Hello and welcome to episode 42 of design, curious podcast.
I'm your host and Mentor Rebecca board.
Today on the podcast, we have Leah, Connolly of Studio,
Connolly, interior, design, and I know that you're going to love
this interview. She used to be my employee and
worked for me for five years before going out on her own,
which is just really special and she has expressed that how much
she appreciated, how prepared she felt when she started her
business. So we'll get into that a little
more in. In the interview.
But before that just a quick reminder, we had those downloads
for you in the show. Notes to get started in your
career in interior design and don't forget in the month of
June, we have that special offer with interior design, brand
strategist, Erica sort who you may remember.
From episode 38 on how storytelling and brand marketing
will level up your interior design career Erica has launched
a new course, called the brand storytelling master class on
teachable for my And you and she has made a great offer go back
and listen to that episode. If you haven't already and leave
a review for me on Apple podcast or pod Chaser platform and then
take a screenshot of that and email it to me podcast at our
word design or you can tag me on Instagram.
So we make sure that you can get your coupon code for her master
class, to take it for free, which is a great opportunity for
you. The course, is designed to be
short and easy to complete. Eat you'll learn how to write
compelling stories for your brand and easy-to-implement
step-by-step Master Class format designed to get you crafting.
Unforgettable brand narratives in just a few short hours by the
end of this course. You'll have created your own
taglines brand scripts and content Matrix allowing you to
easily generate 20 plus unique content topics to use them for
Social Media blog posts, email campaigns and more.
She's super excited about it is offering it for a very limited
time and we're just doing this. Promotion, for the month of
June. So, if you're interested, follow
the course Link in the show, notes to learn more, and if
you'd like to take it for free in exchange for a review of our
episode, please do and let me know when you've posted it.
So cool. All right, so you're going to
take advantage of that and now let me tell you a little bit
more about Leah. A true, extrovert, Leah loves
getting to know her clients and connecting with them on a deeper
level, taking time to figure out what they value most in life and
in their homes, after earning a bachelor's degree.
Interior design at UC Davis, jump straight into a world of
interior's working for several prominent.
Sacramento interior designers including yours, truly.
However, as the climate continues to change, she's
taking a long hard, look at the design industry, and the waste
and harmful chemicals. It generates Leah found is due
to Kali in 2020, in an effort to minimize the environmental
impacts. She had been witnessing
firsthand, she makes it her priority to partner with
sustainably focused brands. Waste and toxic materials it
within the home and recycling as many products as possible.
She also knows that lighting layouts and colors within the
home greatly impact, your well-being, both mentally and
physically her own home is full of house, plants to improve air
quality, and bring nature indoors.
And she loves incorporating, plenty of plants into her
projects to Leah is an award-winning interior designer
and a certified interior designer in the state of
California and a Glade green associate.
It is true about the plants and he's my go-to expert on house
plants during the pandemic. I think, like a lot of us, I
definitely increased my collection of house plants.
So whenever one was being finicky or wasn't sure how to
care for it, I'd go to Leah and ask her and she has some great
tutorials actually over on her. Instagram, for how to care for
the plants, as well as some other great design advice.
So definitely go check that out. Okay, so now, without much
further Ado, let's get to our conversation with Leah.
You're now listening to design, curious a place where you
creative one are here to learn about what it really is.
Like, to be an interior designer and I'm your host and Mentor
Rebecca, Ward, if you're worried about how to succeed in a
creative career, if you're ready to learn your next steps to
become an Interior Designer. And if you want the satisfaction
of doing something you love every day, you are in the right
place. Grab a coffee.
I know. Notebook, and let's dig into
today's episode. Hi, Leah.
Welcome to design curious podcast hair record.
Thanks for having me. Yeah.
So fun, especially because we kind of have a history.
We go back, a long ways. I think we first met, I was
pregnant with my son and I was interviewing you to work for me
part time, but let's go back before that.
And kind of tell everybody what your path to Interior Design was
like it start young all the details.
Yeah. It started pretty young in high
school. I was an art kids.
So I did a lot of art classes and I always kind of knew I
wanted to do something creative. I think, for a while, I thought
I was going to be a fashion designer, this one's a little
bit more about that world and it was pretty Cutthroat.
And so I think watching HGTV shows I got inspired by that
side of things and I decided to major in interior design.
