Highly Affected By Her Surroundings

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Jameelah Watkins- Mallett, founder of The Case Collective and co-founder of Lauren Wesley Designs, to talk about what it really looks like to build a design business from the ground up.Jameelah shares her journey from being a self-taught creative and young entrepreneur to leading a design firm and now educating other designers on how to run profitable, sustainable businesses. From early lessons in the beauty industry to navigating the challenges of COVID, difficult projects, and the realities of scaling, this conversation is a candid look at the evolution of a creative career.They discuss the gaps in the interior design industry, why so many designers struggle on the business side, and how Jameelah turned those challenges into a platform that’s helping others build with more structure, clarity, and intention.If you’re a designer, business owner, or creative navigating growth, this episode offers both perspective and practical insight on what it takes to move from doing the work to leading it.

In this solo episode, Nicole takes you inside her primary suite renovation and the intentional decisions behind it.She walks through the full design process, from rethinking the layout of a small footprint to selecting materials that feel grounded, durable, and true to her home. Nicole shares where she chose to splurge, where she simplified, and how each detail was designed to support both function and emotional well-being.This space was not designed for show. It was designed for real life. From storage solutions and lighting to material layering and mixed metals, every choice was made with clarity and purpose.Nicole also shares what she would do differently, what was worth it, and why designing for how you want to feel matters more than designing for trends.If you are renovating, building, or simply rethinking your space, this episode offers a clear and honest look at what it means to design with intention.Follow along:Website: rnicksoninteriors.comInstagram: @rnicksoninteriors

What does it really mean to design an authentic home?In this episode of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings, Nicole sits down with interior designer Lisa Gilmore live from the KBIS podcast studio in Orlando. Lisa is the founder and principal of Lisa Gilmore Design, a luxury interior design firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida known for creating bold, personality driven spaces with what she calls livable glamour.Together they dive into what authenticity actually looks like in interior design and why creating a home that reflects who you truly are matters far more than following trends.Nicole and Lisa discuss how personal brand translates into the spaces we live in, why Pinterest inspiration can sometimes limit creativity, and how designers help clients dig deeper to discover what they truly love.They also talk about evolving as designers, balancing beauty with functionality, and why the best interiors often include a little unexpected edge.If you have ever struggled to define your personal style or wondered how your home can better reflect your life and identity, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective on designing with authenticity.In this episode we cover:• What authentic design actually means• Why Pinterest can sometimes trap clients in trends• Designing homes that reflect personal identity and lifestyle• The connection between personal brand and interior design• Balancing aspirational design with everyday function• Why every space needs something unexpectedYou can follow Lisa Gilmore at @lisagilmoredesign.For more design inspiration and behind the scenes content, follow Nicole at @rnicksoninteriors and @the.nicoleroe

Luxury is not a price point. It is personal.In this episode of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings, Nicole sits down with Sueann Badillo, founder and creative force behind Moxie Design Group in Orlando, Florida.Sueann shares her journey from the medical field back to her original calling in design, and how resilience and clarity shaped a firm built with intention from the beginning. Together, they discuss client-first design, leading with quiet authority, and why thoughtful interpretation will always matter more than replication.They explore travel as creative refinement, immersive VR presentations, and the evolution from designer to founder.This is a conversation about alignment. About conviction. About defining luxury personally and building from that place.Learn more at moxiedesigngrp.comFollow along at @moxiedesigngrp 

In this episode, Nicole sits down with wardrobe stylist and creative director Chellie Carlson to explore how personal style becomes a source of confidence, clarity, and self trust.This conversation goes far beyond clothing. Chellie shares how what we wear affects how we show up in our lives, from decision making and productivity to visibility and personal brand. Together, they discuss why shopping more often creates overwhelm, how closet clutter reflects internal noise, and why fewer, intentional pieces create ease.In this episode, you will hear:How personal style supports confidence and clarityWhy fit, tailoring, and comfort matter more than trendsHow to stop shopping impulsively and start dressing intentionallyThe connection between clothing and nervous system safetyWhy editing your closet can create space in other areas of lifeHow signature pieces and outfit repeating simplify daily decisionsIf you have ever felt overwhelmed by your wardrobe or unsure how to define your personal style, this episode offers a grounded and thoughtful approach to getting dressed in a way that supports the life you are building.Learn more about Chellie’s Style Society membership:https://www.chelliecarlson.com/style-society-special-offer?affiliate_code=aa425d

