Behind The Design

Behind every beautiful piece of joinery is a series of decisions, conversations, and mistakes no one ever seesIn this episode, I sat down with Luke from Élan Joinery and SKUPA, to talk through what really goes into custom joinery and furniture, beyond the finished photos. From early planning and material selection to timelines, teamwork, and trust, Luke shares how thoughtful joinery is built around the way people actually live in their homes.We explore how Élan Joinery has evolved from its commercial roots into residential and furniture work, what it’s like running a family business, and why collaboration between designers, builders, joiners, and clients is essential to achieving great outcomes. The conversation also touches on sustainability, sampling, and the emotional side of caring deeply about your work.This episode offers a grounded look behind the scenes of high-end joinery, helping clients better understand the value of process, craftsmanship, and clear communication, not just the final result.What You’ll Learn• Why custom joinery takes time and what happens before anything is built• How material selection and sampling influence durability, function, and feel• What designers and joiners consider when planning storage, layout, and workflow• Why collaboration plays such a big role in successful projects• What clients often underestimate about timelines, process, and craftsmanship• How good joinery supports the way you live, not just how a space looksFollow Elan Joinery House:https://www.elanc.comhttps://www.instagram.com/elan.joinery/?hl=enFollow SKUPAhttps://skupa.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/skupafurnitureFollow Unfolded:Website: https://www.unfolded.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_Chapters 01:30 – The Origins of Elan Joinery02:26 – A Family Business Today03:07 – Expanding from Joinery into Furniture04:06 – Scaling Operations & Warehousing04:29 – Growing a Team & Business 06:00 – Micromanaging vs Autonomy07:25 – Why Luke Created A Showroom09:03 – Instagram Growth vs Real Business Growth09:37 – The Reality Behind Project Photos11:45 – Winning Work Through Instagram13:18 – Sustainability in Joinery & Furniture16:45 – Craftsmanship Across Departments17:48 – Why Owning Mistakes Builds Trust19:38 – What Clients Don’t See in Kitchens21:29 – How the Business Has Evolved24:52 – Delivering the Vision, Not Designing It25:31 – Collaboration With Designers & Builders28:56 – Managing Difficult Conversations31:02 – Why Custom Work Takes TimeKeywordsJoinery processCustom furniture designResidential cabinetrySustainable furnitureInterior design collaborationCraftsmanship tipsKitchen design ideasAustralian joineryDesigner-client collaborationFurniture materials and finishes

Trends come and go, but brands built on craft, instinct, and resilience tend to stick around.

In this episode of Behind the Design, host Camilla Ingall sits down with Charles Hinckfuss, founder and creative force behind MCM House.

Charlie shares the unpolished reality behind building one of Australia’s most recognisable furniture brands, from early days focused purely on survival, to growing a national retail presence grounded in craft, instinct, and energy.

This conversation goes beyond aesthetics to explore what actually sustains a creative business over decades: trusting your eye, understanding materials deeply, resisting trends, and building a team culture that feels supported and excited by the work.

You’ll hear how Charlie’s early hands-on making shaped MCM House’s DNA, why texture and material honesty matter more than polish, and how resilience, humour, and momentum play a bigger role in success than any rigid plan. This episode is a reminder that great design isn’t about chasing what’s new, it’s about creating work that still feels right years later.

What You learn in this episode:
* Timeless design outlives trends; Charlie explains why MCM House avoids trend-driven aesthetics in favour of materials and forms that age well over time.
* Energy drives execution; From retail spaces to team culture, energy and mood directly shape outcomes — creatively and commercially.
* Craft builds credibility; Early hands-on making gave Charlie a deep understanding of furniture that still informs MCM House today.
* Growth without identity loss is possible; Scaling doesn’t have to dilute creativity when the brand is anchored in clear values and instinct.

