Interior Design Community, June 2025
In this energetic and candid episode of To-The-Trade, host Laurie Laizure chats with South African-born, Miami-based interior designer Nikki Levy, founder of Nikki Levy Interiors. Known for her high-energy personality and authentic design voice, Nikki shares her unconventional journey into the design world, which began later in life after a successful career in retail and fashion. She reveals how her bold career switch, combined with strong business instincts, enabled her to build a thriving design firm that now operates with a team of nine.
Nikki discusses the significance of structure, boundaries, and processes in scaling her business and the lessons she learned the hard way. She explains why clarity about budget and expectations with clients is essential and how she learned to say no, delegate effectively, and sustain her passion without experiencing burnout. The episode is filled with humorous anecdotes and raw truths about pricing, luxury client demands, and the realities of managing team dynamics. Nikki also offers a glimpse into her personal growth journey, highlights the importance of having systems that foster creativity, and emphasizes her strong stance on charging what you’re worth.
Her message to other designers is to be honest, own your worth, and build a business that allows you to thrive both creatively and personally.