154 | Mistakes, Difficult Clients & Lessons Learned in Running a Design Biz With Bre Hance

What if a side project could turn into a full-blown design career?

In this episode, I chat with Bre Hance, founder and principal designer of InHance, who shares how she went from helping her husband with a few design projects to running her thriving interior design and build firm in Los Angeles. She opens up about the early days of her business—starting without a portfolio or website—and how she found her first clients by showing up, being creative, and believing in her skills.

Bre also talks about what it takes to grow a design business, from hiring a team to learning the hard lessons through expensive mistakes. You’ll hear how she discovered her signature style, Elevated Everyday Living, and how social media, especially Instagram, helped her grow her brand and attract ideal clients. She shares her secrets to avoiding stress and building trust.

If you're an aspiring or new interior designer, Bre’s honest insights and practical advice will leave you inspired, wiser, and ready to take action. 🎧 Tune in now!

Featured Guest:

Bre Hance is the founder and principal designer of ⁠InHance⁠, a high-end residential design-build firm based in Los Angeles. With over a decade of experience, Bre has designed more than 200 homes across the U.S. Known for her bold use of color, eclectic luxury style, and her trademarked philosophy, Elevated Everyday Living, she helps clients create beautiful, practical spaces from concept to completion.

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

📌 Learn how to create authentic content for Instagram to attract your clients and grow your design brand

📌 Get honest advice on scaling smart and staying true to your values

📌 Avoid mistakes that cost thousands and other common pitfalls

Check out the show notes >>> Mistakes, Difficult Clients & Lessons Learned in Running a Design Biz

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

02:04 Bre's Early Beginnings & How She Got Into Design

06:09 Scaling and Shaping the Business

09:49 Defining Her Signature Style

12:58 Future Dreams: Lifestyle Brand Possibilities

14:09 Impact of the LA Fires and Community Involvement

17:28 Using Social Media to Grow a Design Business

21:58 Mistakes, Difficult Clients & Lessons Learned

31:16 Advice for Aspiring Interior Designers