166 | Scaling & Rebranding Your Design Business + Job-Site Confidence With Nicole Roe

When you're first stepping into the interior design world, choosing a business name can feel like the defining decision of your entire future. Many designers freeze because they feel pressure to land on the “perfect” name—one that will carry them for decades. But here's the real truth most new creatives don't hear: you grow, and your business grows with you. Your brand name should have room to grow too.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Roe, the founder and creative force of R. Nixon Interiors, a construction-savvy designer behind a fast-scaling boutique design firm. Nicole shares how she evolved from running “Nicole Roe Design” as a one-woman show to rebranding into a strong and scalable company identity… and why she will never rebrand again! We dive into the realities of choosing a brand name, the emotional and logistical hurdles of rebranding, and the importance of a name that empowers your team—not just your personal portfolio.

If you’ve been questioning whether to use your name or create a standalone brand—or if you feel paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong—this episode gives you clarity. We also explore how construction knowledge, hands-on learning, and confidence on job sites can transform your role as a designer

making you a trusted partner to contractors and clients alike.

Featured Guest:

Nicole Roe is the founder and creative director of R. Nixon Interiors, a boutique interior design studio known for blending bold luxury with real-life functionality. With a degree in building construction from Georgia Tech and over 15 years of experience across construction and interior design, Nicole brings unmatched technical expertise to every project. She leads a growing team, operates her own receiving warehouse, and hosts the podcast Highly Affected By Her Surroundings. Nicole is passionate about empowering designers, embracing functional luxury, and pushing the boundaries of boutique residential design.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✳️ How Nicole transitioned from a personal-name brand to a scalable firm identity

✳️ Signs it's time to rebrand—and how to avoid common rebranding pitfalls

✳️ Advantages of having a flexible brand name

✳️ How construction knowledge strengthens client trust and contractor relationships

✳️ The importance of practicing design and problem-solving in your own home

✳️ Team structure ideas that support growth in your interior design business

✳️ Tips on stepping confidently into leadership roles in male-dominated spaces

Read the Blog >>> Scale & Rebrand Your Design Business + Job-Site Confidence

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the waitlist for Launch Your Business Bootcamp You’ll gain a full year inside My Design Mentor, plus an eight-week program that gives you the roadmap, coaching, and systems to build a business you're proud of.

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to 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

2:26 Nicole's Journey to Becoming an Interior Designer

6:49 Early Career and Initial Projects

8:23 Rebranding: Nicole Roe Design to R Nixon Interiors

10:33 The Challenges and Realities of Rebranding

12:50 Tips for Managing Google Listings During a Rebrand

14:10 Masculine vs Feminine Energy in Design + Job-Site Confidence

17:09 The Value of Doing Projects at Home

20:49 Team Structure and Roles Inside R Nixon Interiors

23:05 Expanding Studio & Warehouse Spaces

24:24 Podcast & Brand Growth Beyond Interiors

27:28 Final Advice for New Designers