EP 188 | Should Interior Designers Be Friends with Clients? with Isabel Gomez

podcast

Can interior designers successfully build friendships with their clients — without damaging the business relationship?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Belgian designer Isabel Gomez to discuss the complexities of client relationships, setting boundaries, and why identifying your ideal client is essential for building a profitable and fulfilling interior design business.

Strong client relationships are at the heart of every successful design project, but blurred boundaries can sometimes create challenges. Isabel shares thoughtful insights on working with friends, taking responsibility for improving business systems, and making intentional decisions that align with your ideal client and long-term business goals.

In this episode, we learn:
• Why working with friends can succeed when clear boundaries and systems are in place
• How taking responsibility creates opportunities for positive business growth
• Why clearly defining your ideal client improves decision-making
• How intentional branding and communication attract better-fit clients
• Why every aspect of your business should align with your ideal client profile
• How stronger client alignment leads to smoother projects and greater profitability for interior designers

Design Intervention

Be the person you like to encounter in your life for everything you do: – be they professional you would love to work with, the boss you would like to have, the partner you would be happy to collaborate with and the competitor you would like to face.

About Isabel Gomez

Isabel Gomez is an interior designer from Brussels, Belgium. She’s a Spanish speaking native, with a warm heart and a cool head and she says she never takes no for an answer. She loves life and is a feminist, who is raising two wonderful boys. She’s passionate about design and so is her team. Isabel says she doesn’t believe in luck. Instead, she believes we are the result of the actions we take, and we don’t take.

isabelgomezinteriors.com

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^{Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.}

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