How a $10K Gamble Built Samantha Williams’ Interior Design Business

Intro: Designing a Life That’s Anything but Ordinary

What do Pasadena mansions, Paris flea markets, and scratch-and-sniff bananas have in common? According to Episode 47 of Every Day’s a Train Wreck, they’re all part of the wonderfully unpredictable world of interior designer Samantha Williams. 🎙️

Marley Majcher sits down with Samantha to talk wallpaper, window treatments, building a design business, and that little side gig… designing a French château. Yes, from an email she almost deleted. 🙃

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to create soulful spaces and stay sane while running a design empire, this episode is your velvet-chaired, Persian-rugged reality check.

From Federal Reports to French Interiors

Before she was sketching drapery lines or hunting down copper pots in Paris, Samantha was crunching numbers for federal funding reports. The pivot? A $10,000 gamble that completely reshaped her career – and spoiler: it wasn’t spent on advertising.

Estate Sales = The Best Design School

Forget stuffy classrooms. Samantha swears estate sales are the real crash course in interiors. Why? They show you how people actually lived with their furniture, fabrics, and art. Bonus: you just might score a museum-worthy Persian rug without maxing your credit card.

The Email That Almost Got Deleted

We’ve all ignored an email or two. But imagine skipping over the one that offered you a French château design project. Luckily, Samantha didn’t – though she admits it almost slipped into the trash. That “yes” turned into a career-defining adventure in historic preservation, cultural design, and yes, some serious wallpaper moments.

Designing on a Budget Without Losing Style

Pinterest boards are free. That Restoration Hardware sofa? Not so much. Samantha shares tips on how to make design feel luxe – even when your wallet is screaming. Think texture, estate sale finds, and a few clever hacks to fake the French look for less.

Behind the Scenes: Marriage, Clients & Burnout

Working with her husband (an engineer) means design ideas sometimes come with equations. Throw in emotional clients, big projects, and the ever-present risk of burnout, and you’ve got the real picture of what it’s like to build a design business that lasts. Samantha doesn’t sugarcoat it – but she does make it inspiring.

Why Good Taste Isn’t About Price Tags

At the end of the day, Samantha believes design is about perspective, not dollar signs. The right rug, the right color palette, and the right soul in a space matter more than brand names. And sometimes? It’s about finding joy in the details – like scratch-and-sniff bananas.

Listen to Episode 47: Wallpaper, Window Treatments & Château-Level Vision

Whether you’re decorating your first apartment or eyeing estate sales for your dream home, Episode 47 of Every Day’s a Train Wreck will have you rethinking design from the ground up.

👉 Listen here to Episode 47: Wallpaper, Window Treatments & Château-Level Vision – with Samantha Williams

Final Takeaway

Interior design isn’t just about pretty wallpaper or dreamy Parisian flea markets – it’s about bold choices, a bit of risk, and always saying “yes” to the château.