensation.
  • A minor install mistake triggers client anger; accusations fly, with demands for unnecessary refunds and emotional distress.
  • Days later, the client apologizes in a letter with a restaurant gift card, blaming anxiety over change.

Notable Quotes

• “She accused me of ordering a bigger rug just to make more money… the margin was probably $30.” — Caroline (23:11)

• “This is almost worse. That’s like my ex sending me a letter after he cheated and being like, sorry I did that.” — Caroline (26:33)

• “Thank God I didn’t go into early labor because of you, you nutcase.” — Caroline (26:53)

• Discussion: Setting Boundaries & Scope

  • Both stress: address scope creep from the start, set clear contract terms (“pad by 10-20% for creep”), and educate clients on billing and hours.
  • Holding firm when clients panic about design changes (“live with it for two weeks before deciding”).

• Advice for New Designers

  • Start small, don’t dive into full construction projects without experience or capital, and always address scope up front.

6. Career & Creativity Advice

• For Prospective Designers:
  • “Just do it. Don’t overthink it.”
  • Try internships or small projects to see the real day-to-day work.
  • Mistakes are guaranteed, but what matters is how you handle them.
• On Authenticity
  • Sourcing inspiration outside the Internet—old books, travel, house tours, and nature—helps forge a unique style and avoid creative burnout.

“Find inspiration outside of the Internet.” — Abigail (41:56)
“Creativity comes back online when you touch grass.” — Abigail (43:06)

7. Industry & Pop Culture Fun

• The designers riff on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, the OC, Laguna Beach, and ‘00s nostalgia, connecting these guilty pleasures back to refueling their creativity and offering welcome escapism.
• Abigail is working on a dream hotel project in Ouray, CO—a “punk rock grandma” boutique transformation—thanks to some lucky family connections.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | 05:31 | "I wish I would have done at least a business minor..." | Caroline | | 09:48 | "I was scared shitless... I had to wake up every day..." | Abigail | | 12:46 | “Standing there, I just couldn’t process it…” | Confession | | 14:28 | "Are you okay? Like carbon monoxide… do they have a detector?"| Caroline | | 15:43 | "How much do you really have when someone else takes over…" | Caroline | | 23:11 | "She accused me of ordering a bigger rug just to make more money..." | Caroline | | 26:33 | "This is almost worse. That’s like my ex sending me a letter..." | Caroline | | 41:56 | "Find inspiration outside of the Internet." | Abigail | | 43:06 | "Creativity comes back online when you touch grass." | Abigail |

Important Timestamps

• Abigail’s journey & tech background: 00:58–04:54
• Business skills in design & accounting woes: 05:10–06:56
• Going solo & building a client list: 07:02–09:37
• Imposter syndrome & entrepreneurship: 09:41–10:21
• Confession 1: Client goes rogue: 11:06–15:43
• Confession 2: Scope creep & meltdown: 20:02–26:32
• Advice for new designers: 37:09–41:24
• How to stay true creatively: 41:56–43:53
• Pop culture/pop nostalgia & self-care: 44:52–48:43
• Where to find Abigail: 48:51

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, funny, sharp, and at times a little snarky—full of real talk between two designers who’ve learned to balance client expectations, their own creative vision, and what it takes to not just survive, but thrive, in the world of luxury interiors.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for interior designers, creatives considering a career leap, or anyone who loves the intersection of high-style and high-drama. Caroline and Abigail keep it real about the work behind the aesthetics—and make it clear the biggest design challenge isn’t always the wallpaper, but managing the clients.

Find Abigail online: Instagram @abigailmorris.interiors
Connect with the show: Visit Caroline Turner’s links in show notes