163: Write It in Your Diary, Not on Facebook | Claire Jones, Etch & Ivy Design

163: Write It in Your Diary, Not on Facebook | Claire Jones, Etch & Ivy Design

Author: Hot Young Designers Club February 13, 2026 Duration: 1:32:57

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun welcome back their friend Claire Jones, founder of Etch & Ivy Design in Sacramento. From quarter-life crisis to full-time interior designer, Claire shares how community, boundaries, and a recent business retreat reshaped the way she approaches her design firm.

The trio dives deep into mastermind dynamics, defining your ideal client (hint: it’s not based on Diet Coke preferences), setting minimums, managing anxiety in your workflow, and the power of surrounding yourself with designers who challenge and inspire you. It’s honest, hilarious, and full of real talk about leveling up without losing yourself.

In this episode they discuss:

  1. How one brave lunch invitation led to a thriving design community and the creation of Happy Hour Design Collective
  2. The evolution of Etch & Ivy Design and what it looks like to grow a business around your life (not the other way around)
  3. Why defining your ideal client is about boundaries, not beverages
  4. Setting design fee and purchasing minimums—and actually sticking to them
  5. Time blocking, capacity limits, and how anxiety shows up differently for every designer
  6. The value of retreats, masterminds, and getting outside your bubble to avoid stagnation
  7. Why you don’t have to do business like everyone else (goodbye, unnecessary automations)
  8. A spicy Facebook rant about $100K kitchens—and why some thoughts belong in your diary

Mentioned:

  1. Happy Hour Design Collective - Instagram
  2. Etch & Ivy Design - Instagram
  3. Anything But Vanilla Podcast - Instagram

Our links:

  1. Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
  2. Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
  3. Rebecca’s Instagram
  4. Shaun’s Instagram
  5. For more information - Check out the website
  6. Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
  7. Design Resources - Check out our shop


Ever wondered what it really takes to run a creative business beyond the beautiful mood boards? Hot Young Designers Club pulls back the curtain on the interior design industry, one candid conversation at a time. Hosts Rebecca Plumb and Shaun Crha-practicing designers themselves-bring their combined experience from Studio Plumb and Wrensted Interiors to the table. They’re here to discuss the unglamorous details, the client negotiations, and the small victories that define a modern design practice. Each episode feels like grabbing a coffee with colleagues who aren’t afraid to be honest about the emotional rollercoaster, the practical logistics, and the outright funny moments that happen behind the scenes. This podcast serves as a weekly check-in for anyone navigating the business of aesthetics, offering a sense of community and shared understanding. You’ll hear real stories about pricing projects, managing workflows, setting boundaries, and maintaining a creative spark amidst the administrative tasks. Tune in for a blend of strategic advice and personal reflection, all delivered with a dose of humor and relatability. The Hot Young Designers Club is essentially your audio companion for building a more sustainable and joyful design business, proving that success isn’t just about taste-it’s about resilience, adaptability, and a good laugh along the way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast
Podcast Episodes
167: Birdhouse for the Soul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:22
Rebecca and Shaun meander their way through beauty routines, personal style, creativity, books, and the importance of staying curious as creative people. What starts as a conversation about video backgrounds and ChatGPT…
166: Life is a Highway and I’m Gonna Ride It All Night Long [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:28
Rebecca and Shaun are back with a classic HYDC catch-up episode—covering everything from creative ruts and tile inspiration to mattress upgrades and the strange ways we all unwind after long design days. If you’ve ever f…
164: Not every piece can be the Beyoncé (but you need at least one) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:37
In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun cover everything from skunk-induced wake-up calls to the realities of private equity in the design industry—before diving deep into the creative growing pains that come with leveling up…
162: Getting out of our own way and other business goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:24
In this kickoff episode for 2026, Shaun and Rebecca get real about what’s holding them back in their design businesses—and what they’re doing about it. From car accidents to calendar overhauls, they unpack how they’re us…
161: 2025 Reflection, it wasn't as bad as we thought [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:47
Shaun and Rebecca are back to wrap up 2025 with their annual year-in-review tradition—and it turns out, it wasn’t all bad! In this episode, they share a candid look at the highs, lows, and the messy middle of running the…
160: Renee Biery, “The Only Girl on the Job Site” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:32
Shaun and Rebecca sit down with guest Renée Biery of deVignier Design and host of the podcast Only Girl on the Jobsite. With a career spanning over 30 years, Renée has worked on complex construction‑heavy design projects…
158: Why You Shouldn't Photograph Every Project with Jessica Burke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:36
In this episode of the Hot Young Designers Club, Rebecca and Shaun welcome interior‑photographer turned editor and marketing strategist Jessica Burke to unpack when and why designers should not photograph—or publish—ever…
157: Las Vegas Market, Logistics for Designers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun dive into everything designers need to know about attending Las Vegas Market — from travel logistics to strategy, networking, sourcing and setting up your post‑market follow‑up. Whether…