The Interior Collective

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**The Interior Collective**

A podcast for the business of beautiful living presented by IDCO Studio. The Interior Collective is equal parts advisor, collaborator, and trusted friend to interior designers around the world. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey — bringing in interior designers and industry tastemakers to provide you with actionable advice for your own practice from experts you already trust. Our star-studded lineup features industry-renowned names such as Heidi Caillier, Amber Lewis, Shea McGee, Marie Flanigan, Jake Arnold, Clara Jung, Carley Summers, Gail Davis, Lindsey Borchard, Lauren Liess, Light & Dwell, Victoria Sass, Megan Grehl and so many more. We’ve assigned each guest a specific topic for truly actionable, inspiring and strategic takeaways from each episode.

Latest Episodes:

Excelling at New Construction with Stephanie Mahaney May 23, 2025

Show notes

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

Design Assisted

Interior Design Service Agreement at IDCO Studio

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re diving into the art of bringing a new construction project to life.

Our guest is Stephanie Mahaney, founder of Stephanie Rae Interiors, most-known for designing functional, custom residential projects and elevated commercial spaces. With a background at Kemble Interiors and a deep understanding of the building process from her collaboration with Keating Moore Construction, Stephanie brings a unique perspective on integrating design and construction seamlessly.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

How to collaborate effectively with architects, builders, and contractors
Project management strategies to keep designs on track
The communication skills every designer needs to navigate challenges and ensure a smooth process
Balancing aesthetics and function to create homes that are both beautiful and livable

For many designers, custom new construction projects are the dream project, and Stephanie is breaking down just how to ensure they run smoothly. Let’s get started—here’s my conversation with Stephanie Rae.

Client Touchpoints in Design with Susannah Holmberg May 16, 2025

Show notes

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

Interior Design Service Agreement at IDCO Studio

Welcome back to The Interior Collective Podcast, where we dive deep into the business of interior design. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re exploring one of the most critical aspects of a successful design project: client touchpoints. From the initial consultation to the final styling, how do you structure your process to keep clients informed, engaged, and—most importantly—confident in your vision?

To help us break it all down, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Susannah Holmberg. With over 13 years of experience, Susannah has built a design practice rooted in both fine art and interior design, crafting spaces that are highly customized, deeply intentional, and timelessly beautiful. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Domino, and more, and today, she’s here to share her insights on sequencing a design into clear phases—what those client touchpoints should look like, and what to cover in each.

After 10 years of running my own creative studio, client touchpoints continue to be something we work on refining, implementing, and increasing in order to improve our client experience. If you’ve ever struggled with keeping interior design clients aligned, setting expectations, or simply creating a seamless design process, this episode is for you. Let’s get started.

Mastering and Maximizing Trade Vendors with Melissa Oholendt May 09, 2025

Show notes

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

Pricing Models for Interior Designers with Lindsey Borchard
Mastering the art of working with trade vendors is one of the biggest challenges interior designers face. From wholesale vendors to custom furniture workrooms, strong vendor relationships are key to a seamless design process. But how do you find the right vendors, create lasting partnerships, and ensure every project runs smoothly while maximizing profitability?

Today, we’re joined by Melissa Oholendt, founder of Oho Interiors, whose path to design was anything but traditional. After beginning her interior design studies in 2001, Melissa spent over 15 years in the fast-paced world of distressed debt hedge funds before launching a decade-long career in photography. In 2019, she returned to her first love—interior design—building a business that has since been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Domino, Homes & Gardens, and more. In 2024, she launched a shop with luxury retailer Perigold, was named a Top 40 Expert on The Expert, and took the stage as a keynote speaker at The Haven Workshop.

Melissa brings a wealth of experience in managing high-level vendor relationships, and today, she’s sharing her best strategies for sourcing, organizing, and collaborating with trade partners. Whether you're looking to refine your process, build stronger industry connections, or avoid costly vendor mistakes, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

Standardizing Your Design Process & Making Sense of Markup with Heidi Caillier May 02, 2025

Show notes

Season 6 of The Interior Collective is brought to you by Materio.

An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.
From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.
It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer.
Mastering the art of working with trade vendors is one of the biggest challenges interior designers face. From wholesale vendors to custom furniture workrooms, strong vendor relationships are key to a seamless design process. But how do you find the right vendors, create lasting partnerships, and ensure every project runs smoothly while maximizing profitability?

Join the Serena & Lily trade program for exclusive perks, best pricing, custom sizing, and white-glove delivery at serenaandlily.com/interiorcollective.

Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective

IDCO Studio Spec Book

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today, we’re sitting down again with one of the most respected names in the industry—Heidi Caillier. An AD100 designer, Heidi has built a career on reinventing tradition, crafting interiors that feel intimate, layered, and deeply personal. Known for her confident use of pattern, color, and nostalgic elements, she designs spaces that stand the test of time, valuing heirlooms, antiques, and handcrafted details over fleeting trends.

