
Six Figure Designer
byPam Durkin
ArtsDesignBusinessMarketing
Struggling to find great clients and design projects? Not making enough money and struggling to manage the projects you have? This is the show for YOU!
Episodes(40 episodes)
Ep 173: Are Smaller Projects Just Keeping You SMALL?
If your small interior design projects are supposed to lead to bigger work, the question is simple: are they actually doing it?A lot of interior designers keep smaller services on the menu because they seem like an easier yes. A paint consultation, a decorating-only service, or a one-room package can feel like a smart way to get a client in the door, build trust, and eventually move into a larger project.But here’s the rub: if that next step is not actually happening, you may not have a...
Published: Sep 7, 2026Duration: 14m 8s
Ep 172: Do you really need more clients? [Try this first]
FREE WORKSHOP 9/30: From Scrambling for Clients to In Demand. Grab your seat >> HEREhttps://luxuryclientacademy.com/free-workshopIf you want better clients for your interior design business, taking every project that lands in front of you may be the very thing keeping you stuck. In this episode, I’m challenging the automatic “I need more clients” response and asking you to look at whether you actually need more work, or better opportunities.This is for interior designers who are busy, tired, and still wondering why the calendar isn’t...
Published: Aug 31, 2026Duration: 12m 39s
Ep 171: A Client Brought AI Images to the Interview. Now What?
A potential client walks into your consultation with AI-generated images of exactly what they think they want. Do you get defensive? Feel like you need to prove your value? Start explaining all the reasons AI can’t replace a designer? In this episode, I’m talking about why that reaction is probably getting in your way, and why the bigger issue has nothing to do with AI and everything to do with how well you qualify your clients.9/30 FREE WORKSHOP: From Scrambling for Clients to In Demand. Grab your seat >> HEREhttps://luxuryclientacademy.com...
Published: Aug 24, 2026Duration: 27m 27s
Ep 170: Does Your Interior Design Business Have Hot Potato Syndrome?
Have you ever noticed how quickly you start backpedaling when a conversation gets even slightly uncomfortable? In this episode, I’m talking about “hot potato syndrome” ,that reflex to soften the ask, explain the fee, loosen the boundary, or offer another option before anyone has actually said there’s a problem. Sometimes the rejection hasn’t even happened; you’ve simply sensed the possibility of it and started reacting.We’ll look at how this shows up around money, boundaries, referral relationships, and asking for what you really want. Because growing into the business you want isn’t...
Published: Aug 17, 2026Duration: 24m 40s
Ep 169: 4 Business Lessons I Learned From a Puppy
Apparently, all I needed to sharpen a few business lessons was a puppy who had never seen grass, hated his harness, and needed to be taken outside approximately 700 times a day. In this episode, I’m sharing four surprisingly useful reminders our new puppy gave me about business.If you’ve been feeling buried under everything you still need to fix, learn, or figure out, this is your reminder that growth rarely happens all at once. Sometimes the smartest move is to stop looking ten steps ahead.9/30 FREE WORKSHOP: From Scra...
Published: Aug 10, 2026Duration: 25m 3s
Ep 168: The Best Project I Never Took
On paper, it looked like the perfect project.An 8,000-square-foot home, a major renovation and all new furnishings. Exactly the kind of opportunity most interior designers dream about. But I walked away. In this episode, I'm sharing the story behind one of the most important business decisions I ever made and why saying "no" had nothing to do with the budget and everything to do with protecting my process. If you've ever been tempted to bend your pricing, skip steps, or change the way you work because you're afraid to...
Published: Aug 4, 2026Duration: 21m 44s
Ep 167: Why Inspiration Isn’t Enough: The Business Conversations Designers Need
In this episode, I’m joined by Jen Atkinson, founder of NEDCON, to talk about why designers need more than inspiration to build strong, sustainable businesses. We discuss the conversations our industry often avoids: money, profitability, sales, leadership, and implementation, and why Jen created a more intimate conference experience centered on practical education and honest business growth. I’m also sharing why I said yes to speaking at NEDCON and what I hope designers take away from my session, Money Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner.To get all the info and tickets to NEDC...
Published: Jul 27, 2026Duration: 35m 24s
Ep 166: Is Your Website Sending the Right Signals to Luxury Clients?
Your website may be beautiful, but is it actually making affluent clients feel confident enough to take the next step? In this episode, I’m joined by Robyn White of RDW Design Studio to talk about what luxury clients are really looking for when they land on an interior designer’s website and why trust, clarity and a sense of safety matter more than words like luxury, bespoke or elevated. We also discuss how to position your portfolio for the work you want next, create a dedicated page for referral partners, and make your inquiry page...
Published: Jul 20, 2026Duration: 41m 0s
Ep 165: Did the Nonsense Sneak Back In? The Mid-Year Reset for Designers
At the beginning of the year, we talked about doing things differently, creating space, getting lighter, and deciding what no longer deserves access to you. But halfway through the year, it is easy for the old ways to sneak back in. In this episode, I’m talking about the mid-year reset so many designers need, especially when you are tired from being “on” for clients, contractors, vendors, family, and the business itself. This is not about creating a massive new plan but taking a breath, looking honestly at what is working, what needs to be refined, and what needs to be...
Published: Jul 13, 2026Duration: 10m 13s
Replay: The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee
In this episode, Pam walks you through The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee and explains why bigger projects, more qualified leads, and stronger design fees usually do not start at the proposal. They start much earlier, in how you are known, who is introducing you, and how you lead the opportunity before you price it.If this episode helps you see that you do not just need more information and you need help implementing this in your actual business, Pam also shares how the Luxury Client Academy supports designers through...
