Finding balance and fulfillment in a creative career has always been a constant struggle for most interior designers.
Interior designer Laura Martin Bovard has been there – and she’s here to share her hard-won wisdom.
In this episode, Laura opens up about her unconventional path to design, learning on the job and building her firm LMB Interiors from the ground up, without a design degree.
She reveals how she overcame perfectionism, set boundaries with clients, and nurtured her entrepreneurial spirit – all while prioritizing self-care through her “Divine Hustler” personal growth practice.
If you’re struggling to balance creativity, business, and personal life, this episode offers real solutions. Tune in for practical tips on growing your design business while taking care of yourself and serving others.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode
- Learn the value of networking, hiring the right people, and building strong client relationships to grow a sustainable and profitable design business
- Discover practical tips on managing a design business while staying true to your creative vision and avoiding burnout
- Be inspired to infuse more self-care, mindfulness, and authenticity into your design practice and entrepreneurial journey
About the Guest:
Laura Martin Bovard is the principal designer of LMB Interiors, which she launched in 2002 while pregnant with her first child, working from her dining room table.
She runs a successful design firm that focuses on sustainable practices, collaborating with local artisans and contractors as well as using eco-friendly, earth-conscious materials and practices.
Laura is also known as “The Divine Hustler,” which reflects her side hustle involving speaking events, retreats, and a blog dedicated to personal growth. As a personal growth junkie, she aims to help other beauty makers discover more about themselves.
Connect with Laura Martin Bovard:
Website: LMB Interiors
Instagram: @lmbinteriors and @divinehustler
Check out these episode highlights
02:24 – Laura’s Journey to Becoming an Interior Designer
- Her upbringing in a military family, moving frequently and developing an early interest in home design
- Her initial hesitation about pursuing interior design due to the glamorous perception of the profession and the behind-the-scenes challenges
- Her conversation with a therapist encouraged her to pursue interior design professionally after many years in the restaurant industry
06:04 – Building a Design Firm and Learning Entrepreneurial Skills
- She started her firm with just a few projects and quickly realized the financial potential of interior design
- The importance of hiring the right people and learning from them, which helped her firm evolve and grow
- Her practical learning approach: hiring the right people to compensate for her gaps, and building her business through hands-on experience and strong entrepreneurial skills
10:30 – Key Business Strategies for Business Growth
- Networking and relationship-building
- Keeping yourself relevant through Instagram posts and monthly newsletter
- Hiring the right people such as professional photographers to photograph your work
- Having a good website
- Maintaining strong client relationships
12:19 – The Concept of the Divine Hustler
- How she created the “Divine Hustler” persona to help her embrace her authentic self, prioritizing self-care, and balancing perfectionism and client demands
- The importance of self-care and how she managed to incorporate it into her busy life, even when she had young children
- How the Divine Hustler practice helped her transform her business and personal life, focusing on self-compassion and nurturing her higher self
- The importance of setting boundaries, speaking truth, and being transparent about money and expectations with clients
17:35 – Hosting Retreats for Creatives
- Retreats focus on transforming shadows, moving beyond ego, and learning from each other
- The importance of having a support system in the isolating world of design
- Retreats help participants build long-term relationships
20:11 – Practices for Personal Growth & Development
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Breathwork
- Jumping on a rebounder in the sunshine every morning
- Dance like a crazy woman
- Surrounding yourself with positive energies
“When we have habits and routines, the body becomes the mind.”
Practices for Business Growth
- Attending retreats once a year
- Monday connection call with the team
- Take a rest such as taking naps in between work
- Setting boundaries
24:50 – Integrating Personal Growth into Design
- Weaving personal growth concepts into her client work, suggesting meditation spaces and quiet zones for her clients’ homes to promote holistic living
26:18 – Advice for Aspiring Designers
- Embrace culture and travel frequently
- Document and share your experiences in your marketing
- Establish your brand as trustworthy, warm, and skilled
- Highlight and discuss the work that inspires you
- Remember that community is crucial; you’re not alone in this journey
- Engage with networking groups for new insights and connections
- Continuous learning and growth are important
- Take breaks when needed for your well-being
- Go for walks in nature
- Drink clean water
Next Steps
Grab your freebies:
- Furnishings Investment Guide
- Remodel Budget and Timeline Guide
- Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
- 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career
Take a Quiz!
- Find Your Perfect Interior Design Style if you are curious about your design style
- Find Out What Type of Interior Designer You Should Be!
Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!
Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.
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DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question
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Links Mentioned
- The Surrender Experiment by Michael Alan Singer
Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week…