EP 423 | Double Your Income: How Interior Designers Charge Confidently with Kristen Apicerno
April 8, 2025
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If you’ve ever worried that you’re charging too much, you’re in good company—it’s one of the most common fears among interior design professionals. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with interior designer and BOD™ Member, Kristen Apicerno to share a powerful story of transformation that challenges the belief that fair pricing is “double dipping.”
Kristen opens up about her early discomfort charging project management fees, how outside opinions reinforced that fear, and why that mindset kept her doing the hardest parts of the job for free. Everything changed once she implemented Business of Design® systems and saw, clearly, just how much value she was providing—and how much income she was leaving on the table.
This conversation is both practical and empowering, offering insight into how confidence, communication, and structure can dramatically change your earning potential.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why designers and clients should be positioned as equals—and how language reinforces that
- How telling clients what will happen before it happens builds trust and authority
- How purposeful, open-ended questions strengthen client relationships
- Why letting clients do most of the talking leads to better outcomes
- How post-project strategies generate repeat work and referrals
DESIGN INTERVENTION
There’s no such thing as “double dipping” in design profit centers. To stay profitable, we should charge for ALL of these: our expertise and time, markup on goods and services and project management. No one accuses a grocery store of “double dipping” because they make profit on a loaf of bread AND their delivery service. Designers are a business-not a hobby.
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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used for any legal decisions. Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Kimberley Seldon Productions Inc., Kimberley Seldon Design and Media, Inc., Business of Design™, or any of its affiliated companies or staff is not responsible for any errors or omissions effecting accuracy in any content, and they will not be held liable for the use or misuse of information, facts, details or any other aspects should there arise any defects, errors, omissions or perhaps inaccuracies. Extensive research has been conducted to put this podcast together for the purpose of educating our industry in order to better serve the public. Care has been taken to acknowledge ownership of copyrighted material. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is offered with the understanding that we do not render any legal, accounting or other professional advice. Seek the advice of a lawyer and/or other competent professional person in all matters of law. Further, listeners should be aware that internet websites mentioned may change or disappear between when this was recorded and when it was listened to.