This week, Shaun and Rebecca are joined by Natalie Papier of Home Ec Op to talk all things color, creativity, and carving your own design path. Natalie shares how her background in fine art has shaped her interiors, how she grew her business organically through Instagram, and the whirlwind of launching multiple product lines, filming a design TV show, and publishing her first book. She opens up about the real-life chaos behind the scenes and the power of staying true to your aesthetic.

In this episode they discuss:

• Natalie's journey from fine artist to interior designer
• Filming Artfully Designed and navigating behind-the-scenes challenges
• How her book Start with the Art came to life and what she learned
• Collaborating with brands like Mitzi and Mitchell Black on product lines
• Balancing client work with content creation and licensing deals
• The importance of boundaries and fit in client relationships
• How she handles unsolicited opinions and the downsides of virality
• Why midlife is actually the best time for creative evolution

In this episode they discuss:

• Rasheeda’s transition from corporate marketing to full-time interior design
• Building a business while juggling a 9-to-5 job and family responsibilities
• Collaborating with her husband to create a design-construction duo
• The significance of community and mentorship in her career growth
• Revising her pricing structure to enhance profitability and cash flow
• Leveraging local television as an effective marketing tool
• Balancing flat-fee and hourly billing to meet creative and business needs
• Preparing for her most significant TV project to date and expanding Gray Space's recognition

Mentioned:

• Home Ec Op Website
• Home Ec Op Instagram
• Natalie’s Wallpaper Collection with Mitchell Black
• Artfully Designed on Discovery +
• Home Ec Collection with Mitzi Lighting
• Natalie’s Book: Start with the Art

Our links:

• Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
• Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Rebecca’s Instagram
• Shaun’s Instagram
• For more information - Check out the website
• Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
• Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Get 50% off your first year + a 14-day free trial with Sortly. https://sortly.com/hydc

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Shaun and Rebecca open up about their personal mental health journeys and how those experiences impact their lives as interior designers and creative entrepreneurs. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, they shed light on how common mental health struggles are within the design industry, and how important it is to build a life and business that supports your mind and body.

Together, they share their own stories of burnout, depression, therapy, and medication, while encouraging fellow designers to normalize conversations around emotional well-being. This isn't about quick fixes—it's about real talk, compassion, and taking steps (big or small) toward mental resilience in a creative industry that often demands so much.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why it's important to name and acknowledge your emotional state without shame
• The emotional crash that can follow the adrenaline of busy periods and client work
• Tips for recognizing and responding to situational versus long-term depression
• The benefits of therapy, medication, and consistent mental health check-ins
• How somatic stretching and body awareness can support emotional release
• Drawing boundaries with email, social media, and business energy drains
• The struggle of detaching your identity from your business and client feedback
• Finding healing and connection through your design community and close friends

Mentioned:

• BetterHelp
• TalkSpace
• Psychology Today

Our links:

• Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
• Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Rebecca’s Instagram
• Shaun’s Instagram
• For more information - Check out the website
• Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
• Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Get 50% off your first year + a 14-day free trial with Sortly. https://sortly.com/hydc

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca sit down with interior designer and TV personality Rasheeda Gray of Gray Space Interiors. Rasheeda shares how she transitioned from a 15-year corporate marketing career into a thriving design business — and how she made her purpose and passion align. They also dive into how she’s leveraged local television and mentorships to grow her brand, and what it’s really like running a business with your partner.

From juggling 20 projects while holding down a full-time job to building a renovation-focused business with her husband, Rasheeda gets real about the hustle behind the glam. She also shares her evolving pricing strategies, her love for marketing, and what it takes to step into the spotlight on national TV.

In this episode they discuss:

• Rasheeda’s shift from corporate marketing to full-time design
• How she built her business while working a 9-to-5 and raising a family
• Partnering with her husband to create a design-construction power duo
• The importance of community and mentorship in building her career
• Reworking her pricing structure to protect profits and boost cash flow
• Using local television as a powerful marketing tool
• Balancing flat-fee and hourly billing to serve both creativity and business needs
• Preparing for her biggest TV project yet — and aiming to make Gray Space a household name

Mentioned:

• Gray Space Interiors: https://grayspaceinteriors.com/
• Rasheeda Gray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayspaceinteriors/
• Rasheeda Gray on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grayspaceinteriordesign/
• Kelly Collier-Clark: https://www.instagram.com/kellycollierclark/
• House of Clark Interiors: https://www.instagram.com/houseofclarkinteriors/
• Cheryl Luckett: https://www.instagram.com/dwellbycheryl/?hl=en

Our links:

• Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
• Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Rebecca’s Instagram
• Shaun’s Instagram
• For more information - Check out the website
• Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
• Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Get 50% off your first year + a 14-day free trial with Sortly. https://sortly.com/hydc