When I went to college, I went to UC Davis for design and it's
a cool program because you kind of get to pick and choose Take
some classes from different types of design.
So, I got to do Interiors courses, but I also dabbled in
graphics and color theory, things like that, so it's pretty
cool. And then after graduating, I
started by emailing a bunch of designers in Sacramento, just to
see if anyone needed help which I do actually recommend that
because it worked. I got a couple people to reply
and yeah, a couple people said like, oh yeah, I could use some
part-time help, so that's kind of how I like forced my way into
the industry. I guess was just by emailing a
degree. It doesn't hurt to just blast
out an email because you never know.
Like someone might have just said I gosh I need some help in
my business and like you get the email from the person you're
like yes you answering that call.
I need you right now like let's set up an interview.
Yeah yeah doesn't hurt and well I think too because you know,
the recession, obviously kind of freak people out and I think a
lot of people didn't want to hire full-time but it was 2015
was when I started, you know, asking about freelance Positions
and I think people were finally starting to be like, oh, yeah,
maybe I could use a little bit of help now because it was like
just far enough past the recession that they were like
ready to think about that. Yeah, so I think I was sort of
the Catalyst for a couple people to say, oh yeah, I could use a
few hours of help here and there.
Yeah, definitely for me. Yeah, sure, sure.
And I started out just like part-time with a couple
different people and obviously, you were one of those people.
Yeah. That was really helpful because
before I had you, I had interns you know, that come in I had one
on their part time person but I really needed someone who could
just be a little more available and then you are able to answer
that need for me. Yeah, I think I might with you
about six months into the freelance side of things.
As I already kind of worked a little bit with a couple other
people and then started with you and a year later you asked me to
join full-time. So yeah, that's just go
straight. So let me ask when you were
freelancing working for other designers where you also looking
to take. Take projects for yourself at
that time or just to help out other designers.
You know, I think I wanted to just help other people out at
the time because I didn't even with schooling and everything, I
still didn't quite know what I was doing.
I was kind of like I wanted the hands-on experience to learn
about vendors and construction and all of that stuff because in
school, it's all more conceptual for the most part.
So yeah. All right.
So then then what happened after you had.
Some part-time positions or while?
Yeah well you're like a year year and a half into
freelancing. Then you kind of approached me
with the idea of bringing you on full-time and so I kind of tied
up all the loose ends with the freelance positions with the
other designers and then joined you in.
Was it 2016 that sounds right, I think that's right.
Yeah, yeah, I think It was right?
Yeah, yeah. And then I worked for you for.
I think it was like five and a half years, was quite a while.
It was. Yeah, I had a good run.
Yeah, and that was, you know, a big leap for me on my end to
hire someone full time. It was slightly easier because
my business is already set up as a corporation.
So I was an employee of myself. So adding another person on to
that team wasn't as big of a deal because if I had to do that
whole transition at the same time but still it's just like
now I Fully responsible for this person's income and do we have
enough job to support it but quickly found out that actually,
it is profitable to have an employee, because your billing
time, I'm billing time and is much more than I could do by
myself, so, yeah, great. Yeah.
And so, then he always kind of knew, though that you wanted to
probably go on your own or sometime in the future.
Yeah, I didn't really necessarily have a date on it or
anything when I, you know, first got into the industry but it was
always In the back of my mind that I wanted to have my own
business someday. I don't think I could have
gotten to the point where I was comfortable doing that if I
hadn't had those five and a half years of experience with you
because I think it's like really important to have that Hands-On
before you feel like you can manage something on your own.
So yeah. 100% like practice, you're practicing.
Have to do it yourself. Yeah yeah.
Yeah definitely well and it helps to that you'd like trusted
me and gave me a lot of responsibility so I feel like I
got a lot more comfortable with the Project management side of
things too, because of them. Mmm, yeah, you definitely grow
into that senior designer position taking on a lot of
responsibility, which was really helpful and fun to see you
growing in that way. And I need took your and C IQ
and everything. So it's nice to be a part of
that process. So then you are looking at, you
know, starting your own business.
And I know that, like, right out of the gate, you kind of chose a
niche to promote like in your branding and messaging.
I'm so talk a little bit about that.
Yeah, so I think probably because of the experience of
working in the industry. I started to notice how wasteful
it can be, especially on the construction side of things.
