Podcast
Six Figure Designer
Hosted by Pam Durkin · EN
Struggling to find great clients and design projects? Not making enough money and struggling to manage the projects you have? This is the show for YOU!
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 158: The $20,000 Refrigerator Was Just the Beginning
1w ago00:45:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m debriefing the Naples Experience (my Signature in-person event), but not in the way you might expect. Yes, there was a $20,000 refrigerator, a private chef that works with the cast of Yellowstone, luxury showrooms, a private sunset cruise, and homes ranging from $8 million to $84 million. But the REAL transformation happened when the designers stepped away from the endless client requests and daily to-do lists and immersed themselves in a room full of smart, driven, curious women who are building businesses at the next level. In this episode, I'm talking about why luxury has to be experienced before it can be confidently sold, how proximity and exposure demystify the high end, and why unforgettable client experiences are what create raving fans.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 157: When the Dream Project Is No Longer a Yes For YOU
2w ago00:43:39Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re talking about the surprising growth moment when a project you once dreamed of is no longer an automatic yes. After a coaching call inside the Luxury Client Academy, I’m sharing the story of a designer who was presented with a large, exciting project that looked incredible on paper, but the builder quality, client expectations, reuse requests, and overall project conditions didn’t feel aligned. This conversation became a powerful example of what happens when your standards evolve, your discernment sharpens, and you stop making decisions from urgency. We’ll explore how to recognize when hesitation is actually information, how to qualify projects beyond size and budget, and why turning down a “dream” project can be one of the clearest signs that your business has grown.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 156: If You Say This Word, I GUARANTEE You’re Undercharging
3w ago00:29:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re talking about one tiny word that could be quietly costing you thousands in your design business: “just.” If you’ve ever said, “It’s just a small bathroom,” “It’s just a few finishes,” or “It’s just a consultation,” you may be unintentionally minimizing the expertise, decision-making, and professional value you bring to your projects. I’ll unpack why designers use this word, how it affects your pricing, and why work that feels easy to you is often the exact thing your clients need most. Plus, you’ll learn how to catch yourself before you undercharge and start describing your work in a way that reflects the true value of your experience.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 155: Beyond Product: The Business Strategy Hiding at Market
May 400:38:13Tap to summarizeHigh Point Market is not just about pretty product, new introductions, or showroom visits. It is a business laboratory. If you pay attention, it shows you where your relationships are strong, where your systems may be creating friction, where new opportunities are hiding, and who is truly invested in helping your design business grow. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest breadcrumbs I picked up from Market, including why vendor relationships are such a powerful asset, how the right partners can feel like an extension of your team, and why networking is essential if you want to build visibility, deepen industry connections, and attract more high-end luxury clients.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 154: You’ve Tried Everything - and That Might Be the Problem
Apr 2700:39:42Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been thinking, I’ve tried everything and nothing is working, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we’re unpacking why the problem may not be a lack of effort, ideas, or ambition, it may be that you’re focusing on the wrong things in the wrong order. I’m breaking down how to identify the tasks that actually move your interior design business forward, why so many designers stay stuck in cycles of over-creating and under-prioritizing, and how to stop chasing what feels exciting in favor of what creates real traction. If your business feels busy but not built, this episode will help you see what needs to change.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 153: 5 Money Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner
Apr 2000:48:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of I Wish I Knew Sooner, I’m sharing the money lessons that would have saved me so much stress, second-guessing, and unnecessary struggle in business. We’re talking about why you can’t price for the best-case scenario, the importance of paying yourself first, knowing your monthly number, separating out money that isn’t really yours, and planning for the number and type of projects you actually need to hit your revenue goals. If you’ve ever had money coming in but still felt strapped, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you were truly profitable, this episode will help you start looking at your business finances with more clarity, intention, and confidence.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 152: The Fastest Way to Grow as a Designer (That No One Talks About)
Apr 1300:21:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we break down the fastest way to grow as a designer and why being in the right room changes everything.Most designers think the next level comes from more information...another course, another strategy, another system.But in this episode, we’re talking about what actually creates real growth in your design business, and why so many designers stay stuck longer than they need to.If you’ve been feeling isolated, second-guessing your decisions, or unsure how to handle client conversations with confidence, this conversation will shift how you think about growth. If you’re ready to step out of your day-to-day and experience this kind of growth in real life…I’m hosting an in-person experience in Naples, Florida May 13-15th.A few days to:Connect with other designersHave real conversations about your businessWork through client scenarios and decisionsTour incredible homes (up to $200M)And get inspired in a completely different environment Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 151: From Purchasing Panic to Profit Protection on a $34M Project
Apr 600:30:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with one of my interior design coaching clients to talk about a real-world project that pushed her far outside her comfort zone...a $34 million investment property where she had to navigate large-scale purchasing for the first time. Before we began working together, much of the furniture had already been purchased through a local retailer, leaving significant profit on the table. Through coaching, we developed a strategy to handle the accessories and window treatments portion of the project by respecting the client’s budget while first protecting the designer’s profit and then sourcing within the remaining funds. This conversation dives into the lessons she learned about pricing, purchasing, procurement systems, and confidence, and how this experience transformed the way she approaches protecting profit in her interior design business.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →EP 150: The Referral That Led to a 6-figure Design Contract: The Strategy Behind the Win
Mar 3001:03:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with interior designer and coaching client Audra to share the story behind her biggest project yet, a six figure design contract for a $4.5 million home. Just months earlier, she was questioning whether to continue her business after a difficult year filled with project delays, personal challenges, and slow new business. As we worked together, I encouraged her to recommit to networking and outreach, which led to reconnecting with a realtor who ultimately referred her to the luxury homeowners. Audra shares how she navigated the referral, worked through moments of self-doubt when the clients didn’t immediately reach out, and how my coaching helped her prepare for the discovery call, structure the in-person meeting, and confidently present a proposal that ultimately secured the largest project of her career.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
Transcribe →Ep 149: The Unforgettable Advantage (Part 3): Find Referral Partners That Bring Clients
Mar 2300:27:31Tap to summarizeIn the final episode of The Unforgettable Advantage series, I reveal why some networking relationships generate clients while others never will and understanding the difference can transform the way you build your design business. After discussing why referrals feel inconsistent in Part 1 and how to become memorable in conversations in Part 2, this episode focuses on identifying the referral partners who truly move the needle. I introduce my Profitable Referral Matrix, a simple way to recognize which relationships deserve your attention and how nurturing the right partners can create a more predictable pipeline of projects. If you’re ready to stop networking randomly and start building intentional referral relationships that attract the right clients, this episode will show you where to focus your energy.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method
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