Behind The Design

Finished homes, polished brands, and resolved details are what we usually see. What’s less visible is the pressure underneath: the hard decisions, constant judgment calls, and the reality of sustaining growth.

James McCarthy knows that reality well.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with James McCarthy, co-founder of GatherCo, a trade-only supplier in the architecture and interiors industry known for its relationship-led approach, adaptability, and willingness to do things differently.

What began as a small business trying to stay afloat has grown into a trusted supplier working with architects, designers, and builders across Australia. But this conversation is less about polished success and more about what sits behind long-term growth.

We talk about the early pressure to say yes to everything, why boundaries become essential as a business matures, and the mindset shift that comes with realising not all growth is good growth.

We also explore sustainable scaling, how partnerships evolve, and why understanding your lane is one of the most important lessons for founders.

In this episode, we also covered this:
— Why saying yes to every opportunity early in business eventually becomes unsustainable
— The lesson that completely changed James’ perspective on business challenges and competition
— How Gather Co built trust with architects and designers through honesty and long-term thinking
— Why the business chose not to follow the traditional showroom model and what happened instead
— The importance of boundaries, systems, and internal accountability as a team grows
— What founders often misunderstand about scaling a product-based business
— How small businesses can use adaptability and speed as competitive advantages
— The reality of managing client expectations, timelines, and decision fatigue within the design industry
— Why relationships remain at the centre of everything Gather Co does
— The emotional side of entrepreneurship and the importance of remembering why you started

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Behind the Design for more conversations unpacking the people, processes, and realities behind the design industry.

Follow James McCarthy and GatherCo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mccarthy-90a215140/
https://www.gatherco.com.au/
Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

Chapters
03:02 — Why Gather Co Built a Trade-Only Supply Business
06:00 — The Importance of Honesty & Long-Term Relationships
07:12 — Fighting to Survive: The Early “Say Yes to Everything” Mentality
10:30 — Why Strong Teams Matter More Than Founders Doing Everything
12:27 — Learning to Love the Journey of Building a Business
15:50 — The Story That Changed How Gather Co Worked With Clients
20:12 — Why Boundaries & Policies Are Essential for Growth
23:47 — Balancing Creativity, Timelines & Commercial Reality
25:07 — Why Gather Co Chose Digital Over a Physical Showroom
29:48 — Creating a Better Sample Process for Designers & Architects
34:18 — The Mindset Shift That Turned Problems Into Competitive Advantages
45:45 — Competition, Ego & the Fear That Still Drives Business Growth

Keywords
Gather Co
James McCarthy Gather Co
trade supply business
scaling a supply business
business growth mindset
entrepreneurship podcast
design industry podcast
interior design business
architecture and design industry
supplier relationships in business
business lessons for entrepreneurs
creative business growth
building a trade-only business
online showroom strategy
digital-first business model
natural stone supplier
trade-only supplier Australia
business operations and systems
founder mindset
scaling a creative business
business leadership lessons
long-term client relationships
architecture supplier insights
design and construction podcast
entrepreneurship in construction
growing a product-based business

Colour gets the attention, but it is rarely where the real work happens.

Mariah Burton built Folk Studio on something quieter than a signature aesthetic, a belief that the person living in the space is always the starting point and that the brief is never really the Pinterest board, the budget, or the timeline. It is the human being sitting across from you at that first meeting, and everything that flows from understanding them well enough to design something that genuinely feels like theirs.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Mariah Burton, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Folk Studio, a Sydney-based interior design practice recognised for its layered, expressive interiors and a client experience that feels as considered as the design itself.

Eight years in, Folk is turning away more work than it takes on, the projects are more varied, the team is bigger, and yet the studio still feels unmistakably like Mariah. This conversation is about how that happens, how you build something that continues to grow without losing the thing that made it worth building in the first place.

