Behind The Design

Bowerbird Interior’s success isn’t just a story about beautiful design. It’s a story about what happens when the business behind the design keeps getting bigger.

Lauren Lewis, co-founder of Bowerbird Interior, joins Camilla to explore the side of the design industry we rarely see: the people, systems, logistics and commercial decisions behind the finished spaces.

What started as a property styling business has grown into a much bigger operation spanning residential homes, commercial spaces, build-to-rent and large-scale furnishing projects. But what happens behind the scenes when a creative business reaches that kind of scale?

Lauren shares what she has learned about building the infrastructure behind the creativity, working alongside her husband Jeff, finding the right people, and knowing when the founder needs to step back and let others take the lead.

In this episode:
• How Bowerbird evolved from property styling into a much larger furnishing operation
• The systems, logistics and procurement required to operate at scale
• Why creative instinct alone may not be enough to grow a sustainable business
• How commercial thinking can influence creative decision-making
• How Lauren and Jeff built complementary roles around their different strengths
• What separates people who want something to happen from those who make it happen
• Why delegation becomes harder, but more important, as a business grows
• Knowing when to step away from the details and focus on higher-value work
• What can sit behind the success people see from the outside

There’s often a lot more behind a finished space than meets the eye. For Lauren, growing Bowerbird has meant navigating the tension between creativity, people, systems and the realities of running a much bigger business.

But as a creative business grows, one question becomes harder to ignore: how do you scale the business without scaling away what made it special in the first place?

------------------------

Follow Lauren Lewis and Bowerbird Interior
https://www.instagram.com/lauren_lewis84/
https://www.facebook.com/BowerbirdInt
https://www.instagram.com/behindthedesignpod_/
https://www.instagram.com/bowerbirdinteriors
https://bowerbirdinteriors.com.au/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_
https://www.instagram.com/behindthedesignpod_/

-----------------------

Chapters
00:00 - From Property Styling to Bowerbird
02:15 - The Story Behind Bowerbird’s Growth
05:40 - What Happens Behind Beautiful Spaces
09:25 - Scaling a Creative Business
13:10 - The Systems Behind Property Styling
17:05 - Procurement, Warehousing and Logistics
21:30 - Why Creative Businesses Need Commercial Thinking
25:45 - Building a Business Around Different Strengths
30:10 - Lauren and Jeff’s Roles at Bowerbird
34:20 - Building the Right Team and Culture
38:15 - What Makes a Great Team Member?
42:05 - Knowing When to Delegate
46:00 - Letting Go as Your Business Grows
49:40 - The Reality Behind Business Success
53:15 - Relationships and Community in Design
56:30 - What Lauren Would Do Differently
59:10 - The Future of Bowerbird and Creative Business Growth

Keywords
Bowerbird
Lauren Lewis
Bowerbird Australia
Bowerbird furniture
Bowerbird property styling
property styling Australia
furniture hire Australia
furniture styling
interior design business
creative business
creative entrepreneurship
creative business growth
scaling a creative business
design business growth
creative business strategy
business systems for creatives
creative business systems
property styling business
property styling business growth
interior styling business
design entrepreneurship
creative leadership
business operations
commercial design

What do two successful designers admit when there is no guest to interview and the questions are coming straight back at them?

Sarah Reid is the host of Her Design Her Story, and in this special episode of Behind the Design, Camilla Ingall and Sarah Reid turn the questions on each other, reflecting on the careers, shows, businesses and lessons that have shaped where they are today.

As the conversation unfolds, they revisit the moments that challenged their confidence, changed their direction and made them rethink what they actually wanted from their careers. They also share what they have learned from years of working with clients, building businesses and having conversations with people across the design industry.

Both have taken different paths through the design industry, but there are surprising parallels in what they've learned along the way.

In this episode:
How two very different career paths led into interior design and creative business
Why confidence often comes from taking action rather than waiting to feel ready
The reality of running a creative business while trying to maintain a life outside of work
What burnout revealed about boundaries, people-pleasing and choosing the right clients
Learning when to say no and recognising when something simply isn't the right fit
The challenge of letting go, delegating and trusting other people
Why building a business can teach you as much about yourself as it does about business
What podcasting has taught them about listening, communication and making people feel heard

At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: what happens when you stop trying to be everything to everyone and start paying attention to what actually works for you?

It's an honest conversation about the less visible side of design careers and creative businesses, and the lessons that only seem to come with experience.

