In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca welcome Judi Lee‑Carr, the Singapore‑born, self‑taught interior designer behind Jubilee Interiors, a boutique firm in Westlake Village, California. With a background in visual merchandising and a journey that has taken her through Singapore, Jakarta, London, Paris, and now Southern California, Judi has built a thriving design business grounded in her ethos of Organic Modern Living: sleek lines, layered textures, and earthy palettes that feel both intimate and timeless. Her story isn't just about design—it’s about the courage to embrace opportunities, say “yes,” and turn uncertainty into momentum.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How a chance moment in a luxury retail store in Singapore—touching up a window display—led to Judi’s first interior design project and how that led to her first 18‑month contract in Jakarta
• Embracing saying “yes”: Judi’s experiences of interning unpaid, commuting long distances, and leaning into mentorship to grow her skills and presence
• The transition from custom residential work to serving developers with model homes, multifamily, and amenity design, adapting her signature style for sales‑driven environments
• The challenges of navigating immigration, motherhood, postpartum mental health, and team transitions—all while rebuilding and recalibrating her business to sustain both her creative and personal life
• The current and future vision for Jubilee: undergoing a rebrand, expanding her team, and manifesting her dream project—a ground‑up custom home she’s designing from the ground floor up

Mentioned:

• Judi interned with JAC Interiors as her first opportunity when moving from Singapore to the US - https://jacinteriors.com/
• Judi’s Website: https://www.jubilee-interiors.com/
• Judi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jubilee.interiors
• Judi went on her own manifestation journey, similar to what we explored in Episode 142 with Coach Jacquelyn

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, hosts Shaun and Rebecca kick off another round of the beloved Just Stop series—this time inviting submissions directly from their listener community. With a few listener submissions already in hand, they dive into some trends and pet peeves in the world of interior design branding, communication, and business practices. Expect their signature blend of candid humor, designer insight, and practical takeaways.

They explore key topics such as professional branding tropes (we're looking at you, barefoot headshots), generational social cues, the ethics of pricing design services, and creative integrity in design feedback culture.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why it may be time to just stop using barefoot photos in your professional branding—it can feel unprofessional or performative.
• The concept of the “millennial pause” in video content and why editing it out matters for audience engagement.
• Exploring the buzzword ethos in branding: why it might be overused, vague, or feel pretentious.
• How taking intentional summer breaks—especially July in the design industry—can support mental health and long-term business sustainability.
• Strategies for silencing notifications, reducing digital micro‑stress, and reclaiming control over your attention and productivity.
• The pitfalls of underpricing design services: why charging too little hurts individual designers and the broader community.
• Why the term timeless design is misleading, and what a more realistic approach to longevity and quality might look like.
• Common spelling mistakes in design terminology—such as principal vs. principle, loose vs. lose, and stationary vs. stationery.

Mentioned:

• Send us your Just Stop submissions: https://portal.dubsado.com/public/form/view/681d3da2db8d4f003ad45766

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, Rebecca and Shaun sit down with Renee Bush, founder of Tandem, a consultancy for interior designers. She’s the secret weapon behind the brand and business strategy at powerhouses like Studio McGee. Renee shares her journey from graphic and studio operations into honing a niche helping designers align business structure, brand identity, and marketing.

They dive deep into how strategic clarity—knowing who you are, who you're talking to, and what you want—transforms client experience, marketing, pricing, and scale. Renee’s wisdom around confident positioning, signature processes and aesthetics, and the importance of a North Star brand makes this a foundational listen for any designer ready to level up.

In this episode they discuss:

• Renee’s non-designer path: transitioning from graphic design/studio ops through Studio McGee into founding Tandem
• What brand strategy actually means: values, tone, ideal client, mission, emotional deliverables
• How to uncover a designer’s unique "North Star" that aligns brand, process, team and marketing
• The power of signature processes or aesthetics as a form of positioning
• Why confidence—especially in pricing—is the linchpin to attracting the right clients
• How small, strategic changes across branding, social media, press, and referrals generate exponential growth
• Tailoring Instagram and content for your future ideal client without losing your current audience
• Choosing between volume of smaller projects vs. fewer high-end ones—and ensuring profitability through smart systems

Mentioned:

• Tandem – with-tandem.com
• The Haven List workshop – thehavenlist.com/workshop
• Tandem Instagram – instagram.com/with_tandem
• Tandem Pinterest - pinterest.com/with_tandem
• Episode 99 with Ali Faulkner
• Episode 149 with Danielle Chiprut

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