Episode Details

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Hema Persad, founder and principal designer of Sagrada Studio, a Los Angeles-based interior design firm creating layered, personal, and highly intentional residential and commercial spaces. Hema shares how she moved from law to celebrity styling to interior design, and how each chapter shaped the way she runs her studio today.

Hema gets candid about building a luxury interior design business, creating tiered service offerings, managing client expectations, outsourcing strategically, working with contractors, and refusing to tolerate mediocrity in her team, her process, or her life. This conversation is packed with honest interior design business advice for designers who want stronger boundaries, better systems, and a more profitable studio.

In this episode they discuss:

• How Hema transitioned from attorney to celebrity stylist to founder of Sagrada Studio
• Why outsourcing CAD drawings and low-value tasks can help interior designers focus on higher-level work
• The difference between full-service interior design, consultations, and smaller client offerings
• How Hema is building a three-tier design business with The Expert, in-studio consultations, and white glove full service design
• Why showing too much behind-the-scenes process can undermine a luxury client experience
• How designers can manage client expectations around delays, procurement, contractors, and scope creep
• Why people pleasing does not serve clients, teams, or interior design business owners
• How Hema structures her team around design, procurement, and project execution to improve accountability

Mentioned:

• Hema Persad on Instagram
• Sagrada Studio on Instagram
• Sagrada Studio’s Website

Our links:

• Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
• Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
• Rebecca’s Instagram
• Shaun’s Instagram
• For more information - Check out the website