EP 235 | Handling Pricing Problems in Interior Design with Darcie Janzen & Beth Walther
What do you do when a project suddenly goes sideways with price increases, difficult conversations, or unexpected challenges?
In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with Darcie Janzen and Beth Walther for an honest designer-to-designer conversation about navigating the messy realities of running an interior design business.
From handling unexpected cost increases to delivering difficult news to clients, this candid discussion highlights why transparency, communication, and strong processes are essential for protecting both profitability and client relationships.
If you’ve ever faced uncomfortable project conversations or unexpected financial surprises, this episode offers practical advice and reassurance that you’re not alone.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why designers shouldn’t absorb supplier price increases unnecessarily
• How transparent financial practices reduce client conflict
• Why difficult news should be communicated clearly and directly
• How strong processes help designers navigate unexpected challenges
• Why honest communication builds long-term client trust
• How better systems create more confidence during stressful situations
DESIGN INTERVENTION
All suffering comes from attachment. I try to live a life of peace, joy, love and happiness. Whenever I feel I’m holding on to something too hard or even a specific outcome and it is not working out, I let it go. I visualize letting it go. It’s amazing how when you let things (or outcomes) it opens up space for something much better to come in.
About Beth Walther
Beth Walther graduated with a bachelor’s in interior design in 1983. Initially, she worked with small design firms doing space planning and construction documents for high rise building. She passed the NCIDQ and was the Director of Interior Design for a large architectural firm. After 10 years of commuting and missing her children. Beth quit all that and in 1994 started Design Studio, LLC. Now, as an independent interior design firm they work on commercial and residential projects.
About Darci Janzen
Darcie thinks of herself as a small-town girl, who loves running a business in Sarnia, Ontario, where the water is blue, and the summers are hot. She met her husband online during her last year of college and moved to Alberta, where they spent the first 8 years of their married lives. She dragged him back to the promised land (Ontario) in 2014 and hit the ground running with her interior design business. Darcie Janzen Interiors has a strong focus on residential renovations and project management, and they have recently taken on some commercial projects as well.
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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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