Published: Jun 24, 2026Duration: 1h 9m 58s
Ep 164: More Referrals Aren't the Answer if They're Not a Good Fit
In this episode, Pam closes out the V.I.P. Method series by explaining why more referrals are not always the answer if they are the wrong fit. She shares how designers can have referrals coming in and still feel frustrated when those opportunities are too small, too vague, too late, or not aligned with the level of work and fees they want. Pam explains why referral quality matters more than referral quantity, how past clients and industry partners may need clearer language about what kind of work to send your way, and why better-directed referrals can lead to...
Published: Jun 22, 2026Duration: 30m 12s
Ep 163: Proposal: Stop Quoting Too Soon - Start Shaping the Opportunity
In this episode, Pam breaks down the “P” in her V.I.P. Method: Proposal. She explains why one of the fastest ways designers undercharge is by pricing too soon, before the real scope, timeline, client expectations, builder responsibilities, and level of support are fully understood. Whether the request comes from a client or a builder, vague language like “we just need help with selections” can hide a much bigger responsibility. Pam shares why asking clarifying questions does not make you look inexperienced...it makes you look professional, in control, and more like a business owner. Yo...
Published: Jun 18, 2026Duration: 44m 15s
Ep 162: What If They Say I’m Too Expensive?
In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest fears designers face when they start thinking about higher design fees: “What if they say I’m too expensive?” This fear often causes designers to shrink, soften, discount, or overexplain before the client has even objected and the real issue may not be about price at all. Sometimes “too expensive” is actually a clarity problem, a scope problem, a fit problem, or a sign that the opportunity was priced too soon. This episode is part of the V.I.P. Method series leading up to my free liv...
Published: Jun 15, 2026Duration: 37m 49s
Ep 161: Invitation: Stop Waiting for Referrals and Start Creating Access
In this episode, I breaks down the “I” in the V.I.P. Method: Invitation. If reaching out makes you feel like you’re chasing, begging, or being cringey, this episode will help you see it differently. I explain why better opportunities often come through relationships, why people forget about you when you’re not top of mind, and why staying connected in a thoughtful, personal way is a key part of creating access to higher-fee projects. You’ll also hear why the phone not ringing with the right opportunities does not mean you’re not good enou...
Published: Jun 11, 2026Duration: 32m 39s
Ep 160: Visibility: Are You Known for the Work That Can Support Bigger Fees?
This episode is part of the V.I.P. Method series leading up to my free live workshop:The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee: 3 Shifts to Get Seen, Invited, and Paid for Bigger Design ProjectsJoin me live on June 24th at 12 PM Eastern.Register for the free workshop here: luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method Your highest design fee does not start when the proposal goes out. It starts much earlier — with what you are known for, who is inviting you into the conversation, and how clearly the...
Published: Jun 11, 2026Duration: 27m 1s
Ep 159: Your Highest Design Fee Starts Before the Proposal
Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method Your highest design fee does not start when you send the proposal. It starts much earlier, with the opportunities you attract, the people inviting you into the conversation, and the way you shape the scope before pricing it. In this episode, Pam introduces the V...
Published: Jun 8, 2026Duration: 38m 5s
Ep 158: The $20,000 Refrigerator Was Just the Beginning
In this episode, I’m debriefing the Naples Experience (my Signature in-person event), but not in the way you might expect. Yes, there was a $20,000 refrigerator, a private chef that works with the cast of Yellowstone, luxury showrooms, a private sunset cruise, and homes ranging from $8 million to $84 million. But the REAL transformation happened when the designers stepped away from the endless client requests and daily to-do lists and immersed themselves in a room full of smart, driven, curious women who are building businesses at the next level. In this episode, I'm talking about why lux...
Published: May 25, 2026Duration: 45m 48s
Ep 157: When the Dream Project Is No Longer a Yes For YOU
In this episode, we’re talking about the surprising growth moment when a project you once dreamed of is no longer an automatic yes. After a coaching call inside the Luxury Client Academy, I’m sharing the story of a designer who was presented with a large, exciting project that looked incredible on paper, but the builder quality, client expectations, reuse requests, and overall project conditions didn’t feel aligned. This conversation became a powerful example of what happens when your standards evolve, your discernment sharpens, and you stop making decisions from urgency. We’ll explore how to recognize when hes...
Published: May 18, 2026Duration: 43m 39s
Ep 156: If You Say This Word, I GUARANTEE You’re Undercharging
In this episode, we’re talking about one tiny word that could be quietly costing you thousands in your design business: “just.” If you’ve ever said, “It’s just a small bathroom,” “It’s just a few finishes,” or “It’s just a consultation,” you may be unintentionally minimizing the expertise, decision-making, and professional value you bring to your projects. I’ll unpack why designers use this word, how it affects your pricing, and why work that feels easy to you is often the exact thing your clients need most. Plus, you’ll learn how to catch yourself before you undercharge and sta...
Published: May 11, 2026Duration: 29m 51s
Ep 155: Beyond Product: The Business Strategy Hiding at Market
High Point Market is not just about pretty product, new introductions, or showroom visits. It is a business laboratory. If you pay attention, it shows you where your relationships are strong, where your systems may be creating friction, where new opportunities are hiding, and who is truly invested in helping your design business grow. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest breadcrumbs I picked up from Market, including why vendor relationships are such a powerful asset, how the right partners can feel like an extension of your team, and why networking is essential if you want to build vi...
Published: May 4, 2026Duration: 38m 13s