EP 170 | Why Interior Designers Should Write a Book with Anna-Carin McNamara

May 11, 2020

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Have you ever dreamed of writing a book about your interior design work and philosophy?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by designer Anna-Carin McNamara to discuss the process of writing Make a Home to Love and why publishing a book can become a powerful business and branding tool for interior designers.

More than just a portfolio, a well-crafted design book communicates your expertise, design philosophy, and unique process while helping attract ideal clients. Anna-Carin shares how writing a book helped her refine her methods, clarify her message, and create a lasting representation of her brand and aesthetic.

In this episode, we learn:
• Why a design book acts like a powerful business card for interior designers
• How documenting your process helps clarify and strengthen your expertise
• Why interior design is more than intuition — it’s a repeatable process
• How writing a book can refine your brand and design philosophy
• Why publishing a book helps establish authority and credibility in the industry
• How discipline and consistent scheduling make writing achievable
• Why sharing your expertise can attract ideal clients and strengthen your interior design business

Design Intervention

Anna loves the Jedi Mindset from Blair Enns of Win Without Pitching:

  1. I am the expert; I am the prize.
  2. I am on a mission to help
  3. But I can only do that if you let me lead.
  4. I understand that all will not follow, and that’s okay.

 

Take Away

Make a Home to Love, by Anna-Carin McNamara

 

Anna-Carin McNamara is a Swedish-born interior designer with a Master’s degree in Interior Design from the Royal College of Art in London. She is the founder and director of Anna-Carin Design Studio, a Sydney-based interior design studio that specializes in high-end residential Scandinavian interiors.

She is the author of “Make a Home to Love- how to bring joy order and beauty into your home the Scandinavian way” a book that inspires the reader to make the most of the spaces they have.

Her rug collections for Designer Rugs—Forsa and Norse—follows the tradition of storytelling through rugs and are inspired by her Swedish roots and heritage.

ACDS’s work has been featured in many publications, including Vogue Living, Belle, Habitus living, Home Beautiful and Australian House & Garden.

Anna-Carin is passionate about merging the Scandinavian principles of simplicity, functionality and sustainability with the Australian architecture and lifestyle.

www.annacarindesign.com.au

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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