—------------------------
Follow Sarah Reid
https://www.instagram.com/herdesign_herstory/
https://www.instagram.com/s_r_and_o/ 
https://www.herdesignherstory.com/ 

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_
https://www.instagram.com/behindthedesignpod_/  

-----------------------

Chapters
00:00 Two Designers Turn the Mic on Each Other
02:28 Camilla’s Journey Into Interior Design
04:01 Sarah’s Journey From Architecture to Interiors
07:30 What Inspired Behind the Design
09:06 The Reality Behind the Pretty Pictures
10:00 When Your Career Takes an Unexpected Path
13:07 What Running a Business Teaches You
16:17 What Actually Brings You Joy?
17:25 Building a Business and Making Time for Family
19:14 Does Confidence Come Before Action?
21:15 What Really Happens Behind the Scenes
23:14 Learning When to Say No
24:40 When Doing Everything Becomes Too Much
33:06 Learning to Qualify Your Clients
34:29 Which Opportunities Are Worth Pursuing?
37:49 How Their Definition of Success Changed
42:38 What Podcasting Has Taught Them About People
46:57 What They Want Listeners to Take Away

Keywords
interior design podcast
interior design business
interior designers
design business
interior design Australia
Australian interior designers
Behind the Design podcast
creative business
design industry
interior design career
interior design journey
starting an interior design business
running a creative business
creative entrepreneurship
design business owner
interior design career path
interior design challenges
interior designer burnout
imposter syndrome in design
confidence in business
creative industry Australia
women in design
women in business
design podcast Australia
interior design podcast Australia
podcasting for creatives
behind the scenes design
design business lessons
interior design success

What happens when the business you're building almost ends before it really begins?

Phil and Lina Strati, the husband-and-wife team behind L.P StratiCo Builders and Aesthetic Developments, share the real story behind their journey from secure corporate and construction careers to building businesses of their own.

It wasn't a straight line. After quitting their jobs in the most unexpected way, they spent their early years taking on whatever work they could find, only to become caught in a builders worst nightmare, before their first project had barely started.

But the conversation goes well beyond business.

They talk openly about navigating fertility challenges, personal loss, the pressure behind a successful-looking business, and the shift from chasing growth to building something more intentional.

In this episode:
— Why they quit their jobs at the worst possible time
— The scam that nearly ended their business
— How one difficult project led to six thriving opportunities
— The unexpected path into insurance and remediation
— How they competed with 9 figure builders as a small company
— Balancing stable, commercial work with creative development
— Building a business as a couple
— How grief changed Lina’s definition of success

A conversation about resilience, partnership and what really happens behind a successful building business.

------------------------
Follow Phil and Lina Strati
https://www.aestheticdevelopments.com.au/about
https://www.instagram.com/aestheticdevelopments_/
https://www.instagram.com/lpstratico/
https://www.lpstratico.com.au/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_
https://www.instagram.com/behindthedesignpod_/

Other resources:
DHR Season 4 - Award Winning Homes: https://vimeo.com/1088921733/aed056c68e?share=copyFlorence i15 by
Greenridge Publishing - Issuu: https://issuu.com/greenridgepublishing/docs/florence_i15
Architecture & Design: https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/projects/houses/the-fairview-aesthetic-developments

Chapters
00:00 - The Risky Decision That Started Their Business
02:47 - From Corporate Careers to Construction and Design
06:19 - Why They Quit Their Jobs on Their Honeymoon
12:42 - The Granny Flat Scam That Nearly Ended Their Business
16:07 - Discovering the Construction Scam and Starting Over
20:55 - How One Difficult Project Led to Six More Opportunities
21:47 - How COVID Changed Their Construction Business
23:37 - Finding Sustainable Revenue Through Insurance Work
24:28 - Becoming One of 12 Builders on a Major Insurance Panel
25:21 - Finding a Niche in Complex Insurance Claims
30:33 - Returning to Luxury Property Development
31:44 - The Fairview Project and Their First Major Development
32:23 - Winning a Master Builders Award
33:37 - Building a Brand Through Design and Storytelling
35:04 - Grief, Mental Health, and Redefining Success

Keywords
building business Australia
construction business Australia
construction business owners
builder business
building company Australia
property development Australia
luxury home builder
construction entrepreneurship
starting a construction business
building business journey
construction business growth
property development
granny flat builder
insurance construction
insurance remediation
business setbacks
business resilience
husband and wife business
family business
construction industry Australia
luxury property development
building industry Australia
entrepreneurship Australia

What actually makes a home luxurious? According to luxury builder James from Jakin Luxury Living, it has far less to do with expensive finishes and far more to do with how a home performs, feels and supports the way you live.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with James, founder of Jakin Luxury Living, to unpack what really goes into building high-end residential homes and why the best projects are about so much more than beautiful finishes.

