What if every design decision you made could also grow your net worth?

Welcome to Return On Design — the show where beauty meets strategy and interiors become assets that perform. Hosted by designer and investor Rachel Neiderhofer and her husband Justin, each episode unpacks how to make your home not only stunning but smart — creating spaces that feel incredible and build value over time.

Drawing from their experience in real estate, construction, and luxury design, Rachel and Justin share real stories, practical tools, and insider insights to help you make confident renovation and investment decisions. From where to spend your renovation dollars to avoiding costly design mistakes, you’ll learn how to think like a strategist, not just a spender.

Whether you’re updating your forever home or building a portfolio, Return On Design will show you how to create spaces that are beautiful, practical, and profitable — one intentional decision at a time.

Most people think the size of their renovation budget is what determines success. In reality, it's how you allocate those dollars that can make or break your return.

In this episode of Return On Design, Rachel Niederhofer and her husband Justin pull back the curtain on one of the biggest mistakes they see homeowners and investors make: treating every dollar in the budget the same. They share real examples from their own projects—including why sometimes replacing 1970s cabinetry is smarter than refinishing it, and how simple fixes like paint and lighting can create major transformation without blowing the budget.

You'll learn:

• Why kitchens and bathrooms usually deliver higher returns than living rooms or secondary spaces.
• How to identify pain points and goals before spending a single dollar.
• The power of getting multiple bids—and why semi-custom solutions can sometimes outperform full custom work.
• How to avoid overspending by moving walls, plumbing, or gas lines unnecessarily.
• Why "keeping it simple" often produces the smartest ROI.

Whether you're renovating your own home or flipping an investment property, this episode will help you think strategically about every design choice—so you can elevate your space without overspending.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow, share it with a friend who's planning a renovation, and remember: the smartest design isn't always the most expensive—it's the one that pays off.

Buying cheap isn’t the same as buying smart.

In this episode of Return On Design, Rachel Niederhofer and her husband Justin break down the very first step in their wealth-building framework: how to buy properties strategically so every purchase has the potential to generate a true return on design.

Rachel and Justin walk you through their process of evaluating deals—from understanding current value, potential value, and the “meat in the middle” (the design and rehab strategy)—to making sure you never overpay or overdesign in ways the market won’t reward.

You’ll learn:

• Why buying smart is about potential, not perfection.
• How to evaluate your market on both a macro and micro level, from school districts to neighborhood comps.
• The math behind analyzing deals—what spread you need, how to calculate after-rehab value (ARV), and where to leave room for profit and equity.
• Why keeping emotion out of buying and design decisions protects your bottom line (and your sanity).
• How overdesigning or ignoring market demands can cost you thousands.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, or simply someone who wants to understand how to make smarter real estate moves, this episode will equip you with the tools and mindset to see properties not just as homes—but as assets that perform.

👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to follow the show, share it with a friend who’s looking at real estate, and join Rachel and Justin on YouTube for the full video version.