Design as Storytelling: Vintage, Restraint, and Character with Sarah LyonWriter, stylist, and creative tastemaker Sarah Lyon joins Nicole Roe for a thoughtful conversation on how design becomes meaningful through storytelling.Sarah shares her journey through editorial work, vintage sourcing, and styling for photo shoots, along with her philosophy on restraint, character, and creating homes that feel lived in, not staged. From flea market strategy to organized maximalism, this episode explores how intentional spaces support real life.This episode is for designers, creatives, and homeowners who believe a home should feel collected, personal, and deeply human.Follow Sarah Lyon for vintage finds and editorial inspiration:Instagram: @sarahlyon9Website: sarahilyon.comFollow Nicole:@[email protected] notes and more episodes at rnicksoninteriors.com

In Episode 6 of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings, Nicole sits down with Kristin Hildebrand, founder and creative director of KH Interiors, to talk about the unexpected pivot from professional volleyball to building a design studio rooted in calm, livability, and intention.Kristin shares how years of living out of a suitcase shaped her belief that home should feel like a deep exhale, how she built KH Interiors from the ground up in 2018, and why “distance design” works when your systems are bulletproof. They also get real about client selection, leadership, and the daily rituals that keep a busy creative grounded.In this episode, we cover:Turning a high performance sports career into a purposeful design businessGrowing KH Interiors from zero experience to a team and studio in Costa MesaLeading projects across the country with clear SOPs and follow-upThe truth about working with friends and why client energy mattersWhy home is the emotional backdrop for the moments that matter mostFollow Kristin: @kh.interiorsLearn more: kh-interiors.com

This week, Nicole welcomes designer Galey Grimes of Galey Grimes Interiors for a thoughtful look at what makes design feel timeless, personal, and deeply warm. Galey’s work brings together Southern charm, collected layers, and a modern ease that feels both inviting and lived in.Together, they explore how to design for real life, why functionality is a form of luxury, and how personal history shapes the spaces we call home. Galey shares her approach to sourcing vintage pieces, refreshing historic Southern architecture, and grounding her creative work through motherhood and meaningful boundaries.Highlights include:• How to create a home that reflects the people who live in it• The role of vintage and heirloom pieces in timeless design• Tips for balancing traditional architecture with updated details• Behind the scenes of Galey’s Vesta Home Show project• What keeps her grounded as a creative and business ownerListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.Find Galey: https://www.galeygrimesinteriors.comInstagram: @galeygrimesinteriorsMore from Nicole: https://www.rnicksoninteriors.com

Some people have an energy you can feel before they speak — and today’s guest, artist, astrologer, and Ahai® energy healer Jaclyn Carmen, is absolutely one of them.After more than a decade in the corporate world in New York City, Jaclyn found herself deeply burnt out, unfulfilled, and living in a windowless apartment. Walking away from that life meant facing real fear, yet it became the catalyst for a full 180 into art, healing, and astrology.In this episode, we explore how to “read the room,” how to understand the energy you’re picking up, and how to use your surroundings, your emotions, and even your birth chart as tools for a more grounded, aligned life.We discuss:• What burnout looked like when life seemed “good” on paper• How she discovered Ahai® Energy Healing and why it changed everything• What an energy healing session actually feels like• How to tell whether the emotion you’re feeling is truly yours• Practical ways to read the room in work, friendships, and daily life• How Jaclyn curates her surroundings to support her art and healing work• Astrology as an energetic weather map• How your chart can influence your style and even your home• Why fear is often the doorway to your next life chapterConnect with JaclynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaclyn___carmen/Website: https://jaclyncarmen.com/Connect with NicoleInterior design studio: https://rnicksoninteriors.comListen to more episodes of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings wherever you get your podcasts.

In Designing With Energy, Nicole talks with artist Kirsten Sadlier about the movement, emotion, and intention behind her work. Kirsten creates between two coasts and infuses the spirit of each one into surfboards, sketch art, large scale abstracts, and wallpaper that reads like a love letter to place.She shares how she found her way back to art after stepping away to focus on family, how ADHD fuels her creativity, and why she believes human made art carries a feeling that AI cannot replicate. Nicole and Kirsten also unpack the commission process, the intimidation of traditional galleries, and the importance of making original art feel welcoming and accessible.This episode will inspire anyone who loves interiors, creativity, or the energy art brings into a space.Find Kirsten on Instagram at @kirstensadlierart or visit kirstensadlierart.com.If the episode resonated, share it with a creative friend and leave a review for the show.