But beyond her signature aesthetic, Heidi has also simplified and standardized the business side of interior design—something we’re diving deep into today. I first learned of Heidi’s straight forward approach last October at Design Camp, and the details utterly blew my mind. Heidi’s model of whole home design presentations and flat rate product markup feels refreshingly easy to manage, and all around magical. We’ll explore why she made that decision, how it streamlines client communication, and why presenting an entire home concept at once—instead of breaking it into phases—has transformed her design process.

From the systems behind her full-scale presentations to how this approach strengthens client buy-in and decision-making, Heidi is sharing the strategies that make her projects not only beautiful but also incredibly efficient. If you’ve ever struggled with pricing transparency or felt overwhelmed by phased presentations, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Don’t forget to tune in to Season 2 Episode 1 to hear our first conversation about Heidi’s signature style after this episode. But for now, let’s get started.

More Than One Way to Design with Jason Saft Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Hi! Welcome back to The Interior Collective - I’m your host, Anastasia Casey! Today, I’m excited to welcome Jason Saft, the mastermind behind Staged to Sell Home, a company that has transformed over $3 billion in luxury homes since its official founding in2016, but Jason’s been staging as a passion project since 2005. With an impressive background of more than 20 years in real estate sales and staging, Jason brings a unique perspective on what it means to craft interiors that are both aspirational and functional. Known for his contemporary, curatorial style and unwavering commitment to producing results, Jason has earned accolades for his work, including features in the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, and more.

For Jason, great design isn’t a straight line—it’s about balancing artistry and intent, creating spaces that captivate buyers and maximize value. Because I truly do believe there is no single way to run a successful design business, I’m thrilled to chat with Jason about how he has forged his own path in luxury staging, standing out as both a respected business owner and creative visionary. Jason’s approach is anything but conventional, and his 98% success rate speaks for itself.

Today, we’re diving into Jason’s methods for making luxury staging stand out, exploring everything from his business model and inventory curation to timelines and the decisions behind staging versus full-service design. And we’re especially excited to catch up because not only is Jason an IDCO Studio client, he is also a past attendee of our own Design Camp—so much so that he sent his team to the very next session!

Join us as we explore how Jason combines expertise, intentionality, and market knowledge to elevate homes and help buyers envision their dream lives.

Organic Social Growth that Balances Design + Lifestyle With Chloe Legras Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Welcome back to The Interior Collective - a podcast for the business of beautiful living! I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for today’s episode because it’ll be a masterclass in social media authenticity AND strategy. Today, I’m joined by my dear friend Chloe Legras of Boxwood Avenue Interiors. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of diving into Chloe’s world yet, you’re in for a treat. She’s the visionary behind the stunning interiors and lifestyle brand Boxwood Avenue—a brand that effortlessly combines luxury design with the art of intentional, slow living.

Chloe and I have been friends for years - we actually met at The Haven Workshop years ago and stayed close since. I’ve even had the privilege of attending her retreats abroad—experiences that were truly life-changing. This past May I attended Boxwood Abroad in the Cotswolds and it truly was the trip of a lifetime. Well, until next September when I attend Boxwood Abroad in Provence. Those retreats have given me a firsthand look at Chloe’s passion for honoring heritage, simplicity, and the beauty of old-world charm alongside Chloe’s joy for life that extends way beyond beautiful interiors.

Today, she’s here to share her approach to balancing a luxury design business with a lifestyle brand that celebrates the everyday. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of her social media strategy–particularly over the last year, how she connects with her followers so authentically, and her secrets for building a brand that high-budget design clients are genuinely excited to be part of. I mean this in the most genuine way possible - get ready to dive in because this is Chloe’s world and I feel just so lucky to be living in it.

The Proven Power of Saying Yes With Audrey Scheck Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Welcome to another episode of The Interior Collective podcast - a podcast for the business of beautiful living! Today, we're diving into a fascinating conversation with one of Austin's most sought-after interior designers and someone who has truly transformed my life, Audrey Scheck. You know, we often hear the advice to say "no" to many things to make room for the right ones. But Audrey has taken a different path—one that embraces a resounding "yes" to projects of all sizes.

As the founder and principal designer of Audrey Scheck Design, Audrey has built an incredible reputation for transforming residential and commercial spaces into warm, inviting environments. Her projects are a testament to her unique approach, blending diverse materials and the charm of both old and new to create designs that are not just beautiful but also deeply livable.

Audrey’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. From her childhood days watching her parents build their dream home in rural Texas to remodeling her own home in Los Angeles, she has always had a passion for design. Now, after moving back to Texas in 2020, she's established herself as a leading designer, with her work featured in esteemed publications like Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, and Forbes.

What I find particularly special about Audrey is her genuine networking ability and her generous spirit. What began as a simple "can I buy you lunch?" inquiry has blossomed into one of my closest friendships. Her approach to saying yes—not just to projects but to people—has not only propelled her business forward but has also enriched her life and the lives of those around her.

