EP 267 | Raising Your Interior Design Fees with Marylou Sobel
Are you waiting for permission to raise your interior design rates?
In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Marylou Sobel to discuss one of the biggest challenges interior designers face: confidently charging what they’re worth.
As suppliers, trades, and service providers continue increasing their rates, designers must also evaluate whether their pricing reflects the true value of their expertise, time, and rising business costs. This conversation explores how to communicate fees clearly and confidently—without apology.
If you’ve been hesitant to raise your prices or charge for services like travel, this episode will help you rethink your approach to profitability.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why raising your rates is necessary for long-term business success
• How to respond confidently when clients ask about markups
• Why travel fees should be built into your business model
• How to communicate pricing clearly and professionally
• Why confidence around money improves client trust and business health
• How strong pricing supports a more sustainable interior design business
About Marylou Sobel
Marylou Sobel, one of Australia’s premier interior designers, is known for the exceptional service and the unique, one-of-a-kind interiors she creates for prominent clients around the country.
Marylou, an award-winning full-service designer, provides everything from space planning to project management. She customizes and personalizes her designs to fit each client’s lifestyle, saving them time, money and stress in the process.
She is a past winner of the “Top 50 Rooms” honours by Australian House & Garden magazine, and other design awards, and her work has been featured in several publications, including the book “Interior Design Review” by Andrew Martin.
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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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