There's a lot that you did, you just see on demo day, they just
kind of Chuck it in the dumpster and goes to the landfill and
it's like, well I guess that is what it is, you know, and same
with Furniture. There's a lot of Manufacturers
who when something comes damage they just send you a replacement
there. Like just get rid of the other
one, you know. So I think watching that I was
like, there has to be something we can do about this.
And so, I just started exploring Avenues of like repurposing
donating trying to make sure that we repair things instead of
just throwing them away right away.
So, I decided to focus on sustainability as just kind of
an overarching Concept in my business.
You know, I didn't want to promote it as like I'm the
expert in all things sustainable design because obviously I'm
still learning about it as I go. So, I Kind of went with the term
environmentally-conscious residential interior design.
So it's I'm just thinking about it in everything that I do.
So part of that is making sure that my receivers are careful to
recycle my packaging or for demo day in like a kitchen.
For example, if the Cabinetry and appliances come out in good
shape I have a company I work with that comes to pick those
things up and take them to a donation site so that it we kind
of overt as much stuff from the Simple as possible.
So, it's just kind of like, thinking about those things, as
well as paying attention to non-toxic products, especially
like large surfaces like flooring and paint in the home.
Have you found that clients are aware of that?
Or are they coming to you with this kind of expectation
already? Or is it that you're more?
Educating them about sustainability and
Consciousness. You know, I think it's not all
kind of approach the point where it's like 50/50.
I think when I first started, I was doing More education about
it and I think it's becoming more and more.
A thing that consumers are paying attention to, I kind of
believe that it's going to become industry standard
probably within the next 5-10 years, people are kind of
showing me that, that sometimes they approached me because I'm
focused on sustainability and non-toxic materials, but I think
even for the clients who don't already have that in mind, they
are interested in learning about it when I bring it up.
So, as soon as you say, like, oh, what did you think about the
fact that your vinyl floors? I've gassing toxic chemicals
into the air, they're like, oh, I didn't even think about that.
Thanks for telling me, you know? Yeah, yeah.
I would think it'd be hard to find something they like, oh, I
don't care. Yeah, just give me all the right
boxes. Toxic things, you get no, yeah,
so I think, definitely, and especially being in California.
A lot of people are just geared that way.
Any way to think about the environment and sustainability.
Yeah, definitely I think too. Like, I was afraid that having a
niche would like, deter people who, I don't care about it but
that's not been the case at all. I think it just shows that
you're paying attention to something that, you know,
whether or not your client cares about it.
It's just another aspect of my business to them.
So do you find it difficult to find companies that will partner
with you in this endeavor? Like you said, he has someone
who can come and take things from demo day and, you know, try
to avert from landfill? Is it challenged to find
companies that will accommodate that?
It was challenging. Yeah.
Did a lot of research up front before I started the company
just because I wanted to kind of have an idea of where to turn
when I needed them. So, I did a lot of talking with
people up front to find those companies that would work with
me. And yeah, it is a challenge
sometimes just because there aren't that many companies like
that, you know. So yeah, I'm sure there will be
more down the man. Yeah.
So what other things like a new designer coming out?
Might be interested in this topic in this Avenue.
Do but might not be fully aware of all the things that they
should be looking for and products or on their job site.
What are some things that they should start to look for?
Yeah, I mean, I think part of it is going to be just especially
for people who are coming into a company where this might not be
a focus, I think starting with the simple Concepts is always
best. So starting with just are we
paying attention to recycling? Are we paying attention to
trying to divert things from the landfill that's going to be
probably the easiest That approach it because I think it's
probably the lowest hanging fruit if you will, I guess.
But if they want to get more into the details of it, I mean
there's a couple of certifications that they can pay
attention to with different products and things like that.
So just I have like a couple of the most well-known ones I guess
that you could look into one of them would be you know if we're
talking about let's say like hardwood.
Hmm you want to look for the FSC label which is Forest
Stewardship Council. So just means that they're not
Like clear-cutting an entire section of the forest when
they're heading down with the wood.
Okay, so that's a big one. One for like non-toxic flooring
materials would be a green guard that just tells you you know if
you're doing like a vinyl flooring it's not going to be
like releasing those toxic chemicals in the air like we're
talking about and then one for Fabrics.