In this episode, we also covered this:
• What it looks like to back yourself when nothing is guaranteed and you are building something from scratch with no real roadmap
• How a casual conversation with a stranger became the project that changed everything for Folk Studio
• Why the best design decisions are not always the most obvious ones, and how knowing when to stop is its own kind of skill
• What staying true to yourself looks like when clients, budgets and timelines are all pulling in different directions
• How to protect the thing that makes your work yours, even as your team grows and more people are involved
• The quiet work that happens before a client ever gets on a call with you and why that part matters just as much as the design
• What nobody tells you about the emotional side of running a creative business and how to find your footing when it gets heavy.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Behind the Design for more conversations unpacking the people, processes, and ideas shaping the design industry.

Follow Mariah Burton and Folk Studio
https://www.instagram.com/mariah.burton_/
https://au.linkedin.com/in/mariah-burton-281165ab
https://www.folkstudiodesign.com/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

Chapters
02:20 - How Childhood & Creativity Shaped Mariah Burton’s Design Style
04:42 - The Early Career Lessons That Built Folk Studio’s Culture
06:28 - Landing Major Interior Design Projects in the Early Days
07:36 - Working 3 Jobs While Launching a Design Business
09:22 - The Confidence to Pivot a Client’s Vision Completely
10:24 - Building a Successful Interior Design Studio Without Pressure
11:37 - Creative Restraint, Color & Designing Functional Spaces
15:30 - Why Folk Studio Prioritizes People Over Trends
20:41 - How Folk Studio Chooses the Right Design Clients
27:31 - The Reality Behind Interior Design Photoshoots & Styling
31:56 - Balancing Business, Creativity & Mental Wellbeing as a Designer
39:10 - The Biggest Lessons From 8 Years Running Folk Studio

Keywords
interior design studio Sydney
folk studio interior design
starting an interior design busines
show to build a design brand
interior design client process
color in interior design
residential interior design Australia
behind the scenes interior design
design studio philosophy
timeless interior design
creative restraint in design
how to start an interior design studio young
saying no to clients as a designer

interior design business
starting a design studio
interior designer tips
design studio growth
client selection design
creative business advice
interior design proces
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creative entrepreneurship
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design business lessons
folk studio mariah burton

Most material decisions are still driven by aesthetics. But the real shift is happening in safety, performance, and sustainability, the layers a renovator or end user often doesn’t see, and rarely gets guided through. That’s the conversation missing across the broader industry.

In this episode of Behind the Design, I sit down with Erin Payne from Cosentino to explore how one of the world’s leading surface manufacturers is reshaping the future of architecture and interior design.

From engineered stone to zero silica innovation, this is not just a conversation about benchtops. It is a conversation about responsibility. How materials are evolving, how decisions are made, and what designers need to understand to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting industry.With over 20 years as an interior designer before moving into the supply side, Erin brings a perspective most conversations miss. She understands both the creative intent and the commercial reality, and where they often do not align.

In this episode, we also covered this:
• Why “all stone is the same” is one of the biggest misconceptions in design
• The real difference between engineered, natural, and ultra-compact surfaces
• Zero silica and why this shift matters globally, not just in Australia
• How performance is becoming as critical as aesthetics
• What true sustainability looks like at a manufacturing level
• The role designers play in educating clients and where it often breaks down
• Where surface design is heading next and what to pay attention to

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Behind the Design for more conversations unpacking the people, processes, and ideas shaping the design industry.

Follow Erin Payne and Cosentino
https://www.instagram.com/erin_payne_design/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-payne-a99783121/
https://www.cosentino.com/en-au

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

From chasing design milestones to discovering what truly makes work meaningful, this episode takes you behind the scenes of large-scale hospitality design.

In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, I chat with Nasim Köerting, Design Director at Merivale, about the realities of leading some of Australia’s most recognised hospitality projects. From her early career in London to managing complex, high-profile designs today, Nasim shares what it really takes to succeed at this level.

We also explore a turning point in her career: the moment she realized that achieving awards and hitting milestones brought only brief excitement. What matters most is the experience of the process: seeing her team thrive, collaborating effectively, and watching people genuinely enjoy the spaces she creates.