We explore how the definition of luxury is changing. From home automation and high-performance glazing to saunas, ice baths, gyms and dedicated wellness spaces, today's luxury homes are increasingly designed around health, comfort, technology and the way families actually live.

And beyond construction, James opens up about business growth, delegation, burnout and finding the balance between working in the business and working on it.

In this episode, we also discuss:
• What luxury really means beyond expensive finishes
• Why a luxury home needs to perform, not just look beautiful
• Why bigger isn't always better in business
• How builders and designers can collaborate more effectively
• Why communication can make or break a construction project
• The importance of choosing the right trades and site manager
• What to look for when comparing builders and building quotes
• The growing importance of insulation and glazing
• How James approaches forecasting, budgeting and project programming
• Managing burnout in the construction and creative industries
• Knowing when to delegate and stay in your lane
• Why the story behind a finished project can be more interesting than the polished result

If you're building, renovating or designing a luxury home, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, relationships and details that can ultimately determine whether a project simply looks impressive or genuinely feels exceptional.

Follow Behind the Design for more conversations with the people shaping the architecture, interior design, construction and creative industries.

Follow James Watkin and Jakin Luxury Living
https://jakin.com.au/about/
https://www.instagram.com/jakin_luxury_living/
https://www.instagram.com/james_r_watkin/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_
https://www.instagram.com/behindthedesignpod_/

—------Chapters
00:00 - What Really Makes a Luxury Home?
01:45 - Inside Luxury Home Building
03:15 - From Carpenter to Luxury Builder
04:33 - Why Bigger Isn't Always Better
13:06 - The Problem With Micromanaging
15:43 - Builder & Designer Collaboration
18:33 - Why Communication Makes or Breaks a Build
27:25 - What Does Luxury Really Mean?
30:51 - The Rise of Wellness Spaces at Home
33:48 - The Future of Luxury Home Design
35:07 - 3 Things to Look for in a Builder
38:26 - Why the Cheapest Quote Can Cost More
49:48 - Burnout in the Building & Creative Industries

Keywords
luxury home builder
luxury home building
luxury homes
luxury residential construction
building a luxury home
luxury home design
luxury home construction
high end home builder
custom home builder
luxury residential builder
choosing a builder
how to choose a builder
builder and designer collaboration
luxury home trends
home automation
wellness rooms
home wellness spaces
sauna in luxury home
luxury home features
luxury home renovation
custom home construction
residential construction
building a custom home
luxury property development
high end residential construction

Lighting is often one of the last things considered in a project, but it can completely change how we experience a space, from the way materials and colours are perceived to how the room actually feels.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Jay and CJ, founders of Objects for Thought, to explore the thinking, process and business decisions behind their contemporary lighting brand.

This is a conversation about much more than beautiful light fittings. Jay and CJ share how their very different backgrounds in design, art, finance and electrical work eventually led them to build a lighting company, and why they deliberately chose to focus on doing one thing exceptionally well.

We talk about why lighting can make or break an interior, what happens when beautiful finishes are paired with poor-quality lighting, and the technical details that designers and homeowners often don't see.

And most importantly, Jay and CJ share what they've learned about building a creative business without letting ego drive every decision.

In this episode:
• How Objects for Thought began and how Jay and CJ found their way into lighting• Why constructive criticism is central to their creative partnership
• How they divide the business across Melbourne and Brisbane
• Why good lighting is about more than aesthetics
• How lighting quality affects colour, materials and finishes
• What electricians and trades bring to the design process
• Why Objects for Thought deliberately says no to some custom work
• How direct relationships with designers create a valuable feedback loop
• Why solving problems well can strengthen long-term client relationships
• The importance of patience when building a product-based design business

For architects, interior designers, builders and anyone interested in how thoughtful design actually comes together, this episode offers a look behind the finished product and into the decisions that make it work.

Follow Behind the Design for more conversations with the people, businesses and creatives shaping the design industry.

Follow Jay, CJ and Object for Thought
https://www.of-t.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/objectsforthought/
https://www.instagram.com/jay_jermyn/
https://www.instagram.com/cjand/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_