I don't actually know how to pronounce it and it so Kotex or
a Kotex. I'm not really sure it's 0.
EK 0 text. Oh yeah, that's a fabric that's
been tested for harmful substances to so I You know,
finding a list of certifications that you can pay attention to is
a good way to get started. Because in my experience, it's
it can be hard to find products that fit the bill of being
sustainable. So if you know what little
labels to look for them and they're like helps narrow down a
lot and makes it less overwhelming.
Yeah. Great.
That's a good start to look for those things.
Now you're leed-certified. Right?
So does that come into play at all?
All with residential designers really that more for commercial
projects or explaining? Yeah, so I'm relieved, green
associate, which means I took the first level tests.
I'm not a Leed accredited professional, which is what you
would need if you were doing, you know, like a leed-certified
building. Typically the people I work with
for residential, it's not super common to be working on like a
lead project. It just means that I have
studied a lot of the aspects of sustainable design.
And so I'm paired with The knowledge of like, oh, we need
to look for a faucet that has this number of, you know,
gallons per minute and like the Flesh on the toilet and the
looking for Led fixtures, all those types of things, it just
means I spent time studying it but I don't necessarily think
that all use it to help get a building certified, if that
makes sense. Yeah, yeah.
Totally does. Yeah.
So would you recommend if a designer is interested in
sustainable design path with You recommend them.
Getting a Leed certification. I mean, I think it definitely
can add to your resume and I know that as a student you get a
discounted rate to take the Leed green associate exam.
So like if you're still in school, it's like kind of a good
idea to just go ahead and do it, get it out of the way,
especially because you're, you know, you're already a student.
So you're already used to studying for exams, so you knock
it out. So in, all right, yeah, yeah,
it's useful, you know, if you're going to stick in residential,
Our whole life. It's you might not necessarily
put it to use other than the knowledge base.
But yeah. Okay.
What other recommendations do you have for any designer
starting out? Because you kind of recently
have travelled this path going from school to working for
someone else to your own business.
Do you have any like, mindset adjustments that you had to be
aware of, or any challenges that may be just weren't expecting
that kind of came up. I think one of The biggest
lessons I've learned both working for you and also on my
own is to get really comfortable with asking questions.
Mmm-hmm, I think sometimes early on its be kind of want to
pretend that, you know, a lot. So people are impressed but I
think if you don't know the answer someone does and you can
find that person if you just say, hey I don't know.
The answer to that. Let me find out for you and then
you approach someone who's an expert in that area?
I mean, I think that goes a long way and that kind of can help
you Build confidence in a weird way.
It sounds kind of counter intuitive to be like, saying, I
don't know. Helps you become more confident,
but I think it's true. Yeah, yeah.
You know who to ask at least, so, that's valuable.
Yeah, I think Making Connections is another one to that kind of
goes hand in hand with that. So, meeting sales reps that are
an expert with their products and meeting other designers who
are experts in other areas of design and just Making strong
connections to those people so that when you don't know the
answer, you can approach them and they'll help you out.
Hmm. I think that's probably the
number one thing. And number two thing would be.
I mean if you're like brand-new work for someone the 100% if I
can give any piece of advice to anyone work for someone first
because I mean I have a couple of friends who just off the bat
started their business without working for someone and they
say, the one thing they wish they had done was have a couple
years of experience with another designer first mmm-hmm.
Yeah, because there's Things you need to learn anyway and so
doing it while you're able to watch someone else go through,
it is probably a lot easier and less expensive you know, for ya
for you to learn that way as opposed to just trying to make
your own path. Yeah.
So it seems like your business is going really well, I see, you
know, you're busy all the time and what are some key things
that have really helped, you grow your business since you
started out. Well, this is going to Sound
kind of annoying, maybe, but I think part of it was just the
way that I started it during the pandemic, when everyone was at
home. I think I only had a couple of
months of like quiet time and then all of a sudden it was just
a hit the ground running because everybody needed help.
I don't know if I have like the perfect answer for how to get
your business to be like, super busy.
But I think part of it might be, but I spend a lot of time
building my Instagram presents kind of, you know, I have like a
monthly Series where I share design tips and X and things
like that. And I think that kind of builds
trust. So, I guess, you know, coupled
with The Accidental, oh my gosh, I'm so busy of the pandemic.
It was also that I was building those relationships with people
online and making myself. Relatable.
