logo
episode-header-image
Oct 13
32m 2s

160 | Balancing Form and Function in Int...

Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Designer, Interior Design Mentor, Designers Coach
About this episode

Every interior designer faces this challenge: how do you create a home that looks stunning but also functions seamlessly for daily life?


Too often, projects lean too heavily on aesthetics, leaving clients frustrated with inefficient layouts and cluttered spaces. The truth is, beauty without function doesn’t last.


In this episode, I sit down with Whitney English, designer, entrepreneur, and author of Organize First, Decorate Second. Whitney explains why organizing before decorating is the secret to balancing form and function in your client projects. She shares practical decluttering tips, efficient layout strategies, and creative problem-solving tools that will transform how you approach your design process.


If you want to design spaces that are not only beautiful but also livable, this conversation will give you fresh insights to apply right away. 🎧 Tune in now!


Featured Guest

Whitney English is an interior designer, entrepreneur, and author of Organize First, Decorate Second. She has bootstrapped two businesses to seven figures, earned a degree in interior design, and studied management at Parsons in New York City. Her work has been featured in O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and on The Today Show. Beyond her professional achievements, Whitney is passionate about helping others live beautifully through gratitude, creativity, and intentional design.


What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✳️ Why organizing first sets the foundation for decorating success

✳️ How clutter tells the “story” of a home and impacts your design process

✳️ Practical decluttering strategies that save time and reduce client stress

✳️ How to balance creativity and function in client projects

✳️ Why efficient layouts make homes easier to maintain long-term

✳️ The role of storytelling in both design and organization

✳️ Lessons from Whitney’s journey as a creative entrepreneur and designer


Read the Blog >>> Balancing Form and Function in Interior Design

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the waitlist for Launch Your Business Bootcamp


Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey List

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer List

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design List


Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career


Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com


Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...


Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

02:17 Whitney’s Early Passion for Design and Her First Floor Plan

08:33 From Architecture Dreams to a Career in Design and Business

11:57 Building a Wholesale Business

16:16 The Concept of "Organize First, Decorate Second"

20:28 Why Organizing First Leads to More Functional Spaces

24:27 A Behind-The-Scenes Story of Efficiency and Creativity in Action

28:05 Whitney’s Advice for Aspiring Design Professionals

Up next
Nov 17
165 | From Dreaming to Designing Series #4: Key Systems Every Interior Designer Needs to Run a Professional Business
<p>Starting your interior design business can feel like pure chaos. You’re excited to finally design for real clients, but behind the scenes, you’re juggling endless tasks: client emails, project notes, contracts, invoices, and oh—remembering who said what about that sofa fabric. ... Show More
21m 39s
Nov 10
164 | Turning Remodel Problems Into Design Opportunities With Julie Stevens
We’ve all been there — you start a remodel excited and full of vision, and then reality hits. A wall isn’t where you thought it was, a material is delayed, or something totally unexpected pops up once construction begins. Suddenly, your dream design feels like it’s slipping away. ... Show More
22m 52s
Nov 3
163 | From Dreaming to Designing Series #3: Essential Steps to Set Up Your Design Business Legally
Does the business side of design intimidate you? Many creatives dream of launching their own interior design business but freeze when it comes to legal paperwork, contracts, licenses, or financial planning. It feels complicated—almost like a foreign language that wasn’t covered i ... Show More
25m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 25
Episode 262: Designing for Hope with Design Psychologist Kylie Sandland
<p>In this episode of Talking Architecture &amp; Design, we speak with <a href='https://essenceofhome.com.au/'>Kylie Sandland</a>, Design Psychologist and Co-Founder of Design for Hope, a social enterprise creating trauma-informed spaces for recovery and well-being. </p><p>With t ... Show More
33m 44s
Sep 1
134- Part 4: Let's Talk Profit Strategies, Follow the Profits, Not all Projects are Sexy
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2132732/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p><b>Welcome to the grand finale of our four-part Profitable Design Series with Laura Thornton!</b></p><p>In this essential episode, Laura helps you shift from jus ... Show More
13m 1s
Sep 2024
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture.🎙️
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture🎙️In this lively episode, Hayley and Cheryl are joined by architect Pippa Jacobs to explore the intersection of architecture and interior design. Cheryl, with her background as a Part 1 architect turned interior designer, bridges ... Show More
1h 37m
Oct 6
139 - Let's Talk About, Stop Undervaluing Our Industry: Building Wealth and Changing the Standards of Interior Design
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2132732/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p>Too often, interior designers fall into the trap of undervaluing themselves and, by extension, our entire industry. In today’s episode of <em>The Business of Bea ... Show More
14m 51s
Mar 2024
100 Strategies to Grow Your Design Business with Chris Do
<p>It&#39;s a milestone worth celebrating! The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is proud to announce its 100th episode! </p> <p>Over the past 100 episodes, we&#39;ve had the privilege of hosting some of the sharpest minds in the creative industry. Our guests have shared their ... Show More
1h 5m
Sep 30
The Courage to Create with Jeremy Slagle | EP 180
What does it really take to show up confidently as a designer?In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, I’m talking with Jeremy Slagle, the founder of Slagle Design. With decades of experience, Jeremy shares what it means to have the courage to create, how he bu ... Show More
50m 51s
Mar 2024
97 Building Your Design Agency Dream Team
<p>In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we talk about expanding your design business and building your dream team. From feeling swamped with administrative tasks to struggling to attract top-notch clients, we&#39;ve all been there. If you&#39;ve heard my ot ... Show More
32m 37s
Aug 7
2025’s Top Interior Design Trends & Styles
Welcome back to the Dear Alice podcast! In today’s episode, we’re unveiling the top 10 interior design styles of 2025—from timeless classics to bold new trends that are redefining modern living spaces. Whether you're planning a renovation, redecorating a room, or simply love stay ... Show More
47m 15s
Apr 2025
157 What Separates $3K Designers from $10K+ Designers
Most designers stay stuck at $3K projects because they’re pricing wrong, targeting the wrong clients, and positioning themselves as just another freelancer. The difference between a $3K designer and a $10K designer isn’t design skills. It’s how they run their business. In this ep ... Show More
22m 17s
Dec 2024
Chapter VIII: Interior Design (with Aerin Lauder and Alfredo Paredes)
“It’s so important to dream. And people always say, your life starts when your comfort level ends.” - Aerin Lauder In this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re learning about interior design with the founder and creative director of global luxury lifestyle brand AERIN, Ae ... Show More
21m 39s