#055 — How to Get Paid for Your Expertise, Not Your Shopping List - with Deborah Flate

Beyond Interior Design Podcast: For Interior Designers Who Want More

Beyond Interior Design Podcast: For Interior Designers Who Want More
#055 — How to Get Paid for Your Expertise, Not Your Shopping List - with Deborah Flate
Nov 21, 2025 Season 2 Episode 8
Marc Müskens

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You ever feel like a screwdriver?

Like you’re just executing — sourcing, quoting, fixing — instead of being valued for your design vision?

Because honestly, I’ve been there too. Running around, trying to realize a client’s dream project… only to feel like the least important part of the process.
Until I realized: I was doing it the wrong way.

This episode is a raw and honest conversation with showroom sales trainer Deborah Flate — someone who’s been on both sides of the table. As a designer. And as a showroom manager. And she gets it.

We talk about:
• Why transparency isn’t scary — it’s your superpower
• How to stop hiding margins and start owning your value
• The magic that happens when you share the full story with your dealer
• What “being the expert” really means in a world where everyone can Google your product
• Why clarity builds trust — and trust builds your entire business
• And what happens when you stop chasing small wins… and start building a bigger game, beyond interior design

“Don’t be the screwdriver. You’re not just selling a couch — you’re transforming lives. But only if you stop hiding and start leading.”

If you recognize yourself in this — the tension between your design vision and the business side — this one’s for you.

And honestly? This is one you’d better listen to than read.
So hit play. And enjoy.

Connect with Deborah Flate at: www.beyondinteriordesign.club/flate

And for the interior designers who want more...  

Ready to attract dream clients and create your most beautiful projects yet?
Step into your authentic power with exclusive trainings, tools and live sessions.

Activate your FREE MEMBERSHIP at the Beyond Interior Design Club:
👉 beyondinteriordesign.club/join

Episode Artwork #055 — How to Get Paid for Your Expertise, Not Your Shopping List - with Deborah Flate 44:11 Episode Artwork #054 - I Miss The Sex — A personal story by Marc Müskens 5:12 Episode Artwork #053 - The Biggest Beyond Interior Design Lessons — Flashback Part 2 by Marc Müskens 15:34 Episode Artwork #052 - The Biggest Beyond Interior Design Lessons — Flashback Part 1 by Marc Müskens 23:25 Episode Artwork #051 - Write to Invite — Rewiring Patterns for Design Leadership with Anagha Deshmukh 39:58 Episode Artwork #050 - Celebrating 50 Episodes — The Lessons That Changed Everything for Me 16:57 Episode Artwork #049 - Building a Business with Purpose and Passion — with Luxury Aquaria Expert Simon Powell 34:54 Episode Artwork #048 - Envirohacking - Designing for Human Behavior and Well-Being with Callie van der Merwe 43:40 Episode Artwork #047 - Wellness is the New Luxury - Healthy, Sustainable Interiors with Tanya Shively 35:58 Episode Artwork #046 - Inside the Luxury Client’s Mindset – with Jeffrey Shaw 45:18 Episode Artwork #045 - The Impact of Color: Designing with Purpose & RAL Colour Trends - with Alina Schartner 37:48 Episode Artwork #044 - From Invisible to Unstoppable: SEO for Interior Designers - with Daniela Furtado 1:00:33 Episode Artwork #043 - Building a Successful Interior Design Studio through Balance and Boundaries — by Award-Winning Designer Roelfien Vos 1:02:37 Episode Artwork #042 - World-First Podcast with IKEA — Designing for the Many with Patrik Gustafsson 51:08 Episode Artwork #041 - Most Asked Interior Design Questions – Expert Answers from Marc Müskens (Part 2) 1:00:44 Episode Artwork #040 - Most Asked Interior Design Questions – Expert Answers from Marc Müskens (Part 1) 39:32 Episode Artwork #039 - The Future of Interior Design — with Designer & TEDx Speaker Marie-Gon 1:01:20 Episode Artwork #038 - AI and the Future of Design — with Pioneer Dawn Scott 58:10 Episode Artwork #037 - The Dutch Legacy of Design — with Icon Monique des Bouvrie 50:47 Episode Artwork #036 - Designing Experiences That Last — with Hospitality & Brand Expert Victoria Taylor II 55:55 Episode Artwork #035 - How to Build a Profitable Interior Design Studio — with Business Expert Gail Doby 49:24 Episode Artwork #034 - The Power of Design Principles — with Giovanna Castiglioni, Daughter of Design Legend Achille Castiglioni 54:26 Episode Artwork #033 - The MVRDV Method — Creating Bold and Human-Centered Spaces with Cas Esbach 56:11 Episode Artwork #032 - The Key to Design Relevance — with Colliers Creative Director Geoffrey Timmer 52:01 Episode Artwork #031 - How to Price with Confidence — by Business Expert Marc Müskens 37:30