For Nasim, the real reward is the human impact of design, not the accolades and keeping creativity and collaboration enjoyable.

This conversation goes beyond the finished product and dives into the choices, pressures, and mindset behind exceptional design. From balancing creativity with leadership to designing environments that feel thoughtful and inclusive, this is an honest look at what happens behind the scenes.

Topics covered in this conversation:
• Nasim’s journey from London to Design Director at Merivale
• Managing the responsibility and pressures of large-scale design
• Leading teams while staying creatively involved
• Moving past the fleeting thrill of milestones to find lasting fulfillment
• How collaboration enhances design outcomes
• Designing spaces that feel welcoming and considered
• The subtle details that make a space memorable

If you want insight into what makes great design more than just a pretty photo, this conversation offers a candid view behind the scenes.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more conversations that go beyond aesthetics and into the real thinking behind design.

Follow Nasim Köerting and Merivale
https://www.instagram.com/nasimkoerting/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasim-k%C3%B6erting-78511a4a/
https://www.instagram.com/merivale/
https://merivale.com/
Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

Chapters
01:07 – Meet Nassim: Design Director Behind Merivale’s Iconic Spaces
02:09 – From Sydney to London: Building a Global Interior Design Career
03:51 – Landing a Dream Role at Merivale (Hospitality Design Insights)
04:46 – Leading Creative Teams in High-End Hospitality Projects
07:30 – Why Hospitality Design is About Experience, Not Just Aesthetics
10:21 – The Real Design Process: Collaboration, Ideas & Innovation
13:26 – Designing with Old Buildings: Creating “Lived-In” Spaces
15:12 – Diversity & Inclusion in Interior Design (Why It Matters)
18:47 – Small Design Details
27:32 – Redefining Success: Beyond Awards & Recognition in Design
32:14 – The Future of Design

Keywords
Merivale
hospitality design
interior design podcast
interior design process
design leadership
creative careers
interior designer interview
design director
hospitality interiors
commercial interior design
design inspiration
interior design career
hospitality design process
managing creative teams
design collaboration
guest experience design
experiential design
human-centered design
inclusive design
adaptive reuse design
imposter syndrome creatives

“Design doesn’t need to please everyone. Designers like McQueen, Schiaparelli, and Margiela showed me that discomfort, exaggeration, and vulnerability aren’t flaws—they’re tools.”

In this episode of Behind the Design, I talk with Nelli Hegi, founder and creative director of Hegi Design House, about creating furniture that’s more than functional, it tells a story. Nelli blends furniture, art, fashion, and architecture into bold pieces meant to spark emotion and conversation.

We explore her journey of finding her voice, why she stopped chasing validation, and the lessons haute couture taught her about creativity and risk.

As Nelli says, “Evolution isn't a lack of direction, it's part of finding your voice.”

What You learn in this episode:
→ Finding and trusting your creative voice
→ Drawing inspiration from fashion, art, and couture
→ Making furniture that’s emotional and story-driven
→ Balancing craft, collaboration, and sustainable business
→ Connecting with clients through storytelling

For anyone interested in expressive, personal design, this episode is full of insights on creating work that truly reflects who you are.

Follow Nelli Hegi: https://www.instagram.com/hegi_designhouse/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelli-hegi-67704765/
https://hegidesignhouse.com/

Follow Unfolded:
https://www.unfolded.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

Chapters
02:00 – Signature Style vs Evolution
04:00 – Childhood & Personal Experiences
07:00 – Craftsmanship & Studio Life
10:00 – Haute Couture Inspiration
13:00 – Overcoming Self-Doubt & Industry Pressure
16:00 – Creating Emotional Connections Through Furniture
18:00 – Storytelling & Client Interaction
20:00 – Dreams, Inspiration & New Collections
Keywords
interior design podcast
furniture design inspiration
how to find your design style
creative confidence design
design career advice
how to get featured in design magazines
design storytelling
art vs commercial design
building a design brand
creative entrepreneurship
behind the design podcast
Camilla Ingall podcast
Nelli Hegi Authentic Design