164: Not every piece can be the Beyoncé (but you need at least one)

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 your interiors. If you’ve ever felt burnt out on tile, uninspired by beige beds, or frustrated that nothing “off the rack” feels special enough, this one’s for you.

The big takeaway? Not every piece in a room can be the Beyoncé—but you do need at least one showstopper. Rebecca shares her current tile spiral, Shaun vents about the sea of neutral beds, and together they unpack why customization (even in small ways) is often the difference between basic and brilliant.

In this episode they discuss:

1. The recent acquisition of The Expert by Havenly—and what it signals about private equity’s growing influence in the interior design world
2. Feeling creatively boxed in by your own standards (aka: when you’ve trained clients to expect “cool tile” every time)
3. The struggle to source interesting, textured, and affordable tile that doesn’t feel overdone or Instagram-familiar
4. Why most beds on the market feel painfully beige—and how to push upholstery vendors toward better, more customized solutions
5. Smart ways to customize without going fully bespoke (split finishes, special applications, COM, trim details, and reupholstering standard pieces)
6. The value of handling complex details—like hardware specifications and mixed finishes—to prove your worth as a designer
7. Rebecca’s evolving brand pillars: cool, collected, layered, lived-in, and delightfully different—and how they function as a creative filter
8. The core philosophy: not every piece can be the Beyoncé, but every piece deserves intention—and at least one moment in the room must steal the show

Mentioned:

1. The Expert – https://www.theexpert.com
2. Havenly – https://havenly.com
3. Norwalk Furniture – https://www.norwalkfurniture.com
4. Fireclay Tile – https://www.fireclaytile.com
5. Zia Tile – https://www.ziatile.com
6. Dovetail – https://www.dovetailfurniture.com
7. Philip Jeffries – https://www.phillipjeffries.com

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