136 | Turning Your Love for Historical Homes into a Thriving Design Business With Anika Schachtler

Wondering how some designers turn their passion for history into a thriving business?

In this episode, I sit down with Anika Schachtler, who has carved out an exciting niche restoring and redesigning historical homes from the 1800s and early 1900s in Quebec.

Anika shares her journey from design school graduate to successful business owner, revealing how she built a network of skilled craftspeople who understand historical restoration. She explains the delicate balance between preserving original features and creating functional spaces for modern living, showing how she combines antique pieces with contemporary comforts.

If you've been considering historical home design as your niche, this episode offers practical insights to help you get started. Anika discusses the importance of finding the right support network, working smart rather than hard, and managing the business side of design. She highlights how restoration work involves much more than furniture selection—from working with old electrical systems and stone foundations to planning thoughtful extensions.

Ready to explore historical home restoration as your design specialty? This episode will help you understand what it takes to succeed in this rewarding niche. Tune in now!

Featured Guest:

⁠Anika⁠, an interior designer from Quebec, started ⁠Anika Schachtler Design⁠ to help homeowners breathe new life into their century-old homes while keeping their souls intact.

She specializes in renovating and restoring farmhouses and cottages from the 1800s and early 1900s, creating spaces that feel timeless, welcoming, and built to last. Her approach is thoughtful and hands-on, blending the best of the past with the comforts of today.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Discover a profitable design niche - the historical home restoration
• Understand the unique approach required for historical homes
• Get practical business insights about working smart, managing challenges, and growing a business

Check out the show notes >>> Turning Your Love for Historical Homes into a Thriving Design Business

NEXT STEPS:

• Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

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:

(0:00) Introduction

(01:39) Anika's Journey into Interior Design

(03:29) Renovating Historical Home

(05:25) Choosing to Run Her Design Firm

(08:49) Advice for Designers

(10:45) Common Misconceptions About Interior Design

(11:48) Anika's Design Approach

(14:06) Inspiration, Motivation, and Future Plans