When I was deep in the weeds growing IDCO Studio and The Interior Collective, I was a definite homebody with a false sense of community via my remote team and Instagram friendships. I’d developed a notable level of social anxiety and thought I was perfectly content. After Audrey invited me to lunch, she instantly invited me to a small girl group of fellow designers and artists - with the likes of Claire Brody and Aileen Fitzgerald for monthly dinner dates. That group, and Audrey’s friendship, changed my life. Audrey refused to let us make excuses for getting together, and made sure we were all, always included. I can say with certainty that Audrey Scheck absolutely changed my life and helped turn me into a more confident, healthy person who can balance and prioritize both digital friendships and friendships in real life as well.

In this episode, we'll explore how Audrey’s mindset of inclusivity and opportunity has shaped her business and her team, leading to remarkable success in such a short time. We'll also discuss how embracing all types of projects has led to her rapid growth and how she navigates the sometimes-competitive landscape of interior design with a collaborative spirit.

So, join us as we learn from Audrey’s journey and discover how saying "yes" can lead to extraordinary transformations in both our businesses and our relationships.

Growing into a Lifestyle Brand with Kristen Forgione Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Welcome back to The Interior Collective. Today, we have an exciting episode lined up for you as we explore the journey of transforming an interior design studio into a thriving lifestyle brand. Joining us is the incredible Kristen Forgione, the creative force behind THELIFESTYLEDCO Design Firm and Retail Shop, and long-time, close, industry friend.

After spending a decade in diverse fields like finance and hospitality, Kristen found her true calling when she attended fashion school in Los Angeles. This experience reignited her childhood passion for color and design, setting her on the path to creating a brand that would soon take the west coast design market by storm. Based in Arizona, THELIFESTYLEDCO has been leading the charge since 2012, serving clients nationwide and building a talented team of Organic Desert loving designers and support staff. Kristen has expertly mastered the art of selling a lifestyle to a wide audience, from affordable home and fashion finds to top-of-the-line, new construction custom homes.

In today’s episode, Kristen will share her inspiring journey of expanding from a design studio to a full-fledged lifestyle brand. We’ll dive into the lessons she’s learned, the challenges she’s faced, and her vision for the future. Whether you’re an aspiring designer or a seasoned pro looking to broaden your horizons, Kristen’s insights will undoubtedly inspire you to think bigger and be bolder.

Going Custom: How to Integrate More Custom Pieces in Your Interior Design Projects With Marie Flanigan Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Welcome to The Interior Collective, the podcast where we dive into the business of interior design. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey and today, I’m thrilled to welcome back Marie Flanigan, the visionary behind Marie Flanigan Interiors. With her background as a classically-trained architect, Marie’s approach marries architecture and interiors in a way that brings timeless elegance and innovation to every project. From the way her team incorporates rich textures, sophisticated color palettes, and striking plays of light, it’s no wonder MFI has been celebrated in top publications like Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Vogue.

If you haven’t heard our first episode with Marie Flanigan, you’ll definitely want to skip all the way to our very first episode - Season 1, Episode 1 as Marie broke down her expertise in growing a team. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Marie alongside her team while filming her project installs, and I’ve honestly never been more impressed by a team’s synergy, relaxed atmosphere, and dedication to “getting it done” at an extraordinary level.
Marie Flanigan is the most humble, easy going, hard working business person I’ve ever worked with and to this day, I can’t think of a woman I respect and admire more than her - personally and professionally. Truly, it’s an immense honor to have her back.

Today, we’re delving into our most requested topic of the season: creating custom pieces. We’ll talk with Marie about how she designs, prices, and manages custom elements—everything from upholstered furniture to built-in cabinetry and bespoke drapery. We’ll uncover her process for finding the right workrooms and trades, what she provides them to bring her vision to life, and how she keeps projects on track from concept through installation. Plus, we’ll discuss what happens when custom pieces don’t go exactly as planned and Marie’s strategies for keeping clients happy and her standards high.

Weaving Between Residential & Commercial Projects with Anne McDonald Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Save 15% site wide at www.idco.studio with promo code Podcast15.

Welcome to The Interior Collective Podcast, the show where we dive into the art and business of beautiful living. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome a dear friend and total muse - Anne McDonald, a Minneapolis-based designer known for her layered, artful approach to creating spaces that feel both timeless and uniquely personal. Named one of Architectural Digest’s "New American Voices" in 2024, Anne’s work spans residential havens and vibrant commercial spaces across the country, each filled with thoughtful details, natural materials, and a signature warmth that invites people to linger.

Anne’s portfolio is as varied as it is beautiful, covering historic home restorations, new builds, restaurants, and even ultra-feminine showrooms. In this episode, she shares the nuances of designing for both residential and commercial spaces, revealing how she adapts her process, project management, and communication strategies to suit each. Anne will also give us a behind-the-scenes look at how she weaves her signature, layered style into even the most functional spaces, ensuring they feel anything but typical. Plus, we’ll hear her thoughts on the importance of networking and community within the design world, and why she believes collaboration is key to any designer’s success.

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