It has often been said that interior design would be a great job if it wasn’t for the clients.

They can be unappreciative, indecisive, and unreasonable even when their project is on track and bellicose, belligerent, and litigious when things go wrong. In fact, the designer-client relationship which often begins as a love affair can sometimes end tragically in the bitterest of divorces.

But is there really such a thing an awkward client, or are any problems just down to poor communications? What can make a good client turn bad? And how can designers effectively manage this most important and sensitive of relationships? Jeff and Susie are joined by Simon Mayhew from Txtured and James Roberts from James Roberts Interiors to answer these and other questions in front of a live audience of designers at the Design Central North West event at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.

Thanks to our series partners Naturalmat for their support.

• (00:00:00) - Intro to the Interior Design Business
• (00:00:39) - An awkward Client
• (00:01:41) - Three of the Designers
• (00:03:06) - Getting Off On The Right Foot With Your Clients
• (00:04:53) - How To Lead a Design Team With Age
• (00:08:40) - How To Win A Friend's Over
• (00:09:18) - Are there any client categories that you avoid?
• (00:12:38) - On Working With An Angry Partner
• (00:13:26) - How to manage a big project's budget
• (00:14:12) - The importance of access to the client
• (00:16:37) - How to Talk Budget With the Client
• (00:17:53) - Budgeting in the UK
• (00:20:15) - Projects' length and timings
• (00:23:37) - The Challenges of Leading a Project
• (00:27:29) - The Importance of a Fee Proposal
• (00:31:17) - Interior Design: Natural Mat
• (00:35:43) - A Good Team For Tougher Clients
• (00:38:03) - The Big Picture
• (00:41:34) - Structural engineers: Quality of design and cost
• (00:46:37) - "It's like a funeral..."
• (00:46:53) - How To Read 2-D Plans
• (00:51:49) - How to Deal with Difficult Contractors
• (00:53:19) - The On-Site Blame Game
• (00:58:21) - "When to say enough is enough?"
• (00:59:00) - What Do You Do When a Client Threatens to Sue You?

Interior designers know that lighting is crucial to the success of every project. Bad lighting can be simultaneously gloomy and glary – deadening colours and flattening textures, while good lighting can make even basic decorative schemes sing. But lighting is also a highly complex and technical minefield that designers must somehow learn to navigate.

Susie and Jeff are joined by Lee Lovett, founder and managing director of Soho Lighting and award-winning interior designer, Henriette von Stockhausen, founder and Creative Director of VSP Interiors to explore how interior designers should go about managing this critical design element. They also discuss how early in the project cycle lighting should be considered and the lighting knowledge and tools that designers need to succeed at every project stage.

This episode was recorded in that front of a live audience of designers at the Simpsons showroom in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour.Thanks to our series partners Naturalmat for their support. We are a Wildwood Plus production.

• (00:00:00) - The Importance of Lighting in the Interior Design
• (00:01:27) - Both of the Electricians have now reached 25 years of practice
• (00:02:56) - Lighting
• (00:04:38) - Should Lighting be Included in Project Space Planning?
• (00:05:52) - The Lighting of a Home
• (00:07:04) - How to Describe Good Lighting
• (00:09:11) - How Lighting Affects the Client's Mood
• (00:09:43) - How to light a house room
• (00:12:06) - The Art of Architectural Lighting
• (00:13:34) - How to light architectural features indirectly
• (00:15:25) - How to Lighting a Low Ceiling with High Ceilings
• (00:20:07) - How to light a period house?
• (00:22:03) - Natural Mat
• (00:23:13) - Lighting layering
• (00:25:48) - Interior Lighting
• (00:28:36) - Lighting and shadows
• (00:32:08) - In the Elevator: Architectural Lighting
• (00:34:54) - The Perfect Spotlight
• (00:37:47) - Dimming Systems
• (00:40:30) - Setting the lights on and off
• (00:42:11) - The Secret to Lighting Design
• (00:42:58) - Inside The Interior Design Business

In this episode, Jeff and Susie dive into the dynamic world of pop-up installations while exploring the enduring appeal of Decorex.

Recorded at the Sofas & Stuff showroom on the Kings Road, they’re joined by designers Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́(Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co) and Lucy Mayers (Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler), both creators of standout temporary spaces for Decorex 2025. Together, they explore what makes a pop-up truly successful, the creative and logistical challenges behind these here-today-gone-tomorrow marvels, and how temporary design can deliver lasting value.

The conversation continues with insights from Decorex’s Sam Fisher, QEST’s Deborah Pocock, and Ricky Partner from Sofas & Stuff. They look at the secrets behind Decorex’s ongoing relevance, the importance of curation, and the role of live craftsmanship in engaging audiences.

Whether you’re a designer, exhibitor, or simply passionate about interiors, this episode offers inspiration and practical advice on making the most of pop-ups and trade shows. Tune in for expert perspectives, behind-the-scenes stories, and a celebration of creativity at the heart of the design industry.

Thanks to Sofas & Stuff and to our series partner, Naturalmat, for their support.

We are a Wildwood Plus production.

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Interior Design Business
• (00:01:24) - Introducing the Design Teams
• (00:02:18) - What makes a good pop-up?
• (00:03:56) - What Makes a Signature Space?
• (00:05:23) - How a bar can feel like a garden?
• (00:08:01) - The Circus Lounge at Decorex
• (00:12:54) - The Luminous Tented Bar at Decorex
• (00:20:04) - The DPA Pop Up
• (00:23:57) - What motivates you to create pop up design?
• (00:26:46) - Decor X: What Lessons Have You Learned?
• (00:30:32) - Natural Mat
• (00:31:48) - Decorex
• (00:32:25) - The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
• (00:33:17) - Decor X: What sets Decor X apart?
• (00:37:07) - Decor X: A Curation Experience
• (00:38:38) - What Makes the Decorex Show So Successful?
• (00:39:53) - What exactly are the goals of an exhibitor at Decorx
• (00:43:58) - Decorx: Making Spaces
• (00:47:42) - How do exhibitors measure the success of their participation in Deco
• (00:53:19) - Wonders of the World 2017 talk
• (00:54:35) - Decorex Pop-ups