Follow MCM House:https://www.mcmhouse.com

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

00:00 – Introduction
02:13 – From Vintage Retail to Furniture Making: The Chuck & Bob Years
04:09 – Why Experience Matters More Than Products in Retail Design
07:25 – Taking Creative Risks and Backing Yourself
09:16 – Touching Every Part of the Business as a Founder
11:41 – Choosing Materials: Fabric, Timber, Texture & Honesty
13:00 – Trends vs Timeless Design
14:17 – Growing a Brand in Sydney’s Competitive Retail Market
17:01 – What Does MCM Actually Stand For?
17:59 – Retail Expansion vs International Growth
19:03 – Opening Stores Across Australia
20:13 – Building a Team and Letting Go of Control
21:51 – Energy, Mood & Leadership in Creative Teams
24:05 – The Reality of Working Seven Days a Week
25:02 – Expanding Into Commercial & Hospitality Design
27:12 – Using Movies and Culture as Creative Direction
30:00 – The Hardest Parts of Growing a Product-Based Brand
34:23 – One Piece of Advice for Anyone Starting a Design Brand
38:56 – Design Trends That Need to Go
40:21 – Final Reflections & Episode Takeaways

interior design podcast
MCM House
Australian furniture design
timeless interior design
design brand building
furniture design process
interior design trends vs timeless
creative business resilience
retail design experience
materials and texture in design
how to build a furniture brand in Australia
designing furniture without following trends
interior design brand storytelling
scaling a creative business without losing identity

Design doesn’t need to shout to make an impact.

In this episode of Behind the Design, Camilla Ingall sits down with Daniel Boddam, founder of Daniel Boddam Studio, to unpack his philosophy of quiet living; a design approach rooted in restraint, calm, and deep respect for the Australian landscape.

Daniel shares his journey from architecture into furniture design, why he deliberately plays the long game, and how designing with nature (not trends) creates homes and objects that feel timeless, grounded, and human.

This conversation goes beyond aesthetics. It explores how spaces should feel, how materials age, and why true luxury today is found in simplicity, not excess.

In this episode, we explore:
What quiet luxury really means (and why it’s misunderstood)
Designing architecture and furniture that belongs to the Australian landscape
The role of texture, sound, touch, and material honesty in great design
Why restraint and patience lead to better creative outcomes
Balancing architecture, furniture, business growth, and personal boundaries
Designing homes that age well; emotionally and materially

If you’re an architect, interior designer, builder, or design-aware homeowner, this episode will reframe how you think about calm, timeless design.

Follow Daniel Boddam:
Daniel Boddam Studio: https://danielboddam.com

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

Behind the Design is hosted by Camilla Ingall, founder of Unfolded, an interior design and styling studio based in Sydney and the Central Coast.

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:32 - Welcome to Behind the Design
00:01:16 - Interview with Daniel Bottom
00:01:42 - Daniel's journey into design
00:03:16 - Transition from architecture to furniture design
00:06:00 - Challenges and changes in design journey
00:07:54 - Managing a design studio
00:11:06 - Balancing architecture and furniture design
00:12:32 - Quiet living philosophy
00:15:17 - Unfolded: Interior Design and Styling Studio
00:15:34 - Material Preferences and Sensory Design
00:17:43 - Reflecting on Past Experiences and Influences
00:19:15 - Client Briefs and Diversification
00:21:38 - Designing for the Australian Landscape
00:23:31 - Sculptural Simplicity in Design
00:24:32 - Balancing Function and Aesthetics
00:29:48 - Future Plans for the Studio
00:30:35 - Opening a Furniture Showroom and Expanding Overseas
00:31:26 - Reflections on the Pace of Work and Growth
00:32:46 - Managing Work-Life Balance
00:33:05 - Sustainability in Work and Avoiding Burnout
00:35:09 - Strangest Client Requests
00:36:34 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Camilla sits down with Stephanie Ferrara, founder of Laidback Lee Design, to explore how she built a growing design studio while renovating her own family home as an owner-builder and raising two young daughters. Steph shares how a Covid job cut sparked her leap into business, what she’s learned from flipping character homes, and how stepping onto site as a woman and now a builder has reshaped her confidence and communication.

Together, they unpack the realities of running a design studio in the thick of motherhood, delegation, renovation setbacks, and the mindset shifts that help Steph stay grounded through it all.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Steph launched Laidback Lee Design and grew it into a five-person studio
• The emotional and practical realities of motherhood while running a design practice
• What it’s really like to be an owner-builder and manage a full renovation
• The mindset shifts required to delegate, hire, and step back from doing everything yourself
• Timeless design vs personality-driven design and how Steph navigates both
• Why slowing down, working with your capacity, and trusting your path matters in business and in life

Whether you’re an interior designer, owner-builder, renovator, creative parent, or someone who loves hearing the unfiltered stories behind design careers, this conversation is grounding, generous, and full of the permission so many of us need.

