Featured on this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why common habits like overexplaining fees and lengthy proposals weaken your authority.

• How attire, preparation, and confidence impact how clients and contractors perceive you.

• Practical steps to shift your mindset and show up as an equal on every job site.

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The Hard Truth: Designers Are Doing This to Themselves

In recent conversations with interior designers, one theme keeps surfacing: we are unintentionally undermining our own profession. From undercharging to overexplaining fees, from showing up unprepared on jobsites to reinforcing stereotypes, these habits are costing us respect, authority, and profit.

The uncomfortable truth? We are doing this to ourselves.

But here’s the good news—because it starts with us, we also have the power to change it.

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The Real Issue Isn’t Pricing—It’s Mindset

Many designers believe their challenges stem from billing structures or proposal styles. Maybe you’re billing hourly, writing 30-page proposals, or charging for things that contractors and architects don’t. But those are just symptoms. The deeper issue is mindset.

When we:

• Charge hourly without confidence
• Justify every line item in a defensive proposal
• Apologize for our fees
• Show up unprepared or underdressed on site

…we reinforce the stereotype that designers are less professional than architects or contractors.

Clients notice. Contractors notice. And yes—whether we like it or not—we begin to internalize that belief too.

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The Role of Stereotypes in Undermining Designers

Much of the problem comes from cultural narratives. HGTV and pop culture paint design as fast, fun, and decorative—smiles, paint samples, and dramatic reveals. They rarely show the years-long projects, sequencing, problem-solving, or structural complexities we handle daily.

Worse, casual comments about design being a “fun hobby” or the “bored housewife profession” seep into how clients and colleagues see us. And when we apologize for our fees or walk onto a site in sandals with coffee in hand, we unknowingly confirm those biases.

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How You Show Up Matters

Professional presence goes beyond design talent. It’s about:

• Attire: Dress like you belong on a jobsite. If contractors are in boots and gear, and you’re in a sundress, the message isn’t authority—it’s fragility.
• Preparation: Knowledge gaps aren’t an excuse. Everything from allowances to sequencing is accessible through colleagues, courses, or even Google. If you don’t know, learn.
• Confidence: Stop overexplaining fees. Architects don’t. Contractors don’t. Your expertise deserves to be valued without apology.

Each decision you make—your proposal format, your body language in meetings, the way you handle conflict—communicates whether you’re an equal or an afterthought.

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Stop Feeding the Stereotypes

Ask yourself honestly:

• Would you hire yourself if you were the client?
• Do your proposals look as professional as your architect’s?
• Do you overexplain, undercharge, or apologize too much?
• Do you show up like a leader—or like a visitor?

Because here’s the truth: no one is forcing you to undercharge, overjustify, or avoid learning construction. Those are self-imposed limitations. And until we stop doing it, the stereotypes persist.

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Imagine the Shift

Now picture this:

• Every designer walks onto a jobsite prepared, appropriately dressed, and confident.
• Proposals are clear, concise, and professional—free from defensiveness.
• Fees are presented unapologetically, reflecting the full scope of expertise.
• Clients see designers as trusted equals.
• Contractors respect designers as collaborators, not competition.
• Young designers enter an industry where respect and authority are the norm.

That’s the future we deserve—and it starts with each of us.

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Redefining the Profession Together

Changing this dynamic doesn’t just elevate your business. It raises the bar for the entire industry. When we show up differently, clients trust us more, contractors collaborate more openly, and architects see us as indispensable team members.

And perhaps most importantly, we begin to write our own narrative—one that reflects the true value, expertise, and leadership of interior designers.

So the next time you prepare a proposal, head to a jobsite, or sit across from a client—remember: you set the standard. And when you stop feeding the stereotypes, you don’t just change how you’re seen. You change the profession itself.

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Final Thoughts

Interior design is not a hobby. It’s not “just fun.” It’s a profession built on expertise, problem-solving, and leadership. It’s time we stop doing things that undermine our authority and instead claim the respect we deserve.

The hard truth? We are doing this to ourselves.
The empowering truth? We also have the power to stop.

Like this Episode?

• Be sure to check out Episode #5: Simple Mindset Switches for Renovation Success
• Be sure to check out Episode #101: The Moment I Knew ‘I Got This’ for Construction
• Be sure to check out Episode #137: How to Gain the Knowledge and Skills for Construction Management