Confessions of an Interior Designer

Episode: I confess… the art that bared it all
Host: Caroline Turner
Guest: Laura Lester (Lester Fine Art)
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the often unseen intersection of luxury interior design and the high-stakes contemporary art world. Host Caroline Turner welcomes art advisor Laura Lester for candid conversation and wild industry confessions—from art as a vehicle for wealth management (and laundering!), to what really happens during art commissions gone awry, and how designers and advisors collaborate (or misfire) behind closed doors. Listener confessions spark hilarious, sobering, and sometimes jaw-dropping discussion about what it means to create—and buy—art-filled spaces for high-net-worth clients.

Meet Laura Lester (00:50–04:58)

• Laura shares her career path: starting as receptionist at Gagosian, moving up to assist Larry Gagosian during rapid gallery expansion, gaining hands-on object experience at Christie’s, and eventually directing a Chelsea gallery.
• Her Chicago-based art advisory, Lester Fine Art, is rooted in collaborating with private collectors and interior designers, blending curation, client service, and deep market knowledge.
• She emphasizes the joys (and differences) of working with designers, collectors, and homeowners in the luxury market.

Memorable Quote:

“You have a great sense of how that sensibility is going to translate, what it’s going to be like to live in that room. And it’s really, you know, invaluable insight.”
— Laura (06:12)

The Relationship Between Designers, Clients, and Art Advisors (04:58–09:55)

• Most art advisor projects are ultimately with the homeowner, often introduced through the designer—collaboration varies by client and project complexity.
• Caroline confesses she encourages involving experts:

  “I am not an art curator. I can appreciate good art...but that’s where it ends. That’s the end of my expertise.” (05:46)

• Laura loves being brought in early, adding:

  “That magic moment when the crate is open is just—I live for that.” (08:03)

Why Hire an Art Advisor? (09:26–14:27)

• Laura details the specialized, global nature of the art market—advisors provide deep research, connections, and investment rigour that designers or clients alone can’t replicate.
• She stresses her role is fiduciary, not representing artists or galleries, but solely the client’s interests.
• Investment value is part of the advisory, but never the sole reason to collect:

  “It’s incredible when those markets explode or that artist’s trajectory continues and you’re able to make money…but that’s never a reason to collect art.” (11:15)

Boutique vs. Big Firms & Client Relationships (14:27–17:41)

• Both Laura and Caroline discuss staying boutique for quality and direct client interaction:

  “My goal as of now is to really remain boutique and have me and only me owning the creative.” — Laura (15:35)

• Many art clients develop long-term, sometimes casual relationships with advisors; collecting is a “lifelong pursuit,” with ongoing text threads about new finds.

Anecdote:

“I’ll be at Miami Basel...I’ll see something that’s just perfect...sometimes I’ll just get a text back: ‘Done.’ ” — Laura (17:42)

• Building relationships with galleries as “trusted clients” grants rare access to desirable pieces, sometimes before they reach the public.

Listener Confession #1: The Collectible Conspiracy (21:53–37:18)

Summary:
A designer describes working for a mysterious “client” with unlimited, unquestioned funds—commissioning interiors where everything must be “collectible,” not functional, sourced only from blue-chip channels. Properties are filled and flipped; legal paperwork is manipulated for “insurance purposes.” Eventually, the designer realizes the art and interiors are assets for money laundering or tax optimization—“the art wasn’t decor, it was collateral. And me, I was the one making it all look believable.” (24:47)

Discussion:

• Laura acknowledges this is absolutely part of the “seven-figure art world,” with works often stored in Freeports, not homes. She laments:

  “I became a dealer not to flip paintings and put them in Freeports, but to connect artists with collectors and have people living with these things” (28:10)

• Artists and advisors are often sidelined in these schemes; emphasis on transparency and doing “everything 10,000% the way they’re supposed to be done” (30:02).
• Both agree the scariest part is how easily designers/advisors can be unwittingly embroiled.
• Caroline warns:

  “The piece that comes in that’s difficult is the changing of the invoices. That’s when—” (34:49)

Penance:

• “Block this person’s number...take a U-turn!”
• Best defense is knowing when to walk away; always check with an accountant or lawyer.

Listener Confession #2: The Accidental Phallic Painting (37:31–48:39)

Summary:
A designer commissions a “sexy but tasteful” abstract for a penthouse dining room, hastily approves based on loose mockups, and upon installation discovers a massive, unmistakably phallic shape at its center. Client’s reaction? “It’s giving dominance. I love it.” (40:55)

Discussion:

• Laura explains the perils of vague briefs and not requesting final images:

  “Commissions can be so tricky, but I’m just shocked that this designer didn’t ask for an image...Commissioning an abstract painting, I honestly don’t know that I would do that—it’s just too risky.” (42:08)

• She outlines why, unless unavoidable, she only commissions from artists with compatible, ongoing bodies of work, and only after thorough client education and approval.
• The value of working with an art advisor is made clear; having a professional manage commissions prevents disaster (and potential embarrassment).

Penance:

• “Hire an art advisor...because I don’t know that you have the time to manage commissions how they should be managed. And that’s no shade, I’ve done the same thing.” (48:45)

Art and Interior Design: Top Insights (49:19–52:22)

What Designers Should Know:

• Art should add unexpected, sometimes “imperfect” character—not just match the mood board.

  “The art should be as imperfect as you can possibly get it.” — Laura (50:23)

• The most successful interiors include art that looks inherited or collected, not just styled.

Building Long-term Advisor Relationships:

• Start small; even sourcing a single statement piece can spark a strong partnership and help clients ease into collecting.
• Art is slow—clients should expect to build their collection over years, not overnight.

Closing Thoughts & Personal Tidbits (52:34–54:21)

• Laura reflects on the joy of seeing her kids start to understand her career:

  “He asked me, ‘Is there a take your son to work day?’ I’m like, well, I’m the boss, you can come to work with me anytime!” (53:33)

• The episode closes on a warm note about the personal validation and connection inherent to art, family, and creative work.

Notable Quotes

• “You have a great sense of how that sensibility is going to translate…invaluable insight.” — Laura (06:12)
• “The magic moment when the crate is open…I live for that.” — Laura (08:03)
• “I became a dealer not to flip paintings and put them in Freeports, but to connect artists with collectors…” — Laura (28:10)
• “The art should be as imperfect as you can possibly get it.” — Laura (50:23)
• “Commissions can be so tricky…Commissioning an abstract painting, I honestly don’t know that I would do that—it’s just too risky.” — Laura (42:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:50–04:58: Laura's background and entry into the art world
• 09:26–14:27: Why luxury clients (and their designers) need an art advisor
• 21:53–37:18: Listener confession #1—art as asset laundering
• 37:31–48:39: Listener confession #2– the surprise phallic commission
• 49:19–52:22: Top advice for designers working with art and art advisors
• 52:34–54:21: Personal “what made you feel” segment

Episode Mood & Tone

Candid, witty, and unfiltered, with a balance of professional expertise, behind-the-scenes confessions, and the kind of practical advice and gossip you’d expect at a designer’s happy hour.

Find Laura:
Website & Instagram: @LesterFineArt

For More Confessions

Submit a confession or join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.