Follow Laidback Lee Design:
Business Instagram: instagram.com/laidbacklee_design
Business Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laidbackleedesign
Reno diaries for personal project: https://www.instagram.com/finalmente_renodiary/

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

00:00:00 – Introduction & Background
00:01:30 – Introducing Stephanie Ferrara
00:02:21 – Stephanie’s Path to Founding Laidback Lee Design
00:04:06 – Starting a Business During Major Life Changes
00:07:09 – Stephanie’s Renovation & Flip Experiences
00:08:16 – Upcoming Renovation Plans
00:11:04 – Key Challenges in Project Management
00:12:05 – Building the Laidback Lee Design Team
00:13:49 – Delegation, Confidence & Scaling
00:15:19 – Stephanie’s Evolving Role
00:17:01 – Stepping Into the Builder Role
00:17:36 – White Card & Owner-Builder Certification
00:20:41 – Motivation & Women’s Empowerment
00:22:30 – Balancing Work, Life & Motherhood
00:30:24 – Adapting to Client Personalities
00:32:43 – Clear Communication with Clients
00:34:32 – Navigating Delays & Project Challenges
00:35:00 – Confidence in Client Relationships
00:37:48 – Vulnerability in Life & Business
00:43:18 – Postpartum Impact on Work & Identity

* Interior design
* Australian designer
* Creative entrepreneur
* Design studio
* Renovation
* Owner-builder
* Residential interiors
* Heritage renovation
* Studio leadership
* Creative motherhood
* Women in design
* Client communication
* Design inspiration
* Small business growth
* Authentic design process

In this episode, Camilla sits down with Dani Dean, founder of The Make Haus, to explore the evolution of her multidisciplinary studio, spanning florals, interiors, spatial design, commercial installations, and standout projects like the David Jones Flower Show.

Together, we unpack what it truly looks like to juggle creativity, business, and motherhood. Dani shares why she refuses to niche down, how she cultivates inspiration across disciplines, and why downtime is an essential part of her process, not a luxury.

Camilla also reflects on how burnout has surfaced in her own design practice, and the permission creatives need to slow down, reset, and design from a grounded place.

In this episode, we explore:
• How Dani built a studio spanning multiple creative pillars
• The emotional and practical realities of motherhood in design
• How burnout shows up for creatives, and how to work differently
• The contrasting mindsets behind commercial vs residential design
• The importance of intuition, experimentation, and creative stillness

Whether you’re an interior designer, stylist, floral artist, creative entrepreneur, or simply someone who loves hearing the real stories behind design careers, this episode is full of depth, clarity, and the kind of permission creatives crave.

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

00:00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro
00:00:56 – Meet Dani Dean: The Mind Behind The Make Haus
00:02:27 – How an Interior Path Emerged from Creative Curiosity
00:02:39 – The Moment The Make Haus Expanded Beyond One Discipline
00:08:20 – How Clients Engage Dani Across Interiors, Florals & Events
00:09:32 – Why Dani Refuses to “Pick a Lane”
00:09:50 – Choosing Interiors: The Career Decision That Stuck
00:11:16 – Motherhood, Boundaries & Designing with Less Noise
00:14:46 – How Partner Support Makes Creative Careers Possible
00:18:01 – From Fashion Roots to Interiors & Spatial Design
00:18:30 – Inside Dani’s Intuitive, Tactile Design Process
00:22:13 – What Makes The Make Haus Team Work
00:24:11 – Sources of Inspiration: Objects, Observation & Environment
00:28:14 – Switching Gears: Commercial vs Residential Mindsets
00:29:47 – The Projects That Changed Dani’s Creative Trajectory
00:30:53 – Behind the Fiore Sandwich Shop Concept
00:31:25 – Turning a Client Brief into a Lived Experience
00:33:23 – Why Creative Downtime Isn’t Optional
00:34:25 – Early Signs of Burnout & What Dani Learned
00:40:58 – What’s Next for The Make Haus

* Interior design
* Australian designer
* Creative entrepreneur
* Design studio
* Multi-disciplinary design
* Floristry
* Event styling
* Residential interiors
* Commercial design
* Creative process
* Women in design
* Design inspiration
* Creative motherhood
* Design business
* Burnout recovery