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Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Founders & Friends
43. A Deep Dive Into Accessories & Styling with Mary Zenker
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The best interior designers know that a beautiful space doesn't end when the furniture is installed. In this episode of Founders & Friends, I sit down with interior stylist Mary Zenker, owner of Shaker Home Studio, to talk about the often overlooked role of styling in creating homes that feel layered, lived in, and worthy of publication.
Mary shares her journey from a successful career in banking and finance into interior styling and explains how her operational background has helped her become an invaluable partner to interior designers across the country.
We dive into the difference between designing a home for everyday living versus styling it for professional photography, why vintage pieces bring soul to new construction, and how outsourcing styling can become an extension of your design business. We also discuss practical strategies for streamlining client approvals, managing styling budgets, and creating a collaborative process that keeps your creative vision intact.
Whether you're an interior designer looking to elevate your projects or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes of editorial-worthy homes, this conversation is packed with practical advice and business insights.
You can find Mary at:
https://www.shakerhomestudio.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shakerhome/
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/
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