Today we welcome Sarah Weltner Chaffee, founder and principal designer of Weltner Interiors, based in Kansas City. In this episode, Sarah shares her transition from architecture to interior design, the obvious and not-so-obvious differences between the two, and how she leaned into her network, vendors, and workrooms to learn what she didn't know about the business side of design. We also discuss her perspective on balancing creativity with the demands of running a business, and Sarah shares her latest creative outlet: product design.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
- Why bigger isn't always better: Sarah shares how focusing on smaller-scale interior design projects, furniture refreshes, and light remodels has helped her build a more profitable, creatively fulfilling business. Making the transition from architecture to interior design and how Sarah applies her architectural training to space planning, sight lines, lighting, and the overall experience of a room. Learning the business of interior design on the job and why asking questions, building relationships with vendors, and collaborating with trusted workrooms are essential to long-term success. Developing confidence as a business owner, from navigating financial systems and refining client agreements to charging appropriately and sending invoices without hesitation. The importance of keeping overhead low, understanding profit margins, and building a lean interior design business that provides financial stability and flexibility. Defining success on your own terms and creating a business model that supports work-life balance, personal priorities, and time with family. Finding new opportunities for creative fulfillment and business diversification through product design, including Sarah's launch of Finery, a luxury seasonal décor collection featuring handcrafted Christmas tree skirts. Why community over competition, supportive industry relationships, and maintaining perspective can make running an interior design business more enjoyable and sustainable.
NOTABLE QUOTES
- "Those are more profitable for me than doing something that goes out for three years." — Sarah Weltner Chaffee "I think running a business is such a, like, extended therapy session with yourself." — Sarah Weltner Chaffee "I think be very clear on, like, what your priorities are." — Sarah Weltner Chaffee "My personal definition of success is having a profitable business that doesn't stress me out too much and allows me to enjoy my family and friends to full capacity." — Sarah Weltner Chaffee
SUPPORTING RESOURCES
- Weltner Interiors Website: https://www.weltnerinteriors.com/ Weltner Interiors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weltnerinteriors_finery/ Finery Collection: https://thefinerycollection.com/ Porter Teleo: https://www.porterteleo.com/ Kyle Bunting: https://kylebunting.com/ Samuel & Sons: https://www.samuelandsons.com/ AutoCAD: https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview
SPONSOR LINKS
Design Manager / Design Spec: https://designspec.com/survivalguide — Explore project management, procurement, accounting, and specification tools for interior designers. Visit the link for the episode's advertised 10% subscription discount.
Interior Design Society (IDS): https://interiordesignsociety.org/ — Connect with the interior design community through networking, education, and professional resources. Use code DBSG75 for the episode's advertised $75 discount on a new membership.