Yeah, that's good. Okay, well, anything else you
want to share with our audience about sustainability or business
or design? Yeah, I mean, I guess.
Sustainability I would say like I feel like when you start
looking into it with all of the details of everything, it can be
a little overwhelming. So I think I just want to
encourage people to start with one thing.
Like pick one thing you care about with whether that's
diverting things from the landfill or non-toxic materials.
Things like that. Just pick one thing and focus on
that for a little bit and eventually you'll get
comfortable with that and then you can move on.
I think it's better to do a little bit of One thing rather
than try to like, feel like you have to cover all the ground at
once because I'm gonna burn out on it.
Yeah, that could be overwhelming for sure.
Oh, this is kind of a random piece of advice that.
Yeah, it's very specific to. Like let's say, someone has been
a sole proprietor for like half a year and they're like, maybe I
should be an LLC. There's like a whole huge switch
that comes with that you like I wasn't warned about that when I
first started my CPA was like oh yeah you can start as a sole
proprietor and it's easy to make the switch.
It's The on the tax side to make the switch.
But like I had to get a whole new QuickBooks account.
Oh yeah. Completely changed my business
over because I was going to be filing as an s-corporation.
So I was like, yeah. That's like a very Niche
specific thing but like yeah, yeah.
It's not like you can just switch in a day and be like,
okay, now I'm a corporation and yeah, do you have a bookkeeper
that you are working with? Are you doing it yourself?
I do. I'm a bookkeeper.
I do a lot of it myself because you don't want them.
Month kind of stuff. I can manage a lot of the
transaction side of things, but I do meet with her, like, at
least every other month, to make sure things are looking good.
And then I don't even bother with Texas.
I just have my CPA doable because, like, that's good.
Did you have a CPA before you start a business?
Or did you know? I don't really need one before
usually, but yeah. So there's a lot of things that
kind of come along with deciding to incorporate and have a
business, but it's With that, I think it is.
Yeah, well I mean, once I saw the like savings that come with
switching to being taxed as an S corporation I was like, okay, it
was worth it, but the pain of having to transfer over to a new
QuickBooks account was like Mmm. Yeah.
There's it there's a little bit of growing pains there.
Yeah yeah. Well that's good like a PSA for
listeners. If yeah.
Random fact the people Prepared to kind of have some transition
time there. Well, thank you so much for
coming on the show today. Lee has been talking with you
again, and hearing your story, and you have so much great
advice. So thank you.
Yeah. Well, thanks for having me.
It was fun. It's fun.
Catching up to yeah, anytime. I'm sure.
I'll see you around town. I'm sure.
All right, we'll talk to you later.
Okay? Bye, bye.
So a great informational conversation about environmental
impacts of design on the industry.
I really admire her stance on taking a niche in sustainability
and admitting that you don't have to know it all to really
Niche down in that area, you're interested in.
So I feel like that is even rubbed off on me in a way as I'm
looking for more sustainably sourced items and as you know,
things that can be recycled or used after they've been
completed in the house, House. And recently, even looked into a
product from porcelain, Osa called Creon, that is definitely
a recyclable countertop. So I'm doing some more research
in that area and I encourage you to go on that journey to so we
can make sure that we're creating environments that are
non-toxic and also good for the environment and not adding to
the landfills. If we don't need to So if you'd
like to reach out to Leah and get some more information about
sustainable design or just go see her great portfolio, we have
her contact information in the show notes and don't forget to
leave me that review for your chance to get free access to
that Master Class by Erica sort. So you're going to want to do
that. You can take a screenshot of
your review and email it to me or tag me on Instagram.
So we know that you have done it and that you can get your coat.
It for getting that Master Class for free.
So stay tuned for another great interview next week.
Like I said, we're in our summer series.
So we have another interview next week, instead of just it
solo episode for me. So it's actually going to be
quite interesting. I think you're gonna like it so
stay tuned for that. And until next week, stay
creative. Thanks for listening.
If you loved this episode, please leave a rating and a
review. This helps me reach other
curious. creatives like you, if you have a topic request or
would like to contact me, simply head over to my website, our
Ward design.com or email me at podcast at our war design.com,
creatives like you, if you have a topic request or would like to
contact me, simply head over to my website, our Ward design.com
or email